Fox Cartoon Reviews (Spoilers)
Reviews for tonight's The Simpsons, American Dad and Family Guy.
The Simpsons "Please Homer, Don't Hammer 'Em"
May I first start off by saying this is perhaps the stupidest title for a Simpsons ep EVER?
Okay, the episode dealt with Marge being a carpenter and being upset that Homer takes the credit. I honestly was a little pissed off with Marge here because Homer was only doing what she told him to and I understand why it became increasingly hard for him to tell the truth. But for Marge to leave him to fend for himself on that rollercoaster job was inexcusable. Yes, Homer shouldn't have taken the job but to be completely fair to Homer, he's a total idiot. Marge should have KNOWN better than to leave Homer in charge of a project that could potentially get hundreds of people killed so that the point could be proven that Homer was inept. Homer IS inept. What's Marge's excuse for putting him and all of the potential fair-goers in jeopardy?
The episode itself wasn't that badly put together but I REALLY hope Al Jean steps down as showrunner soon. He has Marge and Homer fighting WAAAAYY too much and I more often than not find myself sympathizing with Homer which is just plain crazy. Marge has become REALLY unlikable in the past few seasons and she used to be one of my favorite characters. I KNOW she must be hard to write but if so they should just not center that many stories around her anymore.
Second beef: Bart's allergy war with Skinner was stupid. First off, Skinner should have simply called the police on Bart for attempted murder. But since this IS a cartoon I can let that slide. I CANNOT let slide the fact that the writers made Bart allergic to shrimp when it's already been established in Blood Fued that Bart is allergic to butterscotch, imitation butterscotch and glow in the dark monster make-up. Yes, I AM that big a fan of this show and a total nerd.
Speaking of being a fan of this show I cannot tell you how disappointed I was at the fact that Bart confessed to Skinner that he was El Barto and NOTHING came of it. That was one of the best running gags in the early years and if they are FINALLY gonna make Skinner wise to it, I wanted some actual pay-off.
The episode wasn't techinally bad but at the same time there were a ton of things in it that bugged me. I want this show to end. There is absolutely no point in it anymore. They have done every conceivable type of story and variations on it and it's time to let the show die with dignity. Sigh. ***.
American Dad "Failure is Not a Factory Installed Option"
Hoo boy. The ending to this episode was DARK and I cannot believe they went there. Haley actually had to PROSTITUTE herself and Stan was pulling a scam the entire time. THIS is why I don't like Stan. The ending may have been ballsy but it just makes him even more unlikable.
Patrick Stewart on the banjo was hilarious. What I love about this show and Family Guy is that they constantly have respected actors and professionals do completely weird or disgusting things (see last week's Family Guy where Gore Vidal caught hot dogs in his mouth). Funny.
FINALLY the return of the Golden Turd. I had been waiting for this running gag to turn up again and it didn't disappoint. It's like a really REALLY bad movie and the staging and timing of it is perfect. New Family Guy could learn a thing or two about timing from this show. The gag wasn't too long and it wasn't too short. Perfect.
I liked the episode and thought it was the most twisted and disturbing American Dad yet. ***1/2.
Family Guy "Hell Comes to Quahog"
This episode was bass ackwards. The tank part of the story SHOULD have been unfunny and the Wal-Mart parody should have been hilarious. Why it was the other way around I have no idea. I was laughing at lot through the first act of the show (Mr. Moose! Gay Iceman!) but the second half left me cold.
What is it about animation and limp Wal-Mart parodies? The Simpson Wal-Mart parody sucked as did South Park's and now Family Guy. Is it REALLY tin-foil hat to think that these shows actually WANTED to go all out on Wal-Mart and completely trash it but the networks gutted each of their storylines in the interest of business? Because it seems odd to me that out of all three of these cartoons The Simpsons parody for crying out loud was the most vicious. This comes in second ESPECIALLY considering how inept and toothless South Park's was but still, it wasn't that great.
Good first act and the first half of the second act but the episode doesn't average out so well. **1/2.
The Simpsons "Please Homer, Don't Hammer 'Em"
May I first start off by saying this is perhaps the stupidest title for a Simpsons ep EVER?
Okay, the episode dealt with Marge being a carpenter and being upset that Homer takes the credit. I honestly was a little pissed off with Marge here because Homer was only doing what she told him to and I understand why it became increasingly hard for him to tell the truth. But for Marge to leave him to fend for himself on that rollercoaster job was inexcusable. Yes, Homer shouldn't have taken the job but to be completely fair to Homer, he's a total idiot. Marge should have KNOWN better than to leave Homer in charge of a project that could potentially get hundreds of people killed so that the point could be proven that Homer was inept. Homer IS inept. What's Marge's excuse for putting him and all of the potential fair-goers in jeopardy?
The episode itself wasn't that badly put together but I REALLY hope Al Jean steps down as showrunner soon. He has Marge and Homer fighting WAAAAYY too much and I more often than not find myself sympathizing with Homer which is just plain crazy. Marge has become REALLY unlikable in the past few seasons and she used to be one of my favorite characters. I KNOW she must be hard to write but if so they should just not center that many stories around her anymore.
Second beef: Bart's allergy war with Skinner was stupid. First off, Skinner should have simply called the police on Bart for attempted murder. But since this IS a cartoon I can let that slide. I CANNOT let slide the fact that the writers made Bart allergic to shrimp when it's already been established in Blood Fued that Bart is allergic to butterscotch, imitation butterscotch and glow in the dark monster make-up. Yes, I AM that big a fan of this show and a total nerd.
Speaking of being a fan of this show I cannot tell you how disappointed I was at the fact that Bart confessed to Skinner that he was El Barto and NOTHING came of it. That was one of the best running gags in the early years and if they are FINALLY gonna make Skinner wise to it, I wanted some actual pay-off.
The episode wasn't techinally bad but at the same time there were a ton of things in it that bugged me. I want this show to end. There is absolutely no point in it anymore. They have done every conceivable type of story and variations on it and it's time to let the show die with dignity. Sigh. ***.
American Dad "Failure is Not a Factory Installed Option"
Hoo boy. The ending to this episode was DARK and I cannot believe they went there. Haley actually had to PROSTITUTE herself and Stan was pulling a scam the entire time. THIS is why I don't like Stan. The ending may have been ballsy but it just makes him even more unlikable.
Patrick Stewart on the banjo was hilarious. What I love about this show and Family Guy is that they constantly have respected actors and professionals do completely weird or disgusting things (see last week's Family Guy where Gore Vidal caught hot dogs in his mouth). Funny.
FINALLY the return of the Golden Turd. I had been waiting for this running gag to turn up again and it didn't disappoint. It's like a really REALLY bad movie and the staging and timing of it is perfect. New Family Guy could learn a thing or two about timing from this show. The gag wasn't too long and it wasn't too short. Perfect.
I liked the episode and thought it was the most twisted and disturbing American Dad yet. ***1/2.
Family Guy "Hell Comes to Quahog"
This episode was bass ackwards. The tank part of the story SHOULD have been unfunny and the Wal-Mart parody should have been hilarious. Why it was the other way around I have no idea. I was laughing at lot through the first act of the show (Mr. Moose! Gay Iceman!) but the second half left me cold.
What is it about animation and limp Wal-Mart parodies? The Simpson Wal-Mart parody sucked as did South Park's and now Family Guy. Is it REALLY tin-foil hat to think that these shows actually WANTED to go all out on Wal-Mart and completely trash it but the networks gutted each of their storylines in the interest of business? Because it seems odd to me that out of all three of these cartoons The Simpsons parody for crying out loud was the most vicious. This comes in second ESPECIALLY considering how inept and toothless South Park's was but still, it wasn't that great.
Good first act and the first half of the second act but the episode doesn't average out so well. **1/2.