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June 20, 2013

The Simpsons: Stop, Or My Dog Will Shoot

by Adam Finley, posted May 14th 2007 1:41PM

simpsons(S18E20)

Bart: You can't send him away. He's a dog, not Grandpa.

Special hint: if you're ever lost in a giant maze (corn or otherwise) you can find your way out simply by keeping your hand on the wall and walking.

You know, if Santa's Little Helper is the main focus of an episode, chances are it's not going to be very good. I didn't laugh very much during this episode, but here's what I did like:

  • The man exposed at the cornucopia contest exposed for "stuffing his horn"
  • Homer freaking out in the maze when Marge says they should "split up" (she means they should "split up" to find their way out, Homer thinks she wants a divorce)
  • The police animal training school scene where dogs attack Eddie (in a protective suit), followed by horses and crocodiles doing the same
  • Santa's Little Helper filled out the police report himself?
  • The pet shop owner keeping the python on a wheel and selling it by the foot like twine
  • The Microsoft paper clip popping up on the computer screen as the python swallows it: "you look like you're trying to eat me. Need some help?"

The rest of the episode, though, felt really flat, and Santa's Little Helper was way out of character. The Santa's Little Helper I know is not nearly as smart as the dog in this episode. He's loyal and fun-loving, yes, but he's also rather dumb, which is part of his charm, and also the reason he works better in small doses, rather than the main focus of the entire episode.

At least the double episodes next week, "24 Minutes" and "Kent Always Say What You Want" look promising. I'll give this episode a 4 out of 7 and wait for something better next week.

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sophie

i think the simpsons is great i mean i love dogs and i like th simpson family. it is a great tv family get togehter programe. i think is fantastic manifisent!!!

May 22 2007 at 5:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joe

I just can't believe nobody has pointed out the "Who's going with who?" line from Lou? Also, I thought the whole episode was one big long, hilarious parody of all those angsty cop shows.

May 16 2007 at 8:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ric

I liked the episode, even with Santa's boomed IQ. Maybe I'm weird or just a fanboy but the "Ethanol" and "Nitric Acid (do not mix with ethanol)" was good, I loved Wiggun when he dismissed the whole week because of a holiday on thursday and regret it (I do that all the time in college and then regret it right after) and by the Clippy "You are trying to eat me, need any help?" I was sold.

On the quality of the episode, of course it's not prime Simpsons, but I don't think they (or any other animation, or any show) will ever get to that level, and I'm ok with it. I try to see the episode within the season and other shows nowadays, and I still think its very good in comparison. 18 seasons and 20+ years of legacy are a heavy load on anyone.

May 15 2007 at 12:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gene

"Why do the people who do nothing but bitch and whine that the show is nowhere near as good as it used to be still watch?"

I didn't. I was so bored and unentertained by this episode that I just turned it off. This has been happening more and more this year; either my sense of humor has evolved (or devolved!) or this series needs to gracefully go off the air, finally. A movie every once in a while would be fun, but I think its TV run may have been milked as far as it can go.

May 14 2007 at 8:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
choccosuede

SLH walking through the maze was not only a Korn/corn connection, but it also parodied the video for "Freak on a Leash" where the camera follows a bullet like it did with SLH. I can't believe I'm the only one who remembers this.

May 14 2007 at 6:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
J

The Korn song reference is really cute, but what was with the weird tracking camera on Santa's Little Helper while he was walking through the maze. Some sort of reference to the Shining maze scene?

May 14 2007 at 6:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Peanut

"good call on the copy. plus we already saw a member of the Simpson family become a cop so this one was a 2 for 1 copy!!!"

Actually, we've also seen an episode where the Simpson family dog (Laddie) becomes a cop.

May 14 2007 at 4:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Televinita

See, for me, Santa's Little Helper being the focus of an episode is a signal it's going to be *good*. I didn't watch this ep, but I wish I had.

May 14 2007 at 4:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eric H

I still find The Simpsons funny, but I find many of the jokes very dated. Where as I get them I can see where many people wouldn't. Like "Freak on a leash" that was on Korn's 98 "Follow the leader Album.

May 14 2007 at 3:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shawn

aw. i liked it. solid episode.
the scene where santa's little helper is going thru the Korn maze and sees Stephen Hawkings was hilarious

"this maze is too hard for me"

May 14 2007 at 3:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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