Hi and welcome to another Simpsons Sunday post. This past Friday, the album Let It Be by The Beatles was rereleased, as a super deluxe package and has some really cool alternate versions of all of the songs. For example: the short track called Dig It is about 5 minutes and change, with some funny improvisational vocals from John Lennon. Plus, we get to hear the album version of Across The Universe in its original key, without the orchestral arangement and additional guitars.
Something else to look out for, is a 3 part documentary on Disney+, called Get Back, which was the original title of the album and is directed by Peter Jackson and I hope that it goes into the entirety of the making of the album, including the rehearsals. As somebody who is a Beatles fan and who has listen to a show called The Lost Lennon Tapes, I can tell you that there are lots of goodies from the rehearsals and, some are quite funny. For example: John and Paul wrecking each other’s songs, as one starts playing it with Paul startingLet It Be on the piano and John yelling over it. They then go into That’ll Be The Day, by Buddy Holly. Another example is when Paul screams as John goes into Don’t Let Me Down. Sadly, these and other messy performances are available on this album, not even the fast version of Get Back, with a rather ripping solo from John. I cant forget about Homer’s last words in the episode Homer’s Barbershop Quartet, almost quoting John’s final words on the Let It Be version of Get Back verbatim. You know what they are? Don’t you? https://youtu.be/q6oGglD1Uz8
On the birthday front, Sammy Hagar turned 74 years old on Wednesday. He is still touring and sounds the same as he did, 40 years ago. insertion point at end
This week it’s all about the episode Homer Defined, which aired 30 years ago tonight. First of all, how do we define homer Simpson? Basically he’s a lovable, fat, bald, idiot who can be a real jerk at times. However, deep down he’s a loving father and will do anything for his family, despite being selfish. Yes, he strangles BART when the boy humiliates his foolish old man, but Homer still loves his son, as well as his two daughters and of course, his ever patient wife, pork chops and alcohol.
Because of homers short attention span and incompetence at the nuclear plant, he seems to have run into some really good dumb luck when saving the plant and the town of Springfield from a meltdown, as well as the Shelbyville nuclear plant, owned by Aristotle Amadopolis, Who encourages our favourite moron to give a motivational speech. The trouble is, those same people Homer is addressing, are like him. Homer saves the Shelbyville plant, with the same dumb luck technique using the classic childrens rhyme “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe”. He uses this rhyme to save both plants and is thus no longer thought of as a hero, but only has succeeded by fluke. By the way, former basketball player Magic Johnson guest stars in the episode and near the end, he also scores for the Los Angeles Lakers, with similar fluky luck.
Meanwhile, Bart wasn’t invited to Milhouse’s birthday party, because his mother (Luann) thinks that Bart is a bad influence. She’s right, but Marge is also right in that the two best friends need each other and thankfully, Luann relents and lets Bart and Milhouse be friends. Fortunately for Bart, he had given Milhouse Krusty the Clown walkie-talkies and the two friends could communicate through them. Kind of reminds you of the current pandemic and having to communicate either over zoom or FaceTime during lockdowns. Doesn’t it? I’ve been doing that with someone all through the pandemic, ever since getting wifi and if I may go off topic for a moment, I’m looking forward to when we can share our iPhone’s screens with each other. This way, I can watch Simpsons episodes, along with listening to music and watching Youtube videos with my friend, without the sound quality being diminished. I wonder if in a future episode, this feature will be used as a plot point, for either Bart or Lisa. Could you imagine Lisa sharing music with her friends over an iPhone, for a number of hours and she and they, all get in trouble from their parents because of missing something which was planned. The same can be said for Bart, Milhouse and Nelson, all watching TV together on their phones, or even Bart and Lisa watching episodes of Itchy & Scratchy, while being far away from each other. Anyway, I digress.
I have some favourite moments in the episode, such as when Marge is watching TV and Jon Lovitz voices mr. Devereau. All right, maybe not the most earth shattering aspect of the episode, but why him and not Phil Hartman? I’m just curious and that’s all I’m asking, as Mr. Lovitz did a great job with the characters he voiced.
I also wonder if Milhouse’s mother not allowing Bart to be friends with him, because of Bart’s bad influence is a jab at those who had banned Bart Simpson t-shirts from schools. Maybe not, but if it was that would make sense to me as a bit of self reflection from the writing staff. Either way, I’m glad that both boys are friends to this day and best friends at that. Nancy Cartwright has even said that Bart is a good boy and only is mischievous and not evil, like some other children characters I could mention. After all, he does have his limits. Just ask Stewie Griffin about that. Even Milhouse is a good kid and only tags along with Bart, but he too has his limits. After all, Bart did cell his soul to Milhouse.
Anyway you slice it, this is a great episode and I hope that we watch both it and tonight’s brand new episode called The Wayz We Were. It’s almost dizzying that we now have three episodes, which are similarly named: The Way We Was from Season 2, The Way We Weren’t from Season 15 and now The Ways We Were tonight. Obviously, the 2 previous episodes are flashbacks and this may also be another one. If so, I wonder what time it will be taking us and the characters back to, or for what purpose, in order for a great story to work. I may do a post next week on all 3, or maybe not. By the way, I still have the idea about doing a post on the Roommate and I will get around to it. I’m just waiting for the right time and eventually, that post will come to fruition.
Simpsons on Sundays 