Looking for three episodes in THE SIMPSONS series.....

Ronald Epstein · 07-31-2004, 07:50 AM

I am really enjoying The Simpsons. I
watch 1.5 episodes per day while running on my
treadmill. I have been able to go through
Seasons 3 & 4 over a short period of time.

I am not certain I want to open my Seasons 1 & 2
as I hear that the early episodes are not as good.

Maybe you can convince me otherwise.

Anyhow....

Looking for three specific episodes I remember
watching....

1. Marge is infuriated by Itchy and Scratchy
and goes after the cartoon company to tone down
the cartoons. The end result is an Itchy and
Scratchy cartoon where they are sharing love
and lemonade. Classic stuff!

2. I believe Burns is running for office or is
trying to improve his image so he visits the
Simpsons for dinner at their home and tries to
get through the evening with a smile on his face.

3. Troy McClure starring in the stage version of
PLANET OF THE APES with the song "Rock Me Dr. Zaus."
This had me rolling on the floor!

What season(s) do these three episodes appear?

Mike~Sileck · 07-31-2004, 08:23 AM

Here are two of your answers:

Episode 1: Title: Itchy And Scratchy and Marge. Season 2. Disk 2. Pretty much like you said, Marge goes after I & S company.

Episode 2: Title: Two Cars In Every Garage and Three Eyes On Every Fish. Season 2. Disk 1. It does deal with Burns running for mayor and how he must handle the "average citizen" at dinner with the Simpsons. There is a twist, it's in the title, but I don't want to ruin it.

Sorry, can't seem to recall the third one. Season 2 is a great season, I loved it, and I love Season 1 because it shows the beginnings of the Simpsons. Personally, if you're gonna have 2, 3, 4, and however many more they make, I think you'd feel incomplete without 1. Just my two cents tho. Hopefully I was of some help!

Mike

Jaime_Weinman · 07-31-2004, 09:18 AM

The third one is "A Fish Called Selma," from season 7 (an episode focusing entirely on Troy McClure, which might have been intended as a pilot for a proposed spinoff).

Since two of the episodes you were looking for are from season 2, there's your answer to the proposition that the early seasons are not as good. (Well, you might be a bit put off by the animation style of season 1 -- though the actual quality of the animation, in terms of movement and physical acting, was much better in season 1 than it is now -- but the show is still funny, and you'll definitely enjoy the first Sideshow Bob episode among others.)

Peter McM · 07-31-2004, 09:19 AM

The episode is "A Fish Called Selma"; the musical is Stop the Planet of the Apes, I Want to Get Off. Can't remember what season.

WillG · 07-31-2004, 09:56 AM

Yes Ron, I would definately recommend going through seasons one and two. As was pointed out, 2 of the eps you mentioned were from the second season. That was were the series was really beginning to get very good (although practically every review of every season that has been reviewed subsequent to one is billed as "the season where "The Simpsons" really began to hit it's stride") Season two has some bits that have carried over pretty much to this day. One example is the famous bit in "Bart the Daredevil" where Bart wants to jump Springfield Gorge on his skateboard and Homer ends up making the jump (this is included in a few clip shows they have done) Also of note, Homer meets his half Brother, Herb Powell. "Lisa's Substitute" is an episode that has been well remembered.

It will be a bit jarring to watch the first season if you are more familiar with modern Simpsons. The animation is quite different and since it was not as bitingly satirical back then, you may find some of it a bit bland. But there are still some very genuinely funny/classic moments in Season one. There is the famous electrocution bit in "There's No Disgrace Like Home" Obviously, it contains "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" the X-mas special which launched the series. You have the origin of Sideshow Bob's criminal career and his desire to kill Bart. Of course, if you are into extras the commentaries are all there and there is an interesting extra that contains an early animation result of "Some Enchanted Evening" which looked so bad, apparently it almost ended up killing the show. Also, since season one episodes don't pop up in syndication much anymore, you don't get to see them much anyway.

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Craig Beam · 07-31-2004, 11:04 AM

Season 1 episodes were just aired recently here (Portland, OR), so I'm pretty they're still part of the syndication package.

Ronald Epstein · 07-31-2004, 11:12 AM

You guys are great!

So many responses in so little time.

I will open up my Season 2 as soon as
I get done with Season 3. I am actually
going in reverse order as I wanted to
watch the best seasons first.

WillG · 07-31-2004, 12:20 PM

Quote:

I'm pretty they're still part of the syndication package.

Yes they are, but they just don't get aired a whole lot these days

Ocean Phoenix · 07-31-2004, 01:49 PM

I hate a lot of Season 1 and I have trouble watching many of its episodes. It has one of the only Simpsons episodes that I can't watch from start to finish without becoming very bored or annoyed ("Old Money"). The drawing style is irritatingly ugly at times and I find some of the writing in that season dull, but I guess it's understandable since it was the first season. On a more positive note, I do think the first Sideshow Bob episode (mentioned earlier) was cool.

Season 2, despite still retaining some of season 1's ugly style of drawing, is much more enjoyable. It has a surprisingly high number of excellent episodes, including "The Way We Was", which is the story of how Marge and Homer met in high school. This is a very sweet episode, and one of my favourites. It also has a funny "Siskel and Ebert" parody in its opening scene.

AnthonyC · 07-31-2004, 08:10 PM

"Old Money" is from season 2. I agree; mediocre episode.

Season 1 isn't as great as the other three available seasons, but as Moe would say, "it's not without its charm." I'd say open it, enjoy it.