This episode was terribly weak. I usually do my best to avoid the nostalgia that is associated with many of the most fervent fans (the ones who say the show is awful now and it should have ended years ago but still watch it)-- my belief is that the show has merely changed and alienated some of those fans. But I have to admit I found myself waxing nostalgic about the days when a guest spot on the Simpsons actually meant something and wasn't just thrown in, like Fantasia was on Sunday. It isn't even so much that she did a voice but the way she was used-- her character was pointless. It gives me the impression that the staff of the show is not being as strict about doing things their own way as they once were-- Fantasia's appearance was, I think, probably "suggested" by Fox to support its Idol alum. It was nearly as bad as Britney's cameo. The throwaway gags were excellent, as usual, but overall, I'd rate the episode pretty low, especially compared to the brilliance of Albert Brooks last week and the superior "End of the World" episode.

I wouldn't hold it against you for not knowing who Fantasia is? But I would hold it against you if you told me you never saw the movie Fantasia! I didn't watch the Simpsons last night. I watched a Fresh New Episode of Charmed on the WB. Then I turned to Fox's Family Guy, which was a howl-and-a-half that started the second it came on the air, ala the article above this article. I'm all Simpons'ed out I guess because they couldn't even coax me to tape it with a "Fresh New" American Idol theme. The WB cracks me up with the word Fresh. I'm waiting for someone to develop a show where Fresh means someone gets slapped in the face.

? So....It's a cartoon for crying out loud.