On Wednesday, December 24, 1997 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-5, Aaron Varhola wrote:   
   > [5F07] Miracle on Evergreen Terrace   
   >   
   > Review:  This episode wasn't as bad on repeated viewings, but it shows   
   > a major fault of recent Simpsons episodes; the gags and one-liners in   
   > this episode were on target, but the story falls apart after Bart   
   > confesses.  Compare this to the successful "Bart vs. Thanksgiving" and   
   > cringe.  The "Jeopardy" scene was wasted; it could easily have been a   
   > subplot.  D+   
   >   
   >  -- This episode is the epitome of what has been frustrating serious   
   > Simpsons fans; the show is still one of the funniest shows on   
   > television (although a DISTANT second to "South Park"), but it's   
   > obvious that the show is cruising on its reputation.   
   >       Viewers were attracted to OFF by its somewhat realistic, but   
   > skewed take on American family life in the Nineties.  Repeated   
   > viewings rewarded attentive viewers, and sophisticated viewers would   
   > pick up references to high and popular culture in every episode.  Now   
   > OFF is a very good sitcom.  And that's a damn shame.  We had something   
   > special, what Barry Diller called "lightning in a bottle".  This show   
   > had profound effects on my generation's maturing, and shaped our   
   > sensibilities and personalities.  Now it has degenerated into a mere   
   > diversion.   
   >   
   >      A better ending to this episode might have been, instead of the   
   > town pitching in to help the Simpsons, Marge would have gone on   
   > "Jeopardy!", but would have been nervous.  Bart would have gotten   
   > guilty watching Marge suffer through the game, and confessed after the   
   > game was over (with Homer getting worried, falsely, that they owed   
   > Trebek & Co. the amount Marge was in the hole).   
   >      Homer would have been angry, but Lisa would have defended Bart,   
   > saying that he destroyed the Christmas presents accidentally, and that   
   > she forgave him for somewhat intentionally destroying her Thanksgiving   
   > centerpiece.  Cooler heads prevail, and the ending scene is Bart and   
   > Lisa playing their Christmas present.....the Jeopardy Home Game, with   
   > Lisa winning decisively, and crowing about it to Bart.   
   >   
   >   
   > DYN:   
   > -- TV-G?  "Craptacular" and the two drug references (the   
   > "pharmaceutically enhanced" seniors and Krusty and Otto looking to get   
   > the Simpsons' prescriptions) would point to a TV-PG rating, not to   
   > mention.....   
   > -- ...what Lisa does to Bart after Homer takes over choking him.  Look   
   > where all four of Lisa's kicks land. OUCH!   
   >   
   > Aaron   
   That would be his testicles.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)