(aka The Kent State Massacre, which is actually a less fitting title)
This comes on the heels of watching JABF14, and it didn't seem to go as well (and I am aware that Bart's remark about people spending all day watching TV and then complaining can be interpreted to mean our sort of gripes as well). The idea was interesting, and somewhat accidentally timely (it began production well before the recent scandal), but around the third act, it really fizzled out. I appreciate the very meta-referential final few minutes (HS announcer voice overdubbing Homer and Lisa, Fox logo coming up, Homer trying again, Gracie logo [inverted order!], etc.), but it didn't really do it for me this time. Actually, the idea of Kent's flub and battle for redemption strikes me as rather classically Simpson, but it went for the bizarre, and wasn't as satisfying. Even a slight exploration of the Fox/Fox news conspiracy would have been better, or in fact something in the direction of Lisa's sense of betrayal (from the point of view of a child, that is). Humor content was OK, though the previous episode seemed like it would have been better to highlight.
Well... till the movie/season 10 DVD/season 19 premiere corridor!
DYN: ...the special opening is the same length as a standard long one (1:18), and also doesn't mention #400 outright, even though it actually is the 400th episode? ...this episode has the first Smartline in a while (since season 9 perhaps)? ...Ned's fully aware of the silliness of his actions, and his boys seem to recognize this too? ...Arnie Pye's newscaster voice sounds remarkably like Scott Christian? ...Kent's weather map, along with doodling, is visible from the side angle, with the correct perspective? (Could be a goof, unless they're using a projection screen or have a really good green screen tracker thingy)
Previous episode references MG25: Most or all of this Ullman short used as the opening (according to the timing in the capsule; I don't have it readily available) - although it was originally broadcast 3/6/88, not "20 years ago" as such (one of the closest matches, at 5/31/87, is MG04, and it would have been quite interesting to see the fork-in-outlet scene restored to greatness!)
4F16: Laddie appears at dog park DABF02: Homer does actually floss in this episode 4F21: Fake excursion used to trick kids into going to the dentist 4F12: Channel 6 seems to (financially) produce I&S itself The wall of famous acquaintances that the Simpsons housed for a while - if I'm missing any extra stays... -Artie Ziff (FABF08) -Apu (1F10) (Homer notes that he sang a song) -Krusty (9F19, 5F10) -Willie (HABF05) -Nelson (FABF19) -Sideshow Bob (EABF01) -Otto (8F21) -Kang or Kodos (AABF01) -Gil (JABF01) -Stampy (1F15) (a bit of a stretch) 5F10: Fox logo used to (sort of) end the episode