one Simpsons episode

pickarooney

If you had to pick one Simpsons episode to show a nine year old who'd never seen one before, which would it be?

How Soon Is Now

pickarooney wrote: »

If you had to pick one Simpsons episode to show a nine year old who'd never seen one before, which would it be?

The duff gardens episode always been one of my favourite s!

I'd be here all day trying to figure this out though haha.

Pete Moss

Dunno if a 9 year old would get it, but this scene always cracked me up! It's from the one with Marge's gambling problem.

Wow, so there are kids born in 2007 who have never watched an episode of the Simpsons. I suppose that is like a kid born in 1990 never having watched an episode of a cartoon which was good between about 1973 and 1981 and then awful until 1999.

I notice that what is considered funny tends to evolve over the decades - I find Only Fools and Horses mildly amusing at best and Fawlty Towers is funny for it's time, but most highly-rates stuff from back in the 80s, 70s and before I don't find extremely funny the way I do shows like Old Simpsons, Peep Show, South Park, Chris Morris stuff, Sacha-Baron Cohen stuff etc. Family Guy I found funny during the 2000s when I was a teenager but now it just doesn't seem as funny for some reason.

Bearing this all in mind, I have come to the conclusion that kids born in recent times just might not find the same stuff funny that we did, so they might not get as much out of the Old Simpsons as we do/did - hell, they might even *prefer* the new, glossy, sterile, full-of-technology, overly-cynical crap that is the modern Simpsons simply because the old episodes seem "old" to them.

To answer the question though - If I was to show a 9 year old one episode ..
very tough question .. probably something like Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood where Bart, Homer, Flanders and Rod are stuck on the life-boat - A funny season 5 episode that isn't too saccharine, something which might put off a 9 year old.

Cool_CM

You Only Move Twice.

It's from 1996, but when you watch it, it could have been written yesterday. The only joke that doesn't still carry is the fact that a school having a website in 1996 was pretty ludicrous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ew78KThLOY

EDIT: Actually I missed the initial question :pac:

judeboy101

Monorail episode. It will explain how the world works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taJ4MFCxiuo

dunworth1

Cool_CM wrote:

It's from 1996, but when you watch it, it could have been written yesterday. The only joke that doesn't still carry is the fact that a school having a website in 1996 was pretty ludicrous.

+1
Hank is a legend

Stoogie

Cool_CM wrote: »

You Only Move Twice.

It's from 1996, but when you watch it, it could have been written yesterday. The only joke that doesn't still carry is the fact that a school having a website in 1996 was pretty ludicrous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ew78KThLOY

EDIT: Actually I missed the initial question :pac:

judeboy101 wrote: »

Monorail episode. It will explain how the world works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taJ4MFCxiuo

These are the two correct answers

TerrorFirmer

I was going to say You Only Move Twice as well, probably my favourite episode ever. The one where Homer gains loads of weight so he can work from home and where Bart is caught shoplifting Bonestorm are other favourites of mine.

ligerdub

Big difference between show them your favourite episode, and show them one which best sums up the show.

This is a real thinker.

pajor

Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment would be my pick, it's my favourite. I think it's the one I have an earliest memory of too. I'll second Monorail though.

Ninja edit: "The cause of and solution to all of life's problems." Pretty much sums up Homer at least imo.

pickarooney

ligerdub wrote: »

Big difference between show them your favourite episode, and show them one which best sums up the show.

This is a real thinker.

Yeah, I intend to show him a lot more of them afterwards but I really want one that showcases the characters well and has that early-season zip that all ages could enjoy. A lot of episodes are hilarious in context when you know all about the characters and why certain actions and situations are funny given their individual personalities. I haven't watched it in a while, but marge vs. the monorail might be a good one.

GerB40

ligerdub wrote: »

Big difference between show them your favourite episode, and show them one which best sums up the show.

This is a real thinker.

In that case 'Homers Enemy'. Poor old Frank Grimes (or Grimey as he liked to be known) is essentially us viewers watching as Homer blunders through life yet somehow always manages to come out on top. Obviously we find it funnier than Frank. Barts bould nature is perfectly expressed in the factory sub plot and Marge and the rest are mainly background characters, which encapsulates a good episode in my opinion.

Mr.Nice Guy

I think as an episode to introduce a kid to The Simpsons I'd go with one of the Treehouse of Horror episodes as I remember being a fan of them as a kid.

Maybe the one where Homer gets given the haunted Krusty doll. 'Marge, the doll's trying to kill me...the toaster's been laughing at me.'

Or the one where Homer goes back in time and messes everything up in a butterfly effect type thing.

Ghost Train

Probably not one for the youth of today but Homer the heretic comes to mind as one of my favs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kutEPUDBsxw

lazybones32

pickarooney wrote: »

If you had to pick one Simpsons episode to show a nine year old who'd never seen one before, which would it be?

I'll vote for the one with Mindy/Michelle Pfeifer because there are so many belly-laughs in it and the references (though a 9 year old wouldn't get a lot of them unless he/she grew up in the 80's - MacGyver; Dirty Harry, Flintstones, wizard of Oz etc)

From that ep...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-H8PuweRVA

A close 2nd would be the monorail ep which is class from beginning to end...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct-rFVpsW6s

The Simpsons made Sunday evening.

Red Kev

There's an earlier one where Bart is trying his best in school and it just doesn't work out, he is essentially called an idiot/thicko by the teacher and all the kids laugh at him. He still managed to come out OK at the end.

I know its a theme that has always run through The Simpsons, but this is out of the first 4 or 5 seasons and it always stuck with me. You aren't necessarily stupid, you can have other talents in life.

This cartoon kinds of sums it up.

ligerdub

Red Kev wrote: »

There's an earlier one where Bart is trying his best in school and it just doesn't work out, he is essentially called an idiot/thicko by the teacher and all the kids laugh at him. He still managed to come out OK at the end.

I know its a theme that has always run through The Simpsons, but this is out of the first 4 or 5 seasons and it always stuck with me. You aren't necessarily stupid, you can have other talents in life.

This cartoon kinds of sums it up.

I think that's the most viewed episode (first airing) that the show ever recorded. Mad to think, it has been in decline in popularity (if not quality) from that specific point.

Definitely my favourites would be You only Move Twice and Marge Vs The Monorail.

What ever you do OP don't show the kid anything from after 2007 or even after season 11ish. I've no idea why I still watch new episodes because it has 1 or maybe 2 good ones per season these days.

pickarooney

ligerdub wrote: »

I think that's the most viewed episode (first airing) that the show ever recorded. Mad to think, it has been in decline in popularity (if not quality) from that specific point.

Any idea of the name?. It sounds perfect

homerun_homer

Deleted User wrote: »

Definitely my favourites would be You only Move Twice and Marge Vs The Monorail.

What ever you do OP don't show the kid anything from after 2007 or even after season 11ish. I've no idea why I still watch new episodes because it has 1 or maybe 2 good ones per season these days.

I'd go back waaaaaaaaay further. Around 2000 I started calling shenanigans on the Simpsons.

Staplor

The Garbage Man can, yes the garbage man can.

ligerdub

pickarooney wrote: »

Any idea of the name?. It sounds perfect

I think it's "Bart Gets a F"

valoren

I would regard Last Exit to Springfield from Season 4 as the best episode of the Simpsons.

The After Hours Simpsons quote thread on Boards is a direct reference to this episode. "Dental Plan....Lisa Needs Braces"

How a 9 year would take to a central plot about the machinations of organised labour is debatable however.

dogbert27

I think for a 9 year old a great episode would be Lemon of Troy

zcorpian88

Staplor wrote: »

The Garbage Man can, yes the garbage man can.

Haha always loved this bit, love Homer's mumblings!

Stupid trash, rotten, stinky, hate world, revenge, soon, take out on everyone! AHH GARBAGE WATER!!

human 19

Staplor wrote: »

The Garbage Man can, yes the garbage man can.

Yes, definitely one of my favourites.

Also the Rodney dangerfield episode where Rodney was Burnes' son. Marge:"Is every drifter we meet going to move in with us? Homer: "Of course not. We'll decide that on a drifter-by-drifter basis"

Also, the one where Homer puts on loads of weight so he can work from home. Bart: "That's the first time that dad's ass actually prevented the release of noxious gasses"

Also,Troy mcClure marries on of Marge's sisters (dont remember which one ) and his career takes off. Stars in the Planet of the Apes musical "I hate every ape I see, from chimpan-A to chimpan-Z". Probably not the most suitable episode for kids, though.

lertsnim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzSgzHu4Q5g

Homer vs the Eighteenth Amendment

The Prisoner episode with Patrick McGoohan "in your face,No. 6"

brevity

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

The duff gardens episode always been one of my favourite s!

"Take these, then these and then these"
"Thank you Doctor"
"Oh I'm not a doctor"

Brilliant episode.

I'd go for Summer of 4 Ft. 2.

They go on a holiday to Flanders summer house and Lisa makes some new friends.

It's a nice story about siblings, how they can be mean to each other and then be really nice to each other.

Some nice gags with Homer screaming "MY CAR" after Lisa's friends glue sea shells to it. The birds attacking it on the way home was a nice touch as well.

ligerdub

brevity wrote: »

"Take these, then these and then these"
"Thank you Doctor"
"Oh I'm not a doctor"

Brilliant episode.

I'd go for Summer of 4 Ft. 2.

They go on a holiday to Flanders summer house and Lisa makes some new friends.

It's a nice story about siblings, how they can be mean to each other and then be really nice to each other.

Some nice gags with Homer screaming "MY CAR" after Lisa's friends glue sea shells to it. The birds attacking it on the way home was a nice touch as well.

Credit to you if you recall the name of the town (without the assistance of Google).

weemcd

"Homer's Barbershop Quartet" is the first episode of The Simpsons' fifth season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 30, 1993. The episode was written by Jeff Martin and directed by Mark Kirkland. It features The Be Sharps, a barbershop quartet founded by Homer Simpson.

This episode has so much heart, it genuinely makes me feel warm inside. So tastefully done. Barney singing on the bathroom floor in a delightful Irish singing voice "Now whaarrree's me toothpick." Including George Harrison for absolutely no reason other than to point Homer to a tray of brownies and drive past at the end. Apu changing his name "that'll never fit on the back of a marquee love." It just goes on and on, the references to The Beatles throughout are inspired.

I'll leave you with the genius introduction from 'Diamond' Joe Quimby, and as an extra treat the song from the end of the episode. (I just noticed the writing on the wall with Crabapple's phone number on it.)

*under his breath*Human roaches, feeding off each other's garbage.
The only thing you can't buy here is dignity.
Welcome, swappers to the Springfield Swap Meet.
Ich bin ein Springfield Swap Meet patron.
*under his breath* I need a drink and a shower.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3QTHn1R6nQ

GerB40

George Harrisons observation that "it's been done before" is the icing on the cake for the Beatles references.. They got a genuine legend of music to appear on the episode and gave him two lines. It shows the confidence the writers had at the time, a confidence they fully deserved...

Go Harvey Go

zorro2566 wrote: »

The Prisoner episode with Patrick McGoohan "in your face,No. 6"

"The Computer Wore Menace Shoes"? That's a TERRIBLE episode.

No-one's mentioned "Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily" yet. You really want the Simpsons to get back together at the end, yet you never feel any ill will towards Flanders and his attempt to baptise Bart, Lisa and Maggie.

And, of course, Homer gives one of the all-time classic lines after Flanders' holy water lands on his head:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Y3zg0Suug

pickarooney

So we started with Bart gets an F. Monorail next I think, or grimer

How Soon Is Now

Could always download every episode !! About 90 gigs but so worth it :pac: .

dresden8

Favourite joke was when Bart's ideal career was decided to be a cop.

Goes on a ride around with Lou and Eddy and they spot Quimby's car in a motel?

What's the mayor doing in a motel?

You could say he's eh, "poleing the electorate".......

Dirty Dingus McGee

I'd go for either Boy Scoutz in The Hood or The Lemon of Troy.

Both have mainly very broad comedy in them that a 9 year old would understand and also they are mainly based around the children so will identify with them more easily.

You only really start appreciating the Simpsons fully when you are 16 or 17.

ligerdub

The Lemon Tree is a good one for reference. I'd go with that one too.

razorblunt

Homer Goes to College, was on last night and I hadn't seen it in a while.
To me it's damn near perfect, it's Homer's repeated giggling that gets me.

Go Harvey Go

razorblunt wrote: »

Homer Goes to College, was on last night and I hadn't seen it in a while.
To me it's damn near perfect, it's Homer's repeated giggling that gets me.

"Curly, straight! Curly, straight! Curly, straight!"

Also some wonderfully crude animation - which you don't get these days, of course - when the pig swings round to bite Homer's hand...



...and when Bart and Lisa scream when one of the nerds unplugs the TV just as Scratchy is about to finally kill Itchy.

Doc2311

The Boy Who Knew Too Much - absolute classic from start to finish.

Skinners relentless pursuit of an AWOL Bart is one of my all time Simpsons moments

And of course:

"It's pronounced CHOWDAH!!" :-D

Barts Comet is another great episode too

Skerries

no love for Homie the Clown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSKEl6a-b_c