RiffTrax Forum
General Discussion => Television aka TV discussion => Topic started by: MrTorso on February 14, 2009, 10:58:16 PM
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So this Sunday will be the first episode of the Simpsons to be broadcast in HD! They updated the main titles for it:
http://www.youtube.com/v/qZGz1Ajg7QU
and please if you don't like the Simpsons anymore and you think the show sucks and they haven't been funny for years (if you think the show isn't funny anymore then why are you still watching it? for as many years as you say it hasn't been funny?) then please just move along to another thread.
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Simpsons FTW!
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I guess this means they have to animate it in a 16x9 format instead of a 4x3 format then?
Wonder how that will look on non-HD sets? Probably like anything else I guess.
Are there any other cartoons done in HD?
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Wow, pretty cool actually.
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Such times we live in.
Our beloved Simpsons in HD. I'm excited!!
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I guess this means they have to animate it in a 16x9 format instead of a 4x3 format then?
Wonder how that will look on non-HD sets? Probably like anything else I guess.
Are there any other cartoons done in HD?
South park is moving to HD this season and they are going back and putting past season in HD.
The Venture Brothers season three is being released on Blue Ray,and Justice League is also out on Blue Ray but I don't know if they are in HD.
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That was neat! I haven't seen any of the new seasons of the Simpsons - I tend to buy the box-sets - but the new intro is cool, and overdue. I thought they should've updated it when the animation got decidedly better after season 3 or 4.
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So here's our idea for a crumbling economy - make people draw 1/3 more picture for thousands of frames of animation, and then just sit back and see what happens. Who's with me? Woohoo!
Is that a new digital converter box on their TV?
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You do know that all this was animated at least a years ago don't you?
I could only load 22 seconds on my connection but what i saw looked great.
I love the Krusty sign.
Too bad i have to work tonight :speechless:
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Are there any other cartoons done in HD?
As Dr. Who mentioned South Park is being broadcast in HD now. Last week King of the Hill was HD for the first time on Fox. Family Guy gets broadcast in HD on the TOONhd channel as well as TBSHd.
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So here's our idea for a crumbling economy - make people draw 1/3 more picture for thousands of frames of animation, and then just sit back and see what happens. Who's with me? Woohoo!
Is that a new digital converter box on their TV?
Oh bratpop. You try so hard, don't you?
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They should have had Otto try to smoke the stick of plutonium... Who's with me? Woohoo!
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They should have had Otto try to smoke the stick of plutonium... Who's with me? Woohoo!
Yeah that would have been great.
You know the only bad thing about this is that we are going to have to wait 5 to 7 years for this season to show up on Blue Ray.
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Didn't Matt Greoning say at one point that they are going to keep making the show as long as the actors want to keep doing it?
So I don't think you have to worry for a while yet.
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Cartoons in widescreen. To preserve how it was originally filmed.
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Well, we all know that we can't have cartoons films before a live studio audience (wreaks havoc on the animators' hands) so this will have to suffice.
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Cartoons in widescreen. To preserve how it was originally filmed.
uh yeah? I mean from now on all the episodes they make are going to be 16x9 so.....
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My local NBC has stopped showing widescreen stuff. This doesn't mean they show it letterboxed; no, it's widescreen format, with the edges chopped off. I miss half of The Office every week. My guess is that it's loudly-complaining elderly people who caused this (I used to zoom in and get the whole thing--albeit grainy, and now I just can't see half of it).
I don't know if Fox does the same thing here; hope not. I'll be tuning in next week to see WIDESCREEN Simpsons!
that is awful!
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My local NBC has stopped showing widescreen stuff. This doesn't mean they show it letterboxed; no, it's widescreen format, with the edges chopped off. I miss half of The Office every week. My guess is that it's loudly-complaining elderly people who caused this (I used to zoom in and get the whole thing--albeit grainy, and now I just can't see half of it).
I don't know if Fox does the same thing here; hope not. I'll be tuning in next week to see WIDESCREEN Simpsons!
It's available in widescreen at Fox on Demand (http://www.fox.com/fod/play.php?sh=simpsons) and Hulu (http://www.hulu.com/show/58).
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cough ~torrent~ cough
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Not on my TV, I can't. And I"m not gonna install a player.
If you have Flash, Hulu works just fine.
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Not on my TV, I can't. And I"m not gonna install a player.
Playon (http://www.themediamall.com/playon)
If you have a PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, or HP MediaSmart TV, PlayOn lets you watch Netflix, Hulu, CBS, YouTube, CNN, ESPN and more on your TV.
They will also be adding support for Nintendo Wii in early 2009.
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You realize they're making a TV show fit the TV that you bought to watch movies on, which already had to compromise the ratio in order to sate TV watchers? There's no long term planning at work here. They should have made TVs 2.35:1, and then everything is literally just a different width, nothing ever too "small" to watch as long as the height of the screen is enough that you're comfortable with it. It would be much more aesthetically pleasing than seeing the height of the picture constantly changing in an effort to create the illusion of different widths.
What sucks is if you don't have a widescreen TV, TV shows are ceasing to fit on a TV screen. That's great, IF you give me a fucking coupon for a widescreen TV along with that digital converter box, and phase out standard-ratio TVs altogether.
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So you think the tax payers should have to buy you a widescreen TV too.
Sorry but I am already paying a third of my income in taxes so i don't want to pay another cent.
I think the government should just come out and ban HDTVs and ban any movie or TV show from being shot in anything other then 4:3 480i in that case.
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My local NBC has stopped showing widescreen stuff. This doesn't mean they show it letterboxed; no, it's widescreen format, with the edges chopped off. I miss half of The Office every week. My guess is that it's loudly-complaining elderly people who caused this (I used to zoom in and get the whole thing--albeit grainy, and now I just can't see half of it).
I don't know if Fox does the same thing here; hope not. I'll be tuning in next week to see WIDESCREEN Simpsons!
Yeah I had to disconnect my HD Cable for a couple weeks to make room for the PS3 (I have an HDMI cable now that fixes the need to do that) and I was watching Conan in lo-def. They literally chopped Conan in half, and chopped the guest in half. You didn't get to see all of anyone.
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If they raise taxes, you can complain. You can't complain about what they DO with the money they take from you. It's not yours anymore. "YOUR tax dollars" is a phrase created by the media to scare you into watching news shows and buying magazines.
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Yeah I had to disconnect my HD Cable for a couple weeks to make room for the PS3 (I have an HDMI cable now that fixes the need to do that) and I was watching Conan in lo-def. They literally chopped Conan in half, and chopped the guest in half. You didn't get to see all of anyone.
Conan chops a lot of people in half. It's what barbarians do.
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You realize they're making a TV show fit the TV that you bought to watch movies on, which already had to compromise the ratio in order to sate TV watchers? There's no long term planning at work here. They should have made TVs 2.35:1, and then everything is literally just a different width, nothing ever too "small" to watch as long as the height of the screen is enough that you're comfortable with it. It would be much more aesthetically pleasing than seeing the height of the picture constantly changing in an effort to create the illusion of different widths.
Wouldn't that chop off the bottom and tops of 16:9 picture(a format that is still widely used),I prefer the system we have now where I can always see the whole picture.
I don't care about Black bars unless they take up half the screen.
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Playon (http://www.themediamall.com/playon)
If you have a PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, or HP MediaSmart TV, PlayOn lets you watch Netflix, Hulu, CBS, YouTube, CNN, ESPN and more on your TV.
Oh awesome! I'm gonna give this a try on my PS3 when I get home. I've been annoyed I can't get netflix instant viewing on my PS3....
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If they raise taxes, you can complain. You can't complain about what they DO with the money they take from you. It's not yours anymore. "YOUR tax dollars" is a phrase created by the media to scare you into watching news shows and buying magazines.
You heard it here last.
Never question anything the government does.
They are better then you and have the devine right to rule.
Common people have no right to question those who were born to rule.
How very 1300s of you.
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My local NBC has stopped showing widescreen stuff. This doesn't mean they show it letterboxed; no, it's widescreen format, with the edges chopped off. I miss half of The Office every week. My guess is that it's loudly-complaining elderly people who caused this (I used to zoom in and get the whole thing--albeit grainy, and now I just can't see half of it).
I don't know if Fox does the same thing here; hope not. I'll be tuning in next week to see WIDESCREEN Simpsons!
Yeah I had to disconnect my HD Cable for a couple weeks to make room for the PS3 (I have an HDMI cable now that fixes the need to do that) and I was watching Conan in lo-def. They literally chopped Conan in half, and chopped the guest in half. You didn't get to see all of anyone.
So they are not even bothering to pan and scan, just zooming in on the center? That's really bad. Even worse than the stations that cut the top and bottom off of older shows to make them widescreen. For a while most shows were framing their shots so the 4:3 center got most of the action, seems they are now assuming everyone has a widescreen TV.
Back to the Simpsons, I'm guessing the new intro will be cut shorter for future episodes, it was at least twice as long as the normal intro. I did laugh at what Bart was writing on the blackboard.
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Yeah it's pretty dumb to just zoom in.
I have a feeling those same old people are going to still be calling them.
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Apparently the NBC affiliate here in the Boston area does it too.
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I'll throw the story in here. From the BBC:
Animated comedy The Simpsons is to become the longest-running prime-time series in US TV history after makers Fox ordered another two seasons.
The show is currently in its 20th season which matches the record of Western drama Gunsmoke, shown on CBS, which ended in 1975. The 21st season will begin in the autumn with the 22nd airing next year. The Simpsons was first shown in December 1989, and made its UK debut on Sky in September 1990. The new commission of 44 episodes over two seasons will bring the total number of shows to 493.
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I think they just should have ordered seven more and make it an even 500 episodes.
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Announcing another season of The Simpsons is like announcing that milk is still available at your local supermarket.
Oh my God, can I still buy stamps tomorrow?
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I'm I the only one who hopes that they don't make us wait to get the HD seasons on Blue Ray?
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So who watched tonight's episode. I don't think it was nearly as... unpleasant as the Lady Gaga episode (am I alone in REALLY hating that one. I think it's the only episode I out and out hated.) but I thought it was pretty weak. I really like Breakfast at Tiffany's and like the idea of a parody, but the whole episode felt like there wasn't really a point to all the running around the characters are doing, and we aren't really given any stakes. To quote Homer "it's just a bunch of stuff that happened." Only this time, it wasn't so memorable.
There were some surprisingly strong episodes last season, so I hope this won't be par for the course. Also, what the Hell is Bart's deal. He's 10. He's had far more girlfriends than I've had up till now! I think the idea of Bart feeling like he can't be loved is an interesting idea (especially since he infuriates his loved ones on a regular basis), but why did the writers decide to give him the problems of a 20-something. And it's weird that no-one is saying "YOU'RE 10!", even addressing that as some throw away joke. There can be a way to have Bart and Lisa have adult problems without betraying the fact that they are kids, but this is just lazy. When pointing out the ridiculousness of the situation or having an internal logic that makes the idea of a kid having a string of past girlfriends can work, but here it's just strange.
Well, next week is... the Halloween episode? So early? OK, well, I tend to like those, even when they are weaker.
Still, despite the show's long run, I'm still hoping for episodes as good as "The Book Job", "A Totally Fun Thing Bart Will Never Get To Do Again" and the really impressive "Holidays of Future Passed" from last season.
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I liked the line to Homer: "New York will be nicer now that your two least favorite buildings are gone."
Also like the callback to the Kraukalash guy.
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Finally caught the rather early Treehouse of Horror this year. Good, but not great.
The opening segment was a little cute, but didn't really do all that much for me. "And it will be Obama's fault!"
The first segment felt like it had a lot of potential for Futurama-style science gags or more cool visual stuff (and it did, a little bit), but it all felt a little perfunctory. Kind of nice that they had a segment that didn't spoof a specific thing and it had some moments, but overall, it could have been a lot cooler. I loved the gag of "what happened to the cat", as well as the black hole refusing to to take Bart's homework.
The second segment was the strongest in my opinion, though I feel again there was a lot of lost opportunity in both spoofing the movie and using the fast forward gag (I'll admit, I did enjoy Homer's long pee). I feel like the writers wanted to do more with it, didn't have the time and stuck with some more pedestrian gags. Still, I rather liked this one, especially the last joke. "CINNAMON! CINNAMON!"
The third segment was fun, but I think like they had to cram in some jokes and didn't have time to get clever. Still, Jon Lovitz is always a treat and the Homer's throughout history was fun. I kind of wish past Homer just forgot about his quest and decided to indulge himself in what we take so for granted now (It's like Patton Oswalt said: Obama made time travel way cheaper. You only need to go back to 1999 and show people a black president named Barrack Hussein Obama and an iPod and you've blown some minds.) "Even you Caveman Homer" "That's Renaissance Homer."
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I liked the line to Homer: "New York will be nicer now that your two least favorite buildings are gone."
Holy shit, they actually said that?!
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I liked the line to Homer: "New York will be nicer now that your two least favorite buildings are gone."
Holy shit, they actually said that?!
Yeah, but the joke is that Bart goes on to say “old Penn Station and Shea Stadium!”
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I also think Bart used the word obliterated!
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Seth MacFarlane to guest voice on the Simpsons. Bob Burger's to become the last bastion of an animated show that doesn't have Seth MacFarlane on it that night.
From AV Club
The playful rivalry that sort-of-exists between The Simpsons and Family Guy may finally come to the peaceful end that it never really needed in the first place, now that Seth MacFarlane has booked a guest spot on The Simpsons. According to Entertainment Weekly, MacFarlane will at last address the fact that there remains a half-hour of Fox's Sunday night that does not feature his dulcet baritone, dropping by The Simpsons to voice a charming stranger who woos Marge over a dating website, thus causing The Simpsons' landmark 300th threat to Homer and Marge's marriage. "But does Seth MacFarlane get to sing?" asks everyone who worries about the number of opportunities afforded to Seth MacFarlane to sing an old-fashioned, big band-style number, which is to say everyone. "MacFarlane croons 'The Way You Look Tonight' in the episode," EW reports, so we're good. We're good, everyone.
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Check it out, old Simpsons writers take a trip down memory lane!
http://www.youtube.com/v/DtJ28qOEG1g
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New book about Homosexuality and Homer Sensuality.
From the Onion AV Club:
Proving that the Germans are not all smiles and sunshine—sometimes they are also critical studies of long-running television shows—German librarian Erwin In het Panhuis has compiled a new book, Behind The Gay Laughter: Homosexuality In The Simpsons, arguing that The Simpsons has greatly influenced the public perception of homosexuality, and even helped numerous gay men come out over the years.
As The Huffington Post notes in its translation, In het Panhuis looked at some “490 gay scenes and over 70 homosexual characters” from the series’ run, charting the myriad ways in which it’s explored and combated prejudices. For example, The Simpsons became the first cartoon to dedicate an entire episode to same-sex marriage, and has featured moments where “Homer himself has kissed other male characters on the lips more than 50 times” without being immediately engulfed in cleansing hellfire, all of these things positive. It also, of course, features one of TV’s most beautifully tragic stories of unrequited same-sex love, in the will-they/won’t they dance of Lenny and Carl.
While the book admits that sometimes The Simpsons falters with the occasional “fallback to stereotypes” (with almost 90 percent of these surely contained within that one John Waters episode), the series nevertheless boasts “an intelligent, fair and entertaining handling of homosexuality,” time and again showing that gay people work hard and play hard, in a respectable and relatable manner. Though, oddly, the book devotes an entire chapter to Waylon Smithers, whose real deal is that he’s Mr. Burns’ assistant, he’s in his early 40s, is unmarried, and he currently resides in Springfield, and thus seems like an unusual character to focus on.
“Uh-oh, the Germans get me! Ooooh, the Germans!” The Simpsons’ sociopolitical subtext said.
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Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon has terminal cancer. Though he was always involved in charity, he plans on giving all of his Simpsons-made fortune away to good causes.
From the AV Club
The universe recently gave us an incredibly cruel reminder that bad things happen to good people, when Sam Simon, during a recent discussion on Marc Maron's WTF, revealed that his terminal cancer diagnosis means he likely only has months to live. Simon has had a remarkable career in television, starting off as a writer for Barney Miller, Taxi, and Cheers, and becoming one of the youngest showrunners in television history when he took over Taxi in its final season. He then co-created what some consider to be the best show in the history of the medium, The Simpsons, before quitting the show at its peak in 1993.
However, making millions of people happy wasn't enough for Simon, who turned his efforts to philanthropy. Over the years, he directed an endless stream of Simpsons royalties to the Sam Simon Foundation, which rescues stray dogs and trains them to be rescue dogs, service dogs, and companions for soldiers returning from combat. Simon also founded a vegan food bank, and a free mobile veterinary clinic.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Simon talks about his desire to spend whatever time remains to him giving away the millions he's earned. Far from being despondent about his illness and impending death, the interview presents Simon as upbeat, self-effacing, and passionate about helping people and animals alike, and just underscores the tremendous loss Simon's passing will be.
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Saw that about Sam. That's sad... It's great what he's doing, but sad about the whole cancer thing.
On a side-note, saw one of the newer episodes momentarily when I was flipping around recently...... Does ANYONE know WHY... WHY GOD WHY... they stopped having the darker lines outlining the characters?!??!?! It was all lighter than the skin tone and it just looked.... wrong. It looked horribly bad. Just bad. They make such a big deal about not ever really changing the models for the main characters, yet this is WORSE.
Why!?
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The best thing The Simpsons has done in the last 15 years: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/triplets-of-belleville-director-sylvain-chomet-does-simpsons-couch-gag-96838.html
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So that marathon of every Simpsons ever starts on FXX tomorrow. I know what I'll have on TV in the background for the next couple weeks...
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Watching Season 1 right now. Homer has changed a lot over the years. Remember in the Marvin Monroe episode where Homer felt he had the bad hell bound family?
I am surprised that the Simpsons commercials with quotes from the actual sow aren't doing any classic quotes like from Marge vs the Monorail or Who Shot Mr. Burns (1 or 2). All the quotes are from season 20 and after.
Oh wait, they just quoted season 9.
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Season 2. It's odd watching Mr. Burns not being portrayed as completely out of touch with modern society.
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I would like to use this time to say that in "Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish" I think Marge was in the wrong. She undercooked the fish on purpose just to get Burns to lose.
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Still brings the point home: The woman confined to the kitchen actually still holds a lot of power. :^)
IMMEDIATE EDIT TO CLARIFY: This does not mean that I believe women SHOULD be confined to the kitchen. I mean women have power no matter where they are. Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world and all that. :^)
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Just keep digging that hole, Pak.
Holy cow! A pre-Flanderized Flanders! And Rod Todd has a science experiment! A real one even!
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Oh the Springfield Gorge.
Seriously, this is one of the most perfect moments of comedy to appear on American TV.
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Radio Bart is on now. Why didn't Bart say he was trying to help Timmy O'Toole and that is why he fell down the well?
"Rodd, Todd, this is God. Walk through the wall, I will remove it for you (thunk)...later."
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Radio Bart is on now. Why didn't Bart say he was trying to help Timmy O'Toole and that is why he fell down the well?
"Rodd, Todd, this is God. Walk through the wall, I will remove it for you (thunk)...later."
Also, why didn't Peter Parker remember this episode when he made the same mistake in the first Amazing Spider-Man?
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I am surprised that the Simpsons commercials with quotes from the actual sow aren't doing any classic quotes like from Marge vs the Monorail or Who Shot Mr. Burns (1 or 2). All the quotes are from season 20 and after.
Oh wait, they just quoted season 9.
Season 6's "Me fail English? That's unpossible!" showed up in a bumper earlier.
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Oh, hey. Marge vs. the Monorail.
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Oh, hey. Marge vs. the Monorail.
i call the little one bitey!
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Am I mistaken, or are these episodes more complete than the ones usually in syndication? I've seen some scenes that I have no recollection of in the middle of episodes that I know by heart.
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Am I mistaken, or are these episodes more complete than the ones usually in syndication? I've seen some scenes that I have no recollection of in the middle of episodes that I know by heart.
Guess I shoulda googled before I asked:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/08/20/simpsons_marathon_on_fxx_full_episodes_will_air_not_syndication_cuts_which.html
I'm definitely going to watch "You Only Move Twice" tomorrow. "Want some cream?"
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These old episodes sure do look awful when upscaled to HD.
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These old episodes sure do look awful when upscaled to HD.
Yeah, I have all the DVD's, and I prefer those to the upscaled "zoomed-in" versions they're airing. The upscaling doesn't bother me TOO much although it DOES make it look a lot less natural and fluid... but I'd accept that if they had just maybe done what Disney does with their full-frame films, adding neato artwork to the right and left sides to fill the black space on widescreen TV's. Something subtle and not too distracting, but fun and Simpsonsy.
I hate feeling like I am too close to something I know should be showing much more in the frame.
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Itchy and Scratchy land. Where nothing can possibli go wrong....possibly go wrong. That's the first thing that's ever gone wrong.
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No TV and No Beer make Homer something something.
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These old episodes sure do look awful when upscaled to HD.
Yeah, I have all the DVD's, and I prefer those to the upscaled "zoomed-in" versions they're airing. The upscaling doesn't bother me TOO much although it DOES make it look a lot less natural and fluid... but I'd accept that if they had just maybe done what Disney does with their full-frame films, adding neato artwork to the right and left sides to fill the black space on widescreen TV's. Something subtle and not too distracting, but fun and Simpsonsy.
I hate feeling like I am too close to something I know should be showing much more in the frame.
I turned on FXX at the 4th season clip show (April Fools) and when they flashed back to the Springfield Gorge bit, it was such a hot blurry mess....
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http://gizmodo.com/fxxs-wrong-aspect-ratio-is-ruining-the-fantastic-simpso-1625959743
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Ah, Lisa's Wedding. The first episode that caused internet fans to start with the "Simpsons has gotten horrible" arguments. I would have said jumped the shark, but that term wouldn't appear for another two years.
Personally, I always thought that it was harmless fluff.
Next up "He's going to kill our puppies!"
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Huh.
Watching the "Marge becomes a cop" episode, I'm suddenly wondering why she reacted so badly to guns two years later in the "Homer buys a gun" episode.
I'm also wondering which T-shirt Marge is issued was the original one, as I've seen her in both the Hard Rock one and a unicorn one. Just random thoughts.
FYI- the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" episodes air shortly. If you've never caught the MST3k reference in it before, keep an eye out for it.
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It's like watching a timeline of all the jokes MacFarlane ripped off for Family Guy....
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According to the user ratings at geos.tv, the rapid decline in quality starts after season eight. Looking at the episode list, that seems about right. It's been awesome watching these great episodes and remembering why I used to love the show so much, but I guess I'll get to tune to something else soon.
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Are all the DVDs out of print or something? I have seen so many people freaking out over the fact that they are the uncut versions (even though the zooming and DNR is destroying visual gags). People are mad that when they air normally on FXX they will be the cut versions. People are acting like the DVDs don't exist.
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Are all the DVDs out of print or something? I have seen so many people freaking out over the fact that they are the uncut versions (even though the zooming and DNR is destroying visual gags). People are mad that when they air normally on FXX they will be the cut versions. People are acting like the DVDs don't exist.
there is no dvd, only zuul.
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Are all the DVDs out of print or something? I have seen so many people freaking out over the fact that they are the uncut versions (even though the zooming and DNR is destroying visual gags). People are mad that when they air normally on FXX they will be the cut versions. People are acting like the DVDs don't exist.
Yeah, seriously... I'll take my 17 seasons (so far) on DVD over this crap any day. (as I watch the crap edits on tv)
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Are all the DVDs out of print or something? I have seen so many people freaking out over the fact that they are the uncut versions (even though the zooming and DNR is destroying visual gags). People are mad that when they air normally on FXX they will be the cut versions. People are acting like the DVDs don't exist.
Yeah, seriously... I'll take my 17 seasons (so far) on DVD over this crap any day. (as I watch the crap edits on tv)
Who's freaking out?
Yeah, the zooming is annoying, but I can handle that (mostly). It's aspect ratio changes that I can't stand. That's why I refuse to watch old shows on TBS, since they seem to always fatten the image.
I personally don't own the DVDs because I only buy DVDs that I'll watch fairly regularly. I've seen these episodes so many times that I've got them practically memorized, and I don't have the urge to watch them very often.
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I wasn't saying anyone here was freaking out. I just mean in the general online sense. Loads of articles and posts all over the net about this big marathon.
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Are all the DVDs out of print or something? I have seen so many people freaking out over the fact that they are the uncut versions (even though the zooming and DNR is destroying visual gags). People are mad that when they air normally on FXX they will be the cut versions. People are acting like the DVDs don't exist.
Yeah, seriously... I'll take my 17 seasons (so far) on DVD over this crap any day. (as I watch the crap edits on tv)
Who's freaking out?
Yeah, the zooming is annoying, but I can handle that (mostly). It's aspect ratio changes that I can't stand. That's why I refuse to watch old shows on TBS, since they seem to always fatten the image.
I personally don't own the DVDs because I only buy DVDs that I'll watch fairly regularly. I've seen these episodes so many times that I've got them practically memorized, and I don't have the urge to watch them very often.
Three words... BEST. COMMENTARIES. EVER.
It's like just hanging out with the writers, directors and voice-over actors as they watch the show (often for the first time since airing) and try to recall how certain jokes came about. They are the funniest people ever and by several seasons in, you almost feel like you know them a bit too well.
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Are they as good as the Futurama commentaries? I have Volumes 1-8 and never got around to the special features...
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Are they as good as the Futurama commentaries? I have Volumes 1-8 and never got around to the special features...
As good, sometimes better... often the same people.
In the first few seasons, they clearly haven't seen many of the episodes since the original airings (10-15 years earlier) and end up cracking up at a lot of the jokes.... but many times they also just go off on rants that have nothing to do with the episodes.... Most of my favourites are their commentaries on Schwartzwelder episodes (because he doesn't do them) and they describe a lot of his weird eccentricities. At one point, they even call him and try to trick him into being in the commentary.
Jon Lovitz occasionally appears on episodes he doesn't actually guest on... and Yeardly appears more often than any of the other voice actors, but they get most/all of them at various points...
Yeah, they're about the same type as Futurama.
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Most of my favourites are their commentaries on Schwartzwelder episodes (because he doesn't do them) and they describe a lot of his weird eccentricities. At one point, they even call him and try to trick him into being in the commentary.
That was one of my favorite moments. I also liked it when Jeff Goldblum was a guest commentator on "A Fish Called Selma"
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Das Bus in on.
"They taste like burning."
"Oh they have the internet on computers now."
"I can't go on. You two go ahead....and carry me with you."
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200 episodes down, 352 to go!
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It's been neat watching the writing in the show suddenly surge from OK to incredible and then slowly settle down into the high end of mediocre, and there are really lots of great episodes to come, even though we've crossed the "Shark Jump" threshold for many.
My personal shark jump doesn't come until "Simpson Safari," so we're still not there yet for me. Even after that, there are still a lot of great episodes that I'd call iconic, even if they start to become more and more of a rarity. That episode also seems to coincide with the Let's-get-serious-about-my-college education/Met-the-woman-I'm-gonna-marry phase of my life, so maybe maturity is a factor too.
DISCUSSION: Where's your Simpsons "Shark Jump" moment? Whether you love, hate, or just like modern Simpsons (I personally feel there's been a mini-renaissance since the show went to HD a couple years back.) we all have that one episode that made us think, "Wow. Maybe they ARE losing it..."
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I have the first 16 seasons and season 20 on DVD... The show kind of starts to futter a bit in season 16, but up until that point, it's still filled with classic episodes. Hell, even season 16 is mostly "classics" with only a few being "meh".
So I'd have to say somewhere between season 16 and 20 is when they go really bleh.
As for shark jumping? I don't think there was ever one specific point. It just very rapidly declined over the span of a few seasons and never recovered.
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DISCUSSION: Where's your Simpsons "Shark Jump" moment? Whether you love, hate, or just like modern Simpsons (I personally feel there's been a mini-renaissance since the show went to HD a couple years back.) we all have that one episode that made us think, "Wow. Maybe they ARE losing it..."
Homer gets raped by a panda.
And for a double jump, the Lady Gaga episode.
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DISCUSSION: Where's your Simpsons "Shark Jump" moment? Whether you love, hate, or just like modern Simpsons (I personally feel there's been a mini-renaissance since the show went to HD a couple years back.) we all have that one episode that made us think, "Wow. Maybe they ARE losing it..."
Homer gets raped by a panda.
And for a double jump, the Lady Gaga episode.
Oh yeah, that raped by a panda thing was pretty bad. I think even the writers when they did commentary agreed....
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DISCUSSION: Where's your Simpsons "Shark Jump" moment? Whether you love, hate, or just like modern Simpsons (I personally feel there's been a mini-renaissance since the show went to HD a couple years back.) we all have that one episode that made us think, "Wow. Maybe they ARE losing it..."
Homer gets raped by a panda.
And for a double jump, the Lady Gaga episode.
Oh yeah, that raped by a panda thing was pretty bad. I think even the writers when they did commentary agreed....
I second this as the moment I thought they jumped the shark. It's still the only episode I refuse to watch.
Mayored to the Mob is on. Everything about Mark Hamill (as himself and as Leavelle) makes me so happy.
"Guys and Dolls, We're just a bunch of crazy Guys and Dolls"
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do it for yoda, while we serve our guests a soda
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It's a little annoying that people equate quality dropping to being terrible. I've been watching my own little marathon with my DVDs. On season 13 now, just watched the tether episode, laughed quite a bit.
There were a few seasons where I would say they did get just plain bad, but I agree that they have gotten better lately. Even season 20 wasnt too bad.
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do it for yoda, while we serve our guests a soda
Homer: Gimme that knife!
Gangster: No, it's mine!
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Ah, Robert Downey Jr. in a shootout with the cops and Mel Gibson not being joked about. How times change.
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Ah, Robert Downey Jr. in a shootout with the cops and Mel Gibson not being joked about. How times change.
I was thinking the exact same thing when I watched that episode the other day.
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Watching "Lisa the Tree Hugger" (ohhhh, Joshua Jackson *droooool*), and I will be skipping the next episode "Homer vs Dignity" aka the one with Panda rape.
Seriously, whoever wrote that part of the show should be flayed alive. Where is Evil Willow when you need her?
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Watching "Lisa the Tree Hugger" (ohhhh, Joshua Jackson *droooool*), and I will be skipping the next episode "Homer vs Dignity" aka the one with Panda rape.
Seriously, whoever wrote that part of the show should be flayed alive. Where is Evil Willow when you need her?
And it's so weird that it is about the nature of dignity while removing its own. Lisa the Tree Hugger is pretty good though.
Shame that the marathon never came up in our FXX stations (why not?)
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Are you sure you don't just have FX? FXX is a newer channel that Fox is still trying to figure out what to do with. After the success of this marathon, I suspect it will be a channel for watching The Simpsons, primarily...
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Are you sure you don't just have FX? FXX is a newer channel that Fox is still trying to figure out what to do with. After the success of this marathon, I suspect it will be a channel for watching The Simpsons, primarily...
They also moved some of their more successful shows to FXX (Like It's Always Sunny and The League). So the Simpsons and some original programming, that is what FXX will be.
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Seriously, whoever wrote that part of the show should be flayed alive. Where is Evil Willow when you need her?
Damn you! And the Netflix you rode in on! OK, that didn't make any sense,,, aaanywayyy....... I had to go watch those episodes of Buffy last night after reading this. And of course ended up wasting 6 hours skipping around to other episodes of Buffy and Angel.
Evil Willow is way more cool than Vampire Willow. Not enough screen time for Willow The White to tell if she would have been cool. ;D
So, Simpsons, trying to remember the last one I watched, must have been the season after the movie, so 6 years? wow....
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It's strange, but I'm finding myself using the Simpsons marathon to measure against my own life. Seasons 3 - 6 feel like they should have taken way longer than they did, because High School feels like forever. Seasons 14 - 25 feel like they should take up way less time, because marriage is a non-stop roller coaster where time just flies by...
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http://uproxx.com/tv/2014/08/fxx-is-pretty-much-going-to-be-the-simpsons-channel-from-now-on/
Called it!
Actually, it would be awesome if FOX just made an Animation Domination channel and played every prime time cartoon they've ever aired. Bring back The Critic, air some King of the Hill, Futurama, Axe Cop, All that Seth MacFarlane stuff...
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I love The Critic....
Anyway, we have gotten to episodes that I have never seen before, so it's nice to finally watch them. I don't necessarily LOL at them, but they are better than any episode of Family Guy IMO.
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I love The Critic....
Anyway, we have gotten to episodes that I have never seen before, so it's nice to finally watch them. I don't necessarily LOL at them, but they are better than any episode of Family Guy IMO.
I stopped watching the marathon once they hit season 17. I'll watch them when the DVD sets come out. Watch a disc at a time followed by each disc's commentaries.... It's good times.
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I always saw a sharp spike in quality after The Simpsons Movie, so people who gave up on the show before then are in for some treats. I mean, it's still not season 4 good, but there are some great epsiodes ahead. I always especially enjoyed the 24 spoof.
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[quote author=TheUnabeefer link=topic=12911.msg868966#msg868966 date=1409357638
I stopped watching the marathon once they hit season 17. I'll watch them when the DVD sets come out. Watch a disc at a time followed by each disc's commentaries.... It's good times.
[/quote]
Any episode that contains commentary with Jon Lovitz is worth the price of the season alone. You don't get much information, but man, that's entertainment.
And I love The Simpsons. I don't care what anyone says. It would take an absolute lot to make me begin to hate it. And it hasn't reached that point yet.
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Any episode that contains commentary with Jon Lovitz is worth the price of the season alone. You don't get much information, but man, that's entertainment.
"Has anyone else noticed there aren't any JEWS in this episode?!?!" is one of my favourite things he's said on a commentary. (When he sat in on an episode he wasn't in)
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Emiggens is a word now. Stop hassling me, spellcheck!
https://www.avclub.com/embiggen-is-now-in-the-dictionary-though-chazzwazze-1823529690
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Emiggens is a word now. Stop hassling me, spellcheck!
https://www.avclub.com/embiggen-is-now-in-the-dictionary-though-chazzwazze-1823529690
About time, it's a perfectly cromulent word.