Rate & Review: The Simpsons - "The Wandering Juvie"

[NeueZielZeon]

"Sarah Michelle Gellar guest voices as a girl in Juvenile Hall who helps Bart plan a breakout".

That's pretty much all that is known about this one.

Discuss.

[Trogdor]

I just saw it, and I like it :) Did anyone else recognize the warden's voice? It was the same guy who voiced Duke Philips from The Critic :D He was also the voice of the hunter from last week.

[SirLemming]

Another good one. I mean, I've seen better, but y'know.

The skin-eater joke was scary-idiotic, though.

Why was this episode rated "DLSV", though?

[Eddie G.]

You know the fact that I'm watching the Regina Monologues makes me apreciate how much better the later part of this season is compared to the begining. There were some funny moments and the show didn't feel toooo unrealistic. Sarah was a good VA too, she actually sounded like a character who wasn't a nine year old clone of herself.

By the way did my ears pick up a not so subtle jab at Family Guy?

B+... C if that really was a jab at Family Guy I heard, I could of misheard it.

[Dee]

It was a jab at Family Guy. I have captions on so my roomie can hear and read the English on the screen.


and I do believe we had another episode with Charles Napier voicing! :D

[Master Moron]

Another good one. I mean, I've seen better, but y'know.

The skin-eater joke was scary-idiotic, though.

Why was this episode rated "DLSV", though?
Well, it did mention "doing the Bartman". What skin eater joke?

[NeueZielZeon]

I don't think it was an insult against Family Guy. Gina and Bart simply rolled around, tackling each other, and that Bart was a bit too enthusiastic that he actually HAD a fmaily, Gina called him a "Family guy" in between her insults. I don't think how one could view this as an insult to anything.

[SirLemming]

Well, it did mention "doing the Bartman". What skin eater joke?I figured that would go under D, though.
The skin eater was on Marge's face under the magnifier, at Costington's.


You know the fact that I'm watching the Regina Monolouges makes me apreciate how much better the later part of this season is compared to the begining.Marge: "This is our most enjoyable trip yet!"
Far from it, babe.

[Eddie G.]

I don't think it was an insult against Family Guy. Gina and Bart simply rolled around, tackling each other, and that Bart was a bit too enthusiastic that he actually HAD a fmaily, Gina called him a "Family guy" in between her insults. I don't think how one could view this as an insult to anything.There have been... rumors... that the Simpsons staff and Matt himself really really don't like Family Guy. I say rumors because I myself have never actually read an interview or anything where any of them said it. However since she was capping the insults off with "Family Guy" it was most likely intended as a small little jab.

[Fone Bone]

I never thought I'd ever give five stars to a new Simpsons again. I was wrong. This was an incredibly great episode. The scenes in juvenile hall were very authentic. (Especially the dance.) You really got the feeling of lonliness that comes with being locked up. Sarah Michelle Gellar was touching as the bad girl without a family. The character changed emotions on a dime and Ms. Gellar fortunately is a great actress and able to capture that. Bart seemed kind of clueless this episode regarding her family but it was perfect. He is usually an incredibly selfish character (not to mention stupid) and it was understandable that he had a hard time putting two and two together. The family dinner at juvenile hall for Gina was so touching and Charles Napier's Warden's (Good to see him back) reaction to being invited was priceless. "I told you I already have plans!" I loved seeing Judge Harm again too. Chief Wiggum had some good scenes also with Cletus' Premonition Wood Carvings and the bear. I like how Skinner and Krabapple are in the final planning stages of their wedding. (Good continuity. Although judging by next week's episode blurb in Entertainment Weekly that relationship may be on shaky ground.) This was the best Simpsons episode in years. *****.

[NeueZielZeon]

Decent enough episode for the season's standards, though nothing spectacular. More great animation, and Gina was probably one of the more memorable one shot characters in recent memory. Some sloppy moments here and there, but there were a lot of good scenes to balance them out.

Grade: B/B+

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

This episode actually had an actual story so it gets good marks from me.

[Beat]

Well, it beats the horrifying garbage known as "The Regina Monologues".

That said, I enjoyed this episode.

[Simpler Simon]

I think the Cletus wood-carving scene may join the ranks of "Feels like I'm wearing nothing at all!" and "It's still good! It's still good! Dad, its gone." for memorable classic moments. Seriously, that scene just had me in stitches :D Did anyone catch a glimpse of what else Cletus had carved? The only one I made out besides Bart and Gina was the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Overall, this was a fantastic episode. I like how this season keeps topping itself and going for a more "classic" Simpsons feel. Solid story, pacing, and good jokes.

5 stars.

[ElBarto]

I think the Cletus wood-carving scene may join the ranks of "Feels like I'm wearing nothing at all!" and "It's still good! It's still good! Dad, its gone." for memorable classic moments. Seriously, that scene just had me in stitches :D Did anyone catch a glimpse of what else Cletus had carved? The only one I made out besides Bart and Gina was the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Overall, this was a fantastic episode. I like how this season keeps topping itself and going for a more "classic" Simpsons feel. Solid story, pacing, and good jokes.

5 stars.

It wasn't just the pilsbury doughboy it was him caught in a bear trap, i like the part with the bear and the short matrix scene when bart had the scanners!
A-

[SirLemming]

Yeah, that was a good use of Cletus. Never thought I'd say that again. The precognitive wood-carving thing was a good "general movie parody" type moment. Could've been a huge dud, but it was executed well. Definitely a good sign.
Also, I think someone was talking to me during this scene, but that guy at the dressing rooms... did he actually NOT do the trademark "Yesssssssss"? If so, I'm rejoicing.
Speaking of which, the dressing room scene was classic Homer.

[Peter Paltridge]

He didn't say "Yesssss", so you have permission to rejoice.

Wow, great episode. Everything Homer said was hilarious. The opener, middle AND end were all great. The emotional part was played almost perfectly(it needed the music removed; then it would have been perfect). My only problem with it was that Bart acts a lot more stereotyped now than he has in past episodes about him. I love the old Bart episodes where he seems more human...

[Quagmire]

I thought the warden's voice sounded familiar, now I know.

My favorite scene in the whole ep was the Cletus scene. Overall, the ep didn't stand out that much for me, but I thought it was solid and well done. There was one scene in the opening act that sets up next week's episode too. I'm looking forward to it where:

Krabapple leaves Skinner when he gets cold feet for Comic Book Guy.

[Robin2099]

I really really liked this episode a lot. SMG did a great job as the guest star voice in this episode, and on several occasions you couldn't even tell it was her. Homer was great in this episode(I especially liked the scene with him as a prison gaurd) as was Cletus. And the ending was great too with the warden saying "I toldy ou I already had plans." ****.

[candy17]

I liked "Wandering Juvie" too. The best parts for me were:

-Bart with the pricing guns
-The L'il Hookers department (it's funny cuz it's true. Don't deny it)
-Homer in the dressing room thinking it's a bathroom
-The "Family Guy" remark (I don't know why they don't make more refs to this show)
-Cletus and the wooden statues (especially the Pillsbury doughboy one and the Chief Wiggum one)

And I watched The Regina Monologues, which wasn't as bad to me as people keep saying, but it wasn't as solid as Wandering Juvie. Besides, it's one of those vacation episodes and they're either fun to watch or they suck royally (get it?)

[Auggie Doggie]

Let's see...


Some good animation
A rare appearence by Itchy and Scratchy!
Good voice by SMG (I couldn't recognize her)
And I liked the last line.

Warden: I guess I'll go home, cook a soup, watch "Will and Grace" and then...cry myself to sleep. (sobs)
Marge: Would you like to join us?
Warden: Didn't you hear me? I have a night planed! (leaves, the family just looks at each other)
Yeah, it was entertaining.

[Jaime_Weinman]

There have been... rumors... that the Simpsons staff and Matt himself really really don't like Family Guy. I think Matt Groening has said he likes "Family Guy." The guy who is on record as disliking FG is Al Jean, the Simpsons' longtime showrunner (who has much more influence over the show than Groening) and creator of "The Critic." Jean makes several disparaging references to Family Guy on the season 3 DVD commentary, and there was this exchange from an interview:

Interviewer: Do you like the shows that have come about because of The Simpsons?
Al Jean: King of the Hill is a good show. There is a reality to their portrait of Texas.
Interviewer: How about Family Guy?
Al Jean: I wasn't a big fan of Family Guy. To be honest, I thought it was a little too derivative of The Simpsons to the point where I would see jokes we did on The Simpsons or The Critic on Family Guy. They should be more original.


Jean has also said that part of the reason they don't do many "cutaways" (flashback or fantasy sequences unrelated to the story) anymore is that he feels "Family Guy" copied that and once FG copies something from them, they don't want to do it anymore. So the slams of FG probably come from him, and perhaps some of the other writers. (I mostly agree with him on FG, but that's neither here nor there.)

[Storm]

I'm not a big Simpsons watcher but I happen to tune in yesterday because my fave actress was making a guest appearance. SMG knocked it out the park! She did a great job as Gina. The plot and animation was awesome. I'm surpise The Simpsons can still crack me up. Cool episode.

4/5 stars


- Storm

[Spastic Minnow]

If you've listened to the commentaries on the Critic DVD set you'll know why Charles Napier was the warden. Two or three times they make a reference to them talking to Charles and asking what kind of roles he's getting and he whines that he's "playing another evil Warden" or something like that. :)

[PaQ]

Something I hope never happens to me (the juvie part) and actually can't since I'm not a minor.. so anyway, I bring my "Wandering Juvie" review:

It opens up with the Simpsons family at a mall, Marge is getting inspected by the youth mascara woman, Lisa looks for clothes in the "little hooker department" ("This is what all the cool kids where" "But I'm eight!"), Homer finding out he's going to the bathroom in the dressing room, and Bart finds his way to the expensive dishware department (where it's shown Seymour Skinner talking Edna out of an expensive dish "Sure the guests will buy it if we register, but who will pay for the dish soap and the two sided scrubbing pad?") after being explained by the manager that the gun Bart was playing with wasn't a toy but a tool used to scan items for couples wishing to register, Bart gets another insidious idea.. "his own fake wedding to Lotta Cooties", after Bart scans the items, later that day with Milhouses help they send fake invitations to Springfield (Interesting scene with Burns telling Smithers to ask Lenny if he want's to go in on a spoon). After trapping all the guests in a tent (which Bart then zips shut and watches as the guests hyperventalate ( Moe - "Don't take up my oxygen!") and collapse, Bart walks away with the presents laughing, right into Chief Wiggum. After a bribe attempt ( Wiggum - "read my badge, cash bribes only") Bart is taken to court where he is sentenced to Juvie. (Funny scene where Marge won't let go of Bart, so the cops do a switch, switching Bart with Ralph. "Your eyes need diapers") In juvie, it's terrible for Bart, he gets beat up by the boys, he gets beat up by the girls. (Funny scene where Homer decides to join as a security guard. Sign on wall says security guard wanted if you can read this you're over qualified. "What's that sign say Marge?" And Homer walks in as bullies are messing with Bart, protects Bart and gives him a lollipop, only for the next second for the bell to ring signaling the end of his shift and leaves Bart to the bullies.) At the dance Bart is paired together with Gina (SMG) who breaks out of the facility with Bart (handcuffed together, funny scene because they go out a window on the second floor and the janitor is trying to close it with one of those long staffs for high windows), and during their stay Gina continually brags about her family (plot point later). Funny scene featuring Cletus as Wiggum searching for the kids, Cletus doesn't have good memory but he carves what he saw, Wiggum finds a carving of Bart and Gina. Some kiddy pinching goes on between Bart and Gina..("I think girls are still icky") Finally Bart and Gina get released from each other, and go there seperate ways, till Bart decides to double back only to find Gina crying. Comes out that Gina was lying about her family, they begin fighting (in comes "family guy" line which for some reason people are reading into a jab at the show, but I really doubt it.) and are caught by the police. Gina feels for Bart and tells the truth that she made him come with her, and they let Bart free. ("But Chief, that kid still has time left" "Listen Stu, if you want to all squeeze in the back with my kite than fine"). The episode comes to a close as Gina is seeing being walked into the Juvie and being told she has new cellmates ("I'd think so, I wouldn't feel right going to the bathroom alone" or something like that.) only to be shown the Simpsons sitting at a table filled with taco platters, as Bart felt like giving Gina a family dinner. Of course Homer misses the point. ("Let's thank Gina for showing us the meaning of Christmas") A Quite humorous episode, and the warden of the Juvie was the voice of the boss on the Critic (can't think of name). I give it an A-.

4DG

[David Lucas]

Al Jean should make a series with Kevin Smith. Smith hates Family Guy.

If ya watch the Clerks: TAS DVD, on the last episode when Randall and Dante go into the Writer's Room, you'll see all the creators of the show and I forget which one, but I think it was Mosier comes out with a book that said something like, "Cartoons 101" by Seth McFarlane.

An innocent jab, yes.

Watch the commentary, however, and Kevin's exact words are I believe. "Family Guy......that piece of **** gets another season while we get cancelled after 6 episodes."