The two latest episodes

I�ve seen the latest two episodes now, here some short comments.

EABF05 "Barting Over"

Some insignificant situation is used to construct an overdone conflict and to make it as "funny" as possible, plus some visual humor and some typical electric shock for Homer. Some nice jokes and references here, some hip celebrities there, even some traces of emotionality when the family misses Bart - everything with a feeling of superficiality that was completely unknown in classic years.

At the end, Homer wins a competition against Tony Hawk with a flying robot skateboard - big fun for kids. And if the hasty reconciliation between father and son isn�t funny enough for them, there�s another joke about Homer�s penis and impotence just some seconds later. The episode may have some mild chuckles and better moments but I couldn�t really care about the story and characters. That�s all I can say about the official 300th episode.

EABF07 "I�m Spelling as Fast As I Can"

Better than EABF05 but once again an example for recycling of old ideas and plot elements. Many Lisa episodes in classic years had true satirical sharpness in their social commentary, but EABF07 is just a pretty tame story about some rigged spelling competition. The usual dose of "funny" jokes (Skinner says it�s wanking day) meets some better jokes in an IMO rather uninspired mixture of thin conflict for Lisa and semi-funny subplot for Homer.

At the end, Homer decides Lisa is more important to him (within one second) and Lisa decides for the truth. She loses because of her own fault but the nice people of Springfield honor her. Okay, so what? As Lisa fan, I should give the episode some bonus but it can�t really convince me - too many old ideas and a too uninspired generic Lisa plot. Different to EABF05 no constructed "kewl" product but IMO the product of a tired show that recycles substance without having the old class and subversive spirit.

Before I sound too negavite - both new episodes are better than the S11/S12 standard and both have good ideas in certain moments but fit pretty well into the S14 mainstream.

Chris

Too late! Go watch Will and Grace.

Chris Pfeiler wrote in message news:...

I didn't find it amusing and I was drunk. That says a lot. The Simpsons is a cartoon now. I like cartoons but I miss that great TV show. Ah, what can you do. 14 seasons? Most shows hit their nadir after just a couple of seasons. I want it to go away now. It is becoming embarassing. And didn't anybody notice they recycled, almost exactly, the gag with old Nelson kicking over the tombstone in the "future" and going ha-ha? I believe they did this in the Lisa becomes President episode but can anybody confirm this?

Actually, S11 had a few good episodes. S12 had a couple of good ones and quite a few laughs. This season has pretty much sucked all the way through.

and both have good ideas in certain moments but fit

Cheers, BD