Posted on 02/06/2005 11:58:18 AM PST by raccoonradio
This year's Super Bowl halftime show may have been crafted to avoid scandal, but the programming Fox is airing after the big game might raise a few hackles. And this time, Tom Brady is actually involved.
Mel Gibson might want to change the channel after the Patriots-Eagles showdown tonight, because Fox has awarded the plum post-Super Bowl slot to an episode of ``The Simpsons'' that spoofs his ``The Passion of the Christ.'' If that's not enough to steam Gibson and the religious right, the network follows up with a sneak preview of the left-leaning animated satire ``American Dad.''
Unfortunately, both shows manage several comic first downs, but neither scores a touchdown.
``Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass,'' for example, somehow manages to skewer religious fundamentalists, liberal ``secular humanists,'' grandstanding athletes, ESPN and sports fans without ever being laugh-out-loud funny.
After video of Homer taunting Bart at a carnival makes its way onto the Internet, he opens ``Homer Simpson's Showboating Academy.'' In his back yard, he teaches normally humble sports pros such as Yao Ming, Michelle Kwan and Tom Brady - all supplying their own voices, although Brady's sounds oddly high-pitched - how to mock their opponents.
This leads to his recruitment as producer of the Super Bowl halftime show. Bereft of ideas, Homer turns to his good Christian neighbor Ned Flanders for help. Flanders has become a biblical snuff film auteur, with the recent purchase of a video camera. The pair cook up an Old Testament extravaganza that falls as flat as a Keanu Reeves line-reading because America is outraged at the sheer decency of it all.
What will the Parents Television Council think?
``Simpsons'' fans probably will just be peeved that the show isn't funnier - the best jokes are throwaways, such as an ad for ``Jammitin,'' an erectile-dysfunction treatment.
``American Dad,'' from the frantic, politically incorrect mind of ``Family Guy'' creator Seth MacFarlane, is also hit-and-miss. Unlike the ``Simpsons'' episode, however, ``Dad'' features a few more guffaws and makes you hopeful MacFarlane can fine-tune the show as it progresses.
``Dad'' chronicles the bizarre family life of lantern-jawed, uber-patriot CIA agent Stan Smith (voiced by MacFarlane). Stan sees danger lurking in every corner, from the suspect toaster in the kitchen to the pockets of his bleeding-heart-liberal daughter, Hayley. His clueless wife, Francine, cares for Hayley and her geeky teen brother, Steve, while fending off the sexual advances of a talking German goldfish named Klaus and watching the caloric intake of Roger, an alien from Area 51 who once saved Stan's life. Really.
The show is wacky, rude and, like ``Family Guy'' before it, destined to annoy some viewers while making cultlike converts of others.
``American Dad'' begins its run May 1 following the relaunch of ``Guy.''
( ``The Simpsons,'' tonight after the Super Bowl on Fox. (2.5 out of four); ``American Dad,'' tonight after ``The Simpsons'' on Fox. )
I can't pick a favorite.....they are all so hilarious.
I didn't really watch it much either when originally on Fox. A little, but not a lot. But, I have the DVD sets now. I can't stand Futurama, however.
I don't know how the heck that show got so popular. It is just so inane and stupid.
Being a right wing christian I think it is ok to have female mud wrestling in the military.
Well, hopefully Family Guy will stay the same....occassionally jabs Bush, but still really funny and normally stays off politics.
I always thought Comic Book Guy was Hank Azzaria :^D
Though Jeff is a nice name.
Jack.
OK, I got around to watching them. The Simpsons was passable, the American Dad thing was unfunny crap with a bunch of stock leftie jokes like where God calls G W Bush and tells him not to mention Him in public anymore. Funny? Nah. Pretty direct ripoff of Family Guy? Yep.
Tonight's "Simpsons" had some funny moments and lines, but on the whole, was a disappointment. It was a throwback to the seasons that fans refer to as "Jerkass Homer" episodes, where Homer became incredibly selfish and obnoxious, and the humor stopped coming from the characters and situations but from quick, cartoonish, ridiculous cutaway gags (like the Mario Brothers gag in tonight's episode.) "The Simpsons" is a cartoon, but it's funny because its humor is based in satirizing reality. When it was unfortunately influenced by shows like "Family Guy" and started going for those easy laugh, cartoonish cutaway gags, it truly leaped la shark. The producers have been trying to get away from that in the last season, but this episode set them back quite a bit.
Wanna see a funny cartoon? Catch the Venture Brothers on Cartoon Network.
I love the Venture Bros! The Monarch cracks me up. I hope they order more episodes.
According to the bumps, they're all in love with Tom Vs. the Mayor, which I thought the first episode about the bear traps was funny. I guess the episode with the animatronic Hitler, Tojo, and FDR was pretty funny too. But mostly it just seems like torture.
My checkbook is standing by, all warmed up and ready to go, if they ever put "The PJs" on DVD. I loved that show, and google for the DVDs now and then. I don't know why they don't exist yet; it's a damn shame.
I wish SpikeTV would bring back 'This Just In.'
Now thats something I need to get off of tivo and onto dvd for all 6 eps.
Brother, lighten UP- I am a proud Christian. I saw The Simpsons tonight and laughed until I had tears in my eyes.
Well, I posted the article from the Boston Herald and hadn't even seen the episode in question...just thought it would be interesting to see any reaction once it did air.
And my brain was kinda tired by the time it did hit air (delayed by Pats celebrations here in Boston) but I taped it and will have to catch it again...though maybe some others in this thread may wish to take your advice about lightening up, etc.
As was said before, Simpsons will skewer your political/religious beliefs--but then move on to do the same to others. An equal opportunity offender! :)
>>God calls G W Bush and tells him not to mention Him in public anymore
Yes, but God then has to take a call from Cheney and refers to the veep as "Sir". While it was probably intended as "Cheney's really the one in charge" (lampooning those Wascally Wepublicans, as Hannity puts it), I chuckled at the idea of Cheney being God's "boss". It's a cartoon, folks.
simpsons *used* to be an equal opportunity offender, but it hasn't this millenium. The past two seasons have been overloaded with Republican/Christian bashing with absolutely zero against the other guys, and I just don't have the stomach for it. It's not funny anymore, and it just makes you squirm in your seat. The whole "Clinton nobly in prison" thing last year, the sanctification of France and Canada, Michael Moore's guest appearance (will Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter get a guest shot?), the Passion parody...these writers are just clueless. There's no balance. Classic Simpsons is dear to my heart, I adored that show in the early-mid 90s, but it's just been unbearable the past two years. I wonder if Tom Brady and the other guest stars on last nights episode, are proud of the end result, because I think it's a safe assumption that sports athletes generally have fairly conservative opinions, both religiously and politically.
American Dad was awful for the same reason--obvious political agenda getting in the way of laughs. The whole gun control thing...you can just imagine Seth Macfarlane's blood boiling, desperately trying to use his forum to make gun rights advocates look stupid. And you *know* the political bashing isn't going to be equal, if Macfarlane is on Airhead America of all things to promote his show(s). No leftist ever has or ever will turn the mirror on himself, because if he challenges his beliefs, his premises and worldview cannot stand.
Family Guy is a great show, but it has to stick to obscure 70s-80s references, and leave the agenda out of it.
oh.
Well, I guess my 5 minutes were not representative....certainly a real possibility.
In one of the Sideshow Bob episodes the cops are carting Sideshow Bob away and he yells, "You just wait! I'll be out in no time! You can't keep the democrats out of the White House forever!"
I'm a huge Simpson's fan... but the episode post Super Bowl definately (to quote Comic Book Guy) was one of the "Worst Episode's ever".
No, no- my "lighten up" was not directed at you, it was directed at the writer or the article. Sorry if there was a misunderstanding. :)
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