The Simpsons is a burlesque of the average, middle class family--bad morals and all.
"Homer´s Phobia"
Here´s an episode that clearly pokes fun at the gay establishment. Suspecting that Bart might be gay, Homer takes Bart to visit a steel mill in an attempt to help Bart with his manliness. Of course, all the workers at the steel mill are gay. This eventually leads Homer to take Bart on a camping trip in order to have a little one-on-one. This installment certainly has that edgy, politically incorrect humor that I admire about "The Simpsons."
The extras on this episode include an audio commentary, some usual deleted scenes, and the featured guest voice of John Waters.
"The Brother from Another Series"
Bart´s long time nemesis, Sideshow Bob, is released to the custody of his long-lost brother Cecil. Bart has no trust for Bob and spies on his every move; however, it is Bob´s brother Cecil that Bart should be watching as Cecil ends up being the jealous, evil brother that wants to blow up the Springfield dam. What can I say; it´s a funny episode, but it´s no more funny than other episodes with Sideshow Bob. However, what gives this a little edge is that it´s also a parody on the television show "Frasier." Watch closely and you´ll see why.
Extras on this installment include an audio commentary, along with some deleted scenes. This episode also features the guest voices of Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, and Marcia Wallace.
"My Sister, My Sister"
Lisa may be too young to baby-sit but that does not stop her from attempting to be the local baby-sitter. She does very well in her first attempts, but when left home alone with Bart and Maggie all hell is sure to break lose as Bart tests her patience. In a spat of hilarious events, Bart nearly gets himself killed and turns Lisa into a basket case. This episode is full of the usual, fun antics that you would expect from Bart or any of the other dumb Simpsons...hey, that only leaves Homer. D´oh!
This episode has extra features that include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes.
"Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment"
Now here´s an episode for the alcoholic in some of us. After a drunken riot at the St. Patrick´s Day parade, the town of Springfield decides to reinstate Prohibition. Of course, you know how this is going to work out for Homer and his drinking buddies at Moe´s Tavern. Homer begins his own bootlegging operation, as he is commonly known as "The Beer Baron" in the underground parts of town. Since I can relate to drinking, I found this installment one of the funniest on disc three.
The extras on this episode include an audio commentary, a bit feature from the artists, and the special guest voices of Joe Mantegna and Dave Thomas.
"Grade School Confidential"
In this episode, Bart´s teacher and the school principal get the hots for each other and start up a secret romance. Bart foils their plan as he reveals to everyone their secret romance, which usually gets hot and heavy in the janitorial supply room. Once it becomes public, the two lovers nearly lose their jobs. This installment does have a delightful charm, but it´s only mediocre in comparison to other episodes I´ve seen.
Extras on this installment come with an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and the special guest voice of Marcia Wallace.
"The Canine Mutiny"
This one is full of that Bart humor that we can´t seem to get enough of. Bart, in a dishonest way, ends up getting a credit card and maxes it out buying everything he can think of. He winds up with a show dog named Laddie who, of course, happens to look just like Lassie. Laddie is so adored that Bart ends up giving their old dog, Santa´s Little Helper, away. However, once Bart realizes his mistake and tries to get his old dog back, he finds he is now under the care of a blind man. Now, this one was fun because it´s a lot of Bart and that politically incorrect way he has of doing things. I loved the antics and the few inside jokes that parody the old "Lassie" television show.
The extras on this episode include an audio commentary, some deleted scenes, and Frank Welker as the featured guest voice.
Disc Four:
"The Old Man and the Lisa"
This one is a riot as we watch Mr. Burns turn from filthy rich to stinking poor.
Mr. Burns loses his fortune due to all his "yes men" not telling him the money is gone. Burns is forced to live in the Springfield Retirement Castle, but he vows to make his fortune back. He does so by turning Lisa Simpson´s recycling program into a moneymaking, evil corporate empire. This episode was all about watching Mr. Burns being as ruthless as ever, and I died laughing through every minute of it. As I watched, I couldn´t help but think of Enron and, in an ironic way, I realized the Enron scandal wouldn´t take place for a few more years after the release of this episode.
Extras for this installment include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes. There is also a featured guest voice appearance from Bret Hart.
"In Marge We Trust"
In this episode, Marge ends up helping Reverend Lovejoy handle the pressures of dealing with people´s problems. She gets so good at it that she becomes more popular with people than the reverend. Meanwhile, at home Homer is trying to figure out why there is a likeness of his face on a box of Japanese dish soap. This installment is not too bad and is certainly filled with some good chuckles. The whole Homer-on-the-soap box thing seemed strange, but it packed a few good laughs.
The extras on this installment come with an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and an animated showcase. Also, listen for the featured guest voices of Sab Shimono, Gedde Watanabe, and Frank Welker.
"Homer´s Enemy"
In this episode, Homer meets the new guy at work, Frank Grimes. Frank soon takes a disliking to Homer because he can see what an idiot Homer really is. Franks tries his best to get Homer fired but nothing ever seems to prevail. Homer even invites Frank over for diner, but Frank loses control and goes into a fit of jealousy over the size of Homer´s house and the high-class living he bestows upon his family. As you can see, Frank has become Homer´s enemy and, as usual, Homer doesn´t have a clue. Nevertheless, this episode has its laughs, and I especially liked the ending.
Extras on this episode include an audio commentary and a special language feature. There is also the featured guest voice of Frank Welker.
"The Simpsons Spin-off Showcase"
This installment is just strange. The writers split it up into three parts as we are whisked away into a make-believe world where there are three television spin-off shows from "The Simpsons." One is of Chief Wiggum and his own detective show. Another is a show where Grandpa Simpson´s spirit inhabits the love-tester machine in Moe´s tavern; and the third spin-off is a family variety show hosted by the Simpsons, with a sixteen-year old Lisa. Not to worry, this episode is chockful of some great belly laughs, even though it is way out in left field.
All the extras for this installment include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes. Also, there are the featured guest voices of Tim Conway, Phil Hartman, and Gailard Sartain.
"The Secret War of Lisa"
When Bart´s antics get him into trouble, his parents send him to military school. Lisa finds a sense of discipline that seems to attract her, so she ends up joining up with Bart. However, Lisa soon finds she is picked on because she´s considered a weak little girl who can´t handle the physical strains that boys can. Nevertheless, Lisa finds the strength to work it out as she struggles through her own secret war. The one thing I will say for this final episode is the practical joke Bart does to get him busted is one of the funniest pranks I´ve ever seen Bart do. And no, I´m not going to give it away because it´s something you have to see.
The extras for this episode are an audio commentary, a featured bit from the animators, and deleted scenes. Also listen for the featured guest voices of Willem DaFoe and Marcia Wallace.
Season Extras:
As with any "Simpsons" season, all four discs come with extra features that can be accessed through the main menu. You may also access extra features that only pertain to a particular episode by choosing the "+" button by the episode title. If you are already familiar with the menu layout from seasons six and seven, you´ll have no problem getting around.
First, let´s talk about the packaging. This review is for the "box" package set and not the "Maggie´s Head" case. The first thing to know is there is absolutely no difference in what you get on the DVDs; the only thing that is different is the packaging itself. If you are familiar with the box packaging from seasons six through seven then you´ll be pleased to know that season eight follows suit. For those not familiar, the box set comes with a slipcover, and the main case fans out into three sections. In the middle, you will find all four discs stacked nicely in a plastic set of DVD saddles. You simply pull back the plastic pieces like a book in order to get to the disc you want. Personally, I think this is the best packaging they have come up with so far. And as always, Fox delivers a very sweet insert for each episode, chapter, and extra feature.
For a rundown on all full extras, let me begin: On disc one we have a memento from Matt Groening, an animated showcase, a bit from the animators, the Simpsons house, and deleted scenes. Matt´s memento is basically his way of introducing you to the season-eight collector´s edition DVDs. On disc two there are deleted scenes and a feature bit from the animators. Disc three presents us with a feature bit from the animators and deleted scenes. Finally, on disc four we get a special languages feature, an animated showcase, a feature bit from the animators, deleted scenes, a sketch gallery, and promos with Matt Groening. Personally, my favorite is the language feature on disc four. The language feature allows you to watch the "Homer´s Enemy" episode in four different languages. Watching Homer speak Japanese is the best.
Video:
The picture is presented in the television-format ratio of 1.33:1. Now, don´t think just because this is an animated TV show that is really not as old as, say, the Loony Tunes that the picture quality should be spotless. While the picture is very good by DVD standards, it still comes with those few blemishes ever so noticeable in animation. There are times when the colors seem too vibrant and then too flat. There are also noticeable pieces of film dust and grain, but far too few to really worry about. Overall, it is a decent picture quality that certainly has a night-and-day difference when compared to watching it on a normal broadcast.
Audio:
The audio comes in Dolby Digital 5.1 in English, and Dolby Digital 2.0 in French and Spanish. The sound is nothing special when compared to something you might get from Skywalker Ranch; nevertheless, it does deliver a clean, crisp sound that may not seem much like something in stereo but rather something a bit more monotone. At least that´s what my ears got out of it. However, it´s television and it´s "The Simpsons," so as long as I can get some kind of audio, I´m happy.
Parting Thoughts:
I know a lot of people have commented on which season is their favorite. Some mention seasons one through seven as the only good ones, and then there are some people I know who think the most recent seasons have been a hoot. Personally, and as a "Simpsons" fan, I really do not see when or where one season went uphill or downhill. If I were to look at the seasons that are out on DVD alone, I would have to say I´ve enjoyed every one of them. However, if I had to pick a favorite out of seasons one through eight, I would probably go with seasons four and eight. The bottom line is that "The Simpsons" has been making me laugh for the past sixteen years, and I really can´t think of a time when I thought the steam had run out. If anything, the show improved remarkably every year in the early stages and has now matured and blossomed into the show it is today. True, sixteen years is a long time for any television show, and maybe it is time for "The Simpsons" to finally go out in style. However, if they want to roll out another sixteen years, you´ll hear no complaints from me.
Here´s an episode that clearly pokes fun at the gay establishment. Suspecting that Bart might be gay, Homer takes Bart to visit a steel mill in an attempt to help Bart with his manliness. Of course, all the workers at the steel mill are gay. This eventually leads Homer to take Bart on a camping trip in order to have a little one-on-one. This installment certainly has that edgy, politically incorrect humor that I admire about "The Simpsons."
The extras on this episode include an audio commentary, some usual deleted scenes, and the featured guest voice of John Waters.
"The Brother from Another Series"
Bart´s long time nemesis, Sideshow Bob, is released to the custody of his long-lost brother Cecil. Bart has no trust for Bob and spies on his every move; however, it is Bob´s brother Cecil that Bart should be watching as Cecil ends up being the jealous, evil brother that wants to blow up the Springfield dam. What can I say; it´s a funny episode, but it´s no more funny than other episodes with Sideshow Bob. However, what gives this a little edge is that it´s also a parody on the television show "Frasier." Watch closely and you´ll see why.
Extras on this installment include an audio commentary, along with some deleted scenes. This episode also features the guest voices of Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, and Marcia Wallace.
"My Sister, My Sister"
Lisa may be too young to baby-sit but that does not stop her from attempting to be the local baby-sitter. She does very well in her first attempts, but when left home alone with Bart and Maggie all hell is sure to break lose as Bart tests her patience. In a spat of hilarious events, Bart nearly gets himself killed and turns Lisa into a basket case. This episode is full of the usual, fun antics that you would expect from Bart or any of the other dumb Simpsons...hey, that only leaves Homer. D´oh!
This episode has extra features that include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes.
"Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment"
Now here´s an episode for the alcoholic in some of us. After a drunken riot at the St. Patrick´s Day parade, the town of Springfield decides to reinstate Prohibition. Of course, you know how this is going to work out for Homer and his drinking buddies at Moe´s Tavern. Homer begins his own bootlegging operation, as he is commonly known as "The Beer Baron" in the underground parts of town. Since I can relate to drinking, I found this installment one of the funniest on disc three.
The extras on this episode include an audio commentary, a bit feature from the artists, and the special guest voices of Joe Mantegna and Dave Thomas.
"Grade School Confidential"
In this episode, Bart´s teacher and the school principal get the hots for each other and start up a secret romance. Bart foils their plan as he reveals to everyone their secret romance, which usually gets hot and heavy in the janitorial supply room. Once it becomes public, the two lovers nearly lose their jobs. This installment does have a delightful charm, but it´s only mediocre in comparison to other episodes I´ve seen.
Extras on this installment come with an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and the special guest voice of Marcia Wallace.
"The Canine Mutiny"
This one is full of that Bart humor that we can´t seem to get enough of. Bart, in a dishonest way, ends up getting a credit card and maxes it out buying everything he can think of. He winds up with a show dog named Laddie who, of course, happens to look just like Lassie. Laddie is so adored that Bart ends up giving their old dog, Santa´s Little Helper, away. However, once Bart realizes his mistake and tries to get his old dog back, he finds he is now under the care of a blind man. Now, this one was fun because it´s a lot of Bart and that politically incorrect way he has of doing things. I loved the antics and the few inside jokes that parody the old "Lassie" television show.
The extras on this episode include an audio commentary, some deleted scenes, and Frank Welker as the featured guest voice.
Disc Four:
"The Old Man and the Lisa"
This one is a riot as we watch Mr. Burns turn from filthy rich to stinking poor.
Mr. Burns loses his fortune due to all his "yes men" not telling him the money is gone. Burns is forced to live in the Springfield Retirement Castle, but he vows to make his fortune back. He does so by turning Lisa Simpson´s recycling program into a moneymaking, evil corporate empire. This episode was all about watching Mr. Burns being as ruthless as ever, and I died laughing through every minute of it. As I watched, I couldn´t help but think of Enron and, in an ironic way, I realized the Enron scandal wouldn´t take place for a few more years after the release of this episode.
Extras for this installment include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes. There is also a featured guest voice appearance from Bret Hart.
"In Marge We Trust"
In this episode, Marge ends up helping Reverend Lovejoy handle the pressures of dealing with people´s problems. She gets so good at it that she becomes more popular with people than the reverend. Meanwhile, at home Homer is trying to figure out why there is a likeness of his face on a box of Japanese dish soap. This installment is not too bad and is certainly filled with some good chuckles. The whole Homer-on-the-soap box thing seemed strange, but it packed a few good laughs.
The extras on this installment come with an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and an animated showcase. Also, listen for the featured guest voices of Sab Shimono, Gedde Watanabe, and Frank Welker.
"Homer´s Enemy"
In this episode, Homer meets the new guy at work, Frank Grimes. Frank soon takes a disliking to Homer because he can see what an idiot Homer really is. Franks tries his best to get Homer fired but nothing ever seems to prevail. Homer even invites Frank over for diner, but Frank loses control and goes into a fit of jealousy over the size of Homer´s house and the high-class living he bestows upon his family. As you can see, Frank has become Homer´s enemy and, as usual, Homer doesn´t have a clue. Nevertheless, this episode has its laughs, and I especially liked the ending.
Extras on this episode include an audio commentary and a special language feature. There is also the featured guest voice of Frank Welker.
"The Simpsons Spin-off Showcase"
This installment is just strange. The writers split it up into three parts as we are whisked away into a make-believe world where there are three television spin-off shows from "The Simpsons." One is of Chief Wiggum and his own detective show. Another is a show where Grandpa Simpson´s spirit inhabits the love-tester machine in Moe´s tavern; and the third spin-off is a family variety show hosted by the Simpsons, with a sixteen-year old Lisa. Not to worry, this episode is chockful of some great belly laughs, even though it is way out in left field.
All the extras for this installment include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes. Also, there are the featured guest voices of Tim Conway, Phil Hartman, and Gailard Sartain.
"The Secret War of Lisa"
When Bart´s antics get him into trouble, his parents send him to military school. Lisa finds a sense of discipline that seems to attract her, so she ends up joining up with Bart. However, Lisa soon finds she is picked on because she´s considered a weak little girl who can´t handle the physical strains that boys can. Nevertheless, Lisa finds the strength to work it out as she struggles through her own secret war. The one thing I will say for this final episode is the practical joke Bart does to get him busted is one of the funniest pranks I´ve ever seen Bart do. And no, I´m not going to give it away because it´s something you have to see.
The extras for this episode are an audio commentary, a featured bit from the animators, and deleted scenes. Also listen for the featured guest voices of Willem DaFoe and Marcia Wallace.
Season Extras:
As with any "Simpsons" season, all four discs come with extra features that can be accessed through the main menu. You may also access extra features that only pertain to a particular episode by choosing the "+" button by the episode title. If you are already familiar with the menu layout from seasons six and seven, you´ll have no problem getting around.
First, let´s talk about the packaging. This review is for the "box" package set and not the "Maggie´s Head" case. The first thing to know is there is absolutely no difference in what you get on the DVDs; the only thing that is different is the packaging itself. If you are familiar with the box packaging from seasons six through seven then you´ll be pleased to know that season eight follows suit. For those not familiar, the box set comes with a slipcover, and the main case fans out into three sections. In the middle, you will find all four discs stacked nicely in a plastic set of DVD saddles. You simply pull back the plastic pieces like a book in order to get to the disc you want. Personally, I think this is the best packaging they have come up with so far. And as always, Fox delivers a very sweet insert for each episode, chapter, and extra feature.
For a rundown on all full extras, let me begin: On disc one we have a memento from Matt Groening, an animated showcase, a bit from the animators, the Simpsons house, and deleted scenes. Matt´s memento is basically his way of introducing you to the season-eight collector´s edition DVDs. On disc two there are deleted scenes and a feature bit from the animators. Disc three presents us with a feature bit from the animators and deleted scenes. Finally, on disc four we get a special languages feature, an animated showcase, a feature bit from the animators, deleted scenes, a sketch gallery, and promos with Matt Groening. Personally, my favorite is the language feature on disc four. The language feature allows you to watch the "Homer´s Enemy" episode in four different languages. Watching Homer speak Japanese is the best.
Video:
The picture is presented in the television-format ratio of 1.33:1. Now, don´t think just because this is an animated TV show that is really not as old as, say, the Loony Tunes that the picture quality should be spotless. While the picture is very good by DVD standards, it still comes with those few blemishes ever so noticeable in animation. There are times when the colors seem too vibrant and then too flat. There are also noticeable pieces of film dust and grain, but far too few to really worry about. Overall, it is a decent picture quality that certainly has a night-and-day difference when compared to watching it on a normal broadcast.
Audio:
The audio comes in Dolby Digital 5.1 in English, and Dolby Digital 2.0 in French and Spanish. The sound is nothing special when compared to something you might get from Skywalker Ranch; nevertheless, it does deliver a clean, crisp sound that may not seem much like something in stereo but rather something a bit more monotone. At least that´s what my ears got out of it. However, it´s television and it´s "The Simpsons," so as long as I can get some kind of audio, I´m happy.
Parting Thoughts:
I know a lot of people have commented on which season is their favorite. Some mention seasons one through seven as the only good ones, and then there are some people I know who think the most recent seasons have been a hoot. Personally, and as a "Simpsons" fan, I really do not see when or where one season went uphill or downhill. If I were to look at the seasons that are out on DVD alone, I would have to say I´ve enjoyed every one of them. However, if I had to pick a favorite out of seasons one through eight, I would probably go with seasons four and eight. The bottom line is that "The Simpsons" has been making me laugh for the past sixteen years, and I really can´t think of a time when I thought the steam had run out. If anything, the show improved remarkably every year in the early stages and has now matured and blossomed into the show it is today. True, sixteen years is a long time for any television show, and maybe it is time for "The Simpsons" to finally go out in style. However, if they want to roll out another sixteen years, you´ll hear no complaints from me.
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[release]19028[/release]