Simpsons Roundup!

Okay, let's do this.

I've been meaning to get to this for nearly two weeks now but it just keeps getting pushed back, but NO LONGER! The Simpsons finale had the misfortune of airing the very night of the LOST-ACULAR extravaganza, so I had a bit of a dilema. Ultimately, I decided to record the latter and go with that, which I've gone with for many a season. Not my original intention, but in the moment, I surprised myself.

Have I any regrets?

None at all. Lost was good, but ultimately left me a little underwhelmed, (as did much of season six, which, perhaps I'll get to some other time), and my Simpsons season finale tradition remained intact, very possibly for the last time. Either way, I think I would have perservered. But at the time, it seemed like a difficult choice.


"Judge Me Tender"
05/2310
Season Finale

When Moe discovers a hidden talent for judging contests, he is approached by a television agent to join the AMERICAN IDOL judges' panel. Moe flies to Los Angelos where he tours the Fox lot and recieves some sage career advice. Meanwhile, Homer drives Marge crazy when he begins hanging around the house.


It feels so long ago, I barely remember the finer details on this one. I can remember more than one riff on Fox's other cash cow in previous seasons, (one of them also a finale, if I'm not mistaken), but that one was about Lisa and Homer. This baby was all Moe.

The truth is, I've seen far better episodes, particularly finales, but this one had it's moments. Actually, I find premiers and finales tend to disapoint because they're rarely all that special. I actually prefer the second-to-last episodes of the season. For some reason, they tend to bring more of the goods. Some of you may remember Homerpalooza, followed by a quaint, but good, Lisa episode to cap of season six, (or was it seven? Ah, who cares?)

The guest voices were all there. Two-timer, Simon Cowell, along with the entire American Idol cast did their thang to little or no effect and the story kind of fell into lazy territory during the later acts. There were still some good chuckles, though, don't get me wrong. No doubt, it'll get better with repeat viewings, when all those pesky expectations are forgotten and I can just chill-ax and enjoy a little time with my crew. I should also mention another two-time guest voice, Fox's head-honcho, Rupert Murdoch, who came in for a small cameo at the end. Least he could do, I'd say, for the show that keeps on giving.

Anyway, here's some stuff that stood out for me this first time around.

Flyby: An angelic Ned Flanders flaps skyward.
Bilboard: Krusty’s One Year Sobriety Special has been cancelled;
Chalkboard: "The end of Lost: It was all the dog’s dream.Watch us." (No, that’s not a legit spoiler). This was ironically, a highlight for me.
Couch Gag: Homer and Bart act out a Punch and Judy puppet show; Bart is ‘Punch’, at least until Homer starts strangling him under the stage.

I enjoyed having a, (minor), subplot featuring everybody's favorite pooch, (no, not poochie), Santa's Little Helper, struggling with -caugh- self-esteem issues after Moe insults him. Lisa makes it her mission to raise the dog's spirits, (yes I'm actually typing this). Those two don't usually do much together.

Homer: You never fail to nauseate me boy.
Bart: Just call me Barf Simpson.
Homer: I wanted to, but your mother said kids might tease you.

Homer: You can't close! I'll have to go home and drink better beer at half the price... and natural lighting!

Simon: How do you like LA?
Moe: It's a hell of a city. It's like someone stepped on New York and scraped it off on the beach.

Homer: That was awesome. I feel like the Tiger Woods of sex.

Another gem featured Ralph go on a profanity-laced tirade against Moe, which arugualbly got the biggest laugh of the night.

All in all, a fairly decent episode to cap off what I thought was an above average season. Some really good entries this year. Now come the reruns. Frankly, I'm ok with that. I've been saying for awhile now, The Simpsons needs to rest. Before we know it, though, that season 22 premier will be upon us.

Sleep well, my friends.

D.A.