The Simpsons - 4/13/08 "Papa Don't Leech"

[tb4000]

When Mayor Quimby realizes the city of Springfield has gone broke, Homer suggests they feign a natural disaster in order to obtain relief funds from the federal government. When the plan goes awry, Lisa goes through the town’s financial records only to discover millions in uncollected city taxes. Springfield hits up its most notorious tax evaders, and Lurleen Lumpkin, a country music star Homer once managed, remains the last outstanding debtor. As Springfieldians scour the city to find her, Marge reluctantly permits the fugitive to stay with the family, creating a very interesting dynamic in the Simpson household.

[Tobias]

Add another picture to the wall of people who've come to live with the Simpson family. Seriously, is there anyone in Springfield who HASN'T been housed by the Simpsons?

[tb4000]

Daddy's back and she's feelin' like she oughter
Keep it down, I'm reading Harry Potter
My body wash is Estee Lauder


Here comes Grandpa, and he's got an otter.

.....I took three buses to get here.

[Classic Speedy]

It totally wasn't necessary to make a sequel to the far superior "Colonel Homer", especially when it turned out this bland.

I got one good laugh out of the episode, and I can't even remember what the joke was.
Seriously, is there anyone in Springfield who HASN'T been housed by the Simpsons? Bumble Bee Man? :p

[btv]

I don't even know how to feel about this episode, but I did enjoy the Dixie Chick's participation, since their lines were said better then a lot of celebs in past episodes this season. I didn't really laugh a whole lot but I remember at least being entertained.

If I was forced to give it a grade I'd give it a C but I don't think it deserves that.

[HEATXZ]

XD good episode
I like Grandpa with a otter

[Zorak Masaki]

What was the lyric in the dixie chicks song that came before the "i pledge allegiance to fox news" part?

[Dudley]

Wow. I went to the Fox.com and said that they didn't mention a new episode of the Simpsons.

it's a good thing I can catch it on hulu.com.
Which is legal.

EDIT: Now that I have, it was a really funny episode.

[ToOn~g@l]

This wasn't a bad episode, it wasn't the greatest but it was nice to see the return of an old character. Marge's line at the end was really evil of her to say, though it was an interesting way of showing that she is Homer's and no one else's. And I also liked Lurleens teaming up with Kermit.

[Peter Paltridge]

The name "Reid Harrison" made me take notice. Reid wrote "The Pink Candidate," one of the best episodes in the entire WBA, let alone Pinky and the Brain. Add to that Lurleen was returning--a favorite from my childhood, and one I'd always wanted to come back.

With this kind of pleasing, the writing could be as rotten as a wormy apple and I'd still enjoy myself. And this episode wasn't bad. It wasn't good either, but it still had some decent jokes.

The novelty gavel was so Reid. The blatant "No Child Support" T-shirt was too beat-you-over-the-head obvious to be funny, and something I suspect someone else added.

[Jave]

Reid Harrison also wrote "The Springfield Files"

[Peter Paltridge]

Reid Harrison also wrote "The Springfield Files"
I know, but I liked "The Pink Candidate" best.

[Tobias]

It totally wasn't necessary to make a sequel to the far superior "Colonel Homer", especially when it turned out this bland.



I don't know about you, but the only good laugh I got was Lurleen hitting on Kermit, only to have Piggy attack him.

[tb4000]

Marge: Of all the women who have hit on Homer over the years, I like you the best.


Yeah, I too find it hilarious how unattractive Homer is, yet over the years these hot babes have been trying to give it up to him.

[dth1971]

Even Homer and Abe playing an old timers CD of songs like Perry Como's "Catch a Falling Star" was surprising.

[Darklordavaitor]

It totally wasn't necessary to make a sequel to the far superior "Colonel Homer", especially when it turned out this bland.

What he said.

[The Irishman]

IT wasn't the worst episode of the season but it wasn't spectacular either. There were a few good laughs, but overall the plot was a bit week, I mean, the last time we saw Lurleen, she was "fresh from here stay at the Betty Ford Clinic". Plus they could have chosen someone else for the back taxes thing, like Moe perhaps.

[Undrave]

Its funny how 'Comic Book Guy' is even his name on his tax form :p right below Mr Burns that the mayor consciously avoid for no reason >.>

I must say the opening 'dream' was really disturbing...especially with its total lack of music when Homer was killing Abe oO

[Master Moron]

You know, when I saw the first Lurleen episode, I was in elementary school. I'm not even sure I fully grasped the concept of a marital affair in elementary school. I mean, I think I understood the basic idea of Marge being jealous of Lurleen, but I don't think I could really comprehend all the emotions at play in the episode. Needless to say, I didn't find the original episode very funny at all. So, while I'm somewhat pleased to see that this show hasn't completely forgotten about old characters from its early years, I can't say that I ever really felt a desire to revisit this plot. You know what character they should bring back? The Babysitter Bandit. I always wanted them to bring her back as a kid, but all we ever got was a brief, non speaking cameo.

[Classic Speedy]

I don't know about you, but the only good laugh I got was Lurleen hitting on Kermit, only to have Piggy attack him. I remember what the joke was. When Homer was fighting with Bart in the photo booth, and the camera ended up taking a picture of his butt cheeks, and the photo was ironed onto his T-Shirt as "Daddy's special pair". Low brow? Yeah, but executed well.

Like I said though, that's about the only joke I LOL'ed at.

[The Irishman]

I remember what the joke was. When Homer was fighting with Bart in the photo booth, and the camera ended up taking a picture of his butt cheeks, and the photo was ironed onto his T-Shirt as "Daddy's special pair". Low brow? Yeah, but executed well.

Like I said though, that's about the only joke I LOL'ed at.

YES! I completely forgot about that one. Low brow, yes. Although I wasn't expecting to see what was written on the T-shirt.

[Neo Ultra Mike]

Originally posted by Martianinvader
The name "Reid Harrison" made me take notice. Reid wrote "The Pink Candidate," one of the best episodes in the entire WBA, let alone Pinky and the Brain. Add to that Lurleen was returning--a favorite from my childhood, and one I'd always wanted to come back.

Too bad no one at the Simpsons brain trust though could of actually thought to have let the person who wrote the original Lurleen episode write this one. Who was it? Uh I think some guy whose had co-written some early scripts and then never really did any major writing on the show. Who was it? Uh I think he made a cameo later on but uh... can't remember...

... In case you didn't sense my sarcasm meter I'm talking about Matt Groening. Really should of had him write this one (or at least write it with the staffer) to at least show he still does something on that front in the show but no he's too busy... doing... uh I don't even know really. Something he could take some time away from though to write part of a script at least.

As for the ep, It's kind of sad this one backtracked a bit compared to the last episodes which had simpler (or at least more enjoyable) start ups and a fuller plot throughout. Or maybe that's because some of the later ones were more back to the roots eps with subplots to help out and this was a full out character revival that landed on the strength of Lurleen to see it through. I am glad at least they didn't put any martial strife in it (though unless Homer actually told Marge that Lurleen had tried going so far with him in "Colonel Homer" Marge shouldn't of been too mad considering the ending of the ep. I mean yeah Marge obviously has a dark side but threathening Lurleen like that seemed way too OOC for me to think of it as a good ending) and focused more on Lurleen's problem with her tax evasion and then missing her daddy and such. They really didn't need such a long beginning to get to the point (since besides Homer being happy about dream killing Grandpa and Quimby trying to get the money for Girl Scout cookies out the treasury there wasn't really anything good in the first part of the plot at all really) about reshowing Lurleen, but at least they did they're homerwork more on her return appearence then they could of. I also liked Lurleen falling for Homer lookalikes and the song number at the end of act two (though really with the Harry Potter refrence after coming from an ep that did The Simpsons harry potter variation Angelica Button they really to try to stick to one useage of the HP lore. Eh guess it costs less to parody something but if you can refrence it quickly it's okay or whatever) and the Dixie chicks beating up Lurleen's dad though in truth that plot turned kind of sour. I mean the quick reconnection and then leaving and selling out his daughter left a pretty bad taste in my mouth on how quickly it went (really could of spent more time on that and cut out some of the stuff in the beginning actually) but like I said at least he got a compuannce more then most Simpson scumbags we've seen. Overall a weaker ep then I had hoped espically after some of the better eps that have been around.

[SirLemming]

It was aAn admirable attempt to revisit an old character, but nothing remotely above-average.