So I finally got around to watching the season finale - I haven't checked the newsgroup since before it actually aired to keep my (apparently worthless, and perhaps justifiably so) opinion unbiased, so I don't know how well it's gone over, but I felt it was a pretty strong ending note for a good season. The premise sounded pretty solid, which helped, and though the end of the first act faltered a little with its over-the-toppery, it settled into a nice "evil Burns" story about halfway through - even if he had to resort to nonviolence. There were a few needlessly silly bits, but then I usually tend to dislike them anyway... also a pretty funny I&S, and a nice ending. Let's say an A, I guess, and I'll see what the rest of you nerdlingers thought in a few.
DYN: ...no national news media seem to be taking an interest in Springfield (or at least being used for non-Burns info)? ...the photo accompanying Ralph's "Oscar picks"? ...Homer's batteries are in a sense "upside-down"? (They resemble Duracells, but with the copper-colored end on the negative side) ..."Wannabe" is apparently on a tape? (One might assume this anyway; do any radio stations play that anymore?)
Previous episode references: 1F01: Burns took over all the TV channels (or at least the distributors)
to serve his own purpose EABF07: A large face-shaped rock towering over Springfield 7G02: Homer compared to a monkey (a kwyjibo, though not said here), and he's eating a banana here too DABF15: "Liser" said by a Kennedy(-esque man) CABF01: Misleading news story about a very old Springfield "resident" expiring AABF17: Monty wants a better image EABF07: Booberella shows up 9F15: Burns-vulture seen DABF02, 8F06 somewhat: attempted bribery of Lisa with a pony AABF13: "Wannabe" is Homer's idea of a good tune CABF06: "Didi mau" said to Skinner 2F16: Burns fails to exemplify an axiom of easiness (taking candy from a
baby, crushing an ant - I guess he got pretty weak pretty quickly) EABF17: A goofy picture montage closes a season finale
Other references: Futurama: Duh...at least the squeaky-voiced teen took a while grappling with the loss of the show, as it's been out of production for a few years now The Jayson Blair thing: if it's not obvious, Milhouse's story-filing took an interesting twist on that scandal
Meta-reference corner: The lines about a TV critic being used to make nerds cry and "don't you love it when nerds don't know they're nerds?" - I guess that makes two jabs at us, or does it? I don't know if I'm being slightly paranoid about that or if the writers felt a little mean-spirited, but I guess we
are nerds to some degree. On the other hand, I'm told that the writers do find our intricate comments helpful if they're intelligent and specific, whether the opinion is good or bad...so we can't be all bad! And of course, the Murdoch/Fox comment and looking directly at the camera...
Etc: That mimeograph takes me back too! It never occurred to me that it could
work without electricity (unless it's not the same as a Ditto machine - is that just a brand name?), but that was a fun inclusion. I'm sure someone has furiously typed up a history of the machine, but might I add
that scent is quite intoxicating.