First off, hiya folks. I've posted a few times here and lurked and read the capsules, but this is the first time I've ever submitted something "official" like a review or whatnot. But I think I'm well-versed enough to do so, and I'm bored, so why not? I have no idea if I'm doing something wrong here, but I'm sure you'll get the gist of it. Anyway, hi, everybody!
(awaits obligatory Dr. Nick reference)
<SPOILERS FOR "GUMP ROAST" ABOUND BELOW>
Previous Episode References-(besides the obvious clips)
"The Simpsons Spinoff Showcase-" Troy McClure runs down a list of ridiculous plot ideas for future episodes, much like this episode's musical montage. Plus, both featured "crazy wedding" gags.
"A Star is Burns"-Dr. Hibbert dresses as a movie charecter. ("I thought they were showing the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Ah-hehehehe!")
"Bart the Fink"-Troy mentions that Krusty is going to be roasted at the Friar's Club.
Movie (and other) References-
"Happy Days" (TV series) -there was an episode where The Fonz jumped over a shark like Homer did this week-many considered this the point at which the show lost the last of its quality. (see Comments for more)
Comments (hey, we're here already.)
"Jumping the Shark" It's an ironclad law of television that a long-running show can only go on for so long before it passes its prime and begins to coast on past successes-basically, a show that has "jumped the shark" is a show that used to be good but now is just a sad shadow of its former self. The term comes from the episode of Happy Days where Fonzie jumps over a shark on his motorcycle-it was a sign of the begining of the end for that show. So, the (brilliant) scene of Homer jumping over a shark on waterskis at the end of this episode is a bit of self-depricating humor (or perhaps a confession?) from the producers. Of course, weather or not The Simpsons has truly jumped the shark is up for debate; personally I feel it hasen't as of yet (it's not as good as it was, but it's not BAD either)
Of course, after seeing the preview for next week's ep, I'm thinking maybe I'm wrong. "Homer Becomes the Incredible Hulk" is at least as stupid as "Marge Becomes a Robot." Let's hope that scene is a dream sequence or something.
If you'd like to learn more about jumping the shark, check your local library...or go to www.jumptheshark.com Better yet, just do the second thing.
But does it count?
I propose that this episode should not stand as canon,but be pushed into the realm of the Halloween Specials and "Behind the Laughter"-mainly because the whole thing at the end with Kodos and Kang was completly ridiculous,way too much to count as a "real story." Like thier appearances in the Halloween specials, these simply can't be part of canon because I think having aliens show up (and confirm the exsitance of God to boot!) would change the world in drastic ways, and the once-sleepy little town of Springfield would suddenly become the center of a firestorm of media attention as the place where first contact was made; eventually it would gain the legendary status that towns like Roswell or Loch Ness "enjoy."
And let's not forget that for this episode to work, someone would have had to have been following Homer around and videotaping all of his various adventures, (even his private moments at home) without anyone noticing. Of course, this isen't the first time something's happened that simply can't fit in with the other episodes (amazing how the town looks exactly the same after they moved it five miles down the road) so I'm probably just thinking about this too hard.
Animation, Continuity, and Other Goofs-
-While Kodos (or Kang-whoever) is twirling his raygun after zapping Krusty, Marge's mouth is moving but she doesen't say anything.
-How come Homer isen't in jail now considering they showed a tape of him breaking into people's houses and stealing thier Funzo dolls? My guess is Wiggum let him walk in return for more candy.
-Maggie was not present for most if not all of the celebrity apperances they showed, so how can she be "remembering" them now?
Review-
Whee, a clip show. I don't like clip shows too much, especially not Simpsons clip shows-where I live we have an hour of syndicated Simpsons reruns every weekday-that's twenty eps a week. So I've already seen all these old moments ad nasuem-I really don't need to see them again. Having said that, the framing story, while completly ridiculous, was serviceably funny (though nothing stellar)-it's good to see the writers were trying to make the episode itself funny and not just relying on the clips to do thier job for them (a temptation they succumed to in "Another Simpsons Clip Show" and "All Singing, All Dancing." ) Well, the framing story WAS okay up to the Kodos and Kang appearance, which was both unfunny and just stupid. I really don't know how to take that sequence-it kind of seems like an example of the awful plotting the writers were trying to spoof in the ending song-maybe that was the point, but if it was it wasen't made clear enough for me. Speaking of that closing song-it was hilarious! I kept rewinding and laughing my head off at it. Completly brilliant and refreshingly honest. Too bad the rest of the episode was so uneven. This is still my least favorite episode of the season, but the song is easily my favorite moment of the season. Weird, huh? The song and the few good new lines here and there save it from an F, but it still doesen't deserve more than a <D+>
-Wyvern
At least they said they were sorry.