Merrie Olde Simpsons 11/23 ep

[Otto]

Stuff I particularly didn't like:

An ATM that dispenses $1000 bills
The pointless Tony Blair cameo
The love child (KOTH did it better)
That the "now I just have to kill a penguin" and "flipping people off with my left hand" gags that were in the promos were cut from the ep (two of the funnier gags, which isn't saying much)

Stuff I particularly liked:

The JK Rowling cameo
The air thick with flying nannies
The tabloid headlines
"What does it matter, he hit the friggin' queen!"

Interesting that the ep aired a week or so after the big security breach scandal for Bush's state visit. Too bad they couldn't have worked in, say, a quick shot of a Bush statue being pulled down in the background or a reporter locked up in the Tower or something topical.

Overall, 6/10.

[Eve]

I did get a laugh out of Judi Dench's Fish 'n' Chips.

[vibrotronica]

The Tony Blair cameo was pointless, but I do like the pointless jet pack gag that keeps coming up. But hey, how do you get a head of state to be funny for a cartoon show? Can you imagine the crap that went into vetting his lines with his political handlers?

I hated the roundabout joke, which was predictable and actually done in European Vacation of all places. But the Trainspotting reference was spot on.

I'll give it a 6.75.

[eli_the_fanatic]

I like the Toby Blair cameo just because Homer said, "I can't believe I met Mr. Bean!"

I also like the joke, "OUR Beatles are way better than YOUR Rolling Stones."

[Eve]

Originally posted by vibrotronica
I hated the roundabout joke, which was predictable and actually done in European Vacation of all places.

I actually liked the roundabout joke, because I hate roundabouts, and have never seen European Vacation.

During the whole Ian McKellan Macbeth scene, I kept thinking, "Black Adder did it first and better . . ."

[cheddarsnax]

The Fish 'n' Chips gag went too far and lasted too long. It was funny at first, but by the end of it I wasn't laughing at all. Seems to be happening quite often on newer episodes.

[eli_the_fanatic]

Right, Eve, I thought the same thing about the Macbeth scene. That's one of my favorite episodes of Blackadder.

[MaxTheVool]

I thought the highlight of the episode was the joke about how Canada has never had a girlfriend...

I'm just saying.

[MyFootsZZZ]

What did people think about the episode before this one? It's the one that had a lot of musicle numbers.

[Morbo]

Otto not commenting on the passionate gay kiss between Lord Sillywager (sp) and the other guy?? I kinda assumed this thread was going to talk about that exclusively.

My favorite was definitely the Rowling cameo. "He grows up and marries YOU. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

[Eve]

Originally posted by MyFootsZZZ
What did people think about the episode before this one? It's the one that had a lot of musicle numbers.

You mean last week's? There was a thread about it then, divided 50/50 between "it was the worst piece if crap to ever sully my TV screen" and "I laughed so hard I am still in the hospital."

[photopat]

Originally posted by Otto
the "now I just have to kill a penguin" and "flipping people off with my left hand" gags that were in the promos were cut from the ep...

But the "kill a penguin gag was in the episode.

I loved the Tony Blair bit myself. The MacBeth gag went long, as did the Judi Dench gag, but on the whole I thought it was great. The long lost child was odd, but funny.

Homer has a sister...

[7 up yours]

I never really like Episodes where they visist a foreign place, it's always full of the stereotypes and gags and whatnot. It gets tiresome after they've visited every continent (except for Anartica!)

[mobo85]

Funniest line, in my opinion:

"You make Dame Edna look like a dude!"

[Eve]

Originally posted by 7 up yours
I never really like Episodes where they visist a foreign place

Oh, you reminded me of the best bit: "We could go back to Brazil . . . But I hear the monkey problem is even worse . . . "

[The Brazilian tourism bureau raised a huge fuss when the show implied the country was overrun by wild moneys]

[Ranchoth]

Liked the offhand backhanded reference to Rio.

And with Tony Blair...the world finally has a Seiyu whose words are backed with NUCLEAR WEAPONS!

And the "Lord Sillywager" kiss was, without a doubt, the gayest smooching ever shown in American television animation. (And I mean that in a GOOD way)

[Guinastasia]

I'm glad to see Ian McKellen finally visit The Simpsons.
crosses off his name on list of People She Wants to See on The Simpsons.

I liked the "he hit the friggin' queen!" bit the best.

However, not nearly as funny as the Australia episode.

[Marley23]

Otto not commenting on the passionate gay kiss between Lord Sillywager (sp) and the other guy?? I kinda assumed this thread was going to talk about that exclusively.

Lord Daftwager. That was the shock-laugh of the night for me.

Rare is the episode I don't like, so I'm not much of a Simpsons critic. I got a kick out of Ian McKellen just being there, even though the gag wasn't the most brilliant. And now I know that when he says "you fools," he sounds like Gandalf even when he's not in character. I love the voice, what can I say? Also, they got his natural pastiness even though he was yellow.

I wish that had been the real Judi Dench. Liked the bit, and the British pimply teen.

[Lord Ashtar]

Originally posted by Dooku
Otto not commenting on the passionate gay kiss between Lord Sillywager (sp) and the other guy?? I kinda assumed this thread was going to talk about that exclusively.

Mmmm....oh yes. Quite. Mmmm...

[Otto]

Originally posted by photopat
But the "kill a penguin gag was in the episode.

It was? When? I totally missed it.

[elf6c]

The bit with the changing of the guards made me chuckle.

Also, the Queen did look kind of hot- what's up with that?

MacBeth! [Zap]

[Spiff]

Originally posted by vibrotronica
But the Trainspotting reference was spot on.

Dang it, I missed that. Can someone enlighten me?

I agree with Eve in that the Brazillian monkey line was the best in the show. Made me choke on me own spit, it did!

The other laugh-out-loud moment for me was the Judi Dench's Fish 'n' Chips bit.

And the Queen is ... hot?!?!?

elf6c you scare me!

[elf6c]

I just finished Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver- all that royalty talk must have messed me up.

[Neurotik]

I only watched the last half of it, but I did think that 'ertz Rent-a-car was pretty funny. The rest of it was just lame. The roundabout joke was entirely predictable and old. And the ridiculous situation with the Queen was stupid, too. Honestly, they need to get some better writers.

[photopat]

Originally posted by Otto
It was? When? I totally missed it.

It was when the guards were dragging Homer away to prison.

I only remember this because I didn't see any of the previews for the show.

[Judith Prietht]

The Trainspotting reference was Bart and Lisa wilding through the streets after eating British candy at Harrods, scored to Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life."

[carimwc]

The Trainspotting reference also included Maggie crawling on the ceiling and her head turning all the way around during Bart and Lisa's candy induced hallucinations. This of course refers back to Ewan MacGregor's character's hallucinations while detoxing.

Other than that, the episode was rather meh. It could have been done so much better.

[MyFootsZZZ]

Originally posted by Eve
You mean last week's? There was a thread about it then, divided 50/50 between "it was the worst piece if crap to ever sully my TV screen" and "I laughed so hard I am still in the hospital."

I couldn't find one!

Hmm... will have to look more.

[Guinastasia]

Well, the sugar induced hallucinations have been done before-like when Bart joined the Junior Campers after going on a sugar bender with Milhouse. They ate a Squishy made entirely of syrup and went crazy.

[voguevixen]

I'm beginning to wonder how many illegitimate offspring Abe Simpson has! Don't forget Homer has a half-brother as well.

I liked when grandpa told her he was shipping out in the morning "And then it turned out I actually was! I told her I'd never forget her, and then I did -- until just now."

[dropzone]

Originally posted by vibrotronica
But hey, how do you get a head of state to be funny for a cartoon show?

Take one head of state. Add four children including some teenaged boys and a request from the producers of The Simpsons and see how long he can hold out before giving in to their demands.

[jackelope]

I liked the Tony Blair gag just because it was really Tony Blair.

And I liked Abe Simpson, apparently calling all the women in England to find his lost lover (like The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit):

"...And was he a gentle and attentive lover? He was? Sorry to have wasted your time."

[Murcielago]

From the opening ATM scene:

Burns: "Oh Smithers, would you please guide me in?"
Smithers: "With pleasure, sir!"

That's one bit of imagery I'll find difficult to erase.

[doomraisin]

It was so incredibly unfunny that it made me sad. They need to call it quits.

All the humor has been drained away. Don't believe me? Refresh your memory and watch the first couple of seasons.

Nothing lasts forever. The good writers get hired away.

This episode might've done it for me. As much as it pains me, I think I'll pass on Simpsons from here on out.l