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Is it the episode where Maude dies or is it the Prideland episode where Frink says "Unhhhhhh Ivan Reitman!" because that's his finest moment

Season 11 has Maude's death.

I believe you are referring to the Season 12 ep "I'm Goin' to Praiseland."

Skimming through the episode descriptions to find that just made me die a little inside.

I don't know how everyone else's syndication worked, but for a good two years, my local Fox affiliate was only showing season 11 episodes in hour-long blocks, so I feel like I've seen these episodes a million times-- in fact, I can say with certainty that I've seen the trucker and tomacco episodes more than any other Simpsons episode. Now that's depressing.

It seems like the only times they syndicate older episodes where I live, it's episodes from Season 1. Otherwise, it's all much more recent stuff (i.e. stuff I don't recognize).

BTW, by "trucker episode," do you mean the one where Homer loses a steak-eating contest, and he and Bart have to become truckers, while Marge and Lisa tend to the "Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear?" doorbell that won't stop playing? I love that episode (and the Tomacco one). Though granted, I have only seen each one a few times.

Yes. "He called me 'Greenhorn.' I called him 'Tony Randall.' It was a thing we had."

I wonder if that'll be a typical box that's perforated on the front (like it looks) or another damn head.

As much as I love Krusty (he's definitely my favorite character), I am still thinking I won't be buying this season.

if only for the tomacco episode....I only wish I could've seen it millions of times.

The more I look at that Krusty box the more appealing it looks. The Krusty brand works way better for this than it did for the Lady Krusty Mustache Trimmer.

LQ wrote:if only for the tomacco episode....I only wish I could've seen it millions of times.

That episode has one of Marge's best lines ever

Bart: I'll dig an outhouse.
Lisa: I'll weed the floor.
Marge: I'll repress the rage I'm feeling!

Yeah, the tomacco episode is sterling. Even on the worst of seasons, there's usually at least one golden episode I'd love to see again. That, and watching the slightly extended episodes after years of syndicated viewings are like a whole new experience. Most of the toss-away lines you can see why they cut, but at least their presence is surprising.

davebert wrote:But man oh man, that Behind the Music parody/finale was a lot funnier when I was 15...

Behind The Laughter is still one of my favourite episodes.
"Would Willie's fence-mending eggs bear fruit? Or would his olive branch be torn apart by woodpeckers of mistrust?"

I just remembered that season eleven has one of my most-quoted lines, about the banned version of the Nancy Drew book the Clue in the Clock: "So many swears."

John Swartzwelder will appear on the DVD commentary for Kill the Alligator and Run =D> =D> =D>

domino harvey wrote:John Swartzwelder will appear on the DVD commentary for Kill the Alligator and Run

all my hopes, dreams, and prayers are coming to a head.... no phones involved??

After an amazing first 10 seasons, Swartzwelder finally steps up to the microphone for one of his least memorable episodes in the season that started the downward spiral of crap.

Ugh! That is probably an act of inspired spite on Schwartzwelder's part. I'm actually kind of standing back and admiring this. That episode is awful.

all the more reason to be fascinated by his appearance on the commentary. I personally cannot wait to hear this.

This all seems like a scheme to me. Build him up as one of the most brilliant, reclusive comedic minds imaginable, then roll him out for a set that's going to have trouble selling to hardcore fans otherwise.

If he goes on to justify the lousiness of that episode in the commentary, I have this feeling that people will just defend the episode (and therefore the season, as this is the worst of the bunch) by association. If Schwartzwelder likes how it turns out, it must be misunderstood and brilliant!

Matt Groening speaks volumes about the declining quality of the show by only appearing in one commentary.

The episode is notoriously disliked by fans, he definitely picked it for a reason. Has anyone read any of Swartzwelder's books? I read the first three but they're kind of exhausting and show why most funny novels aren't handing out a joke a sentence.

domino harvey wrote:Has anyone read any of Swartzwelder's books? I read the first three but they're kind of exhausting and show why most funny novels aren't handing out a joke a sentence.

No thanks. I paged through Dead Man Scare Me Stupid and as you said, it was exhausting. His particular brand of bizarrerie just doesn't work in literature format

domino harvey wrote:The episode is notoriously disliked by fans, he definitely picked it for a reason.

What's the controversy? I've never seen it.

It's been a long time since I've read a Simpsons fan site, but I recall shortly after it aired, it topped more than a few Worst Episode Ever lists. I don't think it's the worst episode by a long shot, but it's also still terrible.

Highway 61 wrote:

domino harvey wrote:The episode is notoriously disliked by fans, he definitely picked it for a reason.

What's the controversy? I've never seen it.

It has Kid Rock. What more do you need to know?

Gotcha!

Incidentally, new favorite line: Barney: "Hey that looks like Princess Di . . . ahh wait, it's just a pile of rags."

I don't know if that alone merits controversy (I seem to remember his little friend had a few good lines, actually). I can see how the comic genius that dominated in their halcyon days are gone, but I can't say I've ever seen an episode I've outright hated. Certain episodes of Family Guy however, haven't aged well with me. And I can see how that show will become watered-down due to Seth's new multi-million contract with Fox, and the Burger King deal, etc, etc.