I wouldn’t count on it. The next time we see CBG he’ll probably be back at his store like nothing happened. At best, maybe we’ll get some throwaway line explaining how he got back into business again.
While we’re on the subject, add me to those who thought the story about the competing comic book store was far better than the one about Marge’s exercise studio (another development that I think will also be dropped and forgotten by the time of the next episode). Jack Black was ideally cast and put to good use in his too-brief role. I just wish they did more with him instead of abruptly shifting to Marge & Homer plotline.
Come on, this was a good episode. I don’t know what some of you were watching instead.
Did anybody notice that while the cover of “Death of Superman” had Krypto sitting next to the Flash, “Death of Aquaman” had a white seahorse on the cover?
I liked Marge opening a second Shapes in a Krusty Burger.
Good quotes:
Homer: We’re going to be rich. We can finally start a family.
Marge: We have a family.
Homer: A good one!
Marge on the Opal show - So when is Straightman gonna pop the question?
Opal: You’re all getting German cuckoo clocks! You’re getting a cuckoo clock! And you’re getting a cuckoo clock! And you’re getting a cuckoo clock! And you’re getting a cuckoo clock! And you’re getting a cuckoo clock!
Lisa: Are you OK, Dad? I see food on your plate and no blurring motions.
Surgeon: OK, Mr. Simpson. Count backward from ten.
Homer: Fine, I admit it. I’m drunk.
I liked this episode. It was certainly not the “worst ever.” There were some good lines in the Marge and Homer episode. “it’s great to live on wife support.”
Usually they put things back to the way they were at the end of the episode. Although the enhancements were a dream, we are still left with a rich Marge running a chain of gyms, a closed comic book guy store and a closed Crusty Burger.
I predict that between this episode and the next, Marge’s problem gambling will rear its ugly head, and she’ll lose her chain of gyms. Krusty may be able to get his old burger joint back at a bankruptcy/liquidation auction of some sort. I have no idea about the comic book rivalry.
For the first time in I don’t know how long, I stopped in the living room as the episode was going on – I don’t watch a lot of TV, but my family does – and just stood there alternately slackjawed and laughing. Watchman Babies! Alan Moore! Korean covers of Tom Jones songs! For once, Simpsons had me laughing helplessly.
I didn’t watch the rest of it, though, for no other reason than that I was working on a high-maintenance download.
No sarcasm intended, especially because middleman is awesome. But I don’t remember the last time I watched TV in front of my TV. I’d much rather watch episodes online, a few days after they air. I don’t need to pay for cable or Tivo or depend on my ancient VCR, and it’s great.
Hee hee hee…then your post was unintentionally brilliant, as the fact that the writers don’t get paid residuals for episodes shown online is one of the major reasons for the WGA strike. It would be difficult, in fact, to find a better encapsulation of the writers’ point on that issue.
(I’m not making fun of you at all; I just think it’s very funny.)
I loved the comic book subplot. Coolsville is very much like the comic shop my husband manages, though I don’t carry a lunchbox purse. They don’t have an album of Korean Tom Jones covers, but they have a lot of equivalent tunes. Anyway, a lot of the jokes were funny but very inside. I laughed especially hard at:
Daniel Clowes’ bit about wanting to draw Batman, but mostly just being obsessed with drawing and labeling all the parts of his toolbelt.
Asterix and Tintin – not just for high school French class!
When Milhouse approached Alan Moore and said, “Will you sign my DVD…” I already cracked up before he even revealed the cover, because asking Moore to sign a DVD is already hilarious. Watchmen Babies in: V for Vacation is the icing on the cake.
The cherry on top of the icing on the cake: the Fox Network airs what amounts to a minute-long promo for Alan Moore’s Lost Girls. Holy crap, if Rupert Murdoch only knew…
The Shapes subplot was mediocre, but the comic shop plot was 100% tailor-made for our personal enjoyment.
Wow! That is true. I missed the irony of Lou’s comment as well. Of course, this was because I had no idea the Simpsons could be legally viewed online. I missed the Halloween episode, and was heading over the Fox.
I already supported the writers (not that I am a union guy, but fair is fair), but now my support is even stronger! I am part of the problem and someone needs to get paid.
As for cbawlmer’s hubbie’s comic shop, I go to it (not the same branch, but the Northside branch. Quality is consistent across the branches) and I can indeed say that I had the same response as her when the episode aired.
“Hey, that’s just like my shop!”
My shop always has good music, well organized merchandise, and friendly staff that will engage in snark free discussion or give a helpful recommendation based on what the CUSTOMER actually likes.
Plus, they have a good relationship with creators (especially Terry Moore of SiP fame).
[sub]cbawlmer, I am not stalking you or anything. You told me your husband was the manager of the CL BC store in a discussion regarding Krystal hamburger restaurants![/sub]
I loved this episode for the comic book references. Plus it was cool to see Marge as a businesswoman. I think she should continue to bring in the bacon in the future. The League of Extraordinary Comic Book Artists or whatever they were was cool. Were they voiced by the actual artists? “Baby Watchmen” was priceless. I liked the new comic book store owner and his girlfriend too (cool turtle shirt!).
Speaking of which, I’m getting a little tired of the Wall Street Journal jokes. The chalkboard gag a couple months ago was good, but now it’s just getting tired. I’d actually prefer copyright-infinging underage lesbian escapades to an overused Fox-bashing joke rather than the clever ones from the past. Or QUALITY PROGRAMMING SUCH AS HOUSE, AMERICAN IDOL, AND AMERICAN IDOL RESULTS SHOW.
It would be difficult, in fact, to find a better encapsulation of the writers’ point on that issue.