The Simpsons

June 28, 2002 2:55 PM

The Simpsons are indubitably America's first family, and since I'm spending my unemployed Friday afternoon looking for fun instead of looking for work, I thought I'd share. Find a favorite! "See my vest...." to "Ay, Caramba!" Have they lost their zing? Is it time to end (troll) the best TV show of all time (/troll)?
posted by BitterOldPunk (39 comments total)

Well I hate to be the spoil sport, but open-ended topics like this without good supporting links aren't really that good for metafilter. Especially since you didn't even mention snpp.com.
posted by geoff. at 3:09 PM on June 28, 2002

Marge vs. the Monorail, hands down.

"Simpson, Homer Simpson, He's the greatest guy in history.."
posted by SiW at 3:14 PM on June 28, 2002

Marge: "Homer, you'll kill yourself!"
Homer: "Or die trying!"
posted by TacoConsumer at 3:18 PM on June 28, 2002

You're right Geoff, but I've been drinking.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 3:40 PM on June 28, 2002

Geez geoff, don't have a cow, man! ;-)
posted by muppetboy at 3:42 PM on June 28, 2002

It's the bread of astronauts!

(I've been drinking too...)
posted by dorian at 4:03 PM on June 28, 2002

"The only danger is if they send us to that terrible Planet of the Apes. Wait a minute... Statue of Liberty... that was OUR planet! You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you! Damn you all to hell!"

A lot of my friends don't care so much for the early seasons, but I think the blowfish episode is a great moment in television.
posted by nath at 4:10 PM on June 28, 2002

What I am waiting for is the Simpsons theme park that will put Disneyland to shame. A life-size version of Springfield complete with Moe's Bar, Burns' Estate, the power plant, Evergreen Terrace, a border with Shelbyville, the Android's dungeon... and rides galore. Can you imagine? The mind reels.

As soon as they build that and the Star Wars theme park that is so desperately needed in this country, I will rekindle my youthful love of theme parks.
posted by cell divide at 4:18 PM on June 28, 2002

mmm...invisible cola...

cell divide: Word.
posted by i_cola at 4:26 PM on June 28, 2002

While neither rabid Simpsons fans who have very episode memorized, nor those who think it's the downfall of American society, my wife and I do have our favorite episode. It's Natural Born Kissers (the one where Homer and Marge decide to spice up their sex life by "doing it" in different quasi-public places) [description]. When Homer gets tangled in the rope from the hot-air balloon and his naked ass is dragged across the glass building we nearly have laughing fits.

It's these small moments that make marriage work after 17 years.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:55 PM on June 28, 2002

While maybe not the funniest episode or best written one, I think that Lisa's Substitute maybe be the best of the bunch.

• a guest star who can act
• Bart, Lisa AND Homer story lines
• Homer being a good father
• no travelogue, bizarre occurances or silly premises
• a happy ending

It has a rank of 245th according to the site, but it's still one of my favourites.
posted by Grum at 5:06 PM on June 28, 2002

Everytime I learn something new, it puts some old stuff out of my brain. Remember how I took that home wine making course and forgot how to drive?

That's because you were drunk!

And how.
posted by jennyb at 5:59 PM on June 28, 2002

Homer talks to a waffle that is stuck to the ceiling.

"I know I shouldn't eat thee. Mmmmm... sacrilicious."
posted by goto11 at 6:36 PM on June 28, 2002

The local Fox just reran my fave: Homer takes the Guatemalen insanity pepper and searches for his soulmate.

Favorte line:

Homer: Should I...meditate? Get rid of my posessions?

Coyote: (looks surprised, disgusted) Of course not...if anything, you should get more posessions. You don't even have a computer.
posted by crunchburger at 8:12 PM on June 28, 2002

"tomacco!"

Prob'ly not my favorite, but I do love talking sheep.
posted by sj at 8:24 PM on June 28, 2002

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man." -Jebediah Springfield
posted by gazingus at 8:55 PM on June 28, 2002

Homer's Enemy. "I live in a single room above a bowling alley and below another bowling alley!" - Frank Grimes.
posted by Gary at 9:42 PM on June 28, 2002

I always thought that the Simpsons stayed on the air so that MeFi could always have a ready supply of one-liners. My favorites include:

Best. Post. Ever.
Worst. Post. Ever.
and of course, the ever clever, d'oh.

Of course, I kid. I kid. I would be strung up as a heretic if I didn't watch the Simpsons religiously.
posted by BlueTrain at 10:56 PM on June 28, 2002

Bart v. Australia.
posted by sugarfish at 11:12 PM on June 28, 2002

Homie The Clown. 'Nuff said.

"That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough...I'm going to Clown College!"
posted by davidmsc at 1:56 AM on June 29, 2002

I vote Lisa's Sax as best episode ever.

[singing]
Homer: Disco Duck and Fleetwood Mac,
Marge: Coming out of my eight-track,
Homer & Marge: Michael Jackson still was black, those were the days!

Also:

Homer [to Apu]: Will you get off my front lawn?
Apu: Why don't you make me?
Homer: Why? Oh, I give up.

This scene from and Maggie Makes Three (how can you tell I like the flashback episodes a lot?) is a favourite:

Homer: Listen carefully and my words will shape images as clear as any TV show. It was a tumultuous time for our nation: the clear beverage craze gave us all a reason to live. The information superhighway showed the average person what some nerd thinks about Star Trek. And the domestication of the dog continued unabated.
[flash to Homer at work]
I was at my work station when suddenly --
[a voice comes over the PA]
Terrorist: Attention American workers: your plant has been taken over by an all-star team of freelance terrorists.
[the lights go off; the emergency lighting comes on]
Homer: Not on _my_ shift!
[jumps into an overhead vent] [in Burns' office, terrorists prepare to kill bound and gagged Lenny, Burns, and Carl] [Homer arrives through a vent and karate chops them all]
Homer: Simpson ten, terrorists eight.
posted by sillygwailo at 2:04 AM on June 29, 2002

Finally, a MeFi thread that sounds exactly like every conversation I have with my 2 best friends.

My 2 cents:

Rev. Lovejoy: "Ned, have you ever considered one of the other major religions? They're all basically the same."

Lenny: "I'm Lenny. This is Carl and Homer. I'm Lenny."

Little Vicky: "Self-tapping shoes? I'm ever so pissed!"

Tappa tappa tappa...
posted by toddshot at 2:33 AM on June 29, 2002

Homer:"Life is just one crushing disappointment after another until you just wish Flanders was dead."

Marge:"But Homer, you loved Rashomon!"
Homer:"That not they way I remember it..."
posted by McBain at 5:07 AM on June 29, 2002

And of course, "Mr. Sparkle, sends dirts and food stuffs to the land of wind and ghosts".
posted by McBain at 5:09 AM on June 29, 2002

Fave episode: Cape Feare. If only for the rakes scene. And Homer not being Mr. Thompson. And Bart's London chimney sweep. And McBain's homosexual gaffe.

And benevolent general Krull.

And Grampa: "I'm cold, and there are wolves after me."
posted by MUD at 7:33 AM on June 29, 2002

Homer (at the post office): "Hello, my name is Mr. Burns. I think you have a letter for me."

Postal employee: "Okay, Mr. Burns. What is your first name?"

Homer: "I don't know"
posted by gregwlsn at 8:38 AM on June 29, 2002

"well, there's your answer fishbulb."
posted by jcterminal at 9:40 AM on June 29, 2002

I always liked Fear of Flying

Homer at the She-She Club: Wait a minute...there's something bothering me about this place. [looks around] I know! This lesbian bar doesn't have a fire exit. Enjoy your death trap, ladies

And of course, the Guy Incongnito scene.
posted by Monk at 10:00 AM on June 29, 2002

Homer: Lord, please forgive me because I do not think I am smart.
posted by msposner at 10:57 AM on June 29, 2002

When Homer gets tangled in the rope from the hot-air balloon and his naked ass is dragged across the glass building we nearly have laughing fits

Even better when you remember that it's a chapel. And it's the dedication ceremony, isn't it?

I second Fishbulb (the video they send is hilarious). My all time fave must be when lisa goes veggie though.

The film they show in lisa's class is great. When they talk about the food chain and the shark comes out of a pond and eats the gorilla. Tears to my eyes.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:06 AM on June 29, 2002

Don't kid yourself, Ufez...if that cow had a chance, he's eat you & everyone you care about!
posted by davidmsc at 1:42 PM on June 29, 2002

When I grow up, I'm going to Bovine University!
posted by turaho at 1:45 PM on June 29, 2002

I've video taped every episode of the show. It takes dedication.

Homer: "Son, don't worry what the other kids say. You're doing what you wanna do with your life— Nothing else matters."
Bart: "Thanks, dad. That's great advice."
Homer: "Well, it got me where I am today!"
Bart: *groan*
posted by Down10 at 2:22 PM on June 29, 2002

Mmmmmm..... free goo.
posted by jokeefe at 2:39 PM on June 29, 2002

I love the choices of music thwe show has used from time to time, too. When Homer is on hold with the parenting institute in Saturdays of Thunder the hold music is "Cat's in the Cradle"... brilliant.

Similarly in Homer Alone, when Homer loses Maggie and calls the police... and "Baby Come Back" comes on. Beautiful. So many good times...
posted by nath at 5:09 PM on June 29, 2002

Let's see:

Homer's freefall potato chip eating bit set to The Blue Danube Waltz from [1F13] Deep Space Homer along with Homer the Heretic.

[3G01] The Springfield Files

Hello. I'm Leonard Nimoy. The following tale of alien encounters is true. And by true, I mean false. It's all lies. But they're entertaining lies. And in the end, isn't that the real truth? The answer is: No.

[4F02] Treehouse of Horror VII

Kodos: It's true, we are aliens. But what are you going to do about it? It's a two-party system; you have to vote for one of us.

Man1: He's right, this is a two-party system.

Man2: Well, I believe I'll vote for a third-party candidate.

Kang: Go ahead, throw your vote away!

Now if I could just get the programming morons at the local FOX station to occasionally show episodes that weren't from the last three seasons, which were rather weak. Anyone else have this problem? Fortunately, I have most of the earlier stuff on VHS.
posted by mark13 at 7:11 PM on June 29, 2002

You know kids, I love the Simpsons as much as the next person but it takes second place in the all-time greatest TV show ranking to "The Prisoner" and has to battle to keep "The Day Today" out of second position (succeding only because the episodes are more numerous).
posted by davidgentle at 7:27 PM on June 29, 2002

I love the choices of music th[e] show has used from time to time, too.

My all time favorite is when Homer is entering the ring for his boxing match against the Tyson look alike to the tune of "Why can't we be friends, why can't we be friends, why can't we be friends".

I am also love when Homer just goes insane: "Hey there, blimpy boy, flyin' through the air so fancy free."
posted by McBain at 9:05 PM on June 29, 2002

When Homer is on hold with the parenting institute in Saturdays of Thunder the hold music is "Cat's in the Cradle"... brilliant.

I love those. Marge phones about the evil Krusty doll to hear "Everybody love's a clown" and the mental institution plays "Crazy". But my favorite is when Homer phones the department of missing babies and is put on hold to "baby come back".
posted by Gary at 12:01 AM on June 30, 2002