[The long of it]
Let's see if it's possible for we mere mortals to fathom the logic of Fox network executives. The season finale is the last new episode of a series to air before the start of the next season. "Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge" is the last new "Simpsons" episode we'll see until (most likely) November. Therefore, by definition, the season finale is ... "The Frying Game (DABF16)," which aired last Sunday. Huh? If you ask me, "Poppa's" is the true finale, and that's a good thing, since it outshines "Frying." Tonight's show wins because it does well in all areas -- plot, characterization, and humor -- even if it isn't a classic in any particular one.
It's possible to ding the plot as being derivative of "Homer the Vigilante (1F09)," but other than the concept of Homer enforcing the law, tonight's show doesn't borrow much from the earlier episode. The writers have paced the story pretty well this time, setting up the conditions that cause Homer to go into the security business in the first act, and spending the remaining two dealing with his adventures at the head of SpringShield (the name he gives his agency). There's also an interesting twist near the beginning. Homer starts a blackout, which leads to rioting and widespread looting in the city. The amazing thing is, he *doesn't* do this while on the job at SNPP!
For most of this season, the writers have done a better job of characterization than they have in the recent past, and this show continues the trend. Homer surprised me, for instance, when he accepted responsibility for causing the blackout. He's also fairly competent as a security professional (evidently, he learned something from "Homer the Vigilante"), which is arguably less funny than his usual Homer-ish performance but serves the plot better. Even though he has plenty of opportunity to do so, he never pulls his "jerkass Homer" routine. Lest you think Homer has gotten *too* serious, note that while he doesn't permit Bart to join in the rioting, he's okay with the boy getting a beer. The rest of the family written well and, although this is clearly a Homer episode, they all have something interesting to do. (Even Maggie, who has a small but pivotal role in the third act.)
Humor represents almost the full spectrum of what we've seen this season. Most of it is good. During the riots, one of the rioters uses a cinderblock to smash into a store that sold more cinderblocks. Homer says his new job combines his love of helping people with his love of hurting people, which does in part describe a security officer's job motivation. I also liked Johnny Tightlips, a mobster who ain't sayin' nothin' -- and really means it, too. Yes, it's good, but shy of the excellence that marks my favorite "Simpsons" episodes. A few jokes don't work as well as intended. At one point in the show, Lenny and Carl unknowingly cruise toward one another in their giant SUVs, while yakking on their cell phones. We can easily see what is going to happen, but drawing the joke out doesn't make it any funnier. When Skinner entices the students back to school with air conditioning, characters from "Fat Albert" and Archie comics show up. Amusing, but a little too much like "Family Guy" for my tastes. At least I can claim that the average level of humor has improved this season.
After reading Chris Pfeiler's essays on the subject, I'm inclined to agree that "The Simpsons" aren't as deep as they used to be. That lengthy SUV gag, for instance, was aiming at making a commentary about the arrogant driving habits we have today, but stops at the most obvious point. Something could also have been done with the fact that Homer, a private schmo, does a better policing job than the police themselves. On the other hand, I liked the scene where Fat Tony drives through Springfield, looking for Homer; it was atmospheric and sophisticated. Yes, I know it's there primarily because it's a parody of something else, but I've never seen whatever it was the writers were spoofing, so it was new to me. Besides, it stands well on its own merits, something that a TV/movie reference should do.
"Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge" represents the just-completed 13th season well. It succeeds not by having an unusual plot, exposing new facets of the characters, or deep wicked humor, but instead by doing everything reasonably well. This was a category many episodes fell into this season. It's nice to see that the finale -- the real finale -- ends the year on an up note. See you next season, Mr. Jean.
[The short of it]
"Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge" represents the just-completed 13th season well. It succeeds not by having an unusual plot, exposing new facets of the characters, or deep wicked humor, but instead by doing everything reasonably well. The plot was paced well, setting up the story and concluding it without feeling rushed. Homer and the family were written well, and, even though this was a Homer-centric episode, everyone had something interesting to do. Most of the humor was the good, if not that deep, stuff that marked most episodes this year. The Fat Tony driving scene was a sophisticated touch. In all, a nice way to end the season. (B+)
[DYNs]
... the man selling commemorative T-shirts was charging $15 each? ... one of the pictures on Lisa's mirror appears to be a heart with a drop falling from it (i.e., a bleeding heart)? ... Homer doesn't mention his job as pin-monkey at Barney's Bowl-A- Rama, even though this was his dream job? ... Maggie rocks along to "Radar Love?" Yeah! You go, girl!
[References]
"Poppa's Got a Brand New Bag" (song) - title a spoof
Archie comics - Jughead shows up at Springfield Elementary
"Fat Albert" (TV series) - Fat Albert also turns up
"Happy Days" (TV series) - so does Fonzie
"Terminator" (movie) - SES's air conditioner made by similar-sounding "Therminator"
"the terrorists win" (saying) - Homer says if he doesn't plug in dancin' Santa, "the environmentalists win"
"Guernica" (painting) - Otto lifts this painting during the looting frenzy
"Wooly Booly" (song) - hat store owner inspired by title to this song
"The Andy Griffith Show" (TV series) - Mayberry and Springfield both have a Otis the town drunk character
"High Noon" (movie) - gang of bad guys gives sheriff an ultimatum: Leave town by noon, or get shot - townspeople either refuse to back sheriff up, or encourage him to leave, much like what happens to Homer - sheriff resigns after gunfight, like Homer does
"Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace" - Homer says he dressed as much-maligned character Jar Jar Binks for Halloween
Superman (superhero) - Homer likens Maggie to Clark Kent, always "disappearing" when something exciting happens
[Personal Comments & Observations]
[1F09] Homer takes the law into his own hands
[1F22], [3G02] Heat wave washes over Springfield
[5F08] Grieg's "Morning" heard
[2F02] Characters from "Archie" comics appear
[9F07] Homer advertises a business on TV
[BABF20] Springfield's area code is 636 (for Homer's part of
Springfield, anyway)
[2F10], [3F23], [AABF05], [AABF21] Homer arguably competent at a new
career choice
[4F15] Chief Wiggum out of a job
[3F17] "Radar Love" heard on the radio
[2F20] Maggie shoots Mr. Burns
(This was funnier without Marge explaining it. Another
Chadderack "too much exposition" moment)Homer's resume:
[4F03] Boxer [7F05] Mascot [1F13] Astronaut [2F12] Imitation Krusty [CABF11] Babyproofer [AABF13] Trucker [AABF02] Hippie [9F07] Plow driver [AABF21] Food critic [AABF15] Conceptual artist [5F20] Grease salesman [5F08] Carney [BABF20] Mayor [CABF03] Grifter [AABF05] Bodyguard for the Mayor [8F19] Country and Western manager [5F09] Garbage commissioner [5F16] Mountain climber [AABF19] Farmer [5F21] Inventor [3F14] Smithers [4F12] Poochie [5F19] Celebrity Assistant [7G03] Power plant worker [CABF18] Fortune cookie writer [4F15] Beer baron [8F06] Kwik-E-Mart clerk [4F11] Homophobe [BABF11] and Missionary
That's not a complete list but, hey, it's only a half-hour show.
[FFF]
Headline (pre-melting):
HEAT WAVE
CONTINUESAir conditioner maker's label:
THERMINATOR
AIR CONDITIONERAir conditioner gauge:
+------------------------------------------------------+
| GLASGOW | WELL-DIGGER'S | WITCH'S ^ |
| WINTER | BUM TEAT | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
+------------------------------------------------------+Various Springfield businesses:
(During riots)
HAL'S LIQUOR CINDERBLOCK
VILLAGE
MUSIC WORLD(After riots)
ZESTY'S SPRINGFIELD
PIZZA - SUBS DONUTS(During Fat Tony's drive)
THE 99 CENT PORNO STORE
Brockman's news graphic:
TIME TO
PANIC <--- written in shaky lettersT-shirt:
I SURVIVED THE
SPRINGFIELD
R I O T <--- "shattered" typefaceEvidence hat:
WOOLY
BULLYHat store:
T
H WOOLY BULLY
EHomer's business logo:
SPRINGSHIELD
[Homer's ]
[portrait]Homer's phone number for this episode:
636 555 3472
Homer's customers have signs saying:
PROTECTED
BY
[ logo as ]
[seen above]Sign at Moe's:
TONIGHT IN
MOE'S ATTIC:
PAUL ANKA!Church sign:
First Church
of Springfield TOMORROW:
HOMER SIMPSON
FUNERALSpringfield highway sign:
WELCOME
TO
SPRINGFIELDELEV. 1522 POP. 30,720
SuperNintendo's bulletin board:
SUPERINTENDENT CHALMERS
[picture] NOW MORE
THAN EVER[Oops!]
= The doors on Lenny's SUV change from a side-by-side arrangement to the "clamshell" type (like on a station wagon).
- What's powering the equipment in Brockman's studio?
* Even if the studio has its own generator, nobody in town can watch his broadcast, unless they have gas-fired television.
+ CBG has kissed a "human girl," if you count Agnes. (Not that I blame him for trying to forget.)
[Personal Comments & Observations]
Another clue for the "Where is Springfield?" crowd: Tony drives past a road marker indicating he's on Interstate 95 (I-95). This highway runs roughly along the Eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida. A road map can be used to pinpoint Springfield's location. Good luck!
Lenny and Carl both unwittingly provide examples of the latest stereotype in bad driving: The SUV-driving yuppie too absorbed in his cell phone call to concentrate on piloting his monster truck down the road. Recently, there have been some high-profile cases like this. One country singer, his name escapes me at the moment, nearly lost his life when trying simultaneously to drive and pick his cell phone up off the floor. In reality, the number of accidents attributable to cell phone usage is detectable but small (1.5% according to AAA). I don't know if SUV drivers make up a disproportionate number of that accident total.
Lenny's truck resembles a Ford Excursion, the big kahuna of SUVs. Carl looks like he has the next-smaller, but still big, Ford Expedition.
Fat Tony and the gang drives to Homer's house in a Dodge minivan. The Cadillac must've been in the shop.
It's not strictly a Car Watch item, but Dr. Hibbert has looted himself one of those newfangled Segway Human Transport (formerly known as "Ginger") thingies.
Not necessarily. A lie detector only detects when the subject thinks he is lying. (If it detects anything at all, but that's another story.) The subject can be dead wrong about something, but if he thinks he's right, he isn't lying. Bart might be disappointed to learn that all he's proven is he thinks his sister's a dork.
Besides, a female dork is kind of a contradiction in terms.
As happens from time to time, scenes that are used in the promotion aren't shown in the final episode. (If they did, I don't remember them.) Tonight's show is a little unusual in that just about everything that was in the commercial wasn't in the show! The ad is about 30 seconds long, and maybe two-thirds of that was spent on a scene where Lisas urge Homer to run away, presumably from Fat Tony. Bart suggests Homer wears one of his mother's dresses as a disguise. Homer laments that he "hasn't been a size 6 since his prom." Good thing they showed the clip in the ad; otherwise we'd have missed this amusing scene.
* Ricky Martin is a Latin-pop singer who struck chart gold with "La Vida Loca." Rumors persist that he's secretly gay, which explains Willie's analogy about wasting energy.
* In the U.S., the show following premiere airing of this episode was Fox's "Celebrity Boxing" (sans Ed Asner and Mr. Ed, though). Coincidence? Or synergy?