“Say, let’s bring him back to life by using technology!” – Future Guy
“Aye caramba!” – Bart Simpson
“Yay!” – Future Crowd
Unsurprisingly, there were a boatload of crossover reviews this week, everything from big publications to regular ole bloggers who just wanted to chip in their two cents. We’ve got a bunch below, but having read even more of them than I linked, this appears to be the general consensus:
1. It was better than the Family Guy crossover.
Outside of that, opinions diverged. Some people really loved it, others thought it was just plain bad. More than a few people from both camps wished it had been a double episode, either to extend the fun or to give it time to fix the problems. In addition to those, we’ve got a couple of old episode reviews, plenty of .gifs, an unusual best episode list, a fan video, and lots more.
Enjoy.
Moaning Lisa: New Feelings on an Old Episode - Smooth Charlie’s Link of the Week is this heartfelt rewatching of “Moaning Lisa”:
I don’t watch The Simpsons as religiously as I used to. Though I catch the occasional rerun, I usually have to wait a while until the station gets back to the earlier episodes since I have little interest in watching reruns of the newer seasons. And even then, I tend to avoid the first two seasons of The Simpsons mostly due to the rough animation, which is hard to watch sometimes. However, on this particular night, after a long day at work, I decided to just leave the show on in the background even if it was from the first season.
And I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. From the moment Lisa sighs her way through a day at school, uncaring, searching for an outlet through music only to be squashed creatively by her music teacher to the friendship she forms with Bleeding Gums Murphy, I could not focus on anything but the episode. Something clicked in my head and I felt the deepest and most sincere empathy for Lisa because, at one point in my life, I was just like her.
The whole thing is worth reading, especially for those of you who’ve felt the way Lisa does there (and who hasn’t?).
The Lydians - I don’t know enough about music to follow this deconstruction of the theme song, but it certainly seems knowledgeable. It’s even got a correction at the bottom.
The Simpsons: Season 10, Episode 19 – “Mom and Pop Art” (1999) - A look at the episode, and some of the art and artists in it.
Task 4 – Kinetic Typography Outcome - A short text video of part of the SpiderPig song. Neat.
“The Simpsons” (Season 5 episode 15: “Deep Space Homer, FOX) - This is what I keep saying:
By virtue of having a science-fiction plot there are plenty of set pieces that parody science fiction classics like “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “The Right Stuff.” Thankfully, “Deep Space Homer” doesn’t rely solely on references for its jokes. The bulk of the comedy comes from seeing Homer act in a situation where he’s plucked severely out of his element.
Zombie Simpsons writers, please take note.
“Simpsonrama” brings about nostalgia for cancelled “Futurama” - The headline sums up quite a few of the reviews I found, with this being a widely shared sentiment:
The crossover is a love letter to Futurama fans, the rabid fan base who had to recently go through a second cancellation over at Comedy Central won’t have much to complain about. However, it lacks in plot and motivation. While the character interactions are great and there are countless one-liners, it seems tacked on compared to some of the great story arcs that Futurama has produced.
Simpsorama: The Simpsons and Futurama Crossover Episode Review - Similar to the above, but more forgiving:
It was great, but could have been an hour long episode. Putting these two shows together was a great idea. the flow of the story went smoothly, but for the fans that wanted to see more of an interaction between the two shows, it could have been done better.
TV Review: Simpsorama - A very positive review of the crossover.
5-sentence review of ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Futurama’ crossover episode - And a not so positive review.
Simpsorama! The Simpsons/Futurama Crossover Review - Again, this seems to be a common sentiment:
Whereas The Simpsons and Family Guy crossover episode earlier this year mirrored its double billing with a double length running time, Simpsorama is a brisk 20 minute jaunt which whilst is certainly funny, simply doesn’t have enough time to become anything more meaningful than an interesting footnote in each show’s history.
The ‘Simpsons’/’Futurama’ crossover: Two great tastes that go pretty well together - Entertainment gossip rag Entertainment Weekly did its best to be enthused:
“Simpsorama” wasn’t a great episode of The Simpsons or of Futurama, but it was a lovely little celebration, a tip of the hat from the class president to the kid who spends lunch breaks inventing new rules for Dungeons & Dragons. Also, Homer twisted the necks off of little green Bart mutants, which isn’t nothing.
Simpsorama - Seeing as how I thought the second production run of new Futurama was much better than the first, I wholeheartedly agree with this:
This crossover within Matt Groening’s universe is a lot more The Simpsons than Futurama. It is nice to see the Planet Express gang, but it left me wanting more after blurting “That’s all they can come up with?”
Now, can we get new Futurama episodes that would definitely be written better than “Simpsorama”?
The Simpsons: Simpsorama Review - That would be sad:
Excuses are the refuge of cowards, crossover shows are the refuge of cowards who have run out of excuses. Someday the future will be here, I mean, when you think about it, the future will be here tomorrow, but there will be a not-too-distant future in the far future and that future may be a future without The Simpsons or Futurama. Of all probably futures, the worst would be that this episode would be the only testament remaining of these two shows.
Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
Every ‘Futurama’ Reference In ‘The Simpsons’ Crossover - I don’t know if it’s every one or not, but it’s not a great sign for the overall quality of the episode when so many are from the end credits.
Long gone. - Duffman graffiti in an abandoned building in Belgium.
Interview with Will Stateczny on Monkeys Need Love Too -But did you use your main finger?:
Where did you come up with the name “Topwise” and what are your hopes for Topwise Games?
Topwise comes from growing up watching the Simpsons. Most Simpson fans will know exactly what I’m talking about and where the reference comes from.
Indeed we do.
Interstellar…In 10 Words - Giant space ants would’ve helped, actually.
The TMCC’s Top Ten Episodes of “The Simpsons” - Unusual to see two Season 12 episodes on one of these, but there’s nothing past that. Also too, this is more thoughtful and explained than most lists.
Treehouse Of Horror II – Episode #042 - Always liked that Homer and Bart bonding was so terrifying to Bart:
Now, what is it that jolts Bart awake? is it the idea that he has the power to turn his father into anything or was it the exchange of “I love you’s” Hmmm…..
Homer Simpson Wallpaper - Heh.
I used it be with it - Still one of the most timeless quotes in a show that has an awful lot of them.
PHOTO: Peter Budaj’s new Jets mask features fighter pilot Ned Flanders - Just what it says.
Lisa Simpson Hipster Pin - And she looks like Blossom.
Simpsons Homer Mr. Sparkle Pin - Join him or die.
Kitty Says Simpson Ay - Simpsons socks. That is all.
Random Simpsons Screencap of the Day 11/11/14 - Heh.
Random Simpsons Screencap of the Day 11/12/14 - Comet heh.
Siblings’ intimacy - Some .gifs of Bart and Lisa’s memories from the end of “Lisa on Ice”.
