Pool 34 Results (my initial ranking in parentheses)
1. Bart on the Road (2)
2. Lady Bouvier's Lover (1)
3. C.E. D'oh (3)
4. Jaws Wired Shut (4)
5. Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore (5)
6. Saddlesore Galactica (6)
Very well-defined, even with gaps in what people have seen (this time around I took "AVERAGE" instead of "SUM" to adjust).
(See the category archive for other results.)
Pool 35, Pool 36 and Pool 37 are all still open.
Pool 39 will go up some time Monday.
As usual, I let a pseudorandom number generator choose six episodes, then post my on-the-spot rankings and observation. You comment, ideally with your own rankings. A week later I post my revised rankings, reserving the right to be autocratic (though in practice I almost always go with the consensus).
NOTE TO SELF: =INDIRECT("A"&(FLOOR(RAND()*(335-COUNT(C2:C336)),1)+COUNT(C2:C336)+1))
Numbers...
118: 2F12 (SI-612 / S06E15) Homie the Clown
Homer's new job as a Krusty The Klown knock-off lands him in deep waters when mobsters want to give him a pair of cement clown shoes, thinking he's the real thing. Joe Mantegna and Johnny Unitas guest star.
128: 2F16 (SI-616 / S06E25) Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)
It's bad enough that Mr. Burns steals the newly discovered oil under Springfield Elementary, but it's going too far when he steals the town's sunshine. He is shot and everyone wonders who did the dirty deed. Tito Puente guest stars.
193: 5F10 (SI-910 / S09E15) The Last Temptation of Krust
After finally accepting that his comedic style is outdated, Krusty settles on more edgier material: what's wrong with today's crop of stand-up comedians. Guest starring Jay Leno, Steven Wright, Janeane Garofalo, Bobcat Goldthwait and Bruce Baum. Featuring Hank Williams Jr.
221: AABF14 (SI-1014 / S10E18) Simpsons Bible Stories
Reverend Lovejoy is showing his stuff with the latest in a series of disinteresting sermons. Bored so terribly are the Simpsons that each gradually doses off, dreaming that they're Adam and Eve, Moses and David facing Goliath.
179: 4F22 (SI-822 / S09E01) The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
Driven to the brink of sanity by his appointed status as designated driver, Barney Gumble drives to downtown Manhattan in Homer's car, leaving it there. But when the family journeys to the big apple to retrieve their property, Homer faces a one-on-one showdown with the dreaded boot.
294: DABF20 (SI-1320 / S14E03) Bart vs. Lisa vs. 3rd Grade
After taking an aptitude test, Bart is held back a grade, and Lisa is skipped ahead, landing them both in third grade at the same time, and in the same class. Tension develops between them, but they are forced to work together when they become lost on a school field trip.
My first impressions:
"Homie the Clown" always makes me smile, though as great episodes go I'd never think of it if someone didn't remind me it existed. Also, if this same episode had been in a struggling late season, would we cite it as evidence of the show's recovery or more of the same?
We had WSMB part 2 way back in Pool 9 (it came in second to "Homer Alone"); check the category archive for votes and comments. I think part 1 is inferior to part 2 but then I vastly underrated part 2 compared to y'all.
Krusty as a George Carlin type is, among other things, the actual episode in which the Canyonero made its debut (NOT "Screaming Yellow Honkers"). So far I like all three of these without loving any of them, if that makes sense.
Happy Easter, everyone. That said, the "Bible Stories" were horrible.
See, this pool is going to get three or four different episodes with first place votes, and as long as none of those is "Bible Stories" I can't disagree.
Ah yes, the "Learn to Fart" state. This is a really tough pool to evaluate, especially the two clown ones. Any ordering of the top five would seem plausible to me.
Preliminary rankings:
1. The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
2. Homie the Clown
3. The Last Temptation of Krust
4. Bart vs. Lisa vs. 3rd Grade
5. Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)
6. Simpsons Bible Stories
1. Homer v. NYC
2. Temptation - not only for the Canyonero, but the pants-hating
3. Homie the Clown
4. WSMB1
5. Bible Stories - there are part of this episode that appeal to me (Homer as Solomon, Flanders as God, Santa's Little Helper a la Goliath from the Lutheran claymation show), but as a whole, yeah.
6. Third Grade - more out of apathy than any burning hatred.
Ooh, this is tough. No real mega-stand-out episodes but no real clunkers either. Even Bible Stories, which I think will be the consensus bottom, has good moments.
1. NYC vs. Homer -- A classic.
2. WSMB part 1 -- This is a little over-the-top, but it's still an excellent episode.
3. B v. L. vs. 3rd Grade -- I actually was very impressed by this episode.
4. Homie the Clown
5. Last Temptation of Krust -- The Canyonero is great, but the rest of the episode is pretty meh. Though Kent Brockman the Clown is quality. And the Krusty Brand Legal forms.
6. Bible Stories -- Like I said, has good moments. "Screw this, I'm converting!" "Then both men shall receive...death." And the last segment is solid. Still, not good enough to climb up the bracket.
1. Homie the Clown - "Oh, yeah. Speed holes!"
2. The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
3. Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)
4. The Last Temptation of Krusty - The pants hating part was hilarious as was Marge's telling Lisa to go bury all their money.
5. Bart vs. Lisa vs. 3rd Grade
6. Simpsons Bible Stories
1 and 2 are close but otherwise the order is clear cut for me.
Posted by: John at March 29, 2005 09:17 PM1. NYC vs. Homer -- for spoofing Manhattan to a tee (the Original Famous Ray's, Not Famous Original Ray's reference got a hearty laugh from my NYC-based friends). Bonus points for the Betty Ford Center musical.
2. Homie the Clown -- I thought the Generals were due to win one! Also loved the Cavett cameo and the "son of the guy who played Huggy Bear."
3. Bart vs. Lisa vs. 3rd Grade -- for some reason, I think this episode is better than what most people say. Can't get enough of the dream sequence with vomiting Tom Brokaw, Bender and Japanese Friends.
4. Last Temptation of Krust -- probably a higher ranking in a weaker bracket, but not great given the competition here.
5. Who Shot Mr. Burns -- again, one of those overhyped episodes that doesn't live up to its promise.
6. Simpsons Bible Stories -- had its moments (People's Court spoof, King David done as every 80s Stallone film), but nothing to cheer about.
Posted by: James Dinan at March 30, 2005 05:47 PM