By Thomas Willett
As I normally do, I rummage the news cycle to figure out what my upcoming blog will be about. Sometimes it’s very straight forward opinions of people who should/n’t host the Oscars. Other times it’s defenses or lists of my interests. This week almost became a challenge. I had to decide between two polarizing topics. I had to choose between continuing the “Does Thom Get Zombies Yet?” routine with a review of season 2’s premiere of the Walking Dead or something more elaborate.
For fans of my original Divergence Magazine article (page 25), don’t fret. My season 2 premiere is up on my Optigrab blog, and let’s just say it’s looking good. However, last week I popped on the Firewall and Iceberg podcast and learned about what’s new in modern TV. It was there that I got the idea.
Midway through the show (45:00-1:00:30), they discussed recent episodes of the Simpsons that were actually entertaining. For the most part, I was impressed with their list, only wishing to add “Waverly Hills, 9021-D’oh” and “Homer the Whopper” from season 20 (the former because it stars Ellen Page and parodies No Country for Old Men). In fact, there’s a lot of good undiscovered episodes.
It got me thinking… what are some of my favorite episodes of the modern Simpsons? It would take weeks to properly prepare a list of that proportion. Yet, it got the ball rolling. I figured with Halloween coming up, it would be a good idea to share with you my thoughts on what the best Treehouse of Horror segments are.
The following is that list from episodes I-XXI in preparation for the upcoming new episode in which they add Avatar, Dexter, and the Diving Bell and the Butterfly to their list of parodies. I will count down the 25 best and 6 worse of the 63 that have aired so far (because, you see… 25+6=31). I have included the basis for many of the shows for those wanting further entertainment.
The Best
Many segments have already entered the pantheon of classic Halloween episodes. However, it’s difficult to make a list, as I’m sure to leave out what some consider to be classics (not a big fan of “The Raven”) while featuring more recent segments that lack the flair. I personally believe there’s still a few great ones there that you need to find. These are the ones that stand out as something better than average.
1. The Shinning (V)
Based on: The Shining
2. Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace (VI)
Based on: Nightmare on Elm Street
3. Attack of the 50-foot Eye Sores (VI)
4. The Terror of Tiny Toon (IX)
5. Time and Punishment (V)
Based on: “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury
6. Clown Without Pity (III)
Based on: The Twilight Zone episode “Living Doll”
7. Desperately Xeeking Xena (X)
8. The Homega Man (VIII)
Based on: The Omega Man
9. Dial ‘Z’ for Zombies (III)
Based on: Night of the Living Dead
10. Night of the Dolphins (XI)
Based on: “Day of the Dolphin” by Mike Nichols
11. Fly vs. Fly (VIII)
Based on: The Fly
12. Citizen Kang (VII)
Based on: 1996 Presidential Elections
13. Hell Toupee (IX)
14. The Ned Zone (XV)
Based on: “The Dead Zone” by Stephen King
15. Bart Simpson’s Dracula (IV)
Based on: Bram Stoker’s Dracula
16. The Devil and Homer Simpson (IV)
Based on: “The Devil and Daniel Webster” by Stephen Vincent Benet
17. Homer’s Nightmare (II)
Based on: Frankenstein
18. Don’t Have a Cow, Mankind (XX)
Based on: 28 Days Later
19. Send in the Clones (XIII)
20. Starship Poopers (IX)
21. Hungry are the Damned (I)
Based on: The Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man”
22. The Genesis Tub (VII)
Based on: The Twilight Zone episode “The Little People”
23. The Island of Dr. Hibbert (XIII)
Based on: “The Island of Doctor Moreau” by H.G. Wells
24. House of Whacks (XII)
Based on: 2001: A Space Oddessey
25. I Know What You Diddily Iddily Did (X)
Based on: I Know What You Did Last Summer
Overall Best Episode: Treehouse of Horror III
Segments: Clown Without Pity, King Homer, Dial ‘Z’ for Zombies
The reason this episode is great is because it features the best wrap-around segment in which everyone is at a Halloween party. This is a theme that would be teased in numerous other episodes, but lacks the flair, as those are more tangents than connections. I feel it was the most fitting theme and helped to personalize each story better than II (separate nightmares) or I and IV (singular narrator). Sadly, the wrap-arounds would be dropped from V on because of time allotment. This was also the transition from the slow paced (I’m not a big fan of the first two) parodies into the more modern satires they have become known for. Also, it features a line to live by: “Fruit is nature’s candy.”
The Worst
It’s hard to really call too many episodes the worst. While many of the past five seasons have throwaway segments, none have been outright terrible. Of what has been seen, these stand out as moments where the show lost it. Some aren’t horror parodies, others failed attempts at classic TV specials. However, my hopes are a little shifty for this program’s future if “Master and Cadaver” is the best they can do (though it does feature the weirdest A Clockwork Orange reference ever).
1. Master and Cadaver (XXI)
Based on: Dead Calm
2. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson (XVIII)
Based on: Mr. and Mrs. Smith
3. It’s the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse (XIX)
Based on: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
4. The Day the Earth Looked Stupid (XVII)
Based on: The War of the Worlds
5. In the Belly of the Boss (XV)
Based on: Fantastic Voyage
6. Easy Bake Coven (VII)
Based on: Salem witch trials
Overall Worst: Treehouse of Horror XIX
Segments: Untitled Robot Parody, How to Get Ahead in Deadvertising, It’s the Grand Pumpkin Milhouse
It’s tough to determine the worst. Yet, when it comes to overall, this episode was the most lacking of any to date. With a Transformers parody that was as ill conceived as its influence (even the Twilight segment had some brains), it only got worse with an equally despicable version of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown that ends with a cannibal pumpkin chase. However, this episode’s one achievement was it’s ability to properly turn the Mad Men opening credits into a great Simpsons title sequence.
What are some of your favorite episodes? Did I convince you to check out any of the new stuff? Do you disagree with some of my picks? Is there really anything worse than “Master and Cadaver”? Feel free to write me with your opinions.
The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror XXII premieres on Fox on October 30. Check local listings for show times.
You can read Thom’s blog every Wednesday and hear him on Nerd’s Eye View every Tuesday and Thursday at nevpodcast.com. Send your thoughts to nevpodcast@gmail.com.
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