# Simpsons 10/11: "The Great Wife Hope" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471 "2009-10-12T00:36:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/1 "2009-10-12T00:36:35Z")
Carolyn Omine Although Marge has always shown a little bit of a wild side when she needs to, it seems to be coming out a little bit more- not too soon after the announcement of the latest _Playboy_ centerfold, Marge risks her life to shut down an MMA league. Not the best episode, but it was certainly more entertaining than last week’s. Among the various gags, I liked Bart hoping that he’d die young and Homer not minding in his typical way and Lenny and Carl talking about how women usually act while themselves acting that way. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/2 "2009-10-12T01:45:18Z")
I liked Carl complaining about how Homer was assuming all the Black in Springfield knew each other, then showing he did (even the dead one). Overall, a good episode. The plot was OK, but the gags were top-notch. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/3 "2009-10-12T04:03:16Z")
The ending would have been a perfect time to do a Rocky III freeze frame. I’m surprised they didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/4 "2009-10-12T06:21:25Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > The ending would have been a perfect time to do a Rocky III freeze frame. I’m surprised they didn’t. Either I’m being wooshed, or i’m wrong about the ending to Rocky III. The show ended with Bart and Lisa in a freeze frame in the septagon about to hit each other. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/5 "2009-10-12T07:43:52Z")
It was somewhat similar, there was the freeze frame part but not the oil painting. I was disappointed they showed Lisa winning. I’d rather they’d left it ambiguous like in Rocky III. The [ending](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B04XbfibgT4) to Rocky III. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/6 "2009-10-12T10:47:54Z")
Haven’t made my second viewing yet, but I’d say this one was similar to last week: there were some very good individual gags, but I struggled to swallow the plot. The training sequences were good, and I liked Lisa’s “He’ll be missed” line about Bart. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/7 "2009-10-12T13:29:15Z")
So far this season we’ve had a Homer episode, a Bart episode, and a Marge episode. What do you want to bet there’ll be a Lisa episode coming up soon? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/8 "2009-10-12T13:33:54Z")
Marge Simpson … now there’s a **M** om **I** ’d **L** ike to **F** ight! ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/9 "2009-10-12T14:16:44Z")
She’s discovered my one weakness…that I’m weak. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/10 "2009-10-12T19:23:27Z")
The A plot seemed a little tired - Marge becomes a crusader against a popular form of entertainment she has somehow just discovered - and the B plot… was there even a B plot? And there were no memorable characters other than the regulars. But there were several funny lines, so I’d give it a B, compared to last week’s C (not particularly funny, but not actually painful to watch). In other news, this year’s “Treehouse of Horror” airs in October! ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/11 "2009-10-12T20:44:22Z")
Anyone else notice that we’re now being treated to four commercial breaks during the show, rather than the traditional three? ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/12 "2009-10-12T20:50:50Z")
> [@Runestar](#): > > Anyone else notice that we’re now being treated to four commercial breaks during the show, rather than the traditional three? Yes but don’t they go straight to the episode after the theme instead of a commercial like before? It may be to make it a little more easy to syndicate. Just a WAG on my part. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/13 "2009-10-12T21:05:31Z")
Dunno if this is totally applicable right now, but usually after the shows there is a Simpsons thread, Family Guy, Cleveland, and American Dad threads. Whomever gets the opportunity to make it (I can do it next week if need be) next week’s should just be Animation Domination (date). Then we could just put em all in one big thread. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/14 "2009-10-12T21:17:15Z")
Awful episode. Obviously the writers were thin on ideas this week: note the use of a (repeated) extra-long couch gag, and not one but two spots of unfunny improvised chatter from the women’s group. (Edna: “Oh, he hit him.” Jebus wept.) ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/15 "2009-10-12T21:24:20Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Dunno if this is totally applicable right now, but usually after the shows there is a Simpsons thread, Family Guy, Cleveland, and American Dad threads. > > Whomever gets the opportunity to make it (I can do it next week if need be) next week’s should just be > > Animation Domination (date). Then we could just put em all in one big thread. I’m mildly interested in **The Simpsons** but actively repulsed by Family Guy, Cleveland, and American Dad. What’s the harm in separate threads? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/16 "2009-10-12T22:16:03Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > I’m mildly interested in **The Simpsons** but actively repulsed by Family Guy, Cleveland, and American Dad. What’s the harm in separate threads? Absolutely nothing. Just thinking out loud was all ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/17 "2009-10-13T04:11:51Z")
I don’t see why there should be one big thread for 4 different shows. It’s cumbersome and since I doubt most people watch all four, would really make conversations confusing. Plus because they’re on the DVR, I usually watch them at different times. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/18 "2009-10-13T05:28:57Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Dunno if this is totally applicable right now, but usually after the shows there is a Simpsons thread, Family Guy, Cleveland, and American Dad threads. > > Whomever gets the opportunity to make it (I can do it next week if need be) next week’s should just be > > Animation Domination (date). Then we could just put em all in one big thread. If you want to make one big Seth MacFarlane thread for Family Guy, Cleveland, and American Dad, go for it. I’m not interested enough in any of those shows to sort through them for the Simpsons posts. Please don’t lump the Simpsons in with the rest of those shows. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/19 "2009-10-13T13:51:51Z")
> [@Runestar](#): > > Anyone else notice that we’re now being treated to four commercial breaks during the show, rather than the traditional three? That started last season, but yes, the show is now doing four acts. It makes for different pacing, so I like it, and I was always irritated by the fact that they went to commercials right after the opening credits - which meant the show didn’t even start until around 8:05. > [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Obviously the writers were thin on ideas this week: note the use of a (repeated) extra-long couch gag, and not one but two spots of unfunny improvised chatter from the women’s group. (Edna: “Oh, he hit him.” Jebus wept.) They only come up with a few new couch gags per year, and sometimes even the really good episodes run short [RAKES!], but otherwise you may have a point. I’m still not crazy about this one after a second viewing. I think there were better directions for this story than putting Marge in the ring. I would have preferred a story about Bart getting into fights and the potential negative consequences. I don’t think it’s in character for Marge to hit someone; we once saw her shoo a spider out of the house, and she’s usually an incredibly gentle person. And call me old fashioned, but I didn’t want to see Marge get punched. And if you notice, that was the only time she really got hit, so I think the writers realized they couldn’t get away with a lot of violence. Homer and Bart can get beat up all the time, but even in this context it’s not funny for a woman to get slugged. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471/20 "2009-10-13T21:14:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > That started last season, but yes, the show is now doing four acts. It makes for different pacing, so I like it, and I was always irritated by the fact that they went to commercials right after the opening credits - which meant the show didn’t even start until around 8:05. Makes me wonder what they’ll do with next week’s Treehouse of Horror. 4 stories? One of the stories has a break? Go back to the old way for just the one ep? Also, Halloween episode in OCTOBER? What is this, 1995?😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-10-11-the-great-wife-hope/513471.md?page=2)