By Thomas Willett
This past Sunday saw the conclusion of the Simpsons’ 23rd season. Even if you haven’t paid attention, it has been a turbulent year. Not only did the show reach 500 episodes, but they also came across budget disputes that almost cancelled the show. But for the diehards like me, I take this opportunity to look back on the season and what the many guest appearances brought to the show.
This season was justification for those believing that this show has finally grown long in the tooth. What should have been a triumphant moment featured the worst Treehouse of Horror episode, a clunky Inception parody involving Mona Simpson, an equally dumb Lost commentary, and the realization that Nedna (Ned Flanders and Edna Krabappel hooked up over the summer) may actually be here to stay. I will admit that there were plenty of strong episodes sprinkled throughout (“The Book Job”), but it feels like if the title of episode 500 (“At Long Last Leave”) means anything, the show knows that their days are numbered.
I hate to say this about the show, especially after a terrific 22nd season. However, what I can look back fondly on is the numerous guest stars. Regardless of content, it is often the cameos that makes an episode worth revisiting. Instead of dissecting the show, I have decided to list the 10 best and 5 worst guest stars of the season.
Good
1. Neil Gaiman
Episode: The Book Job
While the episode cleverly lampoons the “Sandman” writer’s status amongst colleagues, Gaiman is one of the most game guest performers in years and helps to produce the best episode about literary plagiarism in years.
2. David Letterman
Episode: The D’oh-cial Network
Before the credits even finish, Letterman takes the unorthodox path and makes a lengthy cameo in the couch gag that leaves a strong impression on what is to come.
3. Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim
Episode: The Food Wife
Even though I really hate their Adult Swim show, I will admit that they managed to bring back something to the Simpsons that has managed to fizzle out in recent years: clever, original, and fun songs that you’ll want to hum later.
4. Aron Ralston
Episode: Treehouse of Horror XXII
As unfortunate as this episode would become, the brief cameo of Ralston as a rescue assistant is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance that is welcome leverage to what would evolve into a lazy 127 Hours parody.
5. Bryan Cranston
Episode: The Spy Who Learned Me
One of the few high name actors who appeared as a fictional character, James Bond parody Stradivarius Cain, brings a type of class that doesn’t distract the viewer from the actual narrative.
6. Shepard Fairey
Episode: Exit Through the Kwik-E-Mart
The episode manages to be a consistent parody of graffiti artists thanks in large part to Fairey, whose desire to play along allows for some of the better jokes in the episode.
7. Lady Gaga
Episode: Lisa Goes Gaga
This episode reeked of Afternoon Special schmaltz and self-promotion, but like Cheech & Chong the previous season, the writers’ choice to focus a lot of humor on the celebrity provides for some inspired gags that will work for fans, but not for the story.
8. Joan Rivers
Episode: The Ten-Per-Cent Solution
The legendary comedian finally manages to make a guest star that is a logical counterpart to Krusty in a way that simultaneously seems like a respectful call back to old school comedy.
9. Steve Coogan
Episode: A Totally Fun Thing That Bart Will Never Do Again
One of the best episodes of the season features Coogan as a cruise ship employee, whose British wit plays nicely with the loopy plot.
10. Armie Hammer
Episode: The D’Oh-Cial Nework
While it only contributed to the continuing parody of the Social Network by having Hammer play the Winklevoss twins, it is done in a clever final scene where they compete in a rowing competition.
Bad
1. Ted Nugent
Episode: Politically Inept with Homer Simpson
While it is possible that I didn’t like it because I disapprove of Nugent as a person and Undeclared used him to greater effect, it can also be that the Simpsons have done better biting political jabs in the past using Homer as an unsuspecting genius.
2. Michael Cera
Episode: The Daughter Also Rises
While I am one of those that believes when Cera shtick makes sense based on the role, I felt he was given a role with bare bones that lacked any of his awkward subtle wit that resulted in him seeming like the most boring person that they have paired up with Lisa to date.
3. Brent Spiner
Episode: Them, Robot
The Simpsons has managed to use Star Trek alumni to greater effect than they did in this episode where Spiner voices a robot at the Nuclear Power Plant and nothing amazingly clever or interesting happens.
4. Jeremy Irons
Episode: Moe Goes from Rags to Riches
While the premise may seem ambitious of a bar rag narrating his own origin story, the premise already feels like a throwaway gag that is never realized and the comedy seems to be taken out of the picture.
5. Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage
Episode: The Daughter Also Rises
While the Simpsons have managed to make me forget for 30 minutes that I dislike certain people, the Mythbusters cameo easily highlights what I feel is wrong with their unfocused, monotonous attempt to satirize their ridiculously pointless careers, which gives them some credit, but loses some for feeling like they were shoehorned into a dull episode.
Conclusion: As per usual, the Simpsons can be reliable for pulling in the weirdest choices of guest stars and giving them weird situations. However, this season has chosen to focus on the side of weird where it could be more applauded for creativity than execution. The writing is largely to blame for the failed cameos, as many episodes felt like promising ideas that needed a quick ending slapped on. However, when you get people like Neil Gaiman to give such a great performance, you’ll understand why this show still has charm. It is essentially a step down from season 22, resulting in a larger hit and miss ratio.
That was my opinions on how the cameos were effective in the overall season. Do you believe that I am underselling this year’s output? Did anyone else feel that there needed to be more of Itchy and Scratchy? Was there really an episode better realized than “the Book Job”? Was Ted Nugent really better here than on Undeclared? Will Nedna provide good substance next season? I would love to hear your feedback. While I love this show and will continue to watch, I am fine starting a critical analysis on the show’s waning quality this season.
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. You can also read Thom’s movie reviews for Cinema Beach at cinemabeach.com.
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