# Simpsons Halloween Special **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 7, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943 "2001-11-07T03:49:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/1 "2001-11-07T03:49:22Z")
Why do I even bother to watch anymore? It’s obvious no one on the show gives a damn anymore. It’s almost like each new episode is done poorly on purpose just to make people mad. I mean, if you’re not going to be funny you should at least be so dreadfully _unfunny_ that people still talk about it anyway, right? They didn’t even bother to put Halloween-style names in the credits anymore(James Hell Brooks, etc.)! And like 90% of those were the same throughout the run of the show! Give it up, Simpsons. Give me the rest of the DVDs and please go away. ---
**Author:** ![Mofo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mofo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mofo_Rising)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/2 "2001-11-07T03:50:21Z")
You, sir, are what’s wrong with America. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/3 "2001-11-07T03:56:12Z")
I agree wholeheartedly with **Elwood**. The Simpsons, which was by far my favorite show of the 90s, has long since worn out its welcome. It now just rides on its own worn-out coattails and fans who refuse to accept that the show sucks now. Completely sucks. It’s lucky if there is one show each season that measures up to what was weekly originality and hilarity five years ago. And there hasn’t been a good Halloween episode in years. Bring on the DVD’s! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/4 "2001-11-07T03:59:02Z")
The no freaky credits thing really bothered me. It was kind of watchable. If another show pulled something like this, I wouldn’t be watching, but since it’s the Simpsons… Anyway. They already DID an evil house episode! AND an ep where someone else tries to seduce Marge (Jaques to be Wild). They’re down to repeating episodes. ☹ They are really going for the gross out too…even more so than last year, what with that brain thing and the vomitting frog (pretty funny, though). A few gags were funny- the Matthew Perry house, again, the frog, “Slithers”, that opening scene. Their hearts weren’t in it, though. Compared with the classic episoes (“The Shinning,” “Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace,” the one with the evil house, Evil Krusty Doll, etc.) this year was especially bad. Sorry…it had to be said. ---
**Author:** ![Heath\_Doolin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Heath\_Doolin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heath_Doolin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/5 "2001-11-07T04:19:41Z")
And I agree with Mofo Beat it you communists! ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/6 "2001-11-07T04:33:48Z")
The show was the weakest Halloween episode ever. I was so disappointed. I can’t believe I left school early for it. Two thumbs down. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/7 "2001-11-07T05:18:14Z")
What the hell have I been smoking? I turned the TV on Sunday night at 8 and a bunch of guys were swing sticks around. When did the Halloween special air? ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/8 "2001-11-07T05:24:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\*What the hell have I been smoking? I turned the TV on Sunday night at 8 and a bunch of guys were swing sticks around. When did the Halloween special air? \*\* It aired tonight (Tuesday, the 6th) at 8:30ET. I taped it along with 24 to watch when I get home from work tonight. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/9 "2001-11-07T05:35:39Z")
Well, the first story was _fairly_ passable. It made me laugh more than once. I don’t think it was weaker than last season though. Halloween Episode XI was just…surreal. In a bad way. ---
**Author:** ![JepSnertRF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@JepSnertRF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JepSnertRF)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/10 "2001-11-07T06:29:22Z")
Ok, the Simpsons is one of the best and most popular shows in television history, and I wish it could continue forever (though it will likely end with a movie). Now, as far as the Halloween 12 special went, it was lacking on the “halloween” aspect, but it was none the less a great new episode. They continue to make creative material even after so many seasons. ---
**Author:** ![HoldenCaulfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@HoldenCaulfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoldenCaulfield)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/11 "2001-11-07T06:44:24Z")
I love the new episodes, and like the weird, random humor. Just my taste I guess. Anyway, I wanted to point out that when Homer attracted all the bunnies with the Trix, the last one in the hole had one ear, a la Binky from \Life in Hell\. ---
**Author:** ![Tsugumo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4da419/32.png) [@Tsugumo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsugumo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/12 "2001-11-07T09:29:18Z")
There was a point last year(ish) where I was starting to believe the people doing the show were TRYING to get fired. It seemed like the episodes, despite having some funny parts, were just…insane. Plots were totally unresolved, entirely weird things (like that island where everything shoots gas) happened. Just a lot of stuff that made me go “…what??” I don’t think it’s too bad, as a lot of it is funny because I have no idea what’s going on (maybe they’re referring to something I just haven’t heard of), but it definately seems like a different type of humor than a few years ago (like where you’d get an actual sane (well, for the Simpsons) plot throughout each episode). Anyone know (I’m not in the “know” on Simpsons, heh…I just watch it occasionally) if there’s any big reason for it? Like an overhaul of scriptwriters or behind the scenes spats or something? I didn’t mind this episode…laughed at a few parts, but it didn’t seem as good as previous Halloween eps. The lack of weird names threw me off, too…You’d think they could have just “cut and pasted” them from another episode… - Tsugumo ---
**Author:** ![Tsugumo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4da419/32.png) [@Tsugumo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsugumo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/13 "2001-11-07T09:57:02Z")
side note: I’m pretty sure they’ve even remarked the weird crappiness of the show in episodes lately…which is one of the reasons I thought they were intentionally trying to suck, heh… - Tsugumo ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/14 "2001-11-07T10:04:36Z")
Very low body count too. Carl and Lenny died. Moe got pickled. And Bart died off screen. Oh Mr. Burns also died. I guess the Simpsons did get sliced up in the opening bit but that doesn’t really count. I loved the leprechaun though, csg. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/15 "2001-11-07T10:26:37Z")
**Tsugmo** wrote: > [@](#): > > entirely weird things (like that island where everything shoots gas) happened. Just a lot of stuff that made me go “…what??” Not a fan of [classic television](http://www.netreach.net/~sixofone/), I take it. Personally, I thought that episode was hillarious. ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/16 "2001-11-07T11:19:52Z")
Marge :“Bart’s dead!” Homer: “Well, if saying I’m Sorry would bring him back, I would.” “The gypsie said it would.” “She’s not the boss of me.” ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/17 "2001-11-07T12:44:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HoldenCaulfield \* > \*\*I love the new episodes, and like the weird, random humor. Just my taste I guess. > > Anyway, I wanted to point out that when Homer attracted all the bunnies with the Trix, the last one in the hole had one ear, a la Binky from _Life in Hell_.\*\* Bongo’s the one that only had one ear. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/18 "2001-11-07T13:16:17Z")
IMNSHO, last night’s was the absolute worst of all the Halloween episodes. It was just absolutely, atrociously bad. First of all, bring back the “Treehouse of Horror” title. “The Simpsons Halloween Special XII” sounds like you’re _trying_ to remind us that you’re running out of steam. Second of all, the leprechaun wasn’t funny in _This Little Wiggy_, and it wasn’t funny last night. No, I take that back–it _was_ funny in the other episode. It was just stupid last night. Carl and Lenny talking about the leprechaun was funnier than the actual leprechaun. Third of all, I bet Opal didn’t like it either. Fourth of all, the vomiting frog stopped being funny after the first time it vomited. But hey, if it’s unfunny twice, it must be really unfunny after the 2+nth iteration, so let’s go for it! I found myself laughing – audibly laughing – only three times, all of them at Homer lines: –seeing Moe in the pickle jar and saying, “When did _that_ happen?” –"Mmmmm . . . unexplained bacon . . . " –“I _am_ missing the back of my skull; I _think_ you could cut me some slack.” Bad. Bad, bad, bad, bad. The season premiere had better be a lot funnier than this turd was. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2001, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/19 "2001-11-07T13:36:30Z")
The show was a major improvement over last year and generally quite good. It was obvious they were on their game as soon as the “Caps for Sale” guy appeared.\* I think people are buying into the myth that the Simpsons has deteriorated and just refuse to see the humor. The show is still one of the funniest on TV and complaining that “it’s not as good as it used to be” is like the old man complaining about the good old days. \*If you don’t know what I mean, then you weren’t paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943/20 "2001-11-07T13:39:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny Angel \* > \*\ ***Tsugmo** wrote: > > > [@](#): > > > > entirely weird things (like that island where everything shoots gas) happened. Just a lot of stuff that made me go “…what??” > > Not a fan of [classic television](http://www.netreach.net/~sixofone/), I take it. Personally, I thought that episode was hillarious. \*\* I agree that was a funny episode. I haven’t seen too many episodes of the Prisoner and I knew right away what they were getting at. I’m guessing that some of the references the writers are now doing are becoming too obscure for some people, and so they don’t get the jokes. I also liked the Halloween special. They are having a harder time getting horror movie references but the second segment was funny. I’m sure it was a shot at Demon seed. The vomiting frog, homers brain, Bart dying in his oatmeal (not offscreen as mentioned in another post and Slithers eating Burns… I was in tears, but maybe I’m just strange… no I am strange. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-halloween-special/91943.md?page=2)