The "Fake Out" beginnings

I've seen some complaints and discussion about the "Fake Out" beginnings of many episodes...the idea of the first few minutes of the show having nothing to do with the actual story. Personally, I love the fake out starts. I think it's kind of fun that the episode starts taking you one direction and suddenly flips into something entirely different. I think this idea may have started as a jab against the banality and predictability of most sitcoms. IMHO many sitcoms are quite dull and predictable...they have the basic set-up, crisis, and resolution. I know that's standard for most shows, plays, etc, but I appreciate a sitcom that doesn't necessarily strictly adhere to that. I like that sometimes the episodes don't follow just one train of thought, especially the beginnings. I think it's usually funny how the episodes suddenly switch from the start into what the ep is actually about. Anyway, just my thought, any other input about the Fake Out beginnings?

Nate

I loved the Badger in the Doghouse beginning "It's probably Millhouse!" then changes to different story, also the beginnings make it hard to work out which episode it is and you think "I haven't seen this one!" then 10 minutes later you think "I have seen it" Plus most of the laughs come from the first 10 minutes.

Bazilla

this might be a dumb question but why are we looking at each simpsons episode as one complete entity and not a collection of 300 or so adventures? isnt it great when you can remember the starts of the fragment style episodes and you think you are watching a new episode! ahhhh. its like they really have 700 adventures. i have already written in my will so that when i get senile like grampa, i just sit in front of the TV watching season after uproarious season while getting fat checks from Fox because i say only great things about the simpsons in this NG.

you know what else is great? those episodes with two plot lines in them that dont coincide, but happen to the other family members. like when marge gets that bell "why do birds suddenly appear" and bart and homer are on the road as truckers? wait, did i just construct a mutant episode mixing two separate ones? all i know is that fox makes quality family oriented television that kicks you in the butt and gets you hard. Watch that 80's show!

icure

"Bazilla" wrote in message news:[email]...

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Drunk and full of pie, Nate wrote:

Even worse, many of these sitcoms don't *have* plots. They do the "Seinfeld"-thing, and do it very, very poorly. They're all "shows about nothing". Characters sit around the room (coffee shop, living room, bar, TV set, etc.) complaining about their lives and insulting each other. You turn the sound off, and the shows look like a civic debate. Too much concentration on "funny dialogue". The Simpsons was always a show where "stuff happened", not a show about "stuff being discussed".

Episodes from the first and second season also had a lot of "fake out" begginings... some episodes even went three or four levels of "faking", I always admired how they would have four completely differnet settings and tie them together for one episode. I think they were doing this before so many characters became developed, it was kinda a way to "introduce" us to Springfield I guess.