"Lisa the Drama Queen".

Now, I know "The Simpsons" is a tenth of what it used to be when it was in its prime, and although I've actually enjoyed a few episodes here and there in the last 2 seasons, this one stuck out for me because of the supposed inspirations for the episode.

I truly believe this episode was inspired by Peter Jackson's "Heavenly Creatures". However, I wonder if the writer(s) were just trying to be clever, thinking they'd pick an obscure film from one of our generation's better filmmakers--or if they were doing some kind of homage.

For those who haven't seen "Heavenly Creatures" this will probably be lost on you. But you should check the movie out. It's one of the best Peter Jackson films out there. Incredibly imagery and insane ending--*and* it was based on a true story.

The similarities:

The episode is about Lisa, who is lonely and friendless, finds a best friend in a British student who turns out to be part of a rich family, and lives in her own fantasy world and wants Lisa to be part of it. Marge is too happy for Lisa having a friend at first to see that Lisa's starting to drift further away from reality, and the two friends hide behind the fact that this fantasy world is actually just for a book they're writing. But as Lisa gets deeper into the friendship, the Brit friend gets worse and worse, lost deeper into the fantasy world, and Lisa finally has to dump her. There are a few jokes here and there dealing with friendship/relationship (i don't want to rush this, etc.). The two of them also share a passion for Josh Groban.

"Heavenly Creatures" is also about two girls who become friends, one of them being British and coming from a wealthy family. The British girl (played by Kate Winslett) is also "writing a story" about this fantasy, and the two of them get deeper and deeper into it, meanwhile somewhat falling in love to the point where the families don't want them to see each other anymore. But both of them are determined to stay together and live in this fantasy world. They share a passion for Mario Lanza, a popular opera singer at the time (the story takes place in 1954).

The reason I'm making such a big deal about it is because ultimately, the episode never really pulls the punch to make the connection between the two, and I'm *positive* that this was supposed to be not just hinting at "Heavenly Creatures" but could have served as a subtle parody of that story, and obsession in general.

It's just typical that the lazy writing that's plagued this show for over a decade has a chance to really make a mark and once again, fails. I keep hoping that maybe *I* missed something and that they really did pull it off, but the ending of the episode is really lame, and doesn't conclude anything like the movie did. In fact, the ending of "Heavenly Creatures" is so chilling, it deserved to be mimicked and there could have been a great moment of satire to *not* go the direction the movie did, but sort of make fun of how far the girls took it.

I realize that "Heavenly Creatures" isn't "Star Wars" or something that's embedded in pop culture or anything--it's one of Jackson's lesser known efforts. But if you're going to touch on the subject, and elicit interest in those who have seen it--like me, then go all the way.

This episode just missed that mark, like it does so often now. Pity.

I have nothing to say about this. But man did Zack put a lot of work and thought into it. So I responded to it. And really, that's about it....

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I am amazed people still watch the Simpsons.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I tune in once in a great while as Homer is still laugh out loud funny

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

The full episode is available on hulu.com if anyone cares...

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It's definitely "hit or miss" these days, but I still tune in regularly.

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-"God is great. Beer is good. And People are crazy!"

I watch the reruns during the week, sometimes I'll catch it on Sundays. The new episodes are still a'ight, and the old ones hold up well. Still a great show.

with all the crap that's come and gone over the years, it is still great. just not as great as it once was.
it's less great.

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@audioidkid

With all due respect Doug, I couldn't disagree more. This used to be my favorite show, but it hasn't even had warning track power for the past 8-9 years. In trying to keep up with shows like South Park or Family Guy, The Simpsons lost its way and went for quick hitters: dick jokes. They dumbed down the show, and when that happened, it lost its heart, which is what separated it from the other "cartoon" sitcoms. Not trashing those other shows, but The Simpsons WAS cutting edge, funny, and intelligent once upon a time. Every once in awhile, you see a glimmer of its former brilliance, but it's far from great even when those moments occur nowadays.

Please use proper board terminology: borderline great

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

i don't know. it's the same old simpsons to me. i still laugh 3-5 times an episode.
south park is about shock and awe. family guy would be better if it was 22 minutes of stewie and bryan and not just about the plot that goes nowhere and puking.
i still laugh at all of them though.

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@audioidkid

Maybe someone should do a top 10 Family Guy episode list...

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There is none, that show is the biggest waste on TV, how it has lasted so long is a mystery. They let that crap on yet canceled Buffy and Angel

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

And with good reason...



I didn't see this episode and did not see Heavenly Creatures (I almost typed "Bodies"...) so I can't comment on the main subject of your post.

However, regarding the show in general, although I'll catch a couple here and there I stopped regularly watching new episodes years ago. The quality of the show has obviously declined, but IMO it's hard to blame the creators after they produced outstanding shows for years. They've long since explored just about every possible storyline for the main characters and there's a big difference from the early episodes that had storylines that people could actually relate to (which was pretty rare for a cartoon) and the ones from the last decade or so that are one "wacky happening" after another.

It happens to all shows, you eventually run out of gas, but they've been fortunate enough to have a demand for season after season and you can't blame them for taking it while they can get it.

The first four or five seasons are still very funny and I can't think of another show my friends and I reference more consistently than The Simpsons.

Anyone remeber the South Park episode where they went into this , any time Butters tried to do something the refrain was" the Simpsons already done it !!!"

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

Matt and Trey were a lot rougher on "Family Guy".
Manatees??

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President of Blake Shetlon fan club

Simpsons did it! Simpsons did it!

was that the professor chaos and general dissarray episode?
when they were going to flood the world with a water hose?

or was that when the boys were writing their own cartoon?

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@audioidkid

the professor Chaos episode, freaking brilliant

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

well, like i said, once in a while the show still will give me a smile or what not. My friend once said it's the only show that consistently can give you at least one laugh, and you can count on that. I wonder what kids that are like, 15, 16 right now think of that show? I mean, when they were growing up, it was just starting to decline, and now it's just overall pretty lame. Just think, in a few generations, this show will be like what "The Flintstones" or "Scooby Doo" or something was for us.

Wow, this show's still on?

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

My fav minor character , well it is a 3 way tie. Ralph Wigham, Moe and Duff man

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

Duffman says a lot of things oh yeah!

In terms of "last night's" episode, I watched it on dvr today and have only one thing to say about it:
meh.
M E H
meh.

I seem to be saying that at a lot of the newer episodes

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oh and if they were going totally for "heavenly creatures", it would have been funny to have peter jackson actually offer himself in a scene at the end or something, as a payoff. i think that would have been good enough for me.

the ending was just bad.

bleeding gums murphy or dr. marvin monroe.

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@audioidkid

Since we're also talking about Family Guy, does anyone know why there has been a 3 month gap between new shows?

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The manatees are on strike for more fish

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

Fox sucks. Or, that's how long it's taking them to make an episode that features President Obama jokes.

New episode 2-15.

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President of Blake Shetlon fan club

I'm not sure how anyone can talk about how the Simpsons is good for "a few laughs" or anything like that. It's absolutely dreadful in every possible way. Yes, they had a good run. That run ended sometime around 1997. The ratio of good episodes to bad ones is now much lower than 1:1.

I could write a thesis on this, but just to hit the highlights of why the Simpsons blow now:

Homer "wacky" to the point of retardation

Homer no longer negligent but almost criminally evil

Reuse of stock jokes or phrases (Family Guy has same problem): Duff Man, Best (______) Ever

Exhaustion of plots, leading to ridiculous scenarios

Reuse of plots

Transformation of Marge from straight-man to similarly ridiculous character; thus removing from the show the only ballast: (Family Guy has same problem with Lois)

Removing all the subtlety of the minor characters and bludgeoning the viewer over the head with their schtick (see Ned Flanders)

Celebrities, especially celebrities playing celebrities

Too "punchliney" (jokes don't flow from conversation but arrive almost rythmically, on time, every time)

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Fire Phil Emery