# The Simpsons/ 12/12 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524 "2004-12-13T01:09:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/1 "2004-12-13T01:09:42Z")
Interesting development–is our Bart aging? I liked the bit with the Viking toy funeral, and nice Robert Frost reference, “and so dawn goes down to day, nothing gold can stay.” ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/2 "2004-12-13T02:09:14Z")
Since one poster came up with this idea in a thread about spoilers and how they should be announced when it comes to pondering about what will happen in a TV episode before it airs and commenting after it airs, I’m going to use their idea on how to announce that the episode has aired: The episode has aired. Let the spoilers commence! Hello there everyone and welcome to the thread. Tonight we’re discussing a _Simpsons_ episode entitled “Fat Man and Little Boy.” In my opinion, the first part of the episode, with Bart’s mid-life crisis, was great. After Bart was hired by the Willy Wonka-esque gag store owner, the episode started to decline. The opening gag, with Homer overhearing the old rhyme about Miss Lucy and her tugboat, was interesting. Not because it was a funny gag, but because it was an old one that was never used. On one of the DVD audio commentaries for a Season Three or Four episode (I think it was “When Flanders Failed”), one of the staffers commented that a gag exactly like this one was written for that episode but wasn’t used. (He had mistakenly thought that it had been.) I guess the writers are thumbing through the archives for quick gags. Two quick gag highlights I liked that I can remember off the top of my head: Bart’s fantasy G.I. Joe-esque adventure that quickly turns into an ad for life insurance, and the Krusty T-shirt line, most of which are ripoffs of previously existing characters or political figures. (for some reason, I find “Itchy Poochie” really funny). Random scene to quote for the moment: > [@](#): > > Originally posted by **The Simpsons episode #FABF21** > _(on television, a man walks towards a closet) > Announcer: Too much change around the house got you down? > (man opens the closet and is buried in a barrage of coins) > Announcer: Help me, Romco Change Magician! > (cut to man happily emptying jars of coins into said product) > Announcer: The Change Magician will change your life…for the better! Results may vary. Machine does not actually sort change._ ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/3 "2004-12-13T02:16:48Z")
I realized I misattributed a quote in my quote. The man in the ad called for the Change Magician to help him, not the announcer. To quote one of Bart’s original shirts, pobody’s sherfect, nithead. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/4 "2004-12-13T02:17:40Z")
I actually like dthis one. A lot. And I haven’t been enjoying the season thus far. Homer hearing the rhyme. The shaky camera during the spitball scene. An actual story. This was a good one! ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/5 "2004-12-13T02:25:03Z")
The shakey camera was a bit of brilliance. It took me a second to realize that it wasn’t my TV and then I caught it. This was definitely one of the better episodes to air in a while. Also, what’s with the scene’s after the show is over? That is new to these last two episodes, right? It seems almost like they were deleted scenes - this one in particular, since Bart was still trying to get rid of his tooth. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/6 "2004-12-13T03:30:35Z")
> [@audiobottle](#): > > The shakey camera was a bit of brilliance. It took me a second to realize that it wasn’t my TV and then I caught it. This was definitely one of the better episodes to air in a while. > Also, what’s with the scene’s after the show is over? That is new to these last two episodes, right? It seems almost like they were deleted scenes - this one in particular, since Bart was still trying to get rid of his tooth. I’m pretty sure this is something the producers of the show have come up with to ensure that the credits don’t get squeezed to the side. It’s a constant complaint on the DVDs. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/7 "2004-12-13T04:13:10Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > I actually like dthis one. A lot. And I haven’t been enjoying the season thus far. > > Homer hearing the rhyme. The shaky camera during the spitball scene. An actual story. This was a good one! And the whole _Saving Private Ryan_ bullet sound effect was a nice touch, IMHO. It was the best episode that’s aired of the new season. One can only hope that the quality keeps improving. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/8 "2004-12-13T04:37:19Z")
In the promos, there was an enormous nuclear blast, but in the show itself, there was no blast. As Marvin the Martian might say, “Where’s the _ **KABOOM** _?” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/9 "2004-12-13T08:05:33Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > In the promos, there was an enormous nuclear blast, but in the show itself, there was no blast. That was actually pretty sneaky. The credits rolled, and I’m scratching my head. “No critical mass?” Then we cut to Bart and Nelson – “Aha, Bart recoverd the IND from the dump! Nah. Nelson’s just gone all-over mature and reflective.” I liked Homer’s comment. “How hard can it be to build a nuclear reactor? The Koreans have one, and look at the quality of their animation!” Heh heh heh. > [@gobear](#): > > …nice Robert Frost reference. I probably shouldn’t admit it, but my thought process went like this: “Ah, _The Outsiders_. No, wait, it’s… it’s… uhh… ooh, the Sea Captain!” Stay Gold, Bart. Stay Gold! (Well, bright yellow, anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/10 "2004-12-13T08:19:37Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > I probably shouldn’t admit it, but my thought process went like this: “Ah, _The Outsiders_. No, wait, it’s… it’s… uhh… ooh, the Sea Captain!” I liked the Sea Captain’s lament: “I just want a friend who isn’t a work friend!” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/11 "2004-12-13T08:26:29Z")
I don’t think he ever got over the loss of Troy McClure – even if he _did_ just hang around for the fish. ---
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/12 "2004-12-13T08:36:30Z")
This episode was great…did anyone notice that Bart seemed like he was a little taller? That would be cool if they let Bart grow up and become a teenager, then the show would have a whole new set of situations to put Bart in and the whole family. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/13 "2004-12-13T14:03:34Z")
Is it just me or are these episodes becoming increasingly shorter? I swear 1/2-2/3s of the time was devoted to comercials. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/14 "2004-12-13T14:43:59Z")
I have been a hater this season, but last night’s episode was decent. I didn’t roll my eyes or shake my head once. Not great, but if they maintained this quality all the way through the season, I wouldn’t mind. And I also loved the Pvt. Ryan moment. Nice sound and animation. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/15 "2004-12-13T17:31:03Z")
I think the season so far has been pretty good. IMHO, this episode’s structure was tighter than has been the norm over the last few seasons. And yes, I think they should let the characters age, as long as it doesn’t devolve into an excuse to be more maudlin. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/16 "2004-12-13T18:25:58Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Mudd] I liked Homer’s comment. “How hard can it be to build a nuclear reactor? The Koreans have one, and look at the quality of their animation!” [QUOTE] I was actually confused by this part. I haven’t seen a Korean cartoon since in about 10 years and that was in Korea. I think I’ve seen something about Korean something-something in the credits; is that where the joke is coming from? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/17 "2004-12-13T18:33:39Z")
> [@audiobottle](#): > > I haven’t seen a Korean cartoon since in about 10 years and that was in Korea. I think I’ve seen something about Korean something-something in the credits; is that where the joke is coming from? A majority of American TV cartoons are often partially animated overseas, by one of those foriegn studios with cool names like Akom or Wang Film or Cuckoo’s Nest. Of course, the actual joke here is that immediately after Homer says that line, his mouth is four inches or so away from his face. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/18 "2004-12-13T18:33:56Z")
[QUOTE=audiobottle] [QUOTE=Larry Mudd] I liked Homer’s comment. “How hard can it be to build a nuclear reactor? The Koreans have one, and look at the quality of their animation!” > [@](#): > > I was actually confused by this part. I haven’t seen a Korean cartoon since in about 10 years and that was in Korea. I think I’ve seen something about Korean something-something in the credits; is that where the joke is coming from? I believe that the animation work for The Simpson’s is done in Korea, so basically that was a dig at themselves. ---
**Author:** ![down\_by\_law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@down\_by\_law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/down_by_law)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/19 "2004-12-13T18:42:22Z")
i don’t think the simpsons are animated in korea anymore. during the commentary on the second season dvd, one of the show runners mentions that a few of the episodes were animated in korea due to time constraints, and they often disregarded a lot of the standards that were set for the show. like colors would be different, scale was off, and they just looked outright shoddy. ---
**Author:** ![down\_by\_law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@down\_by\_law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/down_by_law)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524/20 "2004-12-13T18:57:53Z")
> [@down by law](#): > > i don’t think the simpsons are animated in korea anymore. during the commentary on the second season dvd, one of the show runners mentions that a few of the episodes were animated in korea due to time constraints, and they often disregarded a lot of the standards that were set for the show. like colors would be different, scale was off, and they just looked outright shoddy. i guess they’re all drawn in korea. my bad. maybe they switched companies at some point, or maybe i’m just imagining the commentary. stranger things have happened. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-12-12/279524.md?page=2)