Notes for LABF02 (How the Test Was Won)

I don't say this often, but what the hell was that?

Here's one problem: everything followed whatever rules it felt like. This applies to the insurance thing first. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on Homer's part, but I'm sure insurance does not work that way... and if they aren't covered just for missing a payment, why does it magically come back the second some person at the office is supposed to return? It also applies to the standardized test. The whole school wants to cheat in various ways - but Chalmers freaks out that his own administration of it is four minutes late, and then Skinner is allowed to cancel it anyway? If it weren't so obvious when the students all got perfect scores, why not just tell the kids the stupid answers?

As for Skinner's plot of remembering what teaching is all about (never mind that 4th graders generally don't learn much about conservation of angular momentum)... I point to 4F18. Even with monkey madness, it still had a better oomph to Lovejoy's own similar struggle.

I also never thought I'd yearn for the subtlety of the dance finale of DABF08. Considering how short the episodes are these days, why wasn't the "Footloose" bit over the credits or something?

Note: Nascar went on and on, and the episode began in the east at 8:40. Four acts still.

NEW INTRO THINGS. As I suspected (see LABF01 notes), more things are going to change every time. What I spotted: -crow at start goes right to left (not left to right) -Ralph in bucket: "it's dark!" (not surprised noise) -billboard: Milhouse, "LOST CHILD NO REWARD" -chalkboard still updates, forgot to check if the portrait next to it did -Barney says "hey!" instead of a burp -checkout line items same, didn't check the total -new sax solo (actually new!) -TV doesn't fall off wall (thank God that isn't every time), but the music for the TV is a little different

DYN: ...in the couch gag (of 4 old shows which, of course, would not be in 16x9!), Sideshow Bob appears in the Cheers one? (Kelsey Grammer's Frasier character appeared there first, and he was also not present with many other cast members in the Cheers cameo in 2F08.) ...a female teacher, but not Miss Pommelhorst (HABF05), is now a man? ...the school band plays the Rocky theme? (I mention this because I seem to remember that from another episode, but can't place it.) ...Homer's hum as he enters the book club meeting is just like one of the recent DVD menus? (Season 10 maybe? I know this because it launches into the silly sounds immediately every time you go back to the damn menus!)

Previous episode references (not counting mini clip show) HABF05: New gym teacher who is fond of Bombardment 7G02, 8F15, AABF03: Aptitude (and like) tests and themes 9F18: Trapping the trouble-making kids this way 3F22: Springfield is "the armpit of America's buttcrack" (compare "America's crud bucket") AABF13, FABF18: Spice Girls' "Wannabe" BABF19: Montage of Homer getting hurt, outside a clip show

Goofs Clearly it was for the sake of pronunciation, but the "common patterns" (what??) in test answers have way too many As.

Other notes It occurs to me that (if things continue in this way) at least the DVD chapter breaks will finally match the act breaks once season 20 comes out! So far, only 7F05 has one chapter per act/opening/credits, though since season 6 all act breaks have been included as a chapter break at least.

God I hate Nascar and all the delay crap. Those of you who wanted to watch the new American Dad where it was delayed, I hope you know it started at 9:40, because the Family Guy repeat got skipped!

Not related to the show at all, but I had to mention: The King of the Hill promo right before act 4 uses the "no singing" music swell from Monty Python and the Holy Grail!

THE MINI CLIP SHOW Interesting that it was in 4x3 (and presumably also not HD!), right after the switch to widescreen, and right as I was pondering that the couch gag used 16x9-framed versions of the classic shows. Interesting also that it's more or less in airing order, at least for a while.

I had to check a few, and I'm still not sure about some, but here you go: 8F13: Homer hit by a softball pitch 8F22: Homer rolls down stairs at Bart (Indiana Jones parody) 9F09: Homer's heart attack (related to insurance plot!) 9F20: Homer trying to cook lobsters 1F13: Homer and ants in shuttle 1F15: Homer attacked by cleaning products (syndication cut) 2F06: Homer escapes candy convention 3F05: Homer propelled into air by venting at SNPP 3F09: Homer vs. George Bush 3F21: Pig shot at Homer's stomach 4F04: Bart breaks a chair over Homer's head 4F03: Homer boxing (not in airing order!) AABF09: Homer stuck on ceiling fan AABF09 again: Homer walks into cactus BABF06: Bart drills eye holes in Homer's bucket CABF02: Homer duplicate strangles Homer CABF07: Homer catches tennis ball in pants CABF11: Maggie nails Homer to the wall (safety plot!) CABF13?: Homer with the leeches and fish on his arms DABF11: Homer attacked by crows DABF13?: A few clips of things being delivered on Homer's feet (paper, milk, piano [foreshadowing Ralph?]) DABF21: Homer tased by David Lander ???? (I am thinking perhaps EABF06): Homer struck by lightning EABF13: Homer vs. the beavers EABF15: Marge drives into Homer FABF03: Homer hammers himself in Maggie's room (was going to bash her CD player) (not in order now...) DABF10: Homer tries to disconnect phone line 5F17: Homer stuck in drawbridge 5F20: Homer's eye stuck in suction pipe CABF14: Marge slices off his thumb (which, of course, is not covered by insurance - a thumb is not a finger!) DABF10: More of the phone line mishap ????: The only one I have really no clue on. Homer walks into a viking helmet on Bike's handlebars? I just don't remember that. It's out of order too, so no easy lead. JABF20: Homer staples into his face (syndication cut) 5F12: Rolling out of/into Moe's car maybe DABF01?: Homer struck by lightning while trying to adjust TV reception DABF19 (a TOH, no fair!): Homer clones led off cliff ????: Mushroom cloud. This is widescreen, and I don't think it was in LABF01, so it's probably a newly-done capper to the sequence and not a clip. I could be wrong.

Once Upon A Time, In article Matt Garvey wrote:

See, now, here's the thing, Matt. You've been annoyed by my criticism of your ubiquitous use of production codes, so now I'll give you a reason why they bug me.

Your comment, up above, is very interesting. I would like to review the episode you are talking about, and see how it deals with the issues related to Skinner's realization about teaching, and how it relates to Lovejoy's struggle. But I have no idea what episode you are talking about. Unlike you, I do not have the production codes memorized. All the episodes I have recorded, downloaded, or have available on DVD, are coded with actual English words, episode *titles* to be exact. So if I'm going to view the episode you are talking about, I have to search the web for the code you've provided and find out what the episode title is, what season it's from, and its episode number. You may as well have switched to ancient Greek halfway through the paragraph, for all of the information it provides me and the work it requires me to perform.

I doubt very much that I am alone in this inability to comprehend what you are trying to communicate. I'm sure that many, probably most (if not all) other readers of your post would just shrug in puzzlement and move on, not even trying to figure out what you are trying to say. And if you don't find it necessary to successfully communicate what you want to say, what is the point of posting it at all? The saddest part of it all is that if you had just used an episode title instead of an obscure code, understanding of your message would probably have been immediate and complete.

I'm going to lay off you and your codes in the future. After have said the above if you still don't "get it", there's really no point in trying to make you understand. You are building your own speedbumps into your posts; your love of sprinkling meaningless production codes in your messages is creating a barrier between you and your audience. But, choose your own path.

Peace, out.

** Captain Infinity

Well, that makes a little more sense now. Usually your complaining comes when I'm actually talking about properties of the production schedule, breaks, correspondence with airing seasons, etc., and it's pretty logical to use production codes there. I can't explain what they mean in detail at that point or it would get too wordy, and anyone the codes confuse probably wouldn't gain much from those notes.

I'll admit I do like sprinkling them in otherwise more than is good for me, because there *is* a certain geeky pride - as a shortcut, it's still useful for citing individual episodes, though perhaps in a case as this I should try to remember to do it with the title (I seem to remember Benjamin Robinson doing that a lot - for example, "In Marge We Trust (4F18)"). In lists, such as previous episode references, clip montages, etc., it seems more appropriate to use the code only, and that's a well-established precedent. So, a compromise perhaps?

I should note also that these codes are the single best way to refer to an episode succinctly and universally, though. Titles, even when they DO help identify an episode's plot, change by language (and downloaded files often use synopsis-like names that aren't a help for finding them, like "Homer as food critic"). Season/episode numbers, like 20-11 or S20E11, or what-have-you, also vary outside the US. The official English title may be the best way for you to recognize why an episode is mentioned, but for finding it to look at yourself, depending on how your stuff is organized, you're going to need to do some work no matter what. Remember, you can find these details all together in various places; I recommend www.snpp.com/guides/episode_list.html or epguides.com/simpsons (bookmark them).

OK?

On Mar 2, 1:58 pm, Captain Infinity wrote:

"Captain Infinity" wrote in message news:[email]...

Have you tried the internet?

Seriously. Google "simpsons 4F18" and the first hit will take you to the SNPP.com episode capsule so you can "review the episode", complete with scene summaries. Production codes aren't rocket surgery. They can be figured out with very little brain power, or one can still use them to get the information they want when a production code is referenced with even less brain power via the internet.

I don't have the production codes memorized either, but they exist and they are used to reference specific episodes. Whoop dee doo. Who gives a bibble? Gabba gabba hey.

In article , [email] says...

I have the same trouble as the Captain here with such posts.

Unless there is some other info provided, I wouldnt know if an old episode or a new episode is being referred to.

PS: I missed Ralph's reaction to not being elected. Can anyone fill me in as to how he handled that setback?

He plans to spend time with his family, and get back in touch with the things that really matter. He wishes to express appreciation for all those who showed him support.

-- R Flowers

In article <3c751948-c969-4e60-953d- [email]>, [email] says...

I might send him a bouquet of flowers, one's specially scented like cat food.

Matt Garvey wrote:

I assume that's why--they're trying to fill time. Stupid sequence.

PITA...there was a two-hour episode of Brothers & Sisters, so I had to bail on The Simpsons and catch the end on Hulu. FWIW.

Speaking of aspect ratios: on my cable system, I get both the New York and Philly FOX affiliates. For this episode, I saw The Simpsons in full screen with the sides cut off (really obvious when I couldn't see the beginning of the blackboard gag!) on the NY channel, but the letterboxed full version on the Philly one. Naturally, I opted for the Philly feed, but I'm curious whether this is the doing of the affiliates or the cable company. Can anyone who watched on the New York station, but NOT through Comcast, confirm whether they showed the episode letterboxed or blown up to full screen? Obviously I'm not talking about the HD feed. This isn't just true of The Simpsons; the same was true of 24 tonight, and even of this past week's Law & Order (mothership) on the NBC affiliates. TIA for any help.

Huh? What teacher is now a man?

At Martin's funeral in Dial N For Nerder (KABF07). Which I only know because that episode was on the Philly station this evening!

I suppose if tests were going to have common patters, they might not have evenly distributed answer choices. The whole thing didn't make sense, as you spoke about...why wouldn't Chalmers have told Lisa to try one of the patterns?

For a little bit there I thought we were actually getting a clip show again!

On Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:41:32 -0500, "Brett A. Pasternack" wrote:

Is the New York station you're talking about WNYW/Fox 5? If so, I get it through DirecTV, and it was indeed letterboxed.

-lugnut

Yes, it is. OK, it must be my cable system, then. Perhaps I need to write them a letter. (I suspect they're doing the same thing with WABC/7, and they don't offer the Philly ABC affiliate.) Thanks.

There's a banner in the first(?) shot of the school welcoming the students back and mentioning that Miss Caldecott is now Mr. Newbery.

Ah! I missed that! Thanks.

The reference is that the Caldecott and the Newbery are the two most prestigious prizes for children's literature. The Helen Caldecott Medal is for the illustrator (and thus usually goes to a picture book for younger children) while the John Newbery Medal is for the author (and usually goes to a book for older children).

In article <7b754681-98b5-4ea4-a01b- [email]>, [email] says...

After watching it last night - I'm inclined to agree. Did they get Family Guy writers in for this episode?

This was truly an awful episode. It seems they have chosen to take the show in a whole new direction. This season has few if any of the attributes that made the Simpsons what it was. The animation is cold, even the audio doesnt sound the same anymore.

Je�us wrote in news:[email] privat.org:

"This season" just started.