A New Beginning In Springfield

It practically went unnoticed by the general population, but definitely not by those who have followed the show since its inception into the collective consciousness of the world in 1989.

This past Sunday, The Simpsons ran a new opening credit sequence.
If you're a long-time worshipper of the show like me, then this is something HUGE. Sure, it might be only the opening credits and not an episode, but the opening of The Simpsons is undeniably legendary and iconic, particularly for my generation. Notwithstanding the gag changes (Bart's blackboard gag, the couch gag) and some special in-episode credits ("The Thompsons" from ep 9F22, Bart gets fat from GABF11) the main animation sections stayed constant.

Sunday's new opening sequence contained many of the same elements, but was lengthened to just about 2 minutes, and also included many characters, some new, and some updated. According to TVguide.ca, the change was a celebratory, as the episode marked the first time The Simpsons was cast in high-definition. Check it out:


Do I like it? Yes. Yes, I do. It's always good to keep fresh, and even though The Simpsons hasn't been fresh since the Spice Girls were relative unknowns, it's a bold move, one that I hope is accepted by moderate fans and psycho fans worldwide.

Speaking of the Simpsons not being relevant since "Apollo 13" delighted theatre audiences, I'd like to take the opportunity to dig up a post I wrote over two years ago on another blog site, that I'm no longer writing for. I was worried that this post was lost forever, but it's been found (thanks Greg!)! The following outlines my favourite Simpsons episodes. Enjoy!

[Except from article orginally posted by me on www.thirtylives.com on November 26, 2006]

Chris Turner, who wrote the richly encompassing Simpsons saga, Planet Simpson, stated that the best years, the "Golden Era", was the absolute genius involved in Seasons 4 through 9. I wholeheartedly agree. Therefore, as a sort of "antibacterial cleanser for the sense of humour", I give you my top five favourite episodes of all-time. It should be of no surprise that they are all from Seasons 4 or 5. Undoubtably, those seasons, and the rest to Season 9, represent the very best of this legendary television program. I consider my life to have improved after watching these marvels.

5) Deep Space Homer (Season Five, Episode 1F13, Written By David Mirkhin / Transcript)

One of the best "Homer has another job" episodes (another show mentioned later takes the prize). Razor-sharp writing, pacing and inspired references transcend into beautifully crafted assaults on the knee-jerk hysteria of the news media, the irrelevance of NASA, and the evolution of the TV father figure. Everything here is comic gold, and not by the two sweetest words in the English language: Default.

Favourite Quote - Kent Brockman: "Ladies and gentlemen, uh, we've just lost the picture, but what we've seen speaks for itself. The Corvair spacecraft has apparently been taken over, 'conquered' if you will, by a master race of giant space ants. It's difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the captive Earthmen or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords. I'd like to remind them as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves."

4) Homer The Heretic (Season Four, Episode 9F01, Written By George Meyer / Transcript

We interrupt your regular programming to bring you a wonderful episode. In what is an excellent comment on the validity of all religious orders to be kind and generous to its fellow human, this episode really shines in the writing. The jokes are small, but numerous and quick, and the ending, which in the wrong hands could have resulted in a Hallmark-esque disaster, becomes utterly charming. I'm taking everyone's side here: Homer, Flanders, the Water Department, and God.

Favourite Quote - Homer: Kids, let me tell you about another so-called "wicked" guy. He had long hair and some wild ideas, and he didn't always do what other people thought was right. And that man's name was... I forget. But the point is... well, I forget that too--Marge, you know who I'm talking about. He used to drive that blue car?

3) Cape Feare (Season 5, Episode 9F22, Written By Jon Vitti / Transcript

When you can make walking into nine rakes actually funny, then you've achieved legendary status, as this ep has. An obvious homage to Cape Fear, this episode has it all: incredibly witty writing, a great musical number (cheers for Gilbert & Sullivan), the emergence of a great character in Sideshow Bob, and plenty of hilarious references. An absolute must see for any fans of the Simpsons, or the "Thompsons".

Favourite Quote - Marge: [ruefully] We've left it all behind. How can you make a clean break with your life? Homer: Relax, Marge, I tied up all the loose ends before we left. [Scene change to Simpsons' old house] Abe: [knocking] Hello-o? Hello-o! You have my pills! Hello-o?[meekly] I'm cold, and there are wolves after me. [Howling is heard in the distance]

2) Marge Vs. The Monorail (Season 4, Episode 9F10, Written By Conan O'Brien / Transcript

The runner-up in my top five poll is simply one of the best of the best. Conan O'Brien wrote only a handful of episodes, but his masterstroke is this episode, brimming with comedic glee and super-crisp dialogue. From the Flintstones spoof beginning, to the escalator to nowhere ending, this episode shoots comedic gold at a rapid-fire pace, daring you to keep up. The cosmic ballet goes on, and will the humour of this episode for years to come.

Favourite Quote - Marge: Homer, there's a man here who thinks he can help you! Homer: Batman? Marge: No, he's a scientist. Homer: Batman's a scientist. Marge: It's not Batman!

1) Last Exit To Springfield (Season 4, Episode 9F15, Written By Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky / Transcript

This is the one. The absolute best (according to me). This shouldn't be of any surprise to the big Simpsons fans out there, as this episode has topped many 'best of' lists. And it should. It's as close to perfection as you will get in an episode, on any comedic television series. Homer as a union boss, "Lisa needs braces - Dental plan!", the Big Book Of British Smiles, the best of times - the "blurst of times", hired goons and on and on and on. This is what comedy is in it's most pure form. It's a legend. It should be knighted, or bestowed upon it sainthood. This is television turned up to 11. And I wish there were more like it - we as a planet would be better off.

Favourite Quote (among many) - Kent:Homer, organised labour has been called a lumbering dinosaur. Homer: (scared) AAAAH! Kent: Um, my director is asking me not to talk to you anymore. Homer: Woohoo!

That's my top five. What are your favourite episodes? Moments? Quotes?

The Day The Music Died

A long, long time ago. 50 years ago today. February 3, 1959.

A concert tour called the "Winter Dance Party" was enjoying big successes through the US Midwest, despite the frigid temperatures and poor travelling schedules. Featuring a very popular lineup of up-and-coming musicians, it included Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, J.P. Richardson (aka "The Big Bopper") and Dion & The Belmonts. The cold weather may not have been affecting the attendance, but it was creating havoc on the artists' tour bus, causing malfunctions in its heating system. Frostbite and illness were starting to afflict much of the traveling crew. When an extra show was added to the schedule in Clear Lake, Iowa, band members, especially Buddy Holly, succumbed to their frustrations with the malfunctioning bus and looked for other means of transportation. Holly, needing to get fresh laundry before the next performance, made arrangements with local pilot Roger Peterson to fly three people to Minnesota for $36 each.

J.P. Richardson had the flu, so he urged Waylon Jennings to let him fly instead of anguishing in an ice-cold bus, to which Jennings agreed. Richie Valens wished to fly as well, and won a coin toss with one of Holly's bandmates. Dion DiMucci from Dion & The Belmonts couldn't afford the cost of the flight. When the plane took off, it carried the pilot Peterson, Holly, Valens and Richardson. It never made it to Minnesota.

The plane crash cost the lives of everyone on board, and was the first high-profile music celebrity crash. Every artist was under the age of 30, Richardson being 29, Holly was 22, and Valens was only 18. The tragedy devastated the music industry and shattered the illusion that popular artists, at times worshipped and idolized, were invincible demi-gods. It was a loss of innocence, a loss of talent, and a loss of out-of-touch reality. The incident has been cause for creation, however, as seen in Don McLean's famous 1971 song, "American Pie".

If only this crash was the only one to claim the lives of talented artists, but there have been more. Here are some other famous musicians to have tragically lost their lives in aviation accidents.

Patsy Cline: March 5, 1963. Patsy, famous for her hit "Crazy", was killed along with artists Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cline's manager when their plane crashed in a forest during bad weather conditions outside Camden, Tennessee.

Otis Redding: December 10, 1967. Three days after recording "Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay", his best-known hit, Otis, along with four members of his Bar-Kays band, were killed when their plane crashed in Lake Monoma near Madison, Wisconsin.

Jim Croce: September 20, 1973. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" was skyrocketing Jim to the top when he crashed into a tree while failing to take off in Louisiana.

Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd: October 20, 1977. A pilot's error of miscalculating the amount of fuel in the plane caused the crash that killed many members of the immensely popular band just outside Gillsburg, Mississippi.

Randy Rhoads: March 19, 1982. The seemingly infinitely talented Rhoads, playing in Ozzy Osbourne's band, was killed along with two others when the plane he was riding in clipped Ozzy's tour bus during a botched "bus buzz".

John Denver: October 12, 1997. While flying his own experimental plane near Monterrey, California, Denver made a pilot error causing his own demise.

Aaliyah: August 25, 2001. Instead of celebrating my birthday, Aaliyah was killed after leaving a video shoot in the Bahamas. The plane she was in was overloaded and the pilot had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his system.