The Simpsons - Screen Scene

RE: The Simpsons

Matt Zimmer — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:36:08 +0000

The Simpsons “The Fall Guy-Yi-Yi!” I should probably do a longer review but I don’t feel like it. I remember how much I detested the first spotlight episode for Cletus the Slack-jawed Yokel. I heard about the premise to this and was like “Uh oh.” It’s not bad. But the show trying to add racial sensitivities to its gross stereotypes nearly 40 years later is trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube. They tried to do something similar with Apu in one of his later episodes, and it just did NOT work. At least Hank Azaria isn’t doing the voice. Pedro as a name is kind of a let-down but at least he’s finally given a name. And the episode has some solid jokes. Like the revelation that it was the entire family who snitched on Pedro and not just Bart. Or Homer realizing he hates Bart and doesn’t care what he thinks of him (correct perspective). We haven’t gotten a Lewis line in a while (he used to be pretty heavily featured in the first season as one of Bart’s three best friends, along with Milhouse and a kid named Richard). I love him bragging that his dad is James Corden’s bodyguard. Do you know how many people want to punch James Corden? I don’t think this was quite successful but it could have been worse. Bumblebee Man’s “redemption” played better than Cletus or Apu’s. 3 stars. The Simpsons “Seperance” Me: “I really need to see Severance.” Watches this episode. Me after: “Maybe I don’t.” I will say this: Dan Castellaneta’s performance in the last scene pretending to be excited by Lisa’s popsicle stick puppets was hilarious. “YOU did this?! A CHILD??!” Busted a gut. But maybe I don’t actually need to see Severance. 3 stars.

RE: The Simpsons

Matt Zimmer — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 15:37:56 +0000

The Simpsons "Parahormonal Activity" Honestly, I expected it to be MUCH worse. I'll call it a mild win instead. Lindsay Lohan as Maggie is a shock. Not because of the stunt casting. But more because the show finally understands not having Maggie speak in the future episodes is just fucking stupid. It's pointless, it's not funny, and Maggie already had Elizabeth Taylor speak her first word, so it's not even necessary. I like that the episode said "Screw it," and gave her a voice. Jasper in the freezer again. When Homer calls Flanders his favorite person ever, that kind of tracks, believe it or not. His negative obsession with Flanders makes little sense if he doesn't secretly adore him. I expected a trainwreck. Maggie talked instead. I'm cool with that. 3 1/2 stars.

RE: The Simpsons

Matt Zimmer — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:06:34 +0000

The Simpsons “Guess Who’s Coming To Skinner” This is what I will be calling an “Every Simpsons Ever” episode. I dislike those episodes for obvious reasons, and the show simply refuses to stop doing them. I forgot Willie was married now. Mostly because the show can never keep this shit straight ever so I never bother to either. The thing with Bart and the snowglobe fight made me think Skinner was right when he called Homer and Marge garbage parents. The Chalmers pimp joke was kind of funny. I also thought the bit of Milhouse claiming Lisa didn’t write anything and just ran the room was great, leading to Lisa fuming that choosing great stuff is just as hard as writing great stuff. That is such a writer’s joke. NOW they can pitch was great too. The Status quo must always be returned to at the end of almost every episode. Willie gets married here and there, but for the most part episodes that turn a character’s life upside-down with a major change suck because the major change is never permanent and will almost always be walked back at the end. And knowing that doesn’t just give the episode in question no stakes. It gives the entire SHOW no stakes. The lack of stakes is The Simpsons’ biggest, most damaging weakness, and the longer it runs, the worse it is. If I were the show I would not be routinely trafficking in episodes that rub our faces in that specific weakness. If I ran things I would want to downplay it. I don’t run things. 2 stars.

RE: The Simpsons

Matt Zimmer — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:41:29 +0000

The Simpsons "Aunt Misbehavin'" Honestly, I thought it was good. It’s not gonna win any Emmys, but it was solid. The thing about Homer loving being dead is something that goes back to the thing David Mirkin used to always talk up about Homer: He’s a refreshingly positive character. He’s the guy who gets excited at new billboard day. Of course he is only going to see the positive in something that would ruin anybody else’s life. I get why Patty missed this (She thinks he’s worse than he is). I don’t get why Bart did. Maybe because the kid is stupid and worthless. That’s probably it. I love Homer saying Merle is a rough hang. The cuddling statement ought to be cute, but when Merle says it, it’s gross. It’s not remotely a gross statement. The opposite in fact. But when Stephen Tobolowsky says it, it’s fuckin’ nasty. I was a little worried hearing it was a Patty and Selma episode. Could Julie Kavner still do the voices? She was able to this week (and I don’t think she is always able to). A bit of a relief. Decent week. 2 1/2 stars.

RE: The Simpsons

Matt Zimmer — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:40:32 +0000

The Simpsons “The Day Of The Jack-Up”

If this had aired during the Golden Years it would be considered quite average.

Which is pretty much the highest praise I can give a modern episode.

It’s not perfect. I can buy Bart starting a scam in the laziest way possible. But this specific scam would need SERIOUS seed money to buy that first round of tickets, and Bart has none, making him the worst culprit reveal possible.

Still, the CGI animation in the dance number was equally hypnotic and annoying.

Pretty great Trap homage (or an average episode of The Golden Years). But the mystery resolve is still not plausible. 4 stars.

Fortnite x The Simpsons: Apocalypse D’Oh “The Incredible Bulk”

Not great. 2 stars.

RE: The Simpsons

Matt Zimmer — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:18:16 +0000

The Simpsons “Sashes To Sashes”

I honestly don’t see the point of this.

Do cartoons even NEED a point? If they want a positive review from me, they do. 1 1/2 stars.

Fortnite x The Simpsons “Multiplidiocy”

Well trod territory. The first half very much channels the Treehouse of Horror with the Homer clones and the second half is nearly identical to the plot of the first issue of Simpsons Comics. They even use some of the same jokes!. 3 stars.

RE: The Simpsons

Matt Zimmer — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:06:27 +0000

The Simpsons “Bad Boys…. For Life?”

Yeah, Al Jean has been doing this for too long. It's a nice episode to go out on, but let's move on, okay?

Best Homer lines are a tie between "Kids... Kids... You're BOTH unwanted," and "How did people raise kids before duct tape?"

I am 100% sure Poochie appeared in the flashback simply to piss fans off. It DOES piss me off a little.

I mean, I get the purpose of Conway Twitty on Family Guy. Doesn't mean I like Conway Twitty. Knowing the purpose of the prank against you doesn't actually make the prank funny. In fact, knowing the actual purpose works against it and it becomes annoying instead.

Let's move on, all right? Jean's been doing this too long anyways. 3 1/2 stars.

The Simpsons “Bart ‘N’ Frink”

It tried to do too much. The ending didn't exactly fall apart but the fantasy sequence could definitely be confused for that.

That being said, the episode is STILL likable as hell. Frink's honest refusal to agree with Bart that he's dumb is just, well, GREAT. I believe the episode is cheating Bart's character a bit by suggesting he has a great memory and is smart. But the rift occurring because Frink refuses to indulge Bart's dumb act and knows he can do better makes the episode impossible to dislike.

Whether it's right about Bart or not (and I don't think it is), whether Bart is out of character or not (and I think he is) it's refreshing for him to have an advocate about this specific thing. Lord knows nobody else would ever climb out on THAT specific limb for him.

Who would ever want to leave New Zealand? The redacted jokes were pretty funny, although by the end, they broke the fourth wall more than this show is usually permitted to.

Overstuffed episode, but still immensely likable. 4 stars.

Fortnite / The Simpsons "Apocalypse D'Oh"

Normally the crossover promotion shit on Disney+ is unwatchable. THIS? Actually isn't bad. 4 stars.
Fortnite / The Simpsons "Sugar High"

There's a wrinkle at the end. 3 1/2 stars.

RE: The Simpsons

Matt Zimmer — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:54:12 +0000

The Simpsons "Men Behaving Manly"

The Maya "explanation" is unnecessary, and worse, the timeframe pisses me off. I loved their hug though.

Al Jean's last episode as showrunner. We've come to the point in the run where not every Albert Brooks episode is a home run anymore, but even when it's not, A. Brooks kills it every time. The comic timing of the phone call with his mother reminded me pleasurably of Sideshow Bob stepping on the rake exactly 11 times. It's not funny, then it's kind of funny. Then it's annoying and stupid. And then it's the funniest thing EVER! But because Brooks is Brooks, we hit that final step long before Sideshow Bob and the rakes did.

I felt the premise was weak and the show searching for a problem that doesn't exist. These types of men's therapy camps were certainly prevalent in the early 1990's, so it's bizarre to see them brought back here as if the problems are timely, or freaking timeless. They're not. The episode was dated thirty-five years before it was created.

The Family Guy slam is interesting because because it's entirely self-deprecating. The show acknowledges it does not remotely have the high ground regarding the premise, or even who did it first. They are both damaging premises when examined closely, and both owe great debts to earlier shows (Family Guy, this one, and The Simpsons, The Flintstones).

The Howard The Duck reveal is dated, and I'm not sure many people of younger generations would get the fuss. Frankly I don't either. That was NOT a highly anticipated movie that disappointed legions of excited fans. It was a turkey nobody saw because nobody WANTED to see it. They wanted to do that EXACT joke and make it work for Comic Book Guy, they should have made it The Phantom Menace. Sure, the timeline wouldn't match up, but Howard the Duck doesn't actually either, and what good is negative continuity for if not that exact shit?

A. Brooks made the episode seem better than it actually was. He does that. Good for the show in understanding the value of that and not overusing him. 3 1/2 stars.

RE: The Simpsons

Matt Zimmer — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 01:34:37 +0000

The Simpsons “Treehouse Of Horror XXXVI”

Opening

Thud. Who are they even mad at? 2 stars.

The Last Days Of Crisco

Is this Lou's biggest spotlight ever? Seeing him onscreen so much I just realized he has a weird character design.

Not sure why this was set in the 1970's. Must be spoofing something I don't get. Jaws, maybe?

Not bad. I think I'll enjoy the fair. 3 stars.

Clown Night With The Devil

The Devil has a great voice (Idris Elba!) and very expressive animation.

I remember Zoom, Romper Room, and The Great Space Coaster. Loved the Zoom kid speaking Abu Dabi.

So THAT'S why Krusty has lasted this long. 3 1/2 stars.

Plastic World

That was amazing. I especially love how the animation style was a cross between hand-drawn, CGI, and stop-motion.

The end reveal of Maggie World (voiced by Viola Davis) was amazing too, as were the "What A Wonderful World" end credits.

I loved it. 5 stars.

Episode Overall: 3 1/2 stars.

RE: The Simpsons

Matt Zimmer — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 02:24:34 +0000

The Simpsons "Keep Chalm And Gary On"

This wasn't the Worst Episode Ever and it wasn't the Best Episode Ever. It was Every Episode Ever. It's just formula and boring and unnecessary.

I do have to admit I find Bart's crush on Miss Peyton totally cute. And I liked the gag that Chalmers wasn't Frasier, but Rebecca.

Chalmers' slow motion scream with the giant snails was funny too.

Love the Jane Goodall tribute card at the end.

But man, I really don't see the selling point of the show still being on the air. It's not like they are actually telling new stories. Not really. 3 stars.