� Mr. Teeny didn't make it to the vet in time last week, apparently? � Itchy wears Burns' suit in the I&S cartoon? � Smithers' head is on the train in Bart's cartoon? � Lisa's pearls are plastic? � Homer and Marge � Willy's curse (s-word, Scottified) got past the censors? � the beer bottle in Barney's sack of newspapers? � this is the second season finale in a row to end in a photo montage? � Marge appears very little in this episode? � And Maggie only appears in the couch gag (which was recycled anyways)?
Jason Blair (ex-New York Times reporter) - Milhouse making up his story similar to what Blair did
Futurama-a-rama [AABF01] David "Watch Futurama" Cohen is credited [AABF05] Uter wears a Futurama shirt [BABF11] Bender seen in the FOX Telethon [BABF22] Fry appears in couch gag [DABF20] Bender is in Bart's TV-mitzvah [FABF04] Bender's name appears on a video tape label of a video that most likely shows him fighting Killhammed Aieee [FABF12] Matt Groening guest stars as Futurama's creator [FABF14] poster is seen in Lackluster Video [FABF18] Squeaky Voiced Teen attempts suicide over its cancellation
"Oh my God, ______ is dead!" (but really isn't)
[8F03] Skinner [1F16], [2F16], [2F20], [DABF11] Mr. Burns [3F06] Homer [3F12] Krusty [CABF01] Lisa [DABF09] Abe [MMtC] Mona Simpson
[7F01], [AABF17] Burns tries to obtain the favor of the public [8F03] A Springfieldian is presumed dead, but really just trapped under a pile [8F06], [3F11], [DABF02] Lisa's heart is (cf. isn't) won over by ponies [9F15] Mr. Burns is portrayed as a vulture; the music in the shopping montage is heard [1F01] Burns shakes hands with the devil [2F32] Burns tempts Lisa with money [4F17] Burns tries to bribe Lisa into helping her; Lisa adheres to her morals instead of giving in to Burns' bribes [5F15] Lisa is a journalist [CABF06] Skinner is assaulted with chants of "didi mau" [DABF15] Lisa is called "Lisser" [EABF07] Booberella appears [FABF04] Four Mr. Teeny cycle similar to Lisa's four Snowball cycle
Martin wasn't even in the car when it was assaulted, yet he appears to be injured
Tonight's showing was a very nice close to a very nice season. Characterization stands out as being great, boasting what is easily the best Burns we've seen in a very long time, without a trace of senility, and very little Scully-era zaniness. Lisa was excellent as well: a strong-willed and opinionated little girl who wasn't an annoying mouthpiece for the writers to convey their own opinions through by sacrificing her characterization, like "Lisa the Skeptic", and other Scully flops. Because of this, any interaction between the two was _spectacular_. The plot was solid as well, capitalizing on Burns' Charles Foster Kane side and creating a nice satire of the media. Itchy and Scratchy was easily among the best ever (and I'm not even a fan of them talking), and all the stuff with the Red Dress Press and other media outlets was hilarious (bar one thing, which I'll get to in a sec). But the episode was more or less hit-miss when it came to humor. A lot of jokes failed, mostly in the first act (Burns' escape, mole nursing, Homer and the tree, etc.) though there was a lot of good too ("Futurama!", Milhouse's Jason Blair-esque behavior, Principal Skinrash and the real Skinner's reaction). And the Booberella scene wasn't really funny (I hope she doesn't show up for a third time). But the ending was great, and it was overall good. Don Payne proves himself to be the brains of Frink & Payne, earning his episode a nice 8.5/10. (B+)