SIMPSONS, THE: THE COMPLETE 8TH SEASON - DVD review

The time has come again to enjoy another smashing season of America's favorite animated family, "The Simpsons." This time we are presented with season eight, which televised from 1996 through 1997 on the Fox Network. During this time, the main cast of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer are ever present and shine their vocal antics all over the season. As with previous Simpsons DVD releases, season eight comes with all twenty-five episodes on four-discs. The playing time alone can extend across ten different time zones. However, there is never a dull moment when you're watching the delightful antics of "The Simpsons."

One thing is clear, "The Simpsons" is not just another American television show that we have come to love and enjoy; it has become an American icon that is in every way a part of our current culture. If the word "D'oh" can make it into the dictionary, it can only tell you one thing: a) People have become so influenced by Homer's dim-witted intelligence that we in fact accept and understand his vocabulary; or b) we are all as stupid as Homer and haven't yet noticed that the word "D'oh" has made it into the Dictionary. Either way, we are talking about an animated family that has entertained the selfish, practical joking, politically incorrect, lazy-slob in all of us. And let me make this clear, "The Simpsons" did not influence us to be lazy or to corrupt our children; most of us were that way already. I've known parents and other family members that would never let their kids watch "The Simpsons" because they believed the dysfunctional, animated family promoted bad morals. Granted, at times they did, but it was all in good humor, intelligently written by Matt Groening and a team of many others. If anything, "The Simpsons" is a burlesque of the average, middle class family--bad morals and all. The program didn't arrive on television to brainwash us; it is actually making fun of how brainwashed and sheep-like most of our culture already is.

Even I can admit in the early years it seemed like the show was always on the edge. Some of the behavior Bart got away with never sat too well with many parents, and the mocking of religion would send fundamentalists through the roof. If that wasn't enough, there was also Marge's chain-smoking sisters, Homer as the poster-boy for overeating and binge drinking, and a corrupt mayor who would sleep with any woman he could get his hands on. Trust me; the list goes on and on. Nevertheless, the show has had an appealing edge that has continually been immorally witty, but that is not to say the series never had any heart or charm. Examining the show after many years, I would have to say I have finally become desensitized to "The Simpsons." The show still has that edge, but I'm simply not shocked or disturbed by it anymore. I was never really bothered with it in the first place, but I will admit I did do a few double takes in astonishment at how they could get away with some of their more notable antics. Of course, the show has been around for sixteen seasons, and this could only mean that people have actually lightened-up, or there are still boatloads of fundamentalists that are mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore.

Before I begin to examine and share "The Simpsons," season eight, I would like to suggest that you all get familiar with what was happening back in 1996-1997. The reason I say this is because much of the humor relates to current events of the time. Many of the inside gags are so quick they will be easily missed if you're not up on your trivia of the time. Remember, this is ten years ago, when "The X-Files" was the talk of television and micro breweries were at their peak of popularity. The point is, get familiar with the time, as it will make the whole experience of watching season eight that much more enjoyable.

Disc One:
"Treehouse of Horror VII"
As with all "Treehouse of Horror" tales, there are three different chilling tales to tickle the funny bone. I'm not quite sure which one is my favorite, but I have to admit I get a good laugh out of the aliens Kang and Kodos.

Extras on this episode include an audio commentary, a feature bit from the animators, and an animated showcase of the episode. This episode also features the guest voice of the late Phil Hartman.

"You Only Move Twice"
This one is full of good gags. Homer gets a job with Globex, only to find out his boss is basically evil and wants to take over the world. Pay attention and you may notice the whole episode is nothing more than a parody of James Bond. I would definitely rank this episode as one of my favorites on the disc.

Extras here include an audio commentary and deleted scenes. This episode also features the guest voice of Albert Brooks.

"The Homer They Fall"
Homer finds out he has a skull as thick as a football helmet. With the ability to take a beating from just about anyone, Moe decides to get Homer into boxing and ends up turning him into the world champion.

Extras include an audio commentary and deleted scenes from the episode. There are also the featured guest voices of Michael Buffer and Paul Winfield.

"Burns, Baby Burns"
It turns out that Mr. Burns has a long-lost son, Larry, who is the complete opposite of Mr. Burns. Larry likes to party, is exceedingly obnoxious, and with the voice of the late Rodney Dangerfield, there's no telling when the one-liners will end. I definitely had some good chuckles with this episode and would also rank this as another choice cut from disc one.

Extras on this episode include an audio commentary and deleted scenes of the episode. As I said, the feature guest voice is Rodney Dangerfield.

"Bart After Dark"
Bart gets himself into trouble where he takes a job at the Maison Derriere, which, if you notice, is basically the brothel of Springfield. It has some laugh-out-loud moments and also features the Emmy-winning song, "The Spring in Springfield." I know they were also mocking some musical from the dark-ages, but I'm not good with musicals, so I have no clue what musical it could be.

The only extra for this episode is the usual audio commentary with Matt Groening and the gang of producers and writers.

"A Milhouse Divided"
This is an episode that deals with the trials of marriage and companionship. Every now and then there's an episode that goes for subtle charm and a way for the writers to show us that "The Simpsons" do have a heart. This is one of those episodes; but before that charm happens, we have to get through a parody of relationship issues as we watch Milhouse's parents divorce and Homer and Marge renew their wedding vows. There are plenty of inside gags that punch below the belt when addressing the issues of marriage and divorce; however, it's a good message that love and laughter conquer all.

Extras on this episode include an audio commentary with Matt and a small team of others, and the deleted scenes for this episode. This episode also features the voice contributions of Dennis Baily, Ron Brooks, Trish Doolan and Marsha Waterbury.

Disc Two:
"Lisa's Date With Density"
This episode is every bit as charming as it is hilarious. Lisa gets a crush on the neighborhood bully, Nelson Muntz, and tries to turn him into a respectful young man. Homer finds a telephone auto-dialer to telemarket all of Springfield and basically flares the tempers of many in the town. There are plenty of belly laughs and wit to liven even the dullest of people. I would have to say this episode ranks pretty high among my all-time favorites.

Extras include an audio commentary and a bit from the animators about the episode. There are also deleted scenes directly cut from this installment.

"Hurricane Neddy"
Springfield is hit by a major hurricane, and Ned Flanders is the only house in the neighborhood to get hit. The people of Springfield try to rebuild Ned's home, but they do such a poor job of it that the calm, Bible-thumping Ned goes into a fit of rage as he loses his temper. Ned ends up committing himself to find out why he bottles up his anger. Hang in there with this one as it picks up speed in the last half. There are a lot of good inside jokes on Ned's character, as well as a few underhanded punches thrown at psychology.

The extras include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes. This episode also includes the guest voices of Jon Lovitz ("Subway...Eat fresh!").

"El Viaje Misterioso De Nuestro Jomer"
This installment is also a charmer and hits the funny bone. Homer goes to a chili cookout where he has the tolerance of an iron vessel when it comes to eating chili peppers. Alas, Chief Wiggum has a pepper so hot that not even Homer can stand to place it on the tip of his tongue. Homer, of course, figures out a way he can digest the deadly peppers, and upon doing so, it sends him into an out-of-body experience or a kind of hallucinogenic state. In Homer's vision, a talking coyote tells him that he must find his soul mate. This episode certainly is whacked, but it definitely gets my stamp of approval.

The extra for this installment is only an audio commentary. The real treat is the guest voice of the late Johnny Cash as the spirit-world coyote.

"The Springfield Files"
Here's another one of my all-time favorites as Homer claims to have seen an extraterrestrial. As you might have guessed, the entire episode is a complete parody on FOX's "The X-Files." We even get a cartoon version of Scully and Mulder that is almost better than the real thing. There are plenty of inside jokes and jabs, and it is probably one of the best installments in the season-eight DVD set.

Extras here include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes stripped from the episode. We also get the treat of hearing the guest voices of Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, and the return of Leonard Nimoy.

"The Twisted World of Marge Simpson"
Now here's an episode right up my alley. Marge starts her own pretzel franchise!

But she is constantly in battle with a group of women known as the Springfield Investorettes. In an attempt to help Marge, Homer asks the assistance of mob boss Fat Tony. As you can imagine, once you get in with the mob, there's no getting out. There are definitely some funny moments as we get plenty of inside jokes that target organized crime.

The extras on this installment come with an audio commentary and some deleted scenes. We also get the featured guest voices of Jack Lemmon, Joe Mantegna, and Marcia Wallace.

"Mountain Of Madness"
Since Mr. Burns's employees miserably fail a fire drill, he decides to require all his employees to attend a survival camp in order to develop teamwork skills. Fortunately, Homer ends up Mr. Burns's survival buddy, and they both end up avalanched in a log cabin. Oh, there are some good, sidesplitting moments to say the least for this witty installment.

There are not a lot of extras tied to this episode. There are only an audio commentary and some deleted scenes, but no special guest voices.

"Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious"
As you can see, the title alone gives away that this episode is all about poking fun at "Mary Poppins." Marge is losing her hair and finds out she has too much stress in her life. She decides to hire a nanny to help around the house, and we end up getting none other than that umbrella flying woman, Shary Bobbins. This episode wastes no time in throwing every rotten tomato it can at "Mary Poppins." They even make fun of the musical numbers and all the campy dialogue. However, not all is lost as it is quite funny yet delightfully warm.

The extras for this episode come with audio commentaries and a set of deleted scenes from the episode.

Disc Three:
"The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show"
In an attempt to boost the ratings for the "Itchy & Scratchy Show," Krusty the Clown and his television cronies come up with a new character for the show. They add in a dog named Poochie who ends up being voiced by Homer Simpson. Needles to say, the endeavor ends up being a total disaster. There are some decent funny moments, but this installment is just average "Simpsons" for me.

Extras for this episode include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and the featured guest voices of Phil ("Hello, I'm Troy McClure...") Hartman and Alex Rocco.

"Homer's Phobia"
Here's an episode that clearly pokes fun at the gay establishment. Suspecting that Bart might be gay, Homer takes Bart to visit a steel mill in an attempt to help Bart with his manliness. Of course, all the workers at the steel mill are gay. This eventually leads Homer to take Bart on a camping trip in order to have a little one-on-one. This installment certainly has that edgy, politically incorrect humor that I admire about "The Simpsons."

The extras on this episode include an audio commentary, some usual deleted scenes, and the featured guest voice of John Waters.

"The Brother from Another Series"
Bart's long time nemesis, Sideshow Bob, is released to the custody of his long-lost brother Cecil. Bart has no trust for Bob and spies on his every move; however, it is Bob's brother Cecil that Bart should be watching as Cecil ends up being the jealous, evil brother that wants to blow up the Springfield dam. What can I say; it's a funny episode, but it's no more funny than other episodes with Sideshow Bob. However, what gives this a little edge is that it's also a parody on the television show "Frasier." Watch closely and you'll see why.

Extras on this installment include an audio commentary, along with some deleted scenes. This episode also features the guest voices of Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, and Marcia Wallace.

"My Sister, My Sister"
Lisa may be too young to baby-sit but that does not stop her from attempting to be the local baby-sitter. She does very well in her first attempts, but when left home alone with Bart and Maggie all hell is sure to break lose as Bart tests her patience. In a spat of hilarious events, Bart nearly gets himself killed and turns Lisa into a basket case. This episode is full of the usual, fun antics that you would expect from Bart or any of the other dumb Simpsons...hey, that only leaves Homer. D'oh!

This episode has extra features that include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes.

"Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment"
Now here's an episode for the alcoholic in some of us. After a drunken riot at the St. Patrick's Day parade, the town of Springfield decides to reinstate Prohibition. Of course, you know how this is going to work out for Homer and his drinking buddies at Moe's Tavern. Homer begins his own bootlegging operation, as he is commonly known as "The Beer Baron" in the underground parts of town. Since I can relate to drinking, I found this installment one of the funniest on disc three.

The extras on this episode include an audio commentary, a bit feature from the artists, and the special guest voices of Joe Mantegna and Dave Thomas.

"Grade School Confidential"
In this episode, Bart's teacher and the school principal get the hots for each other and start up a secret romance. Bart foils their plan as he reveals to everyone their secret romance, which usually gets hot and heavy in the janitorial supply room. Once it becomes public, the two lovers nearly lose their jobs. This installment does have a delightful charm, but it's only mediocre in comparison to other episodes I've seen.

Extras on this installment come with an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and the special guest voice of Marcia Wallace.

"The Canine Mutiny"
This one is full of that Bart humor that we can't seem to get enough of. Bart, in a dishonest way, ends up getting a credit card and maxes it out buying everything he can think of. He winds up with a show dog named Laddie who, of course, happens to look just like Lassie. Laddie is so adored that Bart ends up giving their old dog, Santa's Little Helper, away. However, once Bart realizes his mistake and tries to get his old dog back, he finds he is now under the care of a blind man. Now, this one was fun because it's a lot of Bart and that politically incorrect way he has of doing things. I loved the antics and the few inside jokes that parody the old "Lassie" television show.

The extras on this episode include an audio commentary, some deleted scenes, and Frank Welker as the featured guest voice.

Disc Four:
"The Old Man and the Lisa"
This one is a riot as we watch Mr. Burns turn from filthy rich to stinking poor.

Mr. Burns loses his fortune due to all his "yes men" not telling him the money is gone. Burns is forced to live in the Springfield Retirement Castle, but he vows to make his fortune back. He does so by turning Lisa Simpson's recycling program into a moneymaking, evil corporate empire. This episode was all about watching Mr. Burns being as ruthless as ever, and I died laughing through every minute of it. As I watched, I couldn't help but think of Enron and, in an ironic way, I realized the Enron scandal wouldn't take place for a few more years after the release of this episode.

Extras for this installment include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes. There is also a featured guest voice appearance from Bret Hart.

"In Marge We Trust"
In this episode, Marge ends up helping Reverend Lovejoy handle the pressures of dealing with people's problems. She gets so good at it that she becomes more popular with people than the reverend. Meanwhile, at home Homer is trying to figure out why there is a likeness of his face on a box of Japanese dish soap. This installment is not too bad and is certainly filled with some good chuckles. The whole Homer-on-the-soap box thing seemed strange, but it packed a few good laughs.

The extras on this installment come with an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and an animated showcase. Also, listen for the featured guest voices of Sab Shimono, Gedde Watanabe, and Frank Welker.

"Homer's Enemy"
In this episode, Homer meets the new guy at work, Frank Grimes. Frank soon takes a disliking to Homer because he can see what an idiot Homer really is. Franks tries his best to get Homer fired but nothing ever seems to prevail. Homer even invites Frank over for diner, but Frank loses control and goes into a fit of jealousy over the size of Homer's house and the high-class living he bestows upon his family. As you can see, Frank has become Homer's enemy and, as usual, Homer doesn't have a clue. Nevertheless, this episode has its laughs, and I especially liked the ending.

Extras on this episode include an audio commentary and a special language feature. There is also the featured guest voice of Frank Welker.

"The Simpsons Spin-off Showcase"
This installment is just strange. The writers split it up into three parts as we are whisked away into a make-believe world where there are three television spin-off shows from "The Simpsons." One is of Chief Wiggum and his own detective show. Another is a show where Grandpa Simpson's spirit inhabits the love-tester machine in Moe's tavern; and the third spin-off is a family variety show hosted by the Simpsons, with a sixteen-year old Lisa. Not to worry, this episode is chockful of some great belly laughs, even though it is way out in left field.

All the extras for this installment include an audio commentary and some deleted scenes. Also, there are the featured guest voices of Tim Conway, Phil Hartman, and Gailard Sartain.

"The Secret War of Lisa"
When Bart's antics get him into trouble, his parents send him to military school. Lisa finds a sense of discipline that seems to attract her, so she ends up joining up with Bart. However, Lisa soon finds she is picked on because she's considered a weak little girl who can't handle the physical strains that boys can. Nevertheless, Lisa finds the strength to work it out as she struggles through her own secret war. The one thing I will say for this final episode is the practical joke Bart does to get him busted is one of the funniest pranks I've ever seen Bart do. And no, I'm not going to give it away because it's something you have to see.

The extras for this episode are an audio commentary, a featured bit from the animators, and deleted scenes. Also listen for the featured guest voices of Willem DaFoe and Marcia Wallace.

Season Extras:
As with any "Simpsons" season, all four discs come with extra features that can be accessed through the main menu. You may also access extra features that only pertain to a particular episode by choosing the "+" button by the episode title. If you are already familiar with the menu layout from seasons six and seven, you'll have no problem getting around.

First, let's talk about the packaging. This review is for the "box" package set and not the "Maggie's Head" case. The first thing to know is there is absolutely no difference in what you get on the DVDs; the only thing that is different is the packaging itself. If you are familiar with the box packaging from seasons six through seven then you'll be pleased to know that season eight follows suit. For those not familiar, the box set comes with a slipcover, and the main case fans out into three sections. In the middle, you will find all four discs stacked nicely in a plastic set of DVD saddles. You simply pull back the plastic pieces like a book in order to get to the disc you want. Personally, I think this is the best packaging they have come up with so far. And as always, Fox delivers a very sweet insert for each episode, chapter, and extra feature.

For a rundown on all full extras, let me begin: On disc one we have a memento from Matt Groening, an animated showcase, a bit from the animators, the Simpsons house, and deleted scenes. Matt's memento is basically his way of introducing you to the season-eight collector's edition DVDs. On disc two there are deleted scenes and a feature bit from the animators. Disc three presents us with a feature bit from the animators and deleted scenes. Finally, on disc four we get a special languages feature, an animated showcase, a feature bit from the animators, deleted scenes, a sketch gallery, and promos with Matt Groening. Personally, my favorite is the language feature on disc four. The language feature allows you to watch the "Homer's Enemy" episode in four different languages. Watching Homer speak Japanese is the best.

Video:
The picture is presented in the television-format ratio of 1.33:1. Now, don't think just because this is an animated TV show that is really not as old as, say, the Loony Tunes that the picture quality should be spotless. While the picture is very good by DVD standards, it still comes with those few blemishes ever so noticeable in animation. There are times when the colors seem too vibrant and then too flat. There are also noticeable pieces of film dust and grain, but far too few to really worry about. Overall, it is a decent picture quality that certainly has a night-and-day difference when compared to watching it on a normal broadcast.

Audio:
The audio comes in Dolby Digital 5.1 in English, and Dolby Digital 2.0 in French and Spanish. The sound is nothing special when compared to something you might get from Skywalker Ranch; nevertheless, it does deliver a clean, crisp sound that may not seem much like something in stereo but rather something a bit more monotone. At least that's what my ears got out of it. However, it's television and it's "The Simpsons," so as long as I can get some kind of audio, I'm happy.

Parting Thoughts:
I know a lot of people have commented on which season is their favorite. Some mention seasons one through seven as the only good ones, and then there are some people I know who think the most recent seasons have been a hoot. Personally, and as a "Simpsons" fan, I really do not see when or where one season went uphill or downhill. If I were to look at the seasons that are out on DVD alone, I would have to say I've enjoyed every one of them. However, if I had to pick a favorite out of seasons one through eight, I would probably go with seasons four and eight. The bottom line is that "The Simpsons" has been making me laugh for the past sixteen years, and I really can't think of a time when I thought the steam had run out. If anything, the show improved remarkably every year in the early stages and has now matured and blossomed into the show it is today. True, sixteen years is a long time for any television show, and maybe it is time for "The Simpsons" to finally go out in style. However, if they want to roll out another sixteen years, you'll hear no complaints from me.