Stonecutters, lemons, greyhound tuxedoes and more in The Simpsons' Sixth Season.

Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Grampa, Apu, Moe, Barney, Chief Wiggum, Monty Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Krusty the Clown, Sideshow Bob, Patty, Selma, Milhouse, Ralph, Nelson, Principal Skinner, Mrs. Krabapple, Groundskeeper Willy, Itchy, Scratchy, and all the other colorful characters of Springfield are back once again to give you more than your $49.98 SRP's worth in laughs with THE SIMPSONS: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON DVD collection, four more shining examples of Matt Groening and company's enduringly hilarious juggernaut about a simple suburban family's constantly crazy exploits. With its penchant for amusing satire and pop culture ribbing that has been progressively harnessed and imitated ever since the show began in December 1989, there has been practically no modern TV show that has survived as long as THE SIMPSONS, thanks largely to the charms of the characters, the amusing animation, and a slew of talented writers/directors/artists that provide constant entertainment. But who can forget the guest stars, too?

It's been a while since my last review of a Simpsons DVD collection, and I'm pretty sure you know about the characters, the Springfield scenery, and the show's legacy. I will not bore you with a long-winded introduction meant to sell just how important this show is because the show has run sixteen seasons already, and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is now at the sixth season in terms of catch-all DVDs containing classic series episodes, twenty-five of them which originally aired from the fall of 1994 to the spring of 1995. Nearly all of these episodes are fast-paced, continuity-be-damned bursts of comic brilliance from some pretty skilled writers and animators, chock-a-block with film homages, sight gags, and humorous character arcs. You don't have to be a Stonecutter to get access to the treats this collection has to offer, but here I go again, dwindling on and on and referencing one of my favorite episodes from the sixth season just to prove how much of a fanboy I am (I must admit I'm not the fanboy, but as sure as Homer is a simpleton, I am a deep admirer of the show since discovery). So let's breakdown all the episodes in terms of what they're about, how much fun they are, and what kinds of bonus goodies await us on this collector's delight.

Bart of Darkness
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 1F22/Sept. 4, 1994
SYNOPSIS: A hot summer day in Springfield causes some grief for the Simpson family, who have no air conditioning and nothing chilly to snack on. Luckily for them, the "Springfield Pool-Mobile" arrives and offers relief. Pressured by Bart and Lisa, Homer buys an outdoor swimming pool that immediately garners the Simpson children popularity. Bart makes a daring high dive from his tree house that goes awry, and he has to sit the entire summer out with a broken leg. Lisa takes pity on her brother and loans him her telescope, which Bart uses to spy on various Springfield citizens, including Ned Flanders, whom Bart is convinced may have committed murder.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: A perfect bait-and-switch episode that starts off as a typical "unlucky Bart" story but descends into a hilarious homage to Hitchcock (I loved how much attention they paid to Jimmy Stewart's room). Credit goes out to Nancy Cartwright for nailing the many facets of Bart's personality, even in his darker moments (although it must be said all the members of the cast were improving upon their characters flawlessly throughout the season). Still, I don't really consider it one of the best of the run, simply because trying to make Ned Flanders seem psycho is a longshot for almost anyone despite the contrivances. On a letter scale, I give it a straight B.
FAVORITE QUOTE: Bart calls 911 and gets a pre-recorded operator: ."Hello, and welcome to the Springfield Police Department Resc-u- Fone. If you know the name of the felony being committed, press one. To choose from a list of felonies, press two. If you are being murdered or calling from a rotary phone, please stay on the line. [Bart angrily presses random numbers] You have selected regicide. If you know the name of the king or queen being murdered, press one."
EXTRA FEATURES: Typically, we get audio commentaries for all episodes, and the first track features creator Matt Groening, executive producer David Mirkin, director Jim Reardon, series writer David X. Cohen, series producer Greg Daniels, and supervising director David Silverman. Mirkin, who may be known for directing "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion" and Heartbreakers outside of working on series like Get a Life and The Simpsons, appears in a large amount of these commentaries, and surprisingly is the most chatty member of them all. As is evidenced throughout the rest of these commentaries, he is full of comic quips, righteous anger at the right targets (particularly mediocre TV comedy and censorship boards both in Congress and on Fox), and a great knowledge of what makes a series like this stand the test of time, as well as an unwavering love for Mike Nichols' The Graduate. If you thought previous episode commentaries weren’t all that much fun, you're in for quite a surprise with this guy. The commentary itself benefits from a great witty rapport from all six participants as they riff on their inspirations and the creation of the episode, which was done during the Northridge Earthquake. And "Bart of Darkness" is the first of many episodes to contain deleted scenes, which may be viewed separately on the fourth disc (more on that in a little while) or played with motion-activated branching on the respective disc that has the actual episode on it. The outtakes from this particular program are mostly scene extensions, with a few small laughs to be had (especially when we see Homer and that big barrel of chlorine).

Lisa's Rival
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 1F17/Sept. 11, 1994
SYNOPSIS: Lisa has high hopes of winning first chair saxophone in band auditions despite the rest of the family's annoyance with her practicing. A new kid named Allison (guest voice: Winona Ryder) shows up in class one day, a seven-year-old who was skipped one extra grade and is indeed quite as smart as Lisa. She also likes to play the sax, and is auditioning for band, too. After the two duel during auditions and Lisa passes out playing a jazzy improvisational piece, she discovers Allison won the coveted first chair spot. With the second-grade class diorama contest approaching, Lisa feels the need to one-up Allison, and even turns to Bart for help. Meanwhile, Marge has daydreams about being romanced by a pirate, while Homer and Bart discover a jackknifed sugar truck and steal some 500 lbs. of its sweet cargo so that Homer can get rich quick.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: One of the most oddball Homer Simpson schemes in history, which would be later be recycled for the one where he decides to steal the grease from Springfield Elementary, is enough to win my approval of this episode. The fact that he imagines himself being like Tony Montana is a gut-buster, and his comeuppance is a hoot. The main plot involving Lisa isn’t that bad either, as we see a jealousy and desire for mischief that was a refreshing change of pace for the character. Throw in some nice moments with little Ralph Wiggum and his diorama and you got something of an B episode.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "My cat's breath smells like cat food" - Ralph Wiggum.
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary with Groening, Mirkin, writer Mike Scully, director Mark Kirkland, and voice actors Dan Castellaneta & Yeardley Smith. We learn more about how the earthquake affected on the show's staff, who was responsible for the B-story concerning Homer's sugar swindle, and we get the obligatory Winona Ryder shout-out referencing her infamous headline-grabbing shopping spree. Sadly, this is one of several episodes without any deleted scenes available on the disc.

Another Simpsons Clip Show
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F33/Sept. 25, 1994
SYNOPSIS: So it's come to this..."Another Simpsons Clip Show." Marge feels the romance is gone from her and Homer's marriage, so she decides to teach the kids about love. Marge points out that everybody in Springfield has been hit by the love bug, including even little Bart Simpson, who fell in love with his babysitter Laura once upon a time. And so it goes: each family member talks about a past relationship in particular, from Homer's crush on former plant worker Mindy to Lisa's own disastrous affair with Ralph Wiggum.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: Another clip show, huh? The last one wasn’t all that bad, because it ended with Homer strangling Bart, and that always makes me laugh no matter how shocking it may be. The selection of clips from previous episodes isn’t all that bad, despite the fact that we didn't see the one from where Bart and Milhouse fight over that one girl, but it's the wraparound segments that either make or break the show. Unfortunately, except for a few small bits of hilarity, the whole thread doesn't hold well. Grade: C , which is the lowest of all episodes of the season.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Mom, romance is dead. It was acquired in a hostile takeover by Hallmark and Disney, homogenized, and sold off piece by piece." - Lisa Simpson.
EXTRA FEATURES: Seeing as how this mostly a Frankenstein's monster episode, it's only fitting there'd be no deleted scenes left over for this DVD. However, audio commentary is provided by Groening, Mirkin and Silverman. This commentary takes a fine tangent as compared to the more conventional track for the last clip show (from the fourth season DVD), as the trio discuss the way in which episodes of the show develop into completion, from the story retreats to the pitches to James L. Brooks to the script readings to the recording sessions to the animatics to the notes and the re-recordings and the re-writing and at last the complete and soon-to-be-edited (by both staff and network) final product.

Itchy & Scratchy Land
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F01/Oct. 2, 1994
SYNOPSIS: It's vacation time again for the family, and the Simpson children suggest "Itchy & Scratchy Land," a theme park inspired by their cartoon idols. Marge grudgingly agrees, both out of disapproval of the violence on display at the park and in concern of Homer's buffoonery. Both Bart and Homer get busted by security for picking on the mascots, while at the same time a bunch of marching I&S robots start to malfunction and turn against the park's patrons, leaving the Simpsons to fight for their lives.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: Definitely an improvement over the last episode and a madcap highpoint of the sixth season. All of the Disney jabs prove constantly hilarious, as well as the discovery of some of the characters that made it to the "Itchy & Scratchy Variety Hour." Making Itchy & Scratchy the focal point of the story also allows some meta-comic acknowledgement of cartoon violence as well as laugh-out-loud moments, including that log ride from hell. I loved the animation in some of the early scenes (particularly the stunned look on Bart and Lisa’s faces), and the vocal talents behind the characters were uniformly excellent. I give it an A.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Back, you robots! Nobody ruins my family vacation but me...and maybe the boy!" - Homer Simpson.
EXTRA FEATURES: Four alternate/deleted scenes, including an amusing bit where Lisa tries to communicate with the haywire robots. The audio commentary features Groening, Mirkin, Castellaneta, Smith, and director Wes Archer. This is the first time we hear Mirkin get really annoyed with the government's censorial leanings and the stupidity of the networks in trying to tone down obviously cartoonish graphic violence. Groening also shares one of his recurring nightmares and the belated idea for a full-length Simpsons riff on Fantasia. Other than that, all the participants exchange jovial exchanges on all the various memories and movies that made their way into the episode.

Sideshow Bob Roberts
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F02/Oct. 9, 1994
SYNOPSIS: Homer obsessively listens to KBBL's conservative crackpot commentator Birch Barlow, who receives a call from Bart's (second) mortal enemy and fellow right-winger Sideshow Bob. Lisa breaks the news to Bart, just in time for the even worse announcement that Barlow has managed to get Bob released from prison. Mayor Quimby is poised to win re-election, but now has to contend with Bob as the new Republican nominee. When the mudslinging ends, Bob emerges the new mayor of Springfield, and uses his powers to exact vengeance on the Simpsons. Once again, it's up to Bart and Lisa to figure out a way to expose Bob for the corrupt megalomaniac he is.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: Another A episode, largely due to some fine vocal work by Kelsey Grammer, who is never disappointing as the incorrigibly malevolent Sideshow Bob, and Harry Shearer, who makes an amusing Birch Barlow for his resemblance to Rush...er, forget it. In fact, this episode is left-of-center not just in terms of manic humor, but also in the way it manages to satirize the entire Republican party. Still, the episode doesn't play political favorites in any serious manner, and we also get comical riffs on Watergate, election-promoting attack ads, and even political debates from both 1960 and 1988. There’s even a line Smithers says that speaks rings about how the Republican elite of today feels about a certain sexual orientation. That is a testament to how great this episode has held up.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Your guilty conscience may force you to vote Democratic, but deep down inside you secretly long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king." - Sideshow Bob Terwilliger.
EXTRA FEATURES: Commentary by Groening, Mirkin, Kirkland, and writers Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein. There are plenty of veiled jabs at a certain pill-popping political figure who may not have been the basis for Birch Barlow, as well as the revealing of Satanic language in the dialogue Mr. Burns speaks. Mirkin also fills us in on how ashamed he is that Lisa actually likes John Parr's theme to the movie St. Elmo's Fire. The track also talks about the fact that Kelsey Grammer hates doing Bob's laugh because it is the most taxing thing possible. There is one lone deleted scene involving Sideshow Bob getting mad in a courtroom.

Treehouse of Horror V
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F03/Oct. 30, 1994
SYNOPSIS: Three more short stories of blood-curdling terror and gut-busting hilarity. "The Shinning" is an obvious parody of Kubrick's 1980 Stephen King adaptation, with the Simpsons looking after Mr. Burns' creepy mountain estate. Burns deprives Homer of his precious beer and TV, so he makes a deal with the ghost of Moe: Homer's family, including a telepathic Bart, must die for Homer to get a drop of sweet alcohol. In "Time and Punishment," Homer fixes a broken toaster and unknowingly turns it into a time machine that sends him back to the stone age. Homer kills a pesky mosquito, but he returns to the present to find the world has been taken over by Ned Flanders. Finding the toaster, Homer desperately tries to get back to the life he once knew. And in "Nightmare Cafeteria," Principal Skinner is confronted with two problems: the detention hall is overcrowded and the lunchlady is only serving grade F meat. The disappearance of Jimbo the bully and Uter the German exchange student provides a chilling revelation for Bart and Lisa.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: I thought the first two installments were absolutely hilarious. Dan Castellaneta playing Homer Simpson playing Jack Nicholson is just classic, and there’s so much unbridled fun in how they send up the entire Kubrick film from start to finish. The "Time and Punishment" episode is great, too, throwing out plot for an anarchic assortment of gags that are largely the stuff of genius. The last episode was a bit of a letdown, if only because it played more serious in terms of horror than the last two, but it still managed to be a keeper. Grade: A-.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "All I need is a title. I was thinking along the lines of 'No TV and No Beer Make Homer' something something." - Homer Simpson, about to show Marge how crazy he can be.
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary from Groening, Mirkin, Cohen, Reardon, and Daniels. Beginning with Mirkin's railing against congress for trying to censor the annual Halloween episode of "The Simpsons," the track light-heartedly gets into the various references, nods to Bradbury and Gilliam, Cohen's involvement in writing "Nightmare Cafeteria" (there were deleted scenes, including a scene that had Homer), and some of the participants 'fessing up to not seeing "The Shining." Four deleted scenes are showcased, with one a piece for each of the various episodes (the "Time and Punishment" segment contains the fourth outtake). Also, the first nine minutes of the program are presented in the original animatic format, meaning rough cut black-and-white motion photography. Aside from seeing some nice deleted material in this early incarnation, you can view this with or without illustrated commentary from Groening, Silverman and Reardon, who discuss Kubrick-inspired cinematography and character similarities.

Bart's Girlfriend
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F04/Nov. 6, 1994
SYNOPSIS: A Sunday morning game of “Cowboys and Indians” is interrupted when the parents of Springfield call their children for church. For Bart, it seems like just another day until he notices Reverend Lovejoy’s daughter Jessica and falls in love with her. Bart tries to win her over by reverting to goodness, but Jessica keeps snubbing him until he returns to his mischievous ways. Even though the two strike up a relationship, she still doesn’t want to seem associated with Bart in public, which gives him the feeling he’s being used. This feeling becomes especially painful when Jessica steals money from her dad’s collection plate and pins it on Bart.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: It's fun to have Bart the prankster played as a somewhat straight person to someone else’s mischief, and this episode benefits from developing some sympathy for the little devil. As Jessica Lovejoy, Meryl Streep acquitted herself well playing someone nearly thirty years younger, and got a lot of good laughs out of the story. The episode does play out nice despite the lack of good material for some of the other characters, the highpoints being the "Scotchtoberfest" gag and some comical attempts at Bart reluctantly acting wholesome. Grade: B .
FAVORITE QUOTE: "There's only one thing to do at a time like this...strut!" - Bart Simpson.
EXTRA FEATURES: No deleted scenes are showcased, but there’s another audio commentary track, this time around with Groening, Mirkin, Silverman, writer Jonathan Collier, director Susie Dietter, and voice actor Julie Kavner. The talkative Mirkin explains that it was his idea to have a story about a girl more evil than Bart, Collier recalls facing Jim Brooks with the script. Dietter talks about how Jessica Lovejoy was designed and how she accepted her role in the show over time, and Kavner is resigned to a few congratulatory comments, particularly about the qualities of Jessica in animation. Silverman recalls the troubles involving securing the rights to music, and Groening holds it all together with his humorous observations.

Lisa on Ice
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F05/Nov. 13, 1994
SYNOPSIS: Bart is saved from giving a book report when Skinner holds an assembly to provide failing students with “academic alerts.” When Lisa discovers she has an F in gym, she decides to join a sports club, particularly the Kwik-E-Mart Gougers, Apu’s hockey team. Lisa becomes an expert goalie much to the disappointment of her brother, a member of an opposing team coached by Chief Wiggum, who jealously tries to position himself as a teacher’s pet. When Apu schedules a match between Bart and Lisa’s team, sibling rivalry takes an unexpected turn into spectacle.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: An overtly passionate Homer encourages his kids to kill each other in a game of hockey. You know what, I made up my mind already: an A-!
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Lisa, certain differences -- rivalries, if you will -- have come up between us. At first I thought we could talk it over like civilized people. But instead, I just ripped the head off Mr. Honeybunny." - Bart Simpson, about to regret ripping the head off the wrong stuffed animal.
EXTRA FEATURES: Groening, Mirkin, Scully, and director Bob Anderson contribute audio commentary. The group largely chat about their experiences in school including whether or not they have anything on their permanent records, although Scully (from Springfield, Massachusetts) does have a couple comments about how he came up with the story and Mirkin brings some spark to the episode talking about his devotion to technology and his disrespect for “infotainment” news. Once again, no deleted scenes are available for this episode.

Homer: Bad Man
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F06/Nov. 21, 1994
SYNOPSIS: Homer gets tickets to the Candy Industry Trade Show and decides to take Marge with him so that they can make out like bank robbers. For a babysitter, they hire Ashley Grant, an overly-passionate feminist grad student. At the end of the night, Homer drives her home, but is shocked to find the rare gummi Venus de Milo he stole from the convention is stuck to her butt. A drooling Homer peels it off and eats it, but she then accuses him of sexual harassment and gets a flock of protestors on her side. An interview with a conniving TV tabloid reporter and a FOX TV movie turns the unlucky oaf into a full-fledged celebrity. Lisa suggests that Homer use the public access networks on TV to tell the world of his innocence, but it turns out only one man can truly get across to the world that Homer is a good man.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: The opening scene at the candy convention was absolutely hilarious, especially the faux-action sequence when Homer steals the gummy Venus. From there on out, writer Greg Daniels and director Jeffrey Lynch do an admirable job not only in making the typically dopey Homer seem compassionate and misunderstood, but also in skewering political correctness and tabloid TV with vigor. And when I saw Homer’s fantasy sequence, it was irresistible bliss. I have to say a hands-down A episode.
FAVORITE QUOTE: When the chips are down, Homer sings a song in his mind about a nice place in which to retreat: "Under the sea, under the sea/There'll be no accusations, just friendly crustaceans/Under the sea!"
EXTRA FEATURES: A few deleted scenes (including a peanut butter & chocolate-flavored squabble) and audio commentary by Groening, Mirkin, Daniels, Kavner, Silverman, and Lynch. Daniels shares how this episode began as a Lisa story but evolved into something else, mainly a reflection of the media's tabloidization as outlined by Mirkin. Mirkin also discusses his vegetarian lifestyle (he is a bit of a cheater) and even points out that nobody is safe from satire on the show, even if you are a very popular singer who did a memorable cameo in the third season.

Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F07/Dec. 4, 1994
SYNOPSIS: Marge and Homer seek a book-on-tape in order to put the spice back in their marriage, but the advice offered completely fails. They come home to find Abe Simpson home and inquiring about Homer and Marge's misery. When Homer drives his dad back to the retirement home, Abe passes on to his son recipe for a family tonic that cures impotence. After having the most passionate night of their lives in years, Marge suggests that Homer should join Abe in a business venture selling the miracle cure. After people take notice of a display set up by Simpson and Son in the Springfield mall, they start drinking the juice and leaving their children behind in order to have sex. As for the venture, pitches in neighboring towns go awry, and a vicious rift develops between Homer and his father, who calls him an accidental child.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: The brilliant Dan Castellaneta basically interacts with himself this whole episode out as both Homer and Grampa, making this one his tour de force. This episode isn't as much focused on keeping you laughing as it is giving you reasons to invest in the rocky relationship between the two elder Simpson males, who are actually fine people despite their foibles. The humor isn’t exactly low at all, especially early on when we see Homer finally solve his intimacy troubles and later on when the kids start talking about "reverse vampires." Personally, I thought this was a nice surprise, so I’m going to give it a B .
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Here you go, you ingrate. Think of me when you're having the best sex of your life." - Abraham Simpson.
EXTRA FEATURES: You ever wanted to hear David Mirkin explain just how sexy Marge Simpson's figure is? Look no further than the commentary track for this episode, starring him, Oakely, Archer and Weinstein. Stick around for the first few minutes to discover a misconstrued movie reference, but stay afterwards for some comic insight into the mature themes of the episode as well as theories on the ages of the Simpson family. Three outtakes include Homer finding a way to block out his dad’s constant talking as well as Homer getting in some more shots at his dad on the way back from the old Simpson house.

Fear of Flying
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F08/Dec. 18, 1994
SYNOPSIS: Homer pulls a practical joke on Moe that makes a mess of the tavern, resulting in the brash decision that Homer can never come back to Moe's. Homer vows somewhere else and to get more plastered than ever before, and his quest takes him to an airport, where he pretends to be a pilot. But when no one's available to fly a plane to Chicago, Homer is chosen to take the controls. Naturally, the airline wants to keep Homer's misdemeanor in the dark, so they saddle him and his family with free passes to anywhere in the U.S. Unfortunately, Marge is aviophobic and panics on the plane. Her behavior becomes increasingly erratic and irrational, and the movies Homer rented for her (including one-word-wonders Alive and Fearless) aren’t curbing her fear of flying. Marge is taken to a psychiatrist despite Homer’s protests that therapy might make Marge split with him. Instead, Marge learns a shocking secret about her family that gets at the root of her neuroses.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: I have to say that this is an instance where I just didn’t get it about the motive behind the plot. Moe kicking Homer out is simply unbelievable no matter the reality being flexible, and the only thing I found marginally funny before the moment he enters the pilot bar was a fleeting Cheers reference that packed an amusing punch. From then on, it's hit or miss, the best moments being when Homer tries to calm Marge down with the movie Alive and when we see Marge descend into housekeeping madness. Overall, a B- episode.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "I just realized we never had a wedding for the cat and the dog...they've been living in sin!" - Marge Simpson
EXTRA FEATURES: There are six deleted scenes in this episode, the most given to one particular episode in this entire collection. A taste of what’s included: Homer befriends a stray cat after Moe kicks him out of the bar, a drunken pilot jumping off the roof of the Little Black Box, and a "dream sequence" involving Homer eating an oversized tree branch. The audio commentary unites Groening, Mirkin and Kirkland, who compare the voice over actors to a symphony and share some memories of flying on airplanes. The best moments include Mirkin delivering nice words to the late Anne Bancroft, including a small eulogy at the show’s end, as well as a fascinating anecdote about a reunion of the cast from Cheers.

Homer the Great
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F09/Jan. 8, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Homer's experience at the power plant hasn't always been a pleasure cruise, but suddenly he notices Lenny and Carl have been getting all sorts of special privileges in terms of parking and material goods. One Wednesday night, Homer decides to pursue them in order to find out their secrets, and stumbles upon a meeting place for the Stonecutters, a secret society of Springfield's male citizens. Unfortunately, Homer hasn't proven himself membership material, and finds his ticket in thanks to his father, who is a Stonecutter. They initiate Homer by paddling his derriere several times, until finally Homer takes the sacred oath and gets in the club. But Homer always seems to have trouble with social cliques, and he damn near brings the Stonecutter society down with not only his stupidity, but his kindness towards others.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: This is without a doubt one of my all-time favorite episodes of the entire series. Watching Homer getting into the Stonecutters is funnier than any frat initiation, hearing Patrick Stewart playing the head Stonecutter is a touch of classy hilarity, and the Stonecutters’ theme song (“Who controls the British crown?/Who keeps the metric system down?/We do! We do!”) is one of the best musical moments in the show’s 16-season history. Nothing I could type can come close to how zany and infectious this episode is, and so I just simply must assign it a glorious A .
FAVORITE QUOTE: "I could help others. I'll get a bunch of monkeys, dress them up, and make them reenact the civil war." - Homer Simpson
EXTRA FEATURES: A Mirkin/Groening/Castellaneta/Smith commentary track. Mirkin dominates the commentary with how he came up with the show’s idea, more of the show’s flexible reality, and the writing of the Stonecutters’ theme song. There’s also some lively discussion about a website called the “No Homers Club.” It’s actually one of the better commentaries of the bunch. Five deleted scenes are also included, including Homer getting a special Stonecutters gift from Mr. Burns, a scene where Apu reads to schoolchildren passages from the Kwik-E-Mart employment manual, and some dialogue extensions meant to make literal the demise of the Stonecutters.

And Maggie Makes Three
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F10/Jan. 22, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Marge makes Homer give up watching "Knightboat" on TV so that the Simpsons can have some quality time together as a family. Lisa notices the picture book contains no images of Maggie, thus setting us up for another flashback, in which Homer quits his job at the plant and works at the bowling alley, followed by Marge's pregnancy.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: This is one of my favorite flashback episodes, mainly because it provides Homer with plenty of great big laughs, from the 007-inspired couch gag to his musical treatment of Mr. Burns ("I should be resisting this, but I'm paralyzed with rage...and island rhythms") to his depiction as sperm and finally in the scenes where we see discover how it is that Homer came to be nearly bald. Homer is the main reason why I'm giving this episode yet another B recommendation.
FAVORITE QUOTE: Homer prays to God in a moment of happiness: "You freeze everything as it is, and I won't ask for anything more. If that is OK, please give me absolutely no sign. [pauses for moment] OK, deal. In gratitude, I present you this offering of cookies and milk. If you want me to eat them for you, please give me no sign. [pauses for moment] Thy will be done!"
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary by Groening, Mirkin, Silverman, and director Swinton O. Scott III. We hear dissections on some of the jokes, including the fun made at the expense of Knight Rider, as well as the involvement of Scott and writer Jennifer Crittenden, both being new blood in the show’s staff. Two deleted scenes involve Bart and Lisa having a small discussion about Maggie's birth as well as Homer kissing off his friends at the power plant.

Bart's Comet
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F11/Feb. 5, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Bart pulls a weather balloon prank on Principal Skinner, who duly punishes him by having him show up at school 4:30 in the morning to help take measurements for amateur astronomy. Skinner leaves Bart alone with his telescope to chase after the balloon and finally destroy it, only to really regret it when Bart discovers a comet. The next day at school, he sees the comet outside the cafeteria window, meaning a possible collision course.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: All the elements are in place for this episode, from the writing to the direction to the animation and the vocal work. One of my favorite moments is when we see a bill being passed that could help humanity, and yet it dies on the floor of Congress because of some spam involving the demented arts, although there are so many inspired moments throughout that it's always a tough choice. You have to accept the fact that this isn't the most scientifically accurate account of a disaster like this, but the show always seems to know this and instead plays the scenario for absolute yuks. I give it an A.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Wait a minute: we all know the one thing we won't need in the future! Left-handed stores. That's you, Flanders!" - Homer Simpson, thinking of his neighbor in times of crisis.
EXTRA FEATURES: Commentary by Groening, Mirkin, Anderson, Castellaneta, and Smith plus a trio of deleted scenes, including a "War of the Worlds" reference set in the retirement home. We learn that this episode is Mirkin's favorite as well as get random notes about the Three Stooges, screenwriter John Schwartzwelder, and the episode's thematic content about man dominating nature.

Homie the Clown
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F12/Feb. 12, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Krusty the Clown's always been much of a spendthrift, but his debts finally catch up to him when Fat Tony and his thugs show up demanding Krusty pay up on a large wager he lost. When his accountant advises that he open up a clown college and start regionalizing, Krusty does so, and Homer Simpson is one of his students. Although he can't quite master riding the bike on the looping track, he graduates anyway and starts playing Krusty for all of Springfield. Except the real Krusty is still making checks his a** can't cash, and Fat Tony is thirsty for revenge, no matter who he has to kidnap.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: I always expected Homer would go to college, but that was last season. Still, this episode shows the hilarious evolution of Homer the clown (making a circus tent with his mashed potatoes, Spielberg-style) to Homer the Krusty the Clown. Again, Dan Castellaneta is one of the coolest voice performers in history, able to make both Homer and Krusty memorable characters both in separate scenes and in interactivity. My favorite moment is when Homer opens a new Krusty Burger restaurant and beats up a Hamburglar-type character to within an inch of his life. And the welcome appearance of Fat Tony, voiced by Joe Mantegna, is enough to have me once again holding up the "A" placard.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Welcome to the noble family of skilled Krustaceans. You will now go back to your home towns and do kids' parties, swap meets, and all the other piddling crap I wouldn't touch with a ten foot clown pole. Now, come and get your catskins -- er, I mean, sheepskins." - Krusty the Clown.
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary by Groening, Mirkin, Silverman, and Kirkland. Mirkin explains the value of the Action Comics that were used in one gag, gushes about Joe Mantegna, and explains why naked booty is comedic gold. My favorite moment is when once again we hear of conflict between the show's producers and the network heads. Deleted material includes Homer/Krusty showing up at a 10k run and getting accosted by Mayor Quimby at a restaurant.

Bart vs. Australia
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F13/Feb. 19, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Having a toothpaste-and-shampoo drainage war with her brother, Lisa wins because of her knowledge of the Coriolis Effect, where water flows counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Bart denies this, and starts making long-distance crank calls to other countries, culminating in a $900 charge for an the father of the boy who accepted Bart’s call. Bart refuses to pay, resulting in a fraud indictment that can be solved one of two ways: five years in jail or a public apology to the Australian government. Bart naturally chooses the latter, but then realizes that there’s one little catch: the Australians demand the chance to give Bart a nice kick in the butt with a giant boot.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: Thankfully, the Australians haven't decided to report Matt Groening to the UN. This is mainly because throwing the Simpsons in the land of Foster's Beer and kangaroos is the perfect chance for comedy, and it is. In typical Simpsons fashion, Bart goes too far pulling a prank, and by the end of the episode gets away with it and learns nothing in the realm of forgiveness, just as he and Homer fail to become culturally aware even in a place such as Australia. And yet these two characters are so much fun to watch, you enjoy the ride. There are some great references besides the obvious, from the infamous caning in Singapore to the Monty Python "Bruces" skit, and enough laughter and amusing story twists to warrant this one a bloody B .
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Oh my God! There's nothing wrong with the bidet is there?" - Tobias' father.
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary from Mirkin, Archer, Weinsten, and Oakley. As is expected, the commentary explains the origins of the show, their intentions with picking on the Land Down Under, and some actual real-life culture swaps that the show acknowledged. A couple of deleted scenes also follow, including an intrusive baseball game and a smart-alecky throwaway comment from Bart.

Homer vs. Patty and Selma
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F14/Feb. 26, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Homer makes a bad investment in jack-o-lanterns that puts him in a financial stranglehold. With nowhere else to turn for the money, Homer has to swallow his pride and ask for the help of Patty & Selma, who have gotten promotions at the DMV. But such a proposition is too good for the Terrible Two, who torture and enslave Homer until the truth comes out in front of Marge, and Homer ends up being a chauffeur to square his debts...which only leads him back to depending on Patty & Selma. In the meantime, Bart's truancy costs him when he is the last person to register for his desired P.E. class, and is stuck learning to master the amazing sport of...ballet!
BRIEF CRITIQUE: There's just something about Homer arguing with Marge's sisters that is the harbinger of fine character-driven comedy. And that the whole episode is based around the rivalry manages to provide constant entertainment for a full-length show. I just wish that Homer being Patty & Selma's slave provided some more offbeat humor than what we get. The "Bart does ballet" subplot is also quite inspired, sporting a good payoff in addition to both a cameo from Susan Sarandon and animated product placement for Tab soda straight out of Flashdance. The verdict: a B episode.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "What a day, eh, Milhouse? The sun is out, birds are singing, bees are trying to have sex with them -- as is my understanding." - Bart Simpson
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary with Groening, Mirkin, Silverman, and Kirkland. The group discuss familiar series gags, angles that were executed during the episode that haven't been seen in recent years, and a funny bit involving animation that caused Brad Bird to crack up in laughter. There's also a couple of deleted scenes, including an extended take of Homer's encounter with Mel Brooks.

A Star Is Burns
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F31/Mar. 5, 1995
SYNOPSIS: In a desperate effort to attract tourists, Marge suggests at a town meeting that Springfield should hold a film festival. It is approved, and Marge seeks out a film critic to act as a judge, settling on Jay "It Stinks!" Sherman (regular guest voice Jon Lovitz). Soon, the citizens of the town are caught up in a wave of cinematic inspiration, even Mr. Burns, who makes a pretentious, big-budget epic all about himself. He then tries to buy the votes of the film festival jury, which includes Homer, Marge, Mr. Sherman, Krusty, and Mayor Quimby. Marge and Sherman agree that alcoholic Barney Gumble's tragic short film is a deserving winner, but a squabble between Homer and the critic sets Homer against both his wife and his barroom buddy, and he threatens to vote for a film which shows Hans Moleman getting hit in the crotch by a football.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: Having the lead character from one show invade another is often unfortunate (as is referenced in the show early on when Bart watches "The Jetsons Meet The Flinstones"), and harsh criticism from many has been foisted upon this episode for merging The Critic and The Simpsons. But I say that if Jay Sherman didn't get seen on ABC, he'd make a fine addition to Springfield. Castellaneta and Lovitz sadly don't do much together, but both Sherman and Homer engage in a couple excellent bodily function contests. I was laughing my sides sore watching all the various films from the Springfield, and the Monty Burns character is always a fine fixture in any subplot. So many overbearing fans have said nasty things about this episode without really much of a chance, but don't let that ruin this episode for you. In fact, since it is quite funny, I give this episode an A- without any shame. Besides, there are worst things imaginable than merging Jay Sherman and Homer Simpson, namely having Homer and Peter Griffin forced to share the same room.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Money gets you one more round/Drink it down, you stupid clown/Money gets you one more round/Then you're out on your a**!" - Moe Sislak, singing the theme from "Moe Better Booze."
EXTRA FEATURES: Show-runners Al Jean & Mike Reiss are back in the saddle for audio commentaries, joined by Castellaneta, Dietter, Lovitz, James L. Brooks, and writer Ken Keeler. Lovitz is as amusing as usual, ribbing Jean for being gay, and the participants do a nice job of explaining the crossover of both The Simpsons and The Critic, with shameless plugs tossed in for good measure. But compared to some of the other commentaries, the value of the comments diminishes. I don't know if there was brouhaha concerning the merging of the two shows, but you'd never tell, which is good for the breeziness of the track but disappointing for those who want trivia tidbits. Three deleted scenes are also included, my favorite being the one where Lisa accepts an award for "Best Swedish Film by an 8-Year-Old."

Lisa's Wedding
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F15, Mar. 19, 1995
SYNOPSIS: While at ye olde Renaissance Faire, Lisa Simpson stumbles upon a fortune teller who details her life in the year 2010. Lisa is a college student who slowly but surely falls in love with Hugh (Mandy Patinkin from The Princess Bride), a suave and intelligent Englishman. They get engaged and soon Hugh meets the Simpson family, who may have aged but have not aged gracefully. In fact, it is feared that the family will likely ruin Lisa's happiness yet again.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: This episode won the Emmy, most undoubtedly because it seems to verge on sappiness in depicting the romantic lead story with Lisa and Hugh. Besides, most of the throwaway gags in this episode are simply just that...throwaway. Ribs at the Rolling Stones and Jim Carrey now seem obsolete and dull. To be fair, the opening parody of the Renaissance Faire is an amusing sequence, most of the advanced technology depicted is either slipshod versions of past creations or used inadvertently for bad deeds, and watching all of the residents in Springfield of the future is good fun (especially when we see what became of Otto, Milhouse and Mr. Burns). And we get a really hilarious payoff for what happened to Maggie after years of maternal care. I can't give it something in A territory, but I did find it passable enough to merit a straight B.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Wow, Lisa, looking at you makes me want to get married for a third time. I met a really nice exotic dancer the other night at Hugh's bachelor party." - Bart Simpson in 2010.
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary by Mirkin, Brooks and Daniels. Daniels shares how he came up with the script and both Mirkin and Brooks toss off various recollections about the show and most of the material within, including how to make a Simpsons family for the future. A couple of deleted scenes follow, although they are minor dialogue extensions only. An animation showcase is also included for a short segment in the episode, allowing you to view storyboards or animatics (in comparison with the finished animation) with just the click of your angle button.

Two Dozen and One Greyhounds
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F18/Apr. 9, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Santa's Little Helper is becoming a handful, tearing up the house, wearing out the children and digging tons of holes in the backyard. The Simpson family don't know what to do, and on the way back from a pet store, the dog runs away and returns to the racing track from the very first episode, only to impregnate a female greyhound in front of the crowds. The Simpsons take both dogs in their house, and soon witness the miracle of birth...25 times. But even two dozen and one greyhounds is too much for one family, and it is decided that the puppies be given away. There's only one problem: a vicious dog-napper has taken the whole litter and plans to turn them into fashion accessories. And that cruel monster is...Montgomery Burns!
BRIEF CRITIQUE: Before Family Guy (and even after it), this was the most hilarious depiction of animal sex ever aired on network TV. If that's not enough to sell you on how funny this show is, throw in an amusing canine romantic montage, 25 other puppies causing havoc, and Mr. Burns threatening to murder said animals with a show-stopping musical number for exposition. Not only that, but some more hilarious stabs at classic Disney films and even an unusual reference to Rory Calhoun that doesn't sound strange coming from Mr. Burns. Yet again, I thought this episode was pretty damn funny, and I award it an A-.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Hmm, I guess Bart's not to blame. Well he's lucky too because it's spanking season and I got a hankering for some spankering!" - Homer Simpson, who's lucky himself I don't post the entire lyrics to "See My Vest" instead!
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary by Groening, Mirkin, Scully and Anderson. Mirkin has some regrets over a joke at the expense of old people, but has no problem with his satirizing of cheesy sitcom clichés. A couple of notes involving escaping network censorship, inspirations for line deliveries, and noticeable gaffes also bring some liveliness to the track. A couple of deleted/alternate scenes involving the rescue of the dogs are also included.

The PTA Disbands
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F19/Apr. 16, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Principal Skinner is finally confronted by the school's faculty with the unsatisfactory conditions of the elementary school, mainly due to Skinner's budget setbacks. When Edna (of all teachers) accuses Skinner of selling out the children's future, he blurts out that the children have no future. Bart catches wind of their conflict and decides to open the wounds further, successfully instigating a school strike. Bart takes advantage of this situation, whilst Lisa reverts to desperate measures in order to keep her mind fulfilled. Bart's trick ends up getting back at him when the substitutes start arriving in school, though, with discipline-minded Jasper taking over Lisa's class, Professor Frink teaching advanced math to kindergarteners, and Marge Simpson becoming her son's new teacher.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: This episode resembles to some degree last season's "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasss Song," in which the titular principle got fired thanks to Bart and was replaced by Flanders, but aside from a derivative story line, we have a fairly entertaining little episode. This is mainly because of watching the character differences between Bart and Lisa, the former resorting to his usual after-school mischief (at least until his mother becomes a target of his own booby traps) and latter going into hysteric fits over the loss of academic encouragement. The gags take a back seat to the characters yet again, which is a shame, but it doesn't hurt the episode too much. Essentially, a B- episode.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Lisa, if you don't like your job, you don't strike: you just go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way." - Homer Simpson.
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary by Groening, Mirkin, Silverman, and Scott. The group talks about the episode's development, a few technical details, motivations for some of the jokes, and also some stabs at private schools. There's also some lamenting over William Shatner never doing a cameo as well as nostalgia for strikes in the commentators' past. Two deleted scenes include Marge dealing with the picketers and an extension of the scene where Bart sneaks into the crawlspace.

'Round Springfield
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F32/Apr. 30, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Bart accidentally ingests a jagged metal cereal piece and passes out in school with an inflamed appendix. At the Springfield General Hospital, Lisa encounters sax man "Bleeding Gums" Murphy on a hospital bed, and they converse. Murphy bequeaths to Lisa his saxophone right before he dies, and she is shook up by the sudden loss of her muse. With her family unable to comfort her and the funeral service a joke, Lisa vows to get Murphy's only vinyl recording played on the radio, although the only place she will find it is at the comic book store...for $500.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: Whenever the show tries to weave in coming-of-age lessons with schizophrenic comedy, it most often toes the line between poignancy and farce. This is an example of an episode that loses its balance a couple of times. "Lisa's Substitute" remains my favorite Lisa-centered story in which she learns about falling in love the hard way (where was that episode in the clip show?). With this one, it's all about the death of a best friend, and all the while we get recurring gags with hot dog vendors, Grandpa's fear of the reaper, and satires of TV comedians (Steve Allen and Bill Cosby, mainly). Yeardley Smith is fine as Lisa, even singing the episode's big musical segment, and I found some of the comedy sharp, but it's somewhat of a B-grade episode.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "You see, the kids, they listen to the rap music which gives them the brain damage. With their hippin', and the hoppin', and the bippin', and the boppin', so they don't know what the jazz...is all about! You see, jazz is like the Jello Pudding Pop -- no, actually, it's more like Kodak film -- no, actually, jazz is like the New Coke: it'll be around forever, heh heh heh." - Bill Cosby
EXTRA FEATURES: A yak-trak courtesy of Jean & Reiss, director Steven Dean Moore and writers Joshua Sternin & Jeffrey Ventimilla. Reliable commentators via years of yak-traks on previous "Simpsons" and "Critic" Jean talks about the idea for the show and Reiss talks about the blues they received in terms of acquiring writing credits. However, the entire group are faced with a misunderstood line of dialogue in the show that was highly controversial in its description of French people. Thankfully, they explain the fact that it is merely a joke and not an opinion. A couple more deleted scenes also surface, including some more of Bleeding Gums Murphy's saxophone wail interrupting radio transmissions for both Ned Flanders and the retirement home.

The Springfield Connection
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F21/May 7, 1995
SYNOPSIS: On their way home from an outdoor orchestra concert, Marge confronts Snake the thief after his fixed card game swindles Homer. In a moment of adrenaline, Marge knocks him out with a garbage pail lid, and afterwards starts to yearn for the dangerous, unpredictable life of a policewoman. Marge passes the training and gets suited in blue, much to the dismay of her husband and the indifference of the townspeople. Marge works the beat, ashamed to know that Wiggum and the other cops are participating in some corrupt activities themselves. After Homer illegally parks in front of the Kwik-E-Mart, Marge is confronted with upholding the law even if it means putting her husband behind bars.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: It's Homer the man vs. Marge the Man, and I couldn't be happier. Watching Homer play with the police scene tape, wheeze endlessly trying to run (another thing recycled in Family Guy), and push his wife's buttons while playing poker with his friends is a surefire remedy to the uncertainty blues of the last episode. By the end, it devolves into a typical theft caper, but the twist is that Homer is the damsel-in-distress. Jonathan Collier's script never lets down for 20 minutes, and the result is a pretty funny episode that I award with a A-.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Marge, you being a cop makes you the man...which makes me the woman. I have no interest in that, besides occasionally wearing the underwear -- which, as we discussed, is strictly a comfort thing." - Homer Simpson.
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary by Groening, Mirkin, Castellaneta, Smith, Kirkland, and Collier, who shares some of the best material reminiscing on how the wife of one staff member inspired his script. Also given lip service are the Korean animators unfamiliarity with guns, the continuity of Wiggum's hair, and some more random angry humor courtesy of Mirkin. The deleted scenes are alright, but the best one involves an intimate moment between Homer and Marge, while she's still in her uniform.

Lemon of Troy
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F22/May 14, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Marge scolds Bart after he is caught writing his name in wet cement, giving him a lecture about town pride that threatens to go in one ear and out the other. That seems to be so, until he catches a glimpse of Springfield's glorious lemon tree and learns about its history from his Grampa. It's at this time the kids from nearby Shelbyville show up and start a verbal spat with Bart and the other kids. When the lemon tree is taken away to Shelbyville, Bart is insulted and vows to return it to Springfield, with the help of Milhouse, Nelson, Martin, Database, and little Todd Flanders.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: If only the first two shoes of the season were as unforgettable as the last two. "Lemon of Troy" is non-stop fun more flavorful than a bowl of rootmarm, and I consider it to be one of my favorites alongside "Homer the Great" and "Who Shot Mr. Burns." It's just so well-done from the writing, which imaginatively creates an alternate universe for Springfield where Bart's rival looks and sounds more like Milhouse, to the directing, which is full of shining animated scenes and camera angles, to the voice actors, especially Nancy Cartwright's joyous take on both Bart Simpson and the Shelbyville brat. Throw in Homer commandeering Ned's RV and a hilarious scene involving Martin and Nelson and we've got one more A classic episode.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "That lemon tree's a part of our town, and as kids, the backbone of our economy. We'll get it back, or choke their rivers with our dead!" - Bart Simpson
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary by Groening, Mirkin, Silverman, Daniels, Reardon, and Cohen. This commentary seems a step down from the previous show, mainly because of a little more general observations about the material on-screen, although some good-natured ribbing and bits of character-related trivia are good to listen for. No deleted scenes are included.

Who Shot Mr. Burns? (part one)
EPISODE #/AIR DATE: 2F16/May 21, 1995
SYNOPSIS: Groundskeeper Willy discovers an oil vein underneath Springfield Elementary, and immediately Principal Skinner sees school funds in his eyes. But there's just one problem: Springfield's resident multi-millionaire megalomaniac, Mr. Burns, has tapped the oil well and stolen all the black gold from Skinner. And so it goes: Mr. Burns manages to anger everyone in Springfield, from Skinner to Willy to Homer (who is outraged Burns always forgets his name) to Bart (whose pet dog is harmed by Burns) to Lisa (Burns costs the school its music program) to even Mr. Burns' faithful right-hand man, Waylon Smithers, who feels his boss has gone too far, especially when Burns unleashes his new mechanical sun-blocker. But on the night the lights went out in Springfield, Mr. Burns takes a bullet from an unseen Springfield resident in a squabble.
BRIEF CRITIQUE: Another A episode, plain and simple. Harry Shearer is nothing short of a comic time bomb in his portrayal of Mr. Burns, and this was perhaps the character's best season with both this mystery episode and the "See My Vest" bit. The characterization is compact yet convincing for all characters, meaning you are invested in the motives behind every denizen of the town and you are frantically watching the episode for precious clues into who could've done it. Homer's frustration with Burns is responsible for some of the more obvious yet still trusty guffaws. In the end, it's a testament to the entire creative staff that they could turn out such an expertly-done episode such as this, and I can't wait to revisit the final act of this one in the next boxed set.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "I have a Monopoly to maintain! I own the Electric Company and the Water Works, plus a hotel on Baltic Avenue." - Charles Montgomery Burns.
EXTRA FEATURES: Audio commentary by Mirkin, Oakley, Weinstein, and Lynch. Seeing as how this was the big mystery show that ended on a rather successful cliffhanger, the participants dissect much of the various clues bandied about the episode as well as explain the sweepstakes and some of the red tape involved, including a college student who figured out the gunman for all the right clues but did it despite the rules and restrictions. However, don't expect to know who is the killer if you can't remember or don't know at all. There's also one deleted scene, but it is so insubstantial I won't even bother talking about it. Instead, let me mention that you can once again, like with the “Lisa’s Wedding” episode, see animation comparisons involving animatics and storyboards, as well as a separate eight-minute animatic for the episode with optional illustrated commentary by Groening, Reardon, Lynch, and Silverman discussing the drawing techniques.

All the episodes are featured in the original 1.33:1 full-frame format. Various episodes contain instances of edge enhancement and shimmering, particularly noticeable in "Bart's Comet," and there are print deflects that stem from the animation, but still are intermittent despite the improved quality as compared to earlier episodes. Sharpness seemed accurate with the exception of the usual wide shot, and the fact that the animation was getting stronger with each season is plainly noticeable in the transfers provided. Colors seemed more crisp and plentiful than ever before, with a bright, vivid palette and some nice contrast in shadow delineation/blackness levels. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio mix provides directional effects lacking from earlier episode mixes, as well as the usual proper stereo imaging and surround backing that, if not gimmicky or overabundant, at least makes the episodes come somewhat alive. Sound effects are quite punchy and unexpected, and the dialogue & musical cues bear the proper fidelity. The episodes contain optional DD 2.0 Spanish and French audio tracks and subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

The packaging is noticeably different than the last episodes, with a plastic replica of Homer's head substituting for the usual digipak fold-out design of past collections. Personally, I don't mind this new packaging, even though there will be complaints from many who will most likely mail in for the replacement package not unlike the boxes for Seasons 1-5. At least there's a booklet in there, containing the usual episode notes and written welcome from Matt Groening, who also gives a 2:09 vocal introduction (A Confession from Matt Groening) on the first disc.

Even with the commentaries, animation showcases and deleted scenes I previously mentioned, there's more material available as well. Before I get into those, let me just finish what I was saying about the deleted scenes reel on the fourth disc. There's 55 omissions in total that last about 27 minutes, and if you don't want them spliced into the actual episodes, pop in disc four to watch them in altogether from start to finish. The cool thing about this is that you also get the chance to hear an introduction by David Mirkin as well as running commentary by him and Al Jean, who talks over the deleted scenes for "A Star Is Burns" and "'Round Springfield."

Disc four is where all the remaining extras await you. A minute-long Intro with James L. Brooks precedes "Who Shot Mr. Burns," in which the producer sums up the story pitch and the episode's popularity over promotional material used in the printed press. On a related note, there's Springfield's Most Wanted (21:12), a take-off program which aired before the second part of the cliffhanger that kicked off the seventh season. Hosted by Jon Walsh and featuring commentary from psychiatrists, lawmakers, bookmakers, and television personalities (including Dennis Franz, who guest appeared in the "Homer: Bad Man" episode), this episode sums up everything that's happened thus far in the mystery of Mr. Burns' shooting, profiling the victim and each of the potential suspects. It will be fun for many, but torture for those who can't remember and are itching to know who is the culprit! You know...not that I don't know who it is (and not that I'm telling anyone else!).

In the 1:57 clip called The Simpsons Plane, David Mirkin and Matt Groening explain how Western Pacific Airlines got into the spirit of The Simpsons by painting a plane yellow and adorning it with drawings of the entire family. Cast and crew members gathered for publicity as the plane was about to make its first flight, including Mirkin and Groening, who refused to get on the plane and explain their actions via audio commentary. We also find three TV commercials starring the Simpson family, two of them for Church's Chicken and one for 1-800-COLLECT, which resembles the classic Road Runner cartoons.

Rounding out the disc is a still gallery of original sketches, which showcases 87 rough drawings for various characters and sets featured in the sixth season finale, and David X. Cohen's well-done suspect profiles for 26 of Springfield's residents, including Santa's Little Helper. In summation, THE SIMPSONS: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON is an absolute must-buy in terms of quality animated comedy, proper digital transferring, and enough extras to shake down a lemon tree.