From TVGuide.com:

Not bad, not bad at all. Bits I liked:
Dog Day Afternoon references, complete with John Cazale look-a-like
Shawshank Reference, especially the dueling sewer pipe vs. pure mountain spring water pipe
Random shot of Ralph flying by on a bunch of balloons.
Homer strangling his own brain.
Dilbert's Flying Cubicle ride.
Nice continuity with Snake's girlfriend.

Question: Who was the third alternate wife on the list from Marge? I saw Blythe Danner and Boobarella.

I loved the "ride" 'It's a long line'.

I missed the chalkboard gag. Anyone recall?

I think Gil has successfully surpassed Homer as having the most jobs on the show. Dude never gets a break!

I'm glad the focus was on Marge this week. I loved the Dreidal discount and Apple Picking moments. "I can't pick apples without making a pie. I can't make a pie unless I make one for everyone in the prison." Ha!

Lindsey Nagel. During the Dilbert ride, was that just the Dilbert theme from the short-lived TV show?

I thought it was nice even though a somewhat reused plot (the Marge befriends a Criminal plot). Not particularly great but cute and not boring/bad. Another part I liked was "Look into my eyes and tell me" "I can't! They're too buggy!" and their take on gangster films.

I love that JLD reprised her role as Snake's girlfriend.

I figured this would be a predictable revenge storyline, I'm glad they did it in a different way.

So is Gil officially dead now? I mean I know this show isn't great w/continuity, but that was like really killing him there.

Something about a fdic bank. i thought it was nice. I've noticed they've gone back to a single plot with a couple of cutaways.

Wearing Maggie as a tie was nice.

Something like "I am not a Federally Deposit Insured bank".

That was the theme from the Dilbert TV show!

Nice line "I wish I had a school full of Lisa Simpsons! But then there are all of you."

I don't remember seeing Itchy and Scratchy for years?

Wow, I can't believe how much I liked this ep. Perhaps it was the Buscemi effect?

Ya'll have already posted my fave moments/scenes. I'll add my liking that little homage of the camera sweeping over the town, complete with that same/similar music, to that certain ep years ago when we first saw who was sending Bart hate mail written in his own blood. ;0)

That was a nice surprise. Too bad they didn't write any funny lines for her, although my biggest laugh of the night was Snake ordering a hit on his unauthorized Wiki editor.


I didn't find the episode funny anyway, but Gil's (likely?) death sort of dominated my attention throughout, and I kept worrying when they were going to go back and update us on his fate. I guess I was missing the point: I felt like Milhouse during the Poochie episode, "When are they going to get to the fireworks factory??"

I liked last week's episode, but this one stunk.

I know, I couldn't believe it.

I miss the full Itchy and Scratchy opening.

I thought it was kind of cruel how many times they made fun of Buscemi's buggy eyes. I mean, he's not Michael Emerson or anything, not that it wouldn't also be cruel to mock his giant eyes. I did like his endless wardrobe of Hawaiian shirts.

And I actually wouldn't mind that much if Gil were dead, or if he at least went back to being an incidental character who didn't carry any plots.

Has Gil ever carried a plot? Usually he pops up for his typcial one-line of "oooh, Gil's first day on the job. It's gonna be a good one..." or something to that nature, only to have it go completely awful within seconds.

There was the "Kill Gil" episode, in which Gil moved in with the Simpsons.

Ooooh yeah. He made himself at home and didn't want to leave.

I am kind of hoping that's the end of Old Gil, but I'm pretty sure all of those bullets missed his major organs and arteries.

What are you basing that on? I know, I know, "Who wants gingersnaps?", right? I know Old Gil is not the most popular character on this board, but (1) I really like him and (2) what an unceremonious way to go, if this is the end. Speaking of death, is Dr. Nick definitely gone?

I loved this episode! It actually seemed like...a Simpsons episode.

Maybe it's because I noticed Mike Reiss is back on the show (he was credited as a producer)

I loved that Homer would marry Blythe Danner, and that it was his 3rd choice.

"Also: Feed Cat", and Homer's argument (and attempted strangulation) of his own brain definately seemed like pure Homer moments.


Loved this as well, I was caught off guard. Nice to know that they're still together. Gloria must've followed up on that, as his wikipedia page remains perfectly normal

But Ted Nugent, albeit in a small, audio cameo? That just screamed of awesomeness. Say yes to Cross-bows in our schools! (It's my favorite weapon)


Same here. There was actually an I&S episode in the season premire as well, which parodied the arline industry.

Speaking of the I&S cartoon, I spied a Rebel Alliance logo on the helmet of Itchy in the Fighter Jet!

And I agree that Gil may not have been shot in a vital place. He must've passed out from shock. Yes, that's it. I hop Dr. Nick isn't gone for good, but seriously, when was the last time he had some sort of big role? I'd say Trilogy of Error and his appearance in "The Girl Who Slept Too Little"

I'm kinda neutral on Gil, but I did feel sorry for him the one time he was about to make a sale, and one of his coworkers deliberately stole it from him. It was back when Homer bought that Canyonero Marge ended up driving.

As for the episode, I actually liked it, for the most part. It was great seeing a break in tradition, as Homer was actually there to see Lisa get her award and Marge wasn't.

I thought that Homer was going to be at the awards 12 hours late or a day late. When he was actually there, early but there, I was happy.

Wonder why he had Maggie, though?

He had Maggie because Marge had errands to run and he apparently had the day off. Maybe Marge figured it was a way to hopefully get him there on time. (not that it's always worked but it did this time. :) )

And I loved the Dilbert theme at the Dilbert Cube ride.

Oh and about the Line ride.... "South Park Did It!" (first I think. *G*)

I'm wondering if most of the rides we could see could be traced to other cartoons, or if the line and Dilbert's Cube-a-whirl were the only two?

I thought he had Maggie because he thought she was a tie.

Another part I liked that no one mentioned was the Carlos Mencia bash as one of the worst comics. "Have you ever seen a beaner...?" Yes...we have. Move on.

I don't particularly like Gil, and therefore would have no problem with him going out like this. However, I'm pretty sure Moleman has been in massive explosions before, and he keeps on moling. My problem with Gil, is that he isn't Lionel Hutz. (Kind of like people who have a problem with Eli Manning, because they can't help comparing him to Peyton.) I think that whenever sad-sack Gil shows up, I deep down miss Phil Hartman and the way Lionel Hutz agreed to $5/hour and a couple of ice pops instead of his normal attorney fees.

I liked the episode, even if it proved a little predictable. Dwight hiding behind a kite was funny. As was Ralph randomly floating away on balloons. Love Ralph!

I think Gil will be back too. Characters seem to turn up again unless they are specifically stated as being dead, like Maude Flanders. The movie continuity doesn't seem to be in the same continuity as the TV show, so I don't think Dr. Nick died in the TV show. I don't even think he died in the movie, I think somehow they probably managed to get him out and put him back together.

Also, hasn't Uter disappeared for years and then reappeared? I thought in an episode within the last year or two it was revealed that he's stuck in a spider web in the school's air ducts.

I liked this episode (that is 2 weeks in a row). Not amazing, but with a decent story, some good jokes and nice contunity nods.



I have the same problem watching Futurama. I know it is a funny show, but every time Zap Brannigan shows up it makes me sad because I know the role was meant for Hartman and the guy doing the voice is obviously doing his own Phil Hartman impression.

Oh, good ol' Moleman. Still can't forget that image of that huge closeup of his kisser as he tries to plant one on Patty (or was it Selma?)

And don't forget, his business card is also a sponge!

Buscemi definately made this episode. His voice/reactions were just priceless.

One thing that surprised me was Krusty's line about how he sells Chinese toys that poison kids. I would have thought that story was way too current for a show that takes many months to animate.

Did anyone catch Squeaky-Voiced Teen's non-union Mexican equivalent working the Viking Ships ride?

That's exactly my issue with Gil.

Haven't we heard that they sometimes stick more current lines/jokes in at the last minute, since it's not as if the mouths are lip synching to perfection? I figured the Chinese toy lines was one of these.

Hee! And then Selma imagines what life with Moleman would be, with their coke-bottle-glasses wearing kids literally running into each other and knocking each other out. lol

Seeing him was awesome. I wanted him to randomly blurt out "Senor Burns es el diablo" like Senor Spielbergo did.

I liked this Hibbert/Krusty exchange:

Hibbert: "Krusty, I have't seen you since that terrifying afternoon."
Krusty: "You're gonna have to get a lot more specific!"

I really liked this epsiode. All the moments that y'all have mentioned were great, and Buscemi was definitely a superior guest star.

I really enjoyed it, although I kept finding myself wishing the hostage stuff had gone on a bit longer. I think there was a lot more humor they could have mined out of that situation.

To be exact, he was on the Unfunniest Clowns list, even in front of Sargeant Serious (and Krusty stole all his jokes from him!)


How Krusty worded it, it seemed like it was in the show for a while, but you never know.

But the scene where the bullies were commenting on the program ads offscreen? That definately felt like late inserts.

Don't forget his buggy eyes!

I couldn't stop LOLing at Homer putting Maggie on as a tie. I was trying to eat soup at the time and almost spilled it all over myself because I was giggling too much.

I didn't catch this at all. Was there commentary from the bullies on the regular commercials that appeared in between the acts?

Yep, agreed. I wish the plot was more about Marge trying to devise a plan of escape, all the while sweet-talking the gunman into a false sense of security. Marge still could have made a promise with him to visit and the final scene could have been him saying "You'll be coming real soon!", leaving it open for him to break out somewhere down the line when Marge doesn't visit. Sure, that reaks of Sideshow Bob revenge, but heck, they've already redone other stories before!

Aw. He's probably heard it all before anyway, and he seems like a cool guy. I could see him going along with it good-naturedly. And I admit, I laughed. What I kept thinking, though, was that they didn't even make his eyes look that buggy, to me at least.

He did spend all of Fargo being called "funny looking...in a general sort of way." I have no doubt that sweetjane is right and he's used to it and probably has a really good sense of humor about himself.

"Sorry, Meeeester!" I will confess to jumping back 10 seconds on my DVR to watch that at least 6 times.

Something else I am ashamed to confess: I've been regularly turning off the Simpsons mid-episode for years now. Most of it rises to the level of unwatchable, rarely does it surpass that and become watchable. This one was watchable from beginning to end, and funny. As somebody mentioned, one storyline worked out well, didn't clutter up the viewing experience. The story wasn't amazing, but it worked out well enough, and I liked seeing Marge be tortured by the conflict inside her.

Also, I loved Homer writing his Superman novel: "'Out of my way!' said Superman, as he punched everybody in the Coffee Bean."

And based on everybody's opinion of last week's episode, I am compelled to watch that one now. I'm sorry that my Simpsons fanaticism has depreciated over time. Thanks to everybody in this particular forum for renewing my interest. ;)

When Homer sat down in the empty auditorium, I actually thought he was 12 hours early, and was expecting a "D'oh" moment. I'm glad he made it.

Did anyone borderline feel a vibe that they were almost going to parody "The Nine", the short lived TV show on ABC about bank robbery hostages? When Krusty and Dr. Hibbert ran into each other at the carnival and *just* happened to see Marge (on a supposed naughty tryst with THE bank robber) I suddenly got visions in my head of them meeting up with more of the bank robbery hostages at random places.

Then again, it all went nowhere, just like The Nine.

I couldn't get into it. This is the first episode this season that just left me thinking "So what?" There were some nice Marge bits with the apples and pies, and the gossip about Marge and Dwight having a spark, and the Dilbert sight gag, but I just couldn't get behind it.

And I normally like Marge episodes.