# Is This When 'The Simpsons' Touched Bottom? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 13, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433 "2003-09-13T21:07:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/1 "2003-09-13T21:07:07Z")
I recently saw the episode of ‘The Simpsons’ which guest-starred Paul McCartney and his then-wife, Linda. It was a funny show, but I had forgotten that Apu actually _plugs_ Linda McCartney’s line of veggie-dinner entrees! Were the producers of the show so desperate to land McCartney that they offered to write in a shamelessly blatant product plug? Has the show ever done any product placement before or since? I love the show but I have to admit that this moment was a bit jarring… ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/2 "2003-09-13T21:30:39Z")
I think they were mocking them. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/3 "2003-09-13T22:33:06Z")
Dear God, if you think that season seven episode is when the Simpsons hit bottom, don’t go anywhere near seasons ten through twelve. Your head will explode! ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/4 "2003-09-13T22:38:04Z")
The one where Lisa and Bart find a video of Bart doing a commercial as a baby. Bart: I don’t remember doing any commercial! _[takes out a Butterfingers[sup]TM[/sup] and takes a bite]_ I suspect that the example in the OP, like this, was just a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/5 "2003-09-13T23:52:59Z")
As celebrity appearances go, the McCartneys weren’t that bad. Linda’s description of competing vegetarian brands (“Sometimes you find a big hunk of pork!”) was hysterical. It was overall, though, a below-average episode, with Lisa getting all sanctimonious about her vegetarianism and ruining Homer’s barbeque out of pure spite. The single funniest joke was the drive-in across the street from the Kwik-E Mart, showing the double-bill of _I Spit on your Grave_ and _I Thumb Through Your Magazines_. ---
**Author:** ![Rayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/6 "2003-09-13T23:57:26Z")
Let’s not forget: Lisa - “I made enough gazpacho for everyone!” \ Barney (amid laughs) - “Go back to Russia!” ---
**Author:** ![Jello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jello)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/7 "2003-09-14T02:56:43Z")
Celebrities…is there anything they _don’t_ know? ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/8 "2003-09-14T03:11:19Z")
Lisa: No I can’t! I can’t eat any of them! Homer: Wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute. Lisa honey, are you saying you’re _never_ going to eat any animal again? What about bacon? Lisa: No. Homer: Ham? Lisa: No. Homer: Pork chops? Lisa: Dad! Those all come from the same animal! Homer: [Chuckles] Yeah, right Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/9 "2003-09-14T03:21:15Z")
Why does it sound like a lamb? ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/10 "2003-09-14T03:39:48Z")
Mr. Burns: I think I’ll donate a million dollars to the orphanage…when pigs fly! _(Barbecued pig sails past the window)_ Smithers: Will you be donating that million dollars now, sir? Mr. Burns: No, I’d still rather not. ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/11 "2003-09-14T03:43:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wumpus \* > \*\*Dear God, if you think that season seven episode is when the Simpsons hit bottom, don’t go anywhere near seasons ten through twelve. Your head will explode! \*\* Right.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: If those episodes of the Simpsons were so atrociously awful then why did you waste time watching them?:rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/12 "2003-09-14T03:46:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muldoon’s Squishiness \* > \*\*Right.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: > > If those episodes of the Simpsons were so atrociously awful then why did you waste time watching them?:rolleyes: :rolleyes: \*\* He did not know that they were going to be bad before he watched them you jackass. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/13 "2003-09-14T03:59:36Z")
That episode kicked ass. The scene where Homer comes home and meets the Flandereses’s family reunion is brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/14 "2003-09-14T04:02:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muad’Dib \* > \*\*He did not know that they were going to be bad before he watched them you jackass. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: \*\* You’d think that after 5 seasons of supposed crap, he’d get the hint. I don’t know. I still find the Simpsons amusing. Infinitly better than the rest of network television these days. ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/15 "2003-09-14T04:03:23Z")
I still contend that the Simpsons started the road to perdition at the Alec Baldwin/Kim Basinger/Ron Howard episode. The entire episode revolved around celebrities, as opposed to the Simpson’s usual odd, random celebrity appearances. The Mel Gibson episode wasn’t much better, although I have an odd affection for the remake of _Mr. Smith Goes to Washington_. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/16 "2003-09-14T04:07:34Z")
That was one of my favorite eps! How can you think it was bad? It featured: -one of the best Troy Maclure educational videos ever (though, my heart will always rest with “Zinc”) -Buenos ding-dong-diddly-dias senor! -the dying theme park (the best bit was cut off in syndication tho, where Bart screws up the train and Paul Bunyan) -the magical animal -Hot beef injection -Bart! No!!! -its still good, its still good! and Apu gave Lisa her comeuppance The McCartney cameo was funny too: it was SUPPOSED to be a blatantly obvious plug ---
**Author:** ![Rayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayn)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/17 "2003-09-14T04:22:37Z")
Yeah I agree, it is one of the better episodes. I don’t understand this attempt to judge exactly when the quality went downhill. Sure the episodes now aren’t as good as the older episodes (IMO and others it seems), but I can’t point to an exact episode. Someone already mentioned when the celebrities started being the focal centers of episodes, but I think the real loss is that they started cutting out the fantasy elements of the characters. Like when they daydream/fantasize about being giants and crushing buildings ("Oh no! It’s the Curies!) or being in the land of chocolate. They need to get back to the whimsical stuff, let the crazy things happen in fantasies, don’t just write ridiculous storylines. However, I will say there are some good episodes that have aired relatively recently, like the Linguo the Robot one, where it followed each of their days. Anyway, to end on a quote that has to do with the vegetarian episode (but is not from it): “You won’t eat our meat, but you glue with our feet!” ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/18 "2003-09-14T04:23:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stephe96 \* > **Were the producers of the show so desperate to land McCartney that they offered to write in a shamelessly blatant product plug? Has the show ever done any product placement before or since?** [2F31](http://www.snpp.com/episodes/2F31.html): A Star Is Burns. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/19 "2003-09-14T04:52:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ResIpsaLoquitor \* > \*\* > The Mel Gibson episode wasn’t much better, although I have an odd affection for the remake of _Mr. Smith Goes to Washington_. \*\* I support that motion–with a vengeance! All in favor…say “die”. One of the best Simpsons moments ever. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433/20 "2003-09-14T05:13:18Z")
“A Star Is Burns” could be interpreted as a blatant commercial for _The Critic_, but it’s still one of the best episodes ever, I think. Of course, I liked _The Critic_, so take that for what you will. I think the series peaked around season 6, then still doing great in season 7, but then in the second half of season 8 it started to go a bit downhill, hitting rock bottom I’d say with seasons 10 and 11. Season 13 got a little better, but it was a pretty wildcard season, with good episodes like the _Indecent Proposal_ parody, and with really bad ones like the one where Moe goes back to college. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-when-the-simpsons-touched-bottom/201433.md?page=2)