Any Sideshow Bob sightings in Springfield?

[Anarky]

I don't follow the Simpsons closely. Has Sideshow Bob made an appearance since "The Great Louse Detective"?

[TimTwoFace]

Uhhhh...no, I'm pretty sure that was the most recent Sideshow Bob episode to date. Frankly, I hope they keep him off of the show until they come up with a better plotline for him, too. I loved "Brother From Another Series" (in what, 1996 or 1997), and then there was a HUGE gap where we were Bob-less, and then the two episodes since have been pretty lacklustre.

Great character, but not "evil" enough any more. I know it's all about progression of character and his series-long arc and all, but if that's the case, give him something better to do in the future. Bring back Cecil, perhaps - they had an interesting dynamic, which, strangely enough, reminds me of another show I've see on TV in live-action somewhere...

-Tim

[Merrytoon]

Uhhhh...no, I'm pretty sure that was the most recent Sideshow Bob episode to date. Frankly, I hope they keep him off of the show until they come up with a better plotline for him, too. I loved "Brother From Another Series" (in what, 1996 or 1997), and then there was a HUGE gap where we were Bob-less, and then the two episodes since have been pretty lacklustre.

Great character, but not "evil" enough any more. I know it's all about progression of character and his series-long arc and all, but if that's the case, give him something better to do in the future. Bring back Cecil, perhaps - they had an interesting dynamic, which, strangely enough, reminds me of another show I've see on TV in live-action somewhere...

-Tim

I pretty much agree, except I didn't even like "Brother From Another Series". Or "Sideshpw Bob's Last Gleaming" for that matter. I'd say "Sideshow Bob Robert's" was Bob's last good episode. Still, "BFAS" is good compared to "Day of the Jackanapes" and "The Great Louse Detective", and I agree that Bob and Cecil (obviously) played off eachother beautifuly (What I didn't like was the basic plot, the jokes, the roles of the other characters, A.K.A. the writing), so I'd be game for seeing Cecil again; however, I don't even want to see Bob again until they stick him in a decent episode.

[Dee]

I do miss Sideshow Bob. Before Weird Al was in an episode, I always said they should have a battle of the hair or something.

If they use Sideshow Bob again, I hope it's a good episode because he's one of my favs.

[Delthayre]

As far as I'm concerned, the last good Sideshow Bob episode was "Brother from Another Series", the rest since that have dissapointed and done little justice to a good character.

I'd've sworn that they killed him in the last one I saw, but The Simpsons seems to be doing worse than DC Comics when it comes to making death matter.

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

Well considering Mike Scully's era was filled with pointless gags like that I guess Al Jean decided it didn't count.

[Aquadementia]

As far as I'm concerned, the last good Sideshow Bob episode was "Brother from Another Series", the rest since that have dissapointed and done little justice to a good character.

I'd've sworn that they killed him in the last one I saw, but The Simpsons seems to be doing worse than DC Comics when it comes to making death matter.

They gave him the death sentence, but we didn't see it carried out.
I think the writers have some wiggle room to bring him back.

I like Sideshow Bob, but I don't see any reason to go back to that well again.
He is my favorite Simpson figurine though.

[Master Moron]

Maybe Lionel Hutz came back at the last minute and explains that he's spent the last few years becoming a good lawyer and he finds a loophole to get Sideshow Bob out of the death penalty.

[Merrytoon]

Maybe Lionel Hutz came back at the last minute and explains that he's spent the last few years becoming a good lawyer and he finds a loophole to get Sideshow Bob out of the death penalty.

Lionel Hutz no longer exists in the Simpsons universe.

[Eddie G.]

Maybe Lionel Hutz came back at the last minute and explains that he's spent the last few years becoming a good lawyer and he finds a loophole to get Sideshow Bob out of the death penalty.

If they brought Hutz back I would be angry, the VA is sadly dead. It's shame because Phil was such a funny man on SNL and The Simpsons.

[The Koopinator]

Even if Bob came back, he can't be used anymore, because of the whole "accustomed to his face" thing, right? I dunno.

[Nick]

Lionel Hutz no longer exists in the Simpsons universe.

Well, I thought that Dr. Marvin Monroe no longer existed in The Simpsons universe, but they brought him back.

[The Koopinator]

Well, I thought that Dr. Marvin Monroe no longer existed in The Simpsons universe, but they brought him back.

><. Don't remind me. THAT NEVER HAPPENED. Yeah.

[Delthayre]

Well, I thought that Dr. Marvin Monroe no longer existed in The Simpsons universe, but they brought him back.

The problem with Hutz is that Phil Hartman is dead and I just don't think Hutz would be as good of a character with someone elses voice, even if the substitute were a near perfect soundalike. Besides, I think it's a token of respect to let Hutz (and Troy McClure) fade away with Hartman's death.

[Spongebrain2.0]

The reason Hutz& Troy aren't used anymore is because it was out of respect for Hartman, if they DID want to continue they could've gotten Billy West (Zapp Brannigan) to takeover the voices but, I don't think it is respectful to do that.

[TimTwoFace]

Just because Hartman has sadly passed on, that doesn't mean his characters are DEAD. I mean, I swear I saw them in the Simpsons comics - and those are apparently in the same continuity, right?

I don't expect they'll ever be around again on the series, at least in person. But a passing mention now and again would be nice.

-Tim

[Fone Bone]

Lionel Hutz was seen in a crowd scene in the episode with The Who. He and Troy McClure aren't dead, just retired.

And I believe what Master Moron said was tongue in cheek. I doubt he was being completely serious. Although since Hutz is technically alive it's possible he could've pull a rabbit out of his hat off-screen.

[Alex Toon]

TimTwoFace, I think Cecil and Bob remind you of Frasier. Grammer's brother on the show was David Hyde Pierce.

[Master Moron]

And I believe what Master Moron said was tongue in cheek. I doubt he was being completely serious. Although since Hutz is technically alive it's possible he could've pull a rabbit out of his hat off-screen.

Bingo. I was trying to make a comment about how the continuity in the Simpsons is somewhat flawed. The fact that we see them about to inject Sideshow Bob with a lethal substance only to be seen alive in a later episode and the fact that Troy Mcclure and Lionel Hutz have disappeared without a trace both show a lack of continuity. I'm not saying that they should bring the characters back, they should just have some type of on screen explanation, as having them disappear and never mentioned again is just weird. Kind of like how that little girl on Family Matters disappeared and was never seen again and the audience was never given any explanation.

[Delthayre]

Providing an onscreen explanation for Hutz or McClure dissapearing would probably amount to one of the hopelessly unfunny throw-a-way jokes that consitute one of the many beasts eating away at anything worthwhile about The Simpsons. They're absence isn't really a breach of continuity, at least not one of any consequence, they're just two characters who aren't used anymore out of respect to the death of the man who voiced and defined them.

The lethal injection of Sideshow Bob is a legitimate nuisance to continuity, irrelevant to a series like The Simpsons as continuity might be, but by the point in the show's history that those events had happened, proper treatment of characters was mostly dead anyway.