Well, chowder finally got knocked out, which makes me happy. And if any of you are pissed about losing Ozzy & the Straw, or Cape Feare, yell at the people who didn’t vote for it, not me. I’m still gonna be pissed if You Only Move Twice wins - it’s a great episode, but probably the weakest of the ones left (and certainly not better than In Marge We Trust!).
Voting is gonna last until…well, I’m gonna be busy with the holiday, so 24-48 hours without a vote, and when I get to it after that.
Groening, Brooks & Simon Bracket:
Itchy & Scratchy & Marge
vs 3. Lisa’s Substitute
Jean & Reiss Bracket
Mr. Plow
Marge vs the Monorail
Mirkin Bracket
Deep Space Homer
Homer the Great
Oakley & Weinstein Bracket
El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer
vs 6. You Only Move Twice
Don’t sweat it…the only possible final (assuming we’re all watching the same show) is Mr. Plow v. Homer the Great. And once we get there, I have no idea how I’m going to vote.
Damn, I wish I had voted earlier, I might have stropped this madness! I mean…the Groening bracket is Itchy and Scrathy and Marge vs. Lisa’s Substitute? Blech. I&S&M is hardly funny at all, and it doesn’t even have the schmaltz to make up for it! It’s just a stereotypical bad seasons 1-2 episode.
So, that being said:
Groening, Brooks & Simon Bracket:
3. Lisa’s Substitute
Jean & Reiss Bracket
2. Marge vs the Monorail
Mirkin Bracket
2. Homer the Great
Oakley & Weinstein Bracket
6. You Only Move Twice
Hell, I’m just pissed $pringfield isn’t even in the finals…was it even in the first round bracket?! It’s the best ever! Screw all of you!
ETA: Nope, not even included at all! Well in that case any and all results of this contest are rendered null and void for improper inclusion criteria.
Not voting because I haven’t seen either episode recently enough to remember anything about them.
Jean & Reiss Bracket
2. Marge vs the Monorail
Mirkin Bracket
Lisa’s Substitute, of course. One of the very best episodes, both heartfelt and humorous in that uniquely Simpsonsy way. “You are Lisa Simpson” always makes me tear up.
Jean & Reiss Bracket
Marge vs the Monorail - this one was a tougher choice, since Mr. Plow is truly a great too, but I gotta give it up for Phil Hartman’s brilliant performance and Leonard Nimoy’s hilarious guest outing. Plus: Homer’s “I call the big one Bitey” is one of my favorite lines of the series.
Mirkin Bracket
Homer the Great - C’mon now. The Stonecutters song is to die for, as is Patrick Stewart even in cartoon form.
Oakley & Weinstein Bracket
You Only Move Twice - Easy peasy choice. First, Albert Brooks never fails to bring the funny in his appearances, and second, I rather dislike El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Homer anyway.
Interesting actually that all my favorites here feature terrific guest turns. I’m not a fan of the celebrity guest stars that have infested the show over the past several years, but it seems that they were much more palatable in the early days.
Don’t let the Simpsons literati hear you say that. You might get your leg gnawed off by a wolf. It’s grown on me a little, but at it’s heart it’s still a “Homer wants to know if Marge still loves him” episode, and those are always sub-par.
It would be a worthy winner. But “Homer the Great” has it in the bag.