The Very BEST Episode of The Simpsons

The Simpsons season 8 is great and its crowning achievement is "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show". In this video, I talk about Homer, Poochie, Comic Book Guy and how The Simpsons commented on its own legacy.

[captainmidnight]

What's your favorite episode of The Simpsons?

[MR.FREEDMAN]

Homer: "Will this episode be going to air live?"

June: "No, Homer, very few cartoons are broadcast live. It's a terrible strain on the animator's wrist."

[nlycams]

Ralph crying and turning his dial to red after being yelled at in the focus group is one of my favourite all time jokes

[QBG]

The dude popping out from behind a rack of clothes and saying, "Would you kids like to come with me?" set me and my brother off laughing so hard for several minutes that we _nearly_ pissed our pants and _did_ cramp our rib muscles.

[wstine]

"I have to go. My planet needs me." :::Captain Midnight shuffles upwards off screen::;
[CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT DIED ON HIS WAY BACK TO HIS HOME PLANET]

[KingOfMadCows]

Homer giving a heartfelt speech as Poochie was interesting since it shows that even something corporate mandated has the potential to be good if there are passionate creatives behind it. But the sad irony is that the same corporate overlords who mandated the decision have no loyalty to it and will throw it out the moment it stumbles, trashing the hard work of the creatives who actually tried to make it work.

[Leopoldshark]

They like Captain. They like Midnight. One kid seems to love the Speedo man.

[baristabran]

I always quote the milhouse line: "When are they gonna get to the fireworks factor?"

[Timewarpiaman]

"Excuse me but proactive and paradigm, aren't these just buzzwords that dumb people use to sound important? Not that I'm accusing you of anything like that"
...
"I'm fired aren't I?"
"Oh yes"

[ronaldharrisonjr]

I've always appreciated how this episode put a spotlight on EVERYBODY. From the indifferent executives to the jaded and disinterested writers to the fickle and entitled fans. The fact that this episode is still being talked about almost thirty years since it originally aired is a testament to how good it is. Great stuff

[lanceturley]

The funny thing is this exact situation is what helped kill *Pinky and the Brain.* The network wanted the writers to add a third main character late in the show's run, so the writers did an episode called "Pinky and the Brain and Larry" as a not at all subtle dig at what a bad idea that would be. Then the network forced them to add Elmyra Duff to the show anyway and rebrand as *Pinky, Elmyra, and the Brain* and everyone hated it.

[Wexdarn]

This video is great and all, but when are we going to get to the fireworks factory?

[antacidchain]

Well, I can honestly say that was the best video of Commander Nighttime I’ve ever seen!

[severeerror]

I think what this episode gets right that a lot of other shows (or even later Simpsons, really) get wrong when they try to do this meta commentary bit is that even without the meta aspect of this one, it's still a really good episode.

Strong jokes that stand on their own, a well-paced and solid plot, and some legitimately pretty good character writing. It still works on its own as a good episode of the show.

[dogeshark]

"Homer Barbershop Quartet", "Bart sells his soul", "Mother Simpson" and "Bart on the road" are my favorites

[SuperCosmicMutantSquid]

The thing they cut from the episode is Krusty announcing that Poochie can't even be brought back legally. That's why he's holding that scroll in a lot of reruns but it's never addressed.

[fengusburnt]

I'm a Fighting Hellfish guy. It doesn't symbolize anything besides the Simpson's love of pointless lore they'll never talk about again, and the best funniest characters in the show facing off. Also it taught me what a tontine was when I was eight, so that's cool.
Gotta get that logo tattooed someday.

[IcyDiamond]

Wait this was the first use of Comic Book Guy’s Worst ____ Ever! joke? Always assumed it started way earlier

[williamcosbyIII]

'A Milhouse Divided' still holds up as the #1 Episode in my books!

[grandmufftwerkin]

I've been re-watching old Simpson's recently, and watched 'Bart Gets Famous' yesterday.

Absolutely great send up of the fickle nature of entertainment fads, and is delightfully self aware.