I don’t see it…
They spoofed “Where the Wild Things Are.” Let me repeat that…THEY SPOOFED “WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE!” This may take over the title of “most pointless spoof” from the Evita thing they did a few years ago, which in turn won over the Phantom Menace spoof they did about two or three years after the movie came out.
Is there a statute of limitations on parodies?
When it’s something specifically pop-culture like that? Kind of. When you take three years to make fun of something everyone else already made fun of, it’s a problem. And it’s true that a lot of their spoofing has been dated lately, probably because it takes so long to make an episode.
Well, from a plot purpose, it kind of made sense. What other children’s books are there out there that feature
- Characters that are creepy-looking, but actually quite friendly
- Fit into a plot of Lisa overcoming her real-life fears by thinking of said characters
- Yeah, yeah, the Opal thing
I imagine Harry Potter could count, but keep in mind that
- The Simpsons already did a Harry Potter spoof
- The Wild Monster book was the first book Lisa read, so Harry Potter wouldn’t be eligble because
A) It didn’t exist when Lisa was a child
B) It would be too long and difficult for a child to read
C) Does it count in lists inside lists, too? - I know, I know.
I’m not saying not to argue about it. I like arguing. I’m just saying that from a plot standpoint, a Wild Things-style book makes sense. Lisa is using these characters that gave her so much joy as a child to remind herself that even though cemeteries may look spooky based on what happens in them in horror films, they’re actually not that bad. Just like the Land of Wild Beasts. And, quite possibly, the Land of Wild Feasts.
And for those who like to comment on outdated parodies: Cats hasn’t been on Broadway for almost five years now.
That’s bull****, man!
That’s true. Still, when that happened, I turned to my little brother and said “That was the greatest Itchy and Scratchy ever.” And I meant it.
I was just happy that there was an Itchy and Scratchy for the first time in what seems to be seasons.
On the commentary, they’re always talking about how they have less time now so they don’t do Itchy and Scratchy or other extended things. Some episodes I swear they’d be better off if they were to make a whole act nothing but Itchy and Scratchy.
One last thought on outdated parodies that add nothing: I’ll see your Evita parody and raise you Sideshow Bob singing a soundalike parody of I’ve Grown Accusomed To Her Face. (What’s the matter, too cheap to afford the real thing?)
I was referring more to the Sendak parody. I didn’t have a problem with the Evita parody from a timing standpoint; after all, they parodied “Mary Poppins” a few seasons back and the time lag there was about three times longer. I didn’t even really have a huge problem with the George Lucas parody from a time lag standpoint, although I agree it was pretty late out of the gate. My problem with the George Lucas parody was that it sucked. The ep needed an excuse to get Marge and Homer to a winery and the writers chose a horrible way to go about it.
As a Simpsons fan, I feel I can say this:
When are they going to retire the show already? Why not just go out now, on a graceful note? It has to end sometime…
Actually, I think they were getting back at Lucas for pulling out of a guest appearance.
Really? Why are they doing it this way? Anyway I didn’t see last weeks episode so this is the first new one I’ve seen in a while. I’d give it a 6 out of 10.
P.S. Anyone catch the Iraq War referece? It’s the 1st one the Simpsons have done, isn’t it?
I thought the joke in Future-Drama about “Gulf War Five: Find the President’s Head” was sort of an Iraq War joke. And the season before that, there was an episode that ended with everyone singing “O, Canada” after a riot on a baseball field because the song is “a soothing hymn to peace, not a hymn to war, like our national anthem.” So there’s those.
CATS still has touring companies. Or do Itchy & Scraty live in New York City? I loved that bit; Scratcy commiting suicide is a new thing.
The show was an average Simpsons, which is still better than 90% of TV. Definitely better than last weeks.
They’re about 7 years too late to end gracefully.
How dare you bring facts and logic into this!
[sub]Good points, though…[/sub] 
Nope. Didn’t like it. It was marginally better than last week, though.
I agree that it’s (in a very small way) trying to be like Family Guy. Homer saying “That’s bull****!” was very offputting. Also, when Homer mentioned that the brakes were shot on the racecar bed and they cut to Bart’s bed out of control in his room, I thought it was the kind of thing Family Guy does.
At the end of the episode, I told my husband that they’re getting one more episode out of me and I may have to hang up my hat. Since my husband is a die-hard, he’s now asking for a divorce.
We’re some of the last hold-outs that haven’t been as hard on the show as a lot of others, but I’m choosing to draw the line.
If I had my choice between The Simpsons and about 12 other shows on TV, I would choose the 12 other shows. I no longer feel that it’s still better than most of what’s on TV today.
I don’t think the Simpsons team is imitating Family Guy. (In fact, there was a comment on one of the DVDs that the Simpsons specifically avoid Family Guy-style “cutaway” gags.) They’re just trying to prolong a premise that’s been completely exhausted, and so resorting to absurdity and non-sequitors.
I think you could argue Family Guy has better “buzz” than the Simpsons, especially among younger viewers who can barely remember a time when the Simpsons wasn’t on: basically young, college-age, typical [adult swim] viewers.
I was talking about within the context of the episode, not about whatever backstage axe the writers had to grind.