Believe it or not, The Simpsons was once a great television show. In fact, I would argue that in its prime (somewhere in the mid-to-late 1990’s) The Simpsons was fucking untouchable. Marge vs. the Monorail? Twenty-Two Short Films About Springfield? The Itchy & Scratchy and Poochy Show? Episodes like these embody the spirit of the sitcom at its absolute finest.
So while its epic nose-dive has been enough to keep me away for the last decade, I still feel warm, fuzzy things for The Simpsons. Some of the warmest and fuzziest of these funny feelings are connected to Treehouse of Horror – the show’s annual Halloween special.
Every year, Treehouse of Horror would take everyone’s favorite family from Evergreen Terrace through parodies of horror & science fiction movies, strangely murderous tales and other similarly bizarre romps. It was insanity – the residents of Springfield killing one another before my very eyes! I guess part of the charm was that for one episode every season, the best show on television took it upon itself to make kooky stories about the zany shit I love.
Also, Treehouse of Horror always featured Kang & Kodos, two of the best alien characters of all-time. I think it was in the `96 episode that they inhabited the bodies of Bill Clinton & Bob Dole, then ran against each other for president. Genius.
Kang & Kodos hoping to hitch a ride.
Maybe I’ve constructed a false memory, but I really think that I remember coming home from trick-or-treating and watching Treehouse of Horror. As an eight-year-old, there was no better feeling than stuffing my face full of candy, paying my dad off with Almond Joys to look the other way, and watching Homer Simpson do silly shit. That was the life.
I’m not so sure that The Simpsons will ever reclaim the glory it once possessed. But at least once a year, when the pumpkins are screaming in terror as their captors approach them with kitchen-knives in hand, I’ll think of Treehouse of Horror and smile.
Tags: Halloween Special, Kang and Kodos, Matt Groening, Octoberfeast, The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror
For me, some of the best memories and quotes from the Simpsons stemmed from the Treehouse of Horror. The show always seemed to put a small (even though I could see it coming) twist on old tale like Poe’s “The Raven,” and found a way to keep me entertained for nearly 18 years of new material. This decade has not been strong for Groening, but when I look back on my childhood and my favorite series of all time, the Treehouse of Horror will always have a small place in my heart. As a 22 year old, I look at this series differently, I can hope for the times from 10 years ago when The Simpsons was in it’s prime but those days are long gone, but I try to keep the faith in my favorite family from Springfiled.
As one of my favorite quotes ever goes…”Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
And I won’t….I love Homer way too much.
Dude! amazing.
I still to this day argue that the Simpsons is better than Family Guy, South Park and all that so I am a lifelong fan. I am like the captain from the Titanic I am going down with the ship haha
Classic Treehouse of Horror: Treehouse of Horror VI. Which featured; “Attack of the 50-Foot Eyesores”, “Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace”, “Homer³”.
CLASSIC
@Keohane – Yeah, I’ll never completely give up. The Simpsons have essentially paid their dues – so many good years of television that I don’t feel guilty about giving them the free-pass on some of their more recent shit.
@CGould – Yeah, dude, forreal. The Willie/Freddy Krueger sketch was fucking classic – the parents were meeting during the month of “Smarch” to discuss the misprinted school calendars. And of course, seeing the 3D/Live action Homer was amazing.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Kodos during his bid for presidency:
“My fellow Americans. As a young boy, I dreamed of being a baseball, but tonight I say, we must move forward, not backward, upward not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom.”
Season 8 of the Simpsons is the best season of any television show ever.
Treehouse of horror VII (Featuring that quote)
Hank Scorpio
Frank Grimes
The Burlesque house
Milhouse’s parents divorcing
Lisa in the military academy
Homer’s Homophobia
Poochie
Mr. Burns as an alien
Homer and Burns stuck under an avalanche
Flanders in the Nut house
Homer vs Drederick Tatum
… all those memories are season 8. I defy anyone to find a better season of anything.
@The Dude – I honestly didn’t realize that all of those episodes were from season eight. I think you might be on to something.
Millhouse’s parents divorcing is a fucking amazing episode. I die every time Millhouse’s dad explains that he gets to sleep in a racecar, and Homer retorts, “No, I sleep in a big bed with my wife.”
i contend that seasons 3-8 cannot be fucked with. this show is so special to me, it’s pretty silly.