I’m making a movie and I need your help! Link to the Kickstarter is here: kck.st/30QHNvx AND TO CLARIFY: Element 2 is HOW those jokes are handled, as in the quality and frequency of them, not just their existence!
someone once noted how the simpsons used to have episodes WITH guest stars, where as now a days they have episodes ABOUT guest stars. its the difference between 'the lady gaga episode' and 'the episode with leonard nimoy'
It has been discussed that Marge vs. the Monorail actually has all of the elements of what would later define the Simpsons' worst episodes - the ludicrously unrealistic plot, Homer getting thrust into some new position of authority despite his complete lack of competence, the moment where everyone goes "Hey look, it's a celebrity guest star!", that kind of stuff - but this episode gets away with it. Part of it is that the show itself was still fairly grounded at the time so it could get away with the occasional flirtation with the absurd. But mostly... the jokes land. It's as simple as that.
I would argue the problem with new episodes is not exactly what you listed above, given most of those elements were on great episodes as well (Hank Scorpio is the best villain imo). The main problem is that they started repeating the exact same plot and structure with a few modifications hoping viewers wouldn't be bored by the same content with a twist. Even if you read the descriptions of new episodes you will remember an early one. Also, they took all the characteristics from the family and turned them into caricatures of themselves(the irony, I know). The biggest ones being Homer, a dummie with a heart of gold turned into a barely functioning buffoon; and Lisa, the voice of reason that was supposed to reflect the audience, turned into the obnoxious know-it-all that doesn't understand comedy. This one is even sadder because she was my favorite...
@@unouni2548 exactly. Rewatching the movie was genuinely hard just because how cruel, callous and unlikeable homer was in that film. It was so uncomfortable. Like we see homerplaooza with lower stakes but it still has heart he's hurting himself to make those around him proud but even his selflessness at the end seems artificial and just so bad.
@Ryan King That was one of John Swartzwelder's biggest blunders to me. Either that or no one in the writers room at that point in time questioned him. If you listen to the DVD commentaries, you'll hear how John was such a fanatic of the old timey things that the episode was parodying and it shows. Also, hot take: Ian Maxtone-Graham is a hack that opened the door for the general awfulness the show is known for today. Take a gander at the gags that made your eyes roll in his episodes and they stack just as even as modern episodes.
I feel like an overlooked factor of what made classic Simpsons so good was the heart, that speaks to human nature. Episodes like “Lisa on Ice” where Lisa and Bart are hockey rivals and then put their differences aside and hug it out, or “Mother Simpson” where Homer sits somberly with the sunset turning to night in the background while looking at his mom leave him again and just wishing she’d stay. I’d appreciate if you could do a Part II that accounts for the factors you already brought up, but bring in the heart, maybe something like “Bart Sells His Soul”, “And Maggie Makes Three”, “You Only Move Twice”, or “One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish”
My favorite line was near the end where Bart and Homer feel like the train is gonna crash and Bart is like "at least we'll take a lot of innocent people with us."
My all time favorite Simpsons episode has gotta be "And Maggie Makes 3" aside from it being hilarious, it managed to be extremely touching, relatable, and hands down the best ending to any Simpsons episode I've ever seen. I still tear up watching it to this day.
Couldn’t agree more. It’s extremely difficult to blend comedy with sentiment effortlessly. And it’s ESPECIALLY difficult to do it in a cartoon. That episode also brings a tear to my eye as well.
My fave Simpsons episode is Lemon of Troy. It has some pretty good laughs, tells a good adventure of Bart and his friends, and it’s where Homer’s iconic line “Stupid like a fox” came from.
I can probably remember more lines from this than any other episode of television, between, "There's a doin's a'transpirin'!", "Shake harder boy!", "Wait...there's a lemon behind that rock!", "That's probably why we beat them in football nearly half the time.", "I thought you said you could read lips!"/"I assumed I could.", "So this is what it feels like, when doves cry!", "Spring forth, burly protector!", "Hark to the tale of Nelson, and the boy he loved so dear/They remained the best of friends for years and years and years!", "Look, somebody's beautiful cousin!", "Now let's all celebrate, with a cool glass of turnip juice."....to name a few.
Always loved 22 Short Films about Springfield, it hasn’t really got all the elements for a perfect episode but the way all the seemingly separate stories link together is genius. Really helped me appreciate the Simpson’s universe as well.
@@steveguse4481 My favorite anecdote Conan told about the Simpsons was that once, they were going to have both Troy McClure and Lional Hutz in hte same episode - but then they realized that Hartman, the "man of a thousand voices", only really had one voice. So they had to cancel that idea...
Agreed. He's an excellent editor, in my opinion. He does an excellent job of using it to make his points effectively while also being visually appealing and unique.
I actually like a lot of the slower episodes, Bart vs Thanksgiving is one of my favorites just because it creates completely realistic family dynamics and behavior around the holiday.
Personally my favourite episode has to be “Mother Simpson” from Season 7 That last scene when Homer sits on his car watching the stars ✨ makes me ugly cry every time 😭♥️
I always love watching them even though i dont watch them other wise unless it the old one from season 1 to 14 but then it a hit or miss after them. But i did like season 19, then 21, 25, weren't that bad
What I think is the best (and my favorite) was Treehouse of Horror V. Each segment was classic, and it was the most violent and edgy episode for years.
Skinners’ Sense of Snow is one of my all time favorite episodes. Just the scene where homer hits something while driving in the snow and replies “I hope it was Flanders”, while Ned is sitting right next to him 😂 Classic.
Skinner's Sense of Snow is a very underrated and underappreciated episode because it's not from the golden years. I honestly remember watching it and thinking it was a season 3 episode. It didn't feel like season 12. Easily one of the best episodes post golden years
My favorite episode has always been the barbershop quartet episode and it fits these qualifications. First it’s fairly absurd, with Homer being in a big band and winning a Grammy and not bringing it up before and since. Next, it has a guest star and that is George Harrison. The episode doesn’t revolve around him and in fact he’s only there for like two jokes. This whole episode was also kind of a reference to The Beatle’s career, with them starting of formal, and then Barney or John, wanted to experiment more with his girlfriend, or Yoko.Thirdly, it puts in Homer in an absurd position. The episode also is just plain funny, with some of the most classic jokes. Finally, the episode actually has emotion and especially near the end when Homer was going to call his former group.
I love that episode as well. But there are so many in the first seasons is hard to come up even with a top ten. But that one would certainly be up there.
Exasperated Marge: "It's not Batman!" LOL! Oh, Leonard Nimoy and Phil Hartman, you are greatly missed. Rest easy and thank you both. Also, bless you, Truckasaurus. You are beloved by all.
The highest rated episode on IMDB is Homer's Enemy. I think it would be interesting to do an analysis of the tough message of how sometimes we just can't win and the American Dream
@@brizuelasergioo Americans are not willing to accept that fact ever. They see a few hundred out of 320million making it and delude themselves into thinking they themselves are potential millionaires as well.
I like that episode, but on rewatching I realised the way homer acts in Boy Scouts is really a forerunner to the Jerkass-Homer devolution of later seasons.
I'm not sure if this is a popular opinion or not, but my favourite episode of the Simpsons is Season 5 Episode 1: Homer's Barbershop Quartet. The episode manages to back an amazing backstory into four different characters, without interfering with the overall plot of the show too much. Also, the last scene of the episode is incredibly emotional in my opinion, and Baby on Board is definitely an underrated and oft overlooked song in the Simpsons. If you haven't seen the episode yet, please go watch it.
In my opinion "Krusty gets Busted" is the perfect episode. "Remember, these are children's toys, the fire will spread rapidly, please stand back and try not to inhale the toxic fumes"
At least Family Guy had the sense to play on Brian's increasing obnoxiousness by making him into a genuine asshole which the other characters (particularly Stewie) are aware of. The Simpsons writers meanwhile hold up Lisa as a fount of all knowledge and unerring morality to which all other characters must show deference, no matter the circumstances. This imo makes modern Lisa much worse than modern Brian.
Despite everything y’all said, Family Guy is still a complete rip off of the Simpsons. Every method they use in the writing and storytelling is from the Simpsons, some of it created by them. FG has its moments and own voice but i don’t think it can contend as being better in any way. It’s like saying Jackie Chan is better than Bruce Lee or something
Last Exit to Springfield is the absolute greatest Simpsons episode ever written. It has everything this one has, but also has even more heart. Every joke is solid, and every second of the show is optimally used. The comedic timing is pitch perfect. The characters are practically Platonic ideals of themselves. Nothing they’ve done ever topped it, and nothing ever will.
I would nominate “Last Exit To Springfield” as THE perfect episode. It’s 23 minutes are jam-packed with jokes and references and there’s not a wasted moment or line of dialogue.
agreed it has everything marge vs monorail has but it also somehow adds in some heart to the story with lisa's drama about braces mixed in there and the sad song...marge vs the monorail is a top 10 episode maybe even top 5 but it lacks the heart that made classic simpsons special its a good self contained story with stakes has a couple great guest stars and roles for them to play has great comedy has the town involved homer is at his best in it marge and bart are great as well but wheres the feels?...lisa and the workers singing the plant song lisa's reaction after her picture is taken with the cheap braces and her crying which gets through to homer hit your heart...marge vs the monorail mostly stalls and little is actually happening in the middle of it until the final act..it just jumps around joke to joke to joke which is fine but it isn't as structured as last exit is...its just a vehicle to tell great jokes
@@razkable Yes! Last exit to springfield is one of my absolute top fave episodes. The jokes and overall great lines come so fast, your head is spinning. There's not a single scene or line that falls flat or feels boring. The story itself is superb, scary almost, has high stakes - and everyone is sort og vowen into each other story-wise. There's also some fantastic shots animation wise (burns pushing that button and the cuts to smithers watching, the angle and everything) holy shit, most people can only dream of creating something so well made.
As I say in the video, I’m referring exclusively to the dialogue driven characters as someone above said. Most of Maggie’s function in the show in general is as a narrative object or a gag gimmick. That’s just kind of the nature of having an infant as a character lol
@@razkable Was gonna mention that! Perfect joke cuz it makes you envision the whole scenario of him getting bit. Same joke on family guy would've cut to it, but it's so much better having to imagine it
My favorite episode is Lisa's Substitute, since it is really heartwarming and touching, and the subplot with Bart running for class president was also interesting.
would you ever do an episode on the USA show psych? that is a monstrously underappreciated gem and it's very unique when compared to other crime shows such as its episode format, characters and storytelling. Also love the way you breakdown TV shows like this one. Love your work! Please keep them coming!
That Batman exchange is probably the funniest exchange the Simpsons ever delivered--maybe rivaled by the eastern bloc scene in Plow King. One thing that really works about the celebrity cameo--which would later be the bane of the worst episodes--is it is dealt with as a purely absurd and satirical occurrence. There's no good reason for Leonard Nimoy to be in the episode--he has zero relevance thematically. His exchanges are built on satire of his strange public persona that highlight his oddity to average people. It's not about making him look cool (which so many of the later cameos did). From his obsession with talking about Star Trek because it's the only thing he ever did to his heavy handed monologuing and even the fact that all but the most intense nerds even know who he is. Then he just beams out of the scene after having no impact on the plot or characters in the plot while saying something cryptic that has no reference in any other act. It's a subtle acknowledgement of the metatext of cameos that Leonard Nimoy was simply available and that's why he's there--not because anything in the plot is actually enriched by his presence.
As a note, at the time the "may the Force be with you" quote with a "Star Trek" character was not the overused joke or meme that it is today. It was fresh at the time.
I thought the episode where Homer ate that sushi and found out he was gonna die, was the best episode. It really shows how a person enjoys their days on this earth, one last time. It was my dads favorite episode, and he always loved Larry King doing the narration of the Good Book at the end.
I’ve just realised. Homer uses the letter M as an anchor, and it ends up anchoring into the big donut sign. “M, donut”. “Mmm, donut”. Twenty three years and I’ve *just* got that. :|
I just realized they treated the monorail like it was a high speed Japanese bullet train, and the passengers escape via inflatable slide like they just survived a hollywood plane malfunction/hijacking movie
I've loved the Simpsons since I was a ten year-old kid in the early 90s and I still love it today. I agree, 'Marge v. the Monorail' is a fantastic episode, for all the reason laid out in the video. Another episode that I think stands out is 'Deep Space Homer', where Homer competes w Barney to go to space on a NASA rocket.
"I shouldn't have stopped for that haircut. Sorry." Just for no reason whatsoever. It doesn't lead to anything. It's not a part of any running gag. He just had long crazy hair before, and now he has kind of a long-ish buzz-cut. I didn't even notice his hair was different until he mentioned it, and maybe that was the point. To make the audience realize how many details like that would pass right under their radar if the show wasn't stopping to call attention to it.
What are you talking about? There is perfect reasoning to that occurrence. They were in a life or death situation where time was of the absolute essence with every second mattering... and he stopped to get a haircut.
That’s my favourite episode too, but it’s difficult to find a bad episode from the 90s. I think The Simpsons began to decline in quality once it got to the point where whoever they hired had grown up with the show. Conan, and others from that era, talked about how the show took a few seasons to properly define, and that for those seasons the writers were just trying to make it the funniest show on TV. There was also a counter-culture component to it which disappeared in the 00s.
One other great feature of Marge vs the Monorail is the characterization of Springfielders as a mob of rubes. They are swayed by flashiness, quick to anger, and easily conned. Many of the great episodes are driven by someone taking advantage of how gullible they all are, especially as a group.
Been watching the simpsons since the beginning (Tracy Ullman show) and have watched the series unfold in real time. I can't agree that this was the perfect episode but def in the top 5. Much like SNL the talent ebbs and flows over the years. I am not a huge Conan fan but it's things like this that validate his celebrity status. Also I am disappointed there was no nod to Phil Hartman here. You were so close!
I always loved this one because at the time it came out, I was in a production of "The Music Man" with the local theater company so I actually knew what they were referencing
For real! This episode plus the fact that I know some of the young cast members, plus I had never seen Hugh Jackman perform live before, is why I’ve spent a ton of money seeing the current Music Man revival on Broadway multiple times. 😂🎺❤️👏
Great review, thanks, and agreed that this is a perfect Simpsons episode. My personal favorite is 'Homer Badman' it blends absurdity with cutting satire that still resonates today.
Homer as the union leader I think is perfect. Memorable quotes such as, 'Lisa needs braces', the jokes all land like the book of English teeth, the song is genuinely a brilliant protest folk song followed the the great classical gas line from Lenny, homer being heroic and defiant for his kids, and a great ending of defeating the Simpsons main antagonist being Mr Burns. The perfect episode, and one I could watch over and over again. Also love the episode of Homers mum, and the end credits, but it's also such a great episode with throwbacks to the 60s... 'Seven'
My favourite episode is You Only Move Twice with Hank Scorpio. Season 8, dubbed “the great 8” by Matt Groening himself, is the greatest season in my humble opinion. It’s when their mentality towards writing was “how many jokes can we fit into 22 minutes”. Every single episode of that season was knocked out of the park.
Been watching The Simpson since I was 9 in 1990 so about 30 years and even though the quality has declined it's still one of my favorite cartoons and I will watch it till it ends.
Honestly, the fact that Futurama ended makes it much better than the Simpsons. The show ended before all the creativity dried up like in The Simpsons. Just my opinion, though; feel free to disagree.
I guess it ended before all characters could become soulless one-note versions of themselves, good point, I never looked at it that way. That must be why I remember Futurama a lot more fondly.
Futurama ended just about the right time. Of course I'd love to see more, but it didn't get ever get handed over to a new creative staff, like the Simpsons did. If they'd done that without a finale, it would not be a perfect show from end to end.
@@maxwellschmidt235 The Simpsons is odd in that it had multiple showrunners and writing teams throughout the classic run and "declined" with some of the older staff at the helm.
Im a writer working on my own animated series at the moment and I gotta say your insights have been really helpful in my decision making for certain tropes and story arc, I love animation for this very reason as you say "embrace the absurd" my show is to take place after a nuclear catastrophy so Im using the radiation to create the chaos that'll make the show fresh
Some of this is washed by nostalgia, but early simpsons i.e. series 1-10 had this heart and wholesomeness that the later series can't even begin to replicate.
A couple of my top favourite episodes are Scenes of a class struggle in Springfield and Summer of 4ft2. I know Marge and Lisa don’t get rated that much but I thought these two eps in particular showed their struggle of ‘fitting in’ and wanting to be a part of a group that was separate from the family where they sometimes not appreciated. Also the scene in 4ft2 when homer slowly smiles when Bart picks the dud card is genius. That whole episode had jokes from beginning to end. The old episodes seemed to have adult jokes and themes. Like homer being in debt with the mortgage and needing a loan or Milhouse’s parents getting divorced, these weren’t normal topics for a cartoon but it worked because it was about real life situations. My mum would say how come you are levelheaded about things but I think the simpsons raised me haha
okay the intro where homer hits the tree while singing his own version of the Flinstones theme song is my favorite opening and the one i remember most from my childhood
whats funny is you can turn on any episode from season 4 or 6 imo and find joy in it....they are so classic even the clip shows and weakest of these seasons episodes land for me
I’m making a movie and I need your help! Link to the Kickstarter is here: kck.st/30QHNvx
AND TO CLARIFY: Element 2 is HOW those jokes are handled, as in the quality and frequency of them, not just their existence!
How about.......Seinfeld
Amazing world of gumball
You should do some of the popular shows like Adventure Time , Steven Universe , Futurama or even Rick and Morty?
Atlanta, Black Mirror
definitely dying for some futurama love
someone once noted how the simpsons used to have episodes WITH guest stars, where as now a days they have episodes ABOUT guest stars.
its the difference between 'the lady gaga episode' and 'the episode with leonard nimoy'
Matt Michel
The Lady Gaga episode came out like 8 years ago.
Ugh let's not remember that lady gaga episode
@@DTheAustralian thats how long its been since i watched the simpsons 😂
I've been watching every new episode this season, and I swear there's been a guest star in every single one of them!
Like the WWE too. People would beg to get on, now the WWE have to beg and pay millions for others to appear
Fun fact: Conan O’Brien said the whole thing came from a billboard in Los Angeles he saw that just said “Monorail.”
lmao
I think Conan is a GOAT talk show host.
BUT Monorail episode isn't good.
It frankly sucks.
@@GokulOnFire explain how
@@wicklowpatster explain how it's great since that's the prerogative.
@@GokulOnFire the video does a decent job if that. But just watch it. it's funny. What's your problem with it?
It has been discussed that Marge vs. the Monorail actually has all of the elements of what would later define the Simpsons' worst episodes - the ludicrously unrealistic plot, Homer getting thrust into some new position of authority despite his complete lack of competence, the moment where everyone goes "Hey look, it's a celebrity guest star!", that kind of stuff - but this episode gets away with it. Part of it is that the show itself was still fairly grounded at the time so it could get away with the occasional flirtation with the absurd. But mostly... the jokes land. It's as simple as that.
I would argue the problem with new episodes is not exactly what you listed above, given most of those elements were on great episodes as well (Hank Scorpio is the best villain imo). The main problem is that they started repeating the exact same plot and structure with a few modifications hoping viewers wouldn't be bored by the same content with a twist. Even if you read the descriptions of new episodes you will remember an early one.
Also, they took all the characteristics from the family and turned them into caricatures of themselves(the irony, I know). The biggest ones being Homer, a dummie with a heart of gold turned into a barely functioning buffoon; and Lisa, the voice of reason that was supposed to reflect the audience, turned into the obnoxious know-it-all that doesn't understand comedy. This one is even sadder because she was my favorite...
The problem with new Simpsons is that the humour is superficial...and as a result not particularly funny.
Kurt Reinkemeyer
It’s good because it’s from season 4, we said so and we’re biased. No reason better.
@@unouni2548 exactly. Rewatching the movie was genuinely hard just because how cruel, callous and unlikeable homer was in that film. It was so uncomfortable. Like we see homerplaooza with lower stakes but it still has heart he's hurting himself to make those around him proud but even his selflessness at the end seems artificial and just so bad.
@Ryan King That was one of John Swartzwelder's biggest blunders to me. Either that or no one in the writers room at that point in time questioned him. If you listen to the DVD commentaries, you'll hear how John was such a fanatic of the old timey things that the episode was parodying and it shows.
Also, hot take: Ian Maxtone-Graham is a hack that opened the door for the general awfulness the show is known for today. Take a gander at the gags that made your eyes roll in his episodes and they stack just as even as modern episodes.
my favorite is" bart sells his soul" it was funny, thoughtful and touching all in one
A caller? At this hour? You dial 91, and when I say so dial 1 again..
I agree!
His nightmare was genuinely scary as a kid to watch
Remember Alf!? He's Back! In Pog form!
That's a good one!
"Do you want to change your name to Homer Jr?"
"The kids can call you Hoju!"
This line always kills me
Bart's reaction face to that was really funny
That was my nickname in high school.
I’ll get back to ya
To "Au Jus" is fucking hilarius
I feel like an overlooked factor of what made classic Simpsons so good was the heart, that speaks to human nature. Episodes like “Lisa on Ice” where Lisa and Bart are hockey rivals and then put their differences aside and hug it out, or “Mother Simpson” where Homer sits somberly with the sunset turning to night in the background while looking at his mom leave him again and just wishing she’d stay. I’d appreciate if you could do a Part II that accounts for the factors you already brought up, but bring in the heart, maybe something like “Bart Sells His Soul”, “And Maggie Makes Three”, “You Only Move Twice”, or “One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish”
Lisa's Substitute was amazing too. That moment she reads the note is perfect.
I agree with all of those especially you only move twice it’s dad’s favourite Simpsons episode of all time
Please don't cover Maggie makes three in this time of tissue shortage. I will cry and have to use my sleeve.
Lisa on Ice is my favorite.
"Sucker!! Competitive violence.. that's why you're here!"
philmstud2k the ending to Maggie makes three tho
My favorite line was near the end where Bart and Homer feel like the train is gonna crash and Bart is like "at least we'll take a lot of innocent people with us."
My all time favorite Simpsons episode has gotta be "And Maggie Makes 3" aside from it being hilarious, it managed to be extremely touching, relatable, and hands down the best ending to any Simpsons episode I've ever seen. I still tear up watching it to this day.
Couldn’t agree more. It’s extremely difficult to blend comedy with sentiment effortlessly. And it’s ESPECIALLY difficult to do it in a cartoon.
That episode also brings a tear to my eye as well.
Tearing up just thinking about it
Do it for her
Yesss!!!
Mine is Lisa gets an A.
Leonard Nimoy: A solar eclipse. The cosmic ballet goes on.
Passenger next to Nimoy: Does anyone want to switch seats?
barney: you didn't do anything
@@razkable Didn't I?
My fave Simpsons episode is Lemon of Troy. It has some pretty good laughs, tells a good adventure of Bart and his friends, and it’s where Homer’s iconic line “Stupid like a fox” came from.
“Shake harder, boy!”
yeah its a part of us all
part of us all
part of us all
I can probably remember more lines from this than any other episode of television, between, "There's a doin's a'transpirin'!", "Shake harder boy!", "Wait...there's a lemon behind that rock!", "That's probably why we beat them in football nearly half the time.", "I thought you said you could read lips!"/"I assumed I could.", "So this is what it feels like, when doves cry!", "Spring forth, burly protector!", "Hark to the tale of Nelson, and the boy he loved so dear/They remained the best of friends for years and years and years!", "Look, somebody's beautiful cousin!", "Now let's all celebrate, with a cool glass of turnip juice."....to name a few.
"Spring forth burley protector and save me!!!"
“There’s a lemon behind that rock”
Always loved 22 Short Films about Springfield, it hasn’t really got all the elements for a perfect episode but the way all the seemingly separate stories link together is genius. Really helped me appreciate the Simpson’s universe as well.
I hope you know what they based that episode on.
@IAN HEINE No, mother, it's just the northern lights.
And the "Skinner and the Superintendent" segment is a classic and will remain one of my favorite Simpsons moments.
@@b.m.933Yes, it's a regional dialect
Aurora Borealis
We have to give credit to Phil Hartman he did an amazing job playing Lyle and the other roles he played in the Simpsons RIP
So good!
😔
He brought an energy that cant be mimicked, Lionel Hutz is my fav character
@@StargazerYo Orange Julius?
@@steveguse4481 My favorite anecdote Conan told about the Simpsons was that once, they were going to have both Troy McClure and Lional Hutz in hte same episode - but then they realized that Hartman, the "man of a thousand voices", only really had one voice. So they had to cancel that idea...
nerdstalgic is so good at getting his point across
Would be a great show if his voice wasn’t so fucking annoying
Lucas I actually like it
Lucas rude.
I disagree. I don't like his style.
Agreed. He's an excellent editor, in my opinion. He does an excellent job of using it to make his points effectively while also being visually appealing and unique.
I actually like a lot of the slower episodes, Bart vs Thanksgiving is one of my favorites just because it creates completely realistic family dynamics and behavior around the holiday.
Such a good episode 😮💨
Mine's E-I-E-I-Annoying Grunt
Personally my favourite episode has to be “Mother Simpson” from Season 7
That last scene when Homer sits on his car watching the stars ✨ makes me ugly cry every time 😭♥️
I would love to see a review of the Tree Houses of Horror over the years and which ones stand out to you.
I always love watching them even though i dont watch them other wise unless it the old one from season 1 to 14 but then it a hit or miss after them. But i did like season 19, then 21, 25, weren't that bad
Joe Hand There was no Season One Treehouse, just though I’d bring that to your attention.
What I think is the best (and my favorite) was Treehouse of Horror V. Each segment was classic, and it was the most violent and edgy episode for years.
@@philmstud2k yeah that's general consensus between all Simpson fans
Colton Coldiron
Honestly the high points of THOH were between both II and IX and about XXIII to XXVIII.
*Looks at Bart, imagining using him as an anchor*
'Think harder Homer'
“Arrrgh! Ye call that an anchor?!”
A perfect episode of the Simpsons: One that puts Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook on the map
And you are still everywhere
Avery the Cuban American likes the Simpsons
By gum!
I feel that You Only Move Twice was a perfect episode, Hank Scorpio was a villain that I would definitely pledge loyalty to.
Nobody ever chooses Italy
hammocks are us
My favorite episode is either You Only Move Twice or Maggie Makes Three.
@@frozenflame5858 fact
In fact there all on Fourth, you know, the Hammock District.
Skinners’ Sense of Snow is one of my all time favorite episodes. Just the scene where homer hits something while driving in the snow and replies “I hope it was Flanders”, while Ned is sitting right next to him 😂 Classic.
Skinner's Sense of Snow is a very underrated and underappreciated episode because it's not from the golden years. I honestly remember watching it and thinking it was a season 3 episode. It didn't feel like season 12. Easily one of the best episodes post golden years
We need a video about the genius of Futurama.
That show was amazing.
..."was"?!! Try "IS" dude! Not to mention, "a national treasure".
Destroyed by the Simpsons, a force to powerful for its own good.
ya that should happen
There's already the 10 hours of hypnotoad on UA-cam.
Spider-JAAM I absolutely love Futurama. But mostly only seasons 1-5. Those were by far the best episodes.
Homer: Batman's a scientist.
Me: Homer, you idiot, he's a-wait...wait a minute...
A stopped clock is right at least once a day.
@@dr.velious5411 *twice
@Joe K ...you mean a 4 format...
But he's not a scientist
No, no. He’s got a point.
In my opinion, best Simpsons episode is 'Bart gets an F'. It highlights everything about old Simpsons that we all loved
I disagree mainly because it was still in its awkward period at the time. Both in animation and writing.
Yeah! Pretty simple episode
@@ryrin6091
In its writing? No way.
luis whiley yes it’s one of my favorites
my favorite is homer's enemy
The first 10 seasons of the Simpson is simply some of the best tv I’ve ever experienced in my life.
Absolutely!
My favorite episode has always been the barbershop quartet episode and it fits these qualifications. First it’s fairly absurd, with Homer being in a big band and winning a Grammy and not bringing it up before and since. Next, it has a guest star and that is George Harrison. The episode doesn’t revolve around him and in fact he’s only there for like two jokes. This whole episode was also kind of a reference to The Beatle’s career, with them starting of formal, and then Barney or John, wanted to experiment more with his girlfriend, or Yoko.Thirdly, it puts in Homer in an absurd position. The episode also is just plain funny, with some of the most classic jokes. Finally, the episode actually has emotion and especially near the end when Homer was going to call his former group.
I love that episode as well. But there are so many in the first seasons is hard to come up even with a top ten.
But that one would certainly be up there.
Baby on board
Conan has said that this episode is still one of the best things he's ever been involved with in his career.
No doubt having the creativity and freedom of making an animated episode for such a show would be incredible for anyone.
This is what a perfect Nerdstalgic episode looks like.
Love the content, big ups.
Sean Ranklin.
Exasperated Marge: "It's not Batman!" LOL! Oh, Leonard Nimoy and Phil Hartman, you are greatly missed. Rest easy and thank you both. Also, bless you, Truckasaurus. You are beloved by all.
My personal favorite is "You Only Move Twice", with Albert Brooks as the Bond style supervillain and Home is completely oblivious.
The highest rated episode on IMDB is Homer's Enemy. I think it would be interesting to do an analysis of the tough message of how sometimes we just can't win and the American Dream
EmpLemon did a video on that.
sometimes? lmao most people don't ever win the american dream
@@brizuelasergioo Americans are not willing to accept that fact ever. They see a few hundred out of 320million making it and delude themselves into thinking they themselves are potential millionaires as well.
@@b.m.933 that video was pretty good but I feel it ignored a lot of the political views behind the person who wrote it
Boy Scouts In the Hood?....Ernest Borgnine, scouts, Rafting Trip, Stupid Flanders,....what more could you want?
Those were the da best ngl🔥🔥I didnt even expect this one
And “Sugar doo doo doo doo doo dooooo, ohhhh honey honey doo doo doo doo doo doooo, you are my jejtnm4kthrhehieixudjjjjjjjj”
Loved that one
I like that episode, but on rewatching I realised the way homer acts in Boy Scouts is really a forerunner to the Jerkass-Homer devolution of later seasons.
@@Marcus280898 I actually like jerk-ass homer,remember when travelled to India to save Apu?
This was LITERALLY one of my favorite episodes as a kid! We had it on VHS so at the time I could quote almost the entire episode word for word😝
As opposed to...metaphorically your favorite?
I'm not sure if this is a popular opinion or not, but my favourite episode of the Simpsons is Season 5 Episode 1: Homer's Barbershop Quartet. The episode manages to back an amazing backstory into four different characters, without interfering with the overall plot of the show too much. Also, the last scene of the episode is incredibly emotional in my opinion, and Baby on Board is definitely an underrated and oft overlooked song in the Simpsons. If you haven't seen the episode yet, please go watch it.
In my opinion "Krusty gets Busted" is the perfect episode. "Remember, these are children's toys, the fire will spread rapidly, please stand back and try not to inhale the toxic fumes"
Critics: There's no such thing as an objectively perfect episo-
Nerdstalgic: THE PERFECT SIMPSONS EPISODE
Lisa and Brian from Family guy are the same person. Started as the voice of reason and evolved into hypocrites who think are above anyone else.
francargeric1 Brian is written to be an asshole and Lisa is just a kid. Perfectly fine characters to me
francargeric1
Truer words have never been spoken.
At least Family Guy had the sense to play on Brian's increasing obnoxiousness by making him into a genuine asshole which the other characters (particularly Stewie) are aware of. The Simpsons writers meanwhile hold up Lisa as a fount of all knowledge and unerring morality to which all other characters must show deference, no matter the circumstances. This imo makes modern Lisa much worse than modern Brian.
Despite everything y’all said, Family Guy is still a complete rip off of the Simpsons. Every method they use in the writing and storytelling is from the Simpsons, some of it created by them. FG has its moments and own voice but i don’t think it can contend as being better in any way. It’s like saying Jackie Chan is better than Bruce Lee or something
@@Marcus280898 Lisa is 100 times more manipulative than Brian who is just plain scummy.
A good episode of Simpsons must include *Alf Pogs* in it
You know, Alf? He’s back! In pog form
Poggers
Dont forget when Marge was 🎳 and had a almost affair. Or when Homer met Hank Scorpio! VO by Albert Brooks 😁
Bart actually says "not me homer" when homer is lookinh for an anchor.
*adjusts nerd glasses
Think harder, homer ***
Last Exit to Springfield is the absolute greatest Simpsons episode ever written. It has everything this one has, but also has even more heart. Every joke is solid, and every second of the show is optimally used. The comedic timing is pitch perfect. The characters are practically Platonic ideals of themselves. Nothing they’ve done ever topped it, and nothing ever will.
Not to mention that scary moment with the projection of Lisa's growing teeth 😣 That grossed me out haha. Love that episode!
I would nominate “Last Exit To Springfield” as THE perfect episode. It’s 23 minutes are jam-packed with jokes and references and there’s not a wasted moment or line of dialogue.
agreed it has everything marge vs monorail has but it also somehow adds in some heart to the story with lisa's drama about braces mixed in there and the sad song...marge vs the monorail is a top 10 episode maybe even top 5 but it lacks the heart that made classic simpsons special its a good self contained story with stakes has a couple great guest stars and roles for them to play has great comedy has the town involved homer is at his best in it marge and bart are great as well but wheres the feels?...lisa and the workers singing the plant song lisa's reaction after her picture is taken with the cheap braces and her crying which gets through to homer hit your heart...marge vs the monorail mostly stalls and little is actually happening in the middle of it until the final act..it just jumps around joke to joke to joke which is fine but it isn't as structured as last exit is...its just a vehicle to tell great jokes
@@razkable Yes! Last exit to springfield is one of my absolute top fave episodes. The jokes and overall great lines come so fast, your head is spinning. There's not a single scene or line that falls flat or feels boring. The story itself is superb, scary almost, has high stakes - and everyone is sort og vowen into each other story-wise. There's also some fantastic shots animation wise (burns pushing that button and the cuts to smithers watching, the angle and everything) holy shit, most people can only dream of creating something so well made.
The guy who wrote Planet Simpson agrees with you.
@@spretten the only issue i have with it is bart is not given much to do neither is marge but outside of that it could of been a movie
@@spretten they were on drugs when they wrote that episode...only explanation for why its so good...and the story on unions is just perfect
"This episode uses every single member of the Simpson family!"
Maggie not even mentioned.
I mean Maggie's a baby, that's basically the only excuse I can think right now
maggie's more of a gimmick than a character
ILoveURamen 292 she's a gimmick
She's not dialogue based
As I say in the video, I’m referring exclusively to the dialogue driven characters as someone above said. Most of Maggie’s function in the show in general is as a narrative object or a gag gimmick. That’s just kind of the nature of having an infant as a character lol
You forgot, this episode has one of the best jokes of the show.
“Go away, there ain’t no monorail and there never was!”
*the monorail cafe*
matt groening's fave joke
homer: I call the big one bitey...
@@razkable Was gonna mention that! Perfect joke cuz it makes you envision the whole scenario of him getting bit. Same joke on family guy would've cut to it, but it's so much better having to imagine it
My favorite episode is Lisa's Substitute, since it is really heartwarming and touching, and the subplot with Bart running for class president was also interesting.
"A solar eclipse, the cosmic ballet goes on."
I just love how absurd that moment was
i was with barney that episode....i was like stfu spock
Plus it was delivered by the amazing Leonard Nemoy
would you ever do an episode on the USA show psych? that is a monstrously underappreciated gem and it's very unique when compared to other crime shows such as its episode format, characters and storytelling. Also love the way you breakdown TV shows like this one. Love your work! Please keep them coming!
you are so right its nice seeing someone else appreciating such a great show
I loved Psych
I didnt know anyone else liked that show lol. Glad Im not alone
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THAT IM NOT TELLING THE TRUTH
Oh yes! Does anybody know where we can watch it?
That Batman exchange is probably the funniest exchange the Simpsons ever delivered--maybe rivaled by the eastern bloc scene in Plow King.
One thing that really works about the celebrity cameo--which would later be the bane of the worst episodes--is it is dealt with as a purely absurd and satirical occurrence. There's no good reason for Leonard Nimoy to be in the episode--he has zero relevance thematically. His exchanges are built on satire of his strange public persona that highlight his oddity to average people. It's not about making him look cool (which so many of the later cameos did). From his obsession with talking about Star Trek because it's the only thing he ever did to his heavy handed monologuing and even the fact that all but the most intense nerds even know who he is. Then he just beams out of the scene after having no impact on the plot or characters in the plot while saying something cryptic that has no reference in any other act. It's a subtle acknowledgement of the metatext of cameos that Leonard Nimoy was simply available and that's why he's there--not because anything in the plot is actually enriched by his presence.
Rory Stevens brilliantly put
Just look at when he was in the episode where Homer saw the alien.
“Hello, my name is Mr. Burns. I believe you have a letter for me. “
“Of course, Mr. Burns, what’s your first name?”
“I don’t know.”
As a note, at the time the "may the Force be with you" quote with a "Star Trek" character was not the overused joke or meme that it is today. It was fresh at the time.
I think that joke is hilarious to this day lol that joke in this episode, especially the pay off, is one of my favorite Simpsons jokes ever
I think my favorite episode is caped fear with sideshow Bob. Kelsey Grammar pulls off the renaissance villain perfectly.
I thought the episode where Homer ate that sushi and found out he was gonna die, was the best episode. It really shows how a person enjoys their days on this earth, one last time. It was my dads favorite episode, and he always loved Larry King doing the narration of the Good Book at the end.
I’ve just realised. Homer uses the letter M as an anchor, and it ends up anchoring into the big donut sign. “M, donut”. “Mmm, donut”.
Twenty three years and I’ve *just* got that. :|
Oh my god u genius
Same ahaha. Ty.
Haha
I just realized they treated the monorail like it was a high speed Japanese bullet train, and the passengers escape via inflatable slide like they just survived a hollywood plane malfunction/hijacking movie
90s kids remember “Pizza Delivery”.
90s grown-ups remember “Marge Versus The Monorail”.
I'm a 2000s kid and I remember both
meanwhile last exit and band geeks are sitting over here like but we are the best...
Asmosis Jones They are still great episodes and Pizza Delivery can’t take that fact away from them
The Treehouse of Horror episodes were the best personally. Idk why but Im just into those things
It's the animated liberty and creativity thing. There's so much stuff in those episodes that they wouldn't be able to do outside of them.
Yeah for sure
Loved this episode, and as a person who’s watched all of the simpsons, this is pretty close to what I think is a perfect episode.
I've loved the Simpsons since I was a ten year-old kid in the early 90s and I still love it today. I agree, 'Marge v. the Monorail' is a fantastic episode, for all the reason laid out in the video. Another episode that I think stands out is 'Deep Space Homer', where Homer competes w Barney to go to space on a NASA rocket.
There's a crazy amount of video documentarys about the Simpsons on UA-cam
Thank god
The coolest one was the one about Simpsons memes
Athenäs the channel is called Super Eyepatch Wolf
"I shouldn't have stopped for that haircut. Sorry."
Just for no reason whatsoever. It doesn't lead to anything. It's not a part of any running gag. He just had long crazy hair before, and now he has kind of a long-ish buzz-cut. I didn't even notice his hair was different until he mentioned it, and maybe that was the point. To make the audience realize how many details like that would pass right under their radar if the show wasn't stopping to call attention to it.
What are you talking about? There is perfect reasoning to that occurrence. They were in a life or death situation where time was of the absolute essence with every second mattering... and he stopped to get a haircut.
the perfect episode for me is "Homer Goes to College"episode, written by.....Conan O'Brien :p
Mrs Simpson ... We all have nose bleeds
"NEERRRRRRD! Hey buddy, did you get a load of the nerd?" "Pardon me?"
My favorite Simpsons line of all time: "Your bra bomb better work, Nerdlinger"
That’s my favourite episode too, but it’s difficult to find a bad episode from the 90s. I think The Simpsons began to decline in quality once it got to the point where whoever they hired had grown up with the show. Conan, and others from that era, talked about how the show took a few seasons to properly define, and that for those seasons the writers were just trying to make it the funniest show on TV. There was also a counter-culture component to it which disappeared in the 00s.
One other great feature of Marge vs the Monorail is the characterization of Springfielders as a mob of rubes. They are swayed by flashiness, quick to anger, and easily conned. Many of the great episodes are driven by someone taking advantage of how gullible they all are, especially as a group.
I love the wholesome season 1 and 2 episodes to me those episodes strike a cord in my heart
"I call the big one bitey"
_This episode is the pinnacle of how the early Simpsons handle it's writing and characters._
🎼🎵🎶Simpson, Homer Simpson,
He's the greatest guy in history!
From the town of Springfield,
He's about to hit a Chestnut tree! 🎶🎵
I love that scene
@@joehalliwell9693
My friends and I used to put that clip on every mixed CD we made for each other.
Hands down one of the best intros to the Simpsons ever
7:47 "this episode uses ALL of the Simpsons in all their glory"
Maggie: Am I a joke to you?
The whole season was gold, best episode for me is Kamp Krusty. "Gentleman, to evil!"
That one is fantastic!
I love it! Its Season 4 just in cause you wanna watch it. 😊
2:44 [clears throat] "a la grande le puse Cuca"
We have monorails from the eighties that we refuse to replace. An iconic part of WDW
I hate how lazy disney is, they habe way more than enough to build the monorail to run through the whole place
You mean "from 1971", don't you?
The color yellow is synonymous with popular cartoon shows
One of my favorite jokes is in this episode.
"Solar power, when will people learn?!"
Been watching the simpsons since the beginning (Tracy Ullman show) and have watched the series unfold in real time. I can't agree that this was the perfect episode but def in the top 5. Much like SNL the talent ebbs and flows over the years. I am not a huge Conan fan but it's things like this that validate his celebrity status. Also I am disappointed there was no nod to Phil Hartman here. You were so close!
The Monorail song is one of the greatest moments in the medium of pop television.
I would also nominate "Duffless" as another example of a perfect Simpsons episode, for many of the same reasons.
The new Simpsons episodes should've wrote a song like that guy.
I always loved this one because at the time it came out, I was in a production of "The Music Man" with the local theater company so I actually knew what they were referencing
For real! This episode plus the fact that I know some of the young cast members, plus I had never seen Hugh Jackman perform live before, is why I’ve spent a ton of money seeing the current Music Man revival on Broadway multiple times. 😂🎺❤️👏
Great review, thanks, and agreed that this is a perfect Simpsons episode. My personal favorite is 'Homer Badman' it blends absurdity with cutting satire that still resonates today.
Rem when Homer got a gun, he was using it to turn on the TV, Open bears, shoot out lights
I dont have to be careful, I have a gun!!! 😁... classic
Someone at Fox: write that down, WRITE THAT DOWN
I like the way Snrub thinks!
Homer as the union leader I think is perfect. Memorable quotes such as, 'Lisa needs braces', the jokes all land like the book of English teeth, the song is genuinely a brilliant protest folk song followed the the great classical gas line from Lenny, homer being heroic and defiant for his kids, and a great ending of defeating the Simpsons main antagonist being Mr Burns. The perfect episode, and one I could watch over and over again.
Also love the episode of Homers mum, and the end credits, but it's also such a great episode with throwbacks to the 60s... 'Seven'
My favourite episode is You Only Move Twice with Hank Scorpio. Season 8, dubbed “the great 8” by Matt Groening himself, is the greatest season in my humble opinion. It’s when their mentality towards writing was “how many jokes can we fit into 22 minutes”. Every single episode of that season was knocked out of the park.
Also, if you'd like to kill anyone on the way out, it would help me a lot.
Been watching The Simpson since I was 9 in 1990 so about 30 years and even though the quality has declined it's still one of my favorite cartoons and I will watch it till it ends.
How they let this run for 30+ seasons but cancelled Futurama smhhh
*SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY*
I want d show bacc
Honestly, the fact that Futurama ended makes it much better than the Simpsons. The show ended before all the creativity dried up like in The Simpsons. Just my opinion, though; feel free to disagree.
I guess it ended before all characters could become soulless one-note versions of themselves, good point, I never looked at it that way.
That must be why I remember Futurama a lot more fondly.
Futurama ended just about the right time. Of course I'd love to see more, but it didn't get ever get handed over to a new creative staff, like the Simpsons did. If they'd done that without a finale, it would not be a perfect show from end to end.
@@maxwellschmidt235 The Simpsons is odd in that it had multiple showrunners and writing teams throughout the classic run and "declined" with some of the older staff at the helm.
You can tell Nerdstalgic had an awesome childhood based on the shows he watched
he’s just explaining the jokes and I was dying laughing....that’s how you know this episode is pure gold
Im a writer working on my own animated series at the moment and I gotta say your insights have been really helpful in my decision making for certain tropes and story arc, I love animation for this very reason as you say "embrace the absurd" my show is to take place after a nuclear catastrophy so Im using the radiation to create the chaos that'll make the show fresh
Funny How people love seasons 4-8 the most but my favorite are 1-3. So much depth and substance in those simplistic episodes.
Say it with me: "Versus". "Ver-sus". Two syllables. One word.
infuriating, isn't it.
Conan is pretty cool, he did his show in my country once
Personally, I prefer Avery Jessup's show
Wait, that cant be true. Conan is alive
That was Dave Skylark
Some of this is washed by nostalgia, but early simpsons i.e. series 1-10 had this heart and wholesomeness that the later series can't even begin to replicate.
11-20 had a lot of episodes that hit in the feels, even some episodes after that
@@leob4403 I agree with you wholeheartedly. Some episodes come now that are strangely good, but a great deal feels so forgettable
A couple of my top favourite episodes are Scenes of a class struggle in Springfield and Summer of 4ft2.
I know Marge and Lisa don’t get rated that much but I thought these two eps in particular showed their struggle of ‘fitting in’ and wanting to be a part of a group that was separate from the family where they sometimes not appreciated.
Also the scene in 4ft2 when homer slowly smiles when Bart picks the dud card is genius. That whole episode had jokes from beginning to end.
The old episodes seemed to have adult jokes and themes. Like homer being in debt with the mortgage and needing a loan or Milhouse’s parents getting divorced, these weren’t normal topics for a cartoon but it worked because it was about real life situations. My mum would say how come you are levelheaded about things but I think the simpsons raised me haha
Last time i was this early corona was just a beer
Ryan Rudd Lol aww simpler times😑
Goddamn Michelob Ultra virus.
my favourite episode is “Lisa’s Substitute.” it’s such a heartwarming story and it genuinely is so beautiful.
What season??
Agree
@@gachaakiememes3255 Season 2
Could you make a video about Bob's Burgers?
Rose Lasley the one where Louise slaps the face of the One direction parody band member is my all time fave. I remember laughing SO hard
okay the intro where homer hits the tree while singing his own version of the Flinstones theme song is my favorite opening and the one i remember most from my childhood
that mcat reference at 7:31 was gold. just had to mention it cuz nobody else did. it adds a whole new dimension to it when you think about it.
So the key to making the perfect Simpsons episode is to have both Leonard Nimoy and Phil Hartman reading lines written by Conan.
This is a great episode. My personal favourite though is "King-Size Homer". It just has some hilarious lines in it.
I love the golden age of this show...
whats funny is you can turn on any episode from season 4 or 6 imo and find joy in it....they are so classic even the clip shows and weakest of these seasons episodes land for me
@@razkable season 4-6 lol that's so limited. Most episodes from 6-20 were also great imo. I even liked some episodes after that
Seasons 3-9 are all you need to see. That is the gold standard of an animated series. Rip Sam Simon
To me are seasons 2-8.
I'd probably go 2-11, with some decent episodes in 12. I like to pretend the programme came to an end after Season 12
Thank you Nerdstalgic for the upload.
Enjoyed watching from NSW Australia