C & C The Simpsons " The Mook, The Chef, The Wife and Her Homer" Sept. 10th, 2006

[Moto Pete]

After Lisa befriends Fat Tony's (Joe Mantegna, reprising his role as Springfield's infamous mob boss) son Michael, Fat Tony invites the Simpsons over for dinner as a sign of gratitude. Shockingly, Fat Tony is shot by a rival family moments after Michael admits he would rather be a chef than take over the family business. Fat Tony's main thugs, Dante and Dante Jr. (guest voices Joe Pantoliano and Michael Imperioli), want Michael to be the new kingpin, but when he declines, Homer steps up and leads the family on a major mob spree in "The Mook, The Chef, The Wife and Her Homer," the 18th season premiere episode of THE SIMPSONS, Sunday, Sept. 10 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (SI-1715) (TV-PG-V)


Voice Cast: Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson; Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson; Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson; Pamela Hayden as Milhouse; Hank Azaria as Moe; Tress MacNeille as Mrs. Skinner and Russi Taylor as Sherri.
Guest Voice Cast: Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony; Michael Imperioli as Dante Jr.; Metallica as Themselves and Joe Pantoliano as Dante.

[Nin-Nin69]

There was a preview for this episode on IGN and the scenes they showed were really well done. Mainly the scene between Moe and Homer was just fantastic. It reminded me more of the old Simpsons.

I'll be watching the rest of this tonight.:)

[DarthGonzo]

Hey ummm...didn't they already do an episode that started with a Simpson parent assuming carpooling responsibilities after Otto was unable to drive for whatever reason? :shrug:

And these first acts are so freakin' short. Having just watching season 8 it's worth noting that a lot of episodes back then - if you took out the commercial between the theme and the first act - ran as much as 10-11 minutes before the end of the first act.

"Potty in a bag", Willie laying in puke, Lisa eating a battery and a bee...why in God's name do the Simpson's writers feel they always have to be so gross.

Sigh...this is so unfunny.

[Classic Speedy]

Hey ummm...didn't they already do an episode that started with a Simpson parent assuming carpooling responsibilities after Otto was unable to drive for whatever reason? :shrug: Homerpalooza.

[Space Cadet]

Huh, so Fat Tony is dead.

[DarthGonzo]

Homerpalooza.
Yeah I know. That was sarcasm.

I'm reminded why i don't watch this show much anymore. Every line of dialogue - every line - sounds like nothing but a bunch of once-talented voice actors blandly reading a script.

Jeez...Dr. Hibbert is just lame lately.

Homer and Bart helping the mob I'm assuming is the main point of this episode - yet it takes two acts to get to it?

[BrickTamland]

Huh, so Fat Tony is dead.


Oh wow. they killed Fat Tony off. How original.

[jgully]

Did Otto sound odd to anybody else?

[sdp]

great episode, I enjoyed it quite a bit, the Metallic cameo was not bad either, kind of weird I just watched The Godfather trilogy a week ago and now I see this episode.

otto did sound a little off, and Fat Tony didn't die.

[Moto Pete]

3.5/5

Like:
Nelson
Sherri and Terri
Moleman
bart driving the bus
WW II Beans
Car pool
arch rivels in waste managment
Baking soda, Vineger and TNT Trucks
Wacked by Natrual Causes
Fat Albert
Hot Sync'd
Dirt Nap
House on Fire
Roughing up Moe
Truck fell off a Truck
cat sling-shot
laughing various weapons
Bootleg Dvd's
the Ending was great
Dislike:
Metallica ( wasted)
The Family seems unchacteristic

[Space Cadet]

Oh wow. they killed Fat Tony off. How original.

Well, he's not dead.

[DarthGonzo]

Did Otto sound odd to anybody else?

Everyone sounds odd nowadays.

I did like the last joke though. But the gag of Michael failing to see "poison" blatently listed as a meatball ingredient is just lame.

[SirLemming]

A few chuckles. A continuation of the "almost good enough" era. I doubt I'm going to be in most of the talkbacks this season aside from the more notable episodes.

[Classic Speedy]

I did like the three trucks colliding with each other, and only until the third impact does everything explode. The timing on that joke was perfect.

I've decided only to address things I -like- in these Simpsons talkbacks. Thoughts?

[DarthGonzo]

I've decided only to address things I -like- in these Simpsons talkbacks. Thoughts?

I'd like to try that sometime, but ragging on the show is just so easy for me nowadays.

[JTurner954]

I was hoping the couch gag and the Metallica cameo would be longer, but other than that it was a typical good Simpsons episode. It's great to have new episodes of The Simpsons once again.

:wished he had a truck truck ... truck:

Overall grade: B+

[Boy Wonder]

Two words: average altogether. Had really bad moments (anything with Otto), some really clever moments (like the 50 bucks gag), so it equals no fishes, no friend either.

[SirLemming]

The gag with the $50 had potential, but I didn't feel it was really executed completely successfully. Not sure why. It could've stood to be a little more Marx Brothers-esque, if that makes sense.

[Nin-Nin69]

That was the best Simpsons episode I've seen in a while. Yet they could've cut the ending a little shorter with Lisa outside of Michael door.

[Hades]

First episode and this already screams Awesome Season. Great stuff. Can't wait to see what happens next week.

[The Myst]

A rare good episode, though the plot sort of took a downward spiral in the end. The homage to The Godfather was nice but offered little in the way of a resolution. The Metallica stuff was fantastic. Another good part was the newspaper with Homer that read "LOCAL MAN THINKS WRESTLING IS REAL".

BEST LINE: "I slept with Lars' grandmother! - Hans Moleman

RATING: B

[GOB]

Gosh, I liked it the first time when it was called "Bart The Murderer." I guess the movie has taken up the good writers.

[Sharklady]

Most of the ep was pretty middling, but the "This needs to be hot-synched" joke, and the $50.00 bit, were good enough to've come from an earlier Simpsons season.

[Quagmire]

Metallica's cameo was really wasted in this episode, and yes Otto's voice was off.

They also finally had Lunchlady Doris talk again. Who did they use as her voice since Doris Grau passed a long time ago?

I missed the first minute of Act III while switching to Giants-Colts. Loved the fell off the truck gag.

[Classic Speedy]

Who did they use as her voice since Doris Grau passed a long time ago? Pretty sure that was Tress MacNeille.

[tb4000]

Pretty sure that was Tress MacNeille.

No one does a withered old hag like Tress MacNeille.

[simpspin]

Gosh, I liked it the first time when it was called "Bart The Murderer." I guess the movie has taken up the good writers.

Yeah, but the writers on staff think episodes like this are pure gold.

What befuddles me is how the writers complained on the DVD commentaires that the show was being 'cut short' for more commercial time when the intro has been cut almost to nothing and THEN the writers use nothing but 'time streteching' jokes. Tonight's "Bigger weapons", "Lady/Man", and "Trucks, trucks, and Trucks" jokes are perfect examples of this.

Do the writers put so much stock in some fans withdrawl of new Simpsons over the summer that episodes put out like this are acceptable? Even more of a noodle scratcher is saying "This episode is better than no new episode, so by that fact alone, it's an A-Plus!" constitute a WRONG opinion?

[The Myst]

Do the writers put so much stock in some fans withdrawl of new Simpsons over the summer that episodes put out like this are acceptable?

Well it was supposed to air in like March as part of last season.

[TnAdct1]

What befuddles me is how the writers complained on the DVD commentaires that the show was being 'cut short' for more commercial time when the intro has been cut almost to nothing and THEN the writers use nothing but 'time streteching' jokes. Tonight's "Bigger weapons", "Lady/Man", and "Trucks, trucks, and Trucks" jokes are perfect examples of this.
Personally, I thought the "trucks" joke was less of a "time stretching" joke and more of a joke in which they stretch the punchline to make the joke funnier (in this case, Homer's truck actually fell from a "truck carrying trucks" that Bart got after it fell from a "truck carrying trucks carrying trucks").

[The Landstander]

I actually thought the joke was in the original Homer misusing a cliche. I laughed at that. Then the joke kept going on. =(

Didn't care for the episode.

[Zechs]

Not too shabby.

[ToOn~g@l]

I thought this was a good episode. Kinda weak in some spots but still good. I also noticed that Otto's voice seems to sound a little different, I wonder if his voice actor was sick while doing it. the trucks on trucks on trucks gag was kinda funny.

Another show that I give a B+ to.

[Hyper Shadow X]

This eppy was ok.

[Master Moron]

Homer and Bart helping the mob I'm assuming is the main point of this episode - yet it takes two acts to get to it?

I'm sick of people complaining that the first two acts don't directly connect to the third act. They've been doing that since as long as I can remember, and I like it. Not only that, but it gives the reruns better ratings because you can turn a rerun on and not remember what the episode is about based on the first act.

[email2003]

The ending to this was harilous! The Godfather ending with a twist.:D

[Jyose]

Lisa is really fudging up lately.
Everything in this episode was her fault, she's like a deserving Meg or something.

Alot of the episode seemed abrupt, maybe because the Otto stuff ran a little longer than needed. I hope the writers will start writing plots that connect from start to finish.

Moe vs Homer was a nice scene though, also the "Truck" joke... "It fell of a truck-truck.... truck"

A continuity error, Marge didn't remember Micheal, even though she "sometimes drives him home from school"

[Wussycat]

Lisa is really fudging up lately.
Everything in this episode was her fault, she's like a deserving Meg or something.
How was anything her fault, other than breaking Otto's cassette player?

[Hades]

Wow,s ome people are just never happy and seem to expect more out of this show than they should. You guys act like Simpsons should be LotR quality writing when all it needs to do is be entertainment, and that is exactly what it is doing. Is every episode good? No, of course not. However, you seem to think they are going to be able to top Seasons 3-5, which they will probably never do. Instead of comparing seasons though, let's just enjoy the show for what it gives us.

[simpspin]

Wow,s ome people are just never happy and seem to expect more out of this show than they should. You guys act like Simpsons should be LotR quality writing when all it needs to do is be entertainment,

There isn't a natural barrier between "entertainment" and "intelligently written." That doesn't mean the characters have to quote Plato, but it means that the episodes should be written so that they obey the logic already established by the show, as well as avoiding cheap gimmicks (i.e., numerous guest stars and stunts such as sending the family to exotic locations and putting them in super-ridiculous situations where it isn't even possible to portray it in a twisted manner because it is so ridiculous.).

BTW, LotR is "entertainment", too.


and that is exactly what it is doing. Is every episode good? No, of course not. However, you seem to think they are going to be able to top Seasons 3-5, which they will probably never do. Instead of comparing seasons though, let's just enjoy the show for what it gives us.

It's not being "never happy" if we recognize that the show isn't as good as it could be or has been in the past. Everyone here is passionate about the show because it reached some great heights in the past. Acting smug towards the people who make negative comments about the show is about as intelligent a response as people saying that if you don't support every single thing that the President does, you are a traitor and unpatriotic. It's total bull.

[90'sCartoonMan]

The gag with the $50 had potential, but I didn't feel it was really executed completely successfully. Not sure why. It could've stood to be a little more Marx Brothers-esque, if that makes sense.

I think it's because the Moe-turning-around-to-get-money-from-Homer part was weird. Moe and Homer were still in the same positions, so there's not much of a turn-around. Maybe if Moe went around the counter and was on the right it would've worked better.


What befuddles me is how the writers complained on the DVD commentaires that the show was being 'cut short' for more commercial time when the intro has been cut almost to nothing and THEN the writers use nothing but 'time streteching' jokes. Tonight's "Bigger weapons", "Lady/Man", and "Trucks, trucks, and Trucks" jokes are perfect examples of this.

Can't argue about the other jokes, but I think the truck-truck-truck thing was a challange to the animators. They wanted to try and show a truck that carries trucks that carries trucks and have all the sizes match up. I think it was well done.

Harry may've sounded off as Otto, but I think Julie did a much better job as Marge than she has as of late. Maybe that's because Marge got better lines, I'm not sure.

There were some really enjoyable jokes (Chef Boyargay), and I actually liked the pacing (I didn't see this episode as a "Homer and Bart join the mafia" thing, more like a "What would Fat Tony's son's life be like?").

The only part that I found weird/questionable/whatever was Bart wondering what to do to Flanders. I liked how Bart and Homer's weapons kept changing as they were laughing, but I dunno...Plus Metallica was just next in a long line of guest-stars that are there just to be there (why weren't their individual names credited at the end? The Simpsons has always done that with the bands that guest-star).

What's the title a spoof on?

[Terminatah]

The writing is so bad. So bad. So bad. This doesn't even seem like the same show that featured the episode "Bart the Murderer." Where the Simpsons were once distinctive characters grounded in a universe of satiric realism and unparalleled wit, they are now empty vessels imitating what I can only assume is their idea of a funny show. I'm not saying this to debate anyone; just wanted to share my opinion. The real tragedy here is not that this show is absolute garbage, but that it once just happened to be the most clever, original, unbelievably brilliant show on TV.

-Terminatah

[Viceroy]

What's the title a spoof on?

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097108/

[MorotheWolf]

This wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Fat Tony's son was actually kind of interesting IMO, and Lisa wasn't as obnoxious as she has been the past few episodes. Not fantastic, but not awful either. 6/10.

[Neo Yi]

I thought this was a rather solid take on a general Simpsons episode nowadays. Anything great, nope, but generally I loved it.

Particularly Michael and the ending when he turned from wimpy kid who wanted to be a chef to kid who poisoned his enemies. I admit, I did love the ending when Lisa watched as Michael close the doors behind to do his devious business...although I think the effect would have been much better without showcasing him playing Hot Wheels with the other kids. Shame the chances of Michael appearing is nil, he was, I admit, rather interesting...well, by the ending anyways.

[SirLemming]

DISCLAIMER: This is probably the last time I'll ever get into a debate about the current state of the show in one of the talkback threads.


I'm sick of people complaining that the first two acts don't directly connect to the third act. They've been doing that since as long as I can remember, and I like it. Not only that, but it gives the reruns better ratings because you can turn a rerun on and not remember what the episode is about based on the first act. I think the difference is that now they make much less of an effort to give the first acts relevance to the main plot at all. Almost everything used to contribute to and lead up to the main plot. It was cohesive. It's much less cohesive now; the episodes feel disjointed and directionless, like they're not really going anywhere. I know I can't prove this just by saying it, but that's my two cents.

I will say that this episode doesn't particularly suffer from that problem. Homer and Bart joining the mob was unnecessary and understandably makes the episode seem like it has that problem, but if you consider that it's about Fat Tony's son, it's pretty consistent.


I think it's because the Moe-turning-around-to-get-money-from-Homer part was weird. Moe and Homer were still in the same positions, so there's not much of a turn-around. Maybe if Moe went around the counter and was on the right it would've worked better.
Another problem with it may have been that they didn't play it straight enough (a common problem on this and every other comedy show in its late years). The gag can only be really funny if the characters are acting real. If the joke is that the characters are doing something that doesn't make sense, we have to believe that it makes sense to them; that's what makes it funny.
As I alluded to before, this was sort of a Marx Brothers-style gag, with two characters getting into a fundamentally confusing conversation and somehow managing to exploit each other right in front of each other's eyes. What usually makes that funny is that Chico is completely dumbfounded and Groucho is even more confused by Chico's dumbfoundedness, and they both get completely lost. I don't think Homer and Moe pulled it off quite as well. Granted, this wasn't quite the same thing (there was more role reversal involved), but the dynamic was similar.

[Peter Paltridge]

I've said before the characters are merely joke machines now, but last night they were GOOD joke machines.

"I have two binders....Garfield, and Love Is..!"
HA ha! It's been too long since we got a decent season starter.

[SirLemming]

While I'm criticizing everything, I should probably mention that I liked the gag with Homer & Bart laughing while holding various weapons. It was good because it was the same laugh every time. The only problem was the out-of-character-ness of the whole situation.

[Stewie]

Typically mediocre. I enjoyed it well enough, had some chuckles, but nothing exciting or new.

What saddens me is that I'm not disappointed. For the first time, I didn't expect the Simpsons to be good. Sure, most people probably reached that point five or six years ago. But in my mind I managed to put The Simpsons on pause for all that time, thinking that any minute it return to it's previous greatness. And without me even realizing it, I lost that. I think I don't love the Simpsons anymore. What if I can't even pretend to love them?

One Great Moment though: The school band (the only good band in this episode) was playing Dvorak's New World Symphony.
Awesome.

[Hades]

It's not being "never happy" if we recognize that the show isn't as good as it could be or has been in the past. Everyone here is passionate about the show because it reached some great heights in the past. Acting smug towards the people who make negative comments about the show is about as intelligent a response as people saying that if you don't support every single thing that the President does, you are a traitor and unpatriotic. It's total bull.

That is just it though, it is good to recognize that show is not as good as it was back then, but it seems like people go in not even wanting to like some of the best episodes done over the last few years. Just like how people can't stand the Prequel Star Wars Trilogy just because it does something different than the previous movies and did not meet their expectations because they were expecting some that is not Star Wars.

As for the Simpsons, I agree, sometimes reusing the same idea in a part is lame, but if I let that bother me, I would never watch more than two anime series, for 95% of anime out there is just a recycled plot, only the journey is different. Simpsons is the same. Reused ideas, but there is a different tale to tell it.

[TheMecca]

I kinda liked it... my favorite gag was the bit with the TNT truck.
****/*****
[ Ducks. ]

[The Myst]

One Great Moment though: The school band (the only good band in this episode) was playing Dvorak's New World Symphony.
Awesome.

*Looks up from playing opening riffs of "Master Of Puppets".*

BLASPHEMY!

[Stewie]

*Looks up from playing opening riffs of "Master Of Puppets".*

BLASPHEMY!I speak the truth.

But for this thread, I'll agree to disagree. While agreeing that that is a cool riff.

[simpspin]

That is just it though, it is good to recognize that show is not as good as it was back then, but it seems like people go in not even wanting to like some of the best episodes done over the last few years.

Well, that's just pure specuation on your part. How do you know the members here want to go into an episode just to type an extremely negative review? What sixth-sense powers have you been granted that lets you speak the minds of those who disagree with you?


Just like how people can't stand the Prequel Star Wars Trilogy just because it does something different than the previous movies and did not meet their expectations because they were expecting some that is not Star Wars.

The Simpsons has not done anything as 'extreme' as the Prequels were to the Original Star Wars trilogy so the ire of fandom analogy doesn't work. There's been nothing too shockingly different, other than the decline of the writing, provided you think there was a decline at all.


Simpsons is the same. Reused ideas, but there is a different tale to tell it.

It's not THAT simple. As stated on the Season 3 DVD's, they did THREE episodes in a row featuring bad fathering: Saturdays of Thunder, Lisa's Pony and Like Father, Like Clown. Not just during the same run of the show, not just during the same season, but actually airing one after the other each week! But, the writing was so good, I bet hardly anybody even noticed the fact at all until it was stated on the DVDs.

EDIT: This quote I came upon is dedicated to those who try to use 'ratings' as form of saying the Simpsons is still a great show:

"Ratings just tell you that you're appealing to American Joe Dimwit who'll also watch some cheap reality show about skanks swapping redneck husbands while deserted on a desert island with cosmetically enhanced bimbo's for a cash prize. As previously stated, it's all just appealing to the lowest common denominator. That's how Jackass became a hit. That's how The Osbournes became a hit. That's why Family Guy is currently being raved about, and that's the audience the show is garnering at the moment. That and bitter old [Simpsons] fans who can't seem to let go."

[The Myst]

I disagree with that quote because it puts Family Guy in league with crappy reality shows and that will not be tolerated.

[Khurath]

I cannot help but shake the whole "Am I sure this is a new episode?" feeling. This felt like an amalgamation of multiple prior episodes, but at this point I suppose that is increasingly hard for the writers to avoid. I will give them credit for not basing the entire episode around the "guest voice o' the week". Metallica was only used for a short joke and the other guest voices were not "acting" the role of animated versions of themselves.

3/5 - I can remember good and bad episodes. Things that are nondistinct and forgettable are a pretty good indication that we are talking about an average example.

[simpspin]

I disagree with that quote because it puts Family Guy in league with crappy reality shows and that will not be tolerated.

Yeah, we shouldn't talk smack about crappy reality shows. :p