The Simpsons (Season 3) 720p HD - (1991 Lang: English)

The Best Show on the Air!

THE SIMPSONS is one of those TV shows that seems to have popped up unexpectedly overnight. It debuted on the Tracey Ullman show back in 1987. Then, in 1989, their Christmas special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"(1989) made its TV debut, and was the first half-hour episode. Since then, they have gone on for ten years and counting, still on the FOX network. The guest stars, from Glenn Close to Rodney Dangerfield, and John Waters to Mel Brooks, are always an added treat. The songs by Alf Clausen are incredible. The soundtrack album is a real joy to listen to.

At times, the show seems like a veritable musical, which make it all the more enjoyable. The main cast (Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith and Nancy Cartwright) are always impressive, not to mention the regular supporters (Harry Shearer, Marcia Wallace,Russi Taylor,Pamela Hayden, Maggie Roswell,and Hank Azaria) are always on hand to perform the roles of the famous side-characters. This is what makes the show so incredibly successful. The only time the show loses its magic is when it either becomes too preachy or too crude, which have popped up occasionally in the last ten years.

The Simpsons' third season originally aired on the Fox network between September 19, 1991 and August 27, 1992. The showrunners for the third production season were Al Jean and Mike Reiss who executive produced 22 episodes for the season, while two other episodes were produced by James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Sam Simon. An additional episode, "Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?", aired on August 27, 1992 after the official end of the third season and is included on the Season 3 DVD set. Season three won six Primetime Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Voice-Over Performance" and also received a nomination for "Outstanding Animated Program" for the episode "Radio Bart". The complete season was released on DVD in Region 1 on August 26, 2003, Region 2 on October 6, 2003, and in Region 4 on October 22, 2003.

The Simpsons is proof that the medium of choice for comedy is animation. How else can you pull off the bizarre antics that Homer, Bart, Marge, Lisa and Maggie get themselves into? So much of Simpsons depends on sight gags, little details that creep into view suddenly and without warning, and so many of these are physically impossible in reality and dauntingly expensive as special effects, that only animation is a practical means of portraying it.

I have never seen another show quite like the Simpsons. I have never laughed as hard or long at anything else on TV. It is inspired, silly and sophisticated at the same time. There is nothing else like it.

There is no need for me to describe the premise or characters to anyone. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Mr. Burns, Smithers, Moe, Grampa Simpson, Dr. Nick, Barney...the list goes on and on. These are names whom when you bring them up in conversation, everyone know exactly who you are talking about before you mention The Simpsons. They have been indelibly imprinted on our minds as unforgettable characters.

Springfield is like no town on earth. No one knows what state it is in, and the show has toyed with that many times. (In one episode, when Apu is learning geography from Homer, Homer points to the location of Springfield on a map. Lisa tells him it isn't there, and her head strategically blocks our view of where she points. Nice touch.) Its residents are both incredibly self-centered and vindictive while being charitable and neighborly. No other nuclear power plant was ever run in the way the Springfield Nuclear Power plant is run, ruled over by the tyrannical Mr. Burns, whose toadying assistant, Smithers, hides his lifestyle even while harboring secret fantasies of his boss. Homer snores while fires flare out of control and warning lights flash across his console. Of course, he is the safety inspector.

Some of my personal favorites for episodes would have to be "22 Short Films About Springfield", which spoofs "22 Short Films About Glen Gould" as Bart and Milhouse wonder about all the stories the people of Springfield could tell. It manages to draw ideas from "Pulp Fiction", "ER", and 60's sitcom fare and many others and cram it into 23 short minutes.

The show has suffered from the passing of Phil Hartman, whose characters provided some of its greatest laughs. The inept lawyer Lionel Hutz, whose smoking monkey giveaways failed to attract clients to his "I Can't Believe it's a Law Firm", and washed up Hollywood actor Troy McClure, whose many cameo appearances in such film's as "The President's Brain is Missing" and "The Muppets Go Medieval" will stay with me for a long time to come.

Not every episode has been great, (the one marking the passing of Bleeding Gums Murphy was dismal) but its track record has been really good for a show that has been around as long as it has. Many shows run out of steam and long outstay their welcome, but the Simpsons remains fresh and inspired. I hope it will continue for many a year to come.

LOVE THE SIMPSONS OR DIE!!!!