The VICIOUS DVD Wrap: The Simpsons - The Complete 6th Season
Posted by Steve Vicious on 08.23.2006
Is this the beginning of the end for America's first TV family? Find out...
Introduction:
Let's just get started.
Disc 1
- "Bart of Darkness"
During a very hot summer, Homer installs a pool in the Simpsons backyard. Bart breaks his leg attempting to dive into it, and is unable to use the pool while all the other neighborhood kids do. In a scene reminiscent of Rear Window, Bart sees Ned Flanders bury something he thinks is Ned's wife Maude, but it turns out to merely be Maude's favorite plant. ****
- "Lisa's Rival"
A new student joins Lisa's class, and quickly becomes a rival to Lisa, both intellectually and musically. The competition between the two heats up to the point where Lisa enlists Bart to sabotage one of her rival's projects. Meanwhile, Homer takes 100 pounds of sugar from an overturned truck and makes grandiose lanes for it until a rain storm makes the sugar melt away forever. ****1/2
- "Another Simpsons Clip Show"
Marge is inspired by the book "The Bridges of Madison County" to try to teach her children about romance. She describes her near-affair with bowling instructor Jacques while Homer relates his almost-fling with co-worker Mindy. They conclude by realizing they lucked out with each other, while the kids watch "Itchy & Scratchy." ****1/2
- "Itchy & Scratchy Land"
Bart and Lisa ask their parents to take them to Itchy & Scratchy Land -- the "violentest place on earth." While there, Homer and Bart are arrested, and malfunctioning Itchy and Scratchy robots attack the Simpsons, a la Westworld. They escape with their lives and conclude it was indeed an entertaining vacation. ****1/2
- "Sideshow Bob Roberts"
While listening to a conservative radio host reminiscent of Rush Limbaugh, Lisa is startled to hear a call from Sideshow Bob. Bob uses the call-in show to help secure his release from prison, and then runs for mayor as the candidate of Springfield's Republican Party. He wins and attempts to construct a freeway overpass where the Simpson home stands, but is thwarted when Lisa shows Bob achieved his election through fraudulent means. ****
- "Treehouse of Horror V"
Act 1: The Simpsons are employed on Mr. Burns' country estate -- and Homer goes insane. ****1/2
Act 2: Homer's attempts to repair a toaster lead him repeatedly back into the past -- and he inadvertently chances the future. How can you go wrong with Ned Flanders in a "Big Brother" type of role? *****
Act 3: The school cafeteria turns to an unusual source of food -- and the schoolchildren start mysteriously disappearing. We don't need no elevation. *****
- "Bart's Girlfriend"
Bart begins a romance with Jessica Lovejoy, the misbehaving daughter of the local minister. He is blamed and ostracized for her theft of money from the church collection plate. It is left to Lisa to prove Bart's innocence and clear his name. ****1/2
Disc 2:
- "Lisa on Ice"
Blessed with a natural ability to stop flying objects, Lisa becomes a hockey goalie. Bart plays for another team, and the rivalry between them grows, culminating in a climactic game between the two -- which ends appropriately in a tie. This is definitely one of my favorite episodes of all-time. *****
- "Homer Badman"
While driving the Simpsons' baby-sitter home, Homer notices a gummy Venus de Milo stuck to her rear, and grabs it. His actions are mistaken for an inappropriate sexual advance, and Homer is vilified around town. Fortunately, a secret tape made by Groundskeeper Willie is able to prove Homer's innocence. *****
- "Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy"
Marge and Homer's sex life hits a rough patch, but Grampa perks things up with a homemade revitalizing tonic. He and Homer go on the road to sell their elixir, and Grampa reveals that Homer's conception was not planned. Homer vows to be a better father to his own children, and then realizes that Grampa did care about him after all. ***1/2
- "Fear of Flying"
Homer is awarded free airline tickets only to discover that Marge is afraid to fly. Marge enlists the aid of a therapist, Dr. Zweig. With the doctor's help, Marge realizes her phobia comes from a youthful trauma involving her father, and she is cured. ***1/2
- "Homer the Great"
Homer becomes the leader of a Masonic cult with immense secret power, known as The Stonecutters. However, the group soon tires of Homer and bans him from their activities. All the singing was fun. ****
- "And Maggie Makes Three"
Lisa is surprised to discover there are no photos of Maggie in the family album. In flashback, Homer explains why by telling the story of Maggie's birth. Homer had left the nuclear planet to work in a bowling alley, burning his bridges with Mr. Burns when he left. He then discovered Marge was pregnant with Maggie, and had to crawl back and take back the job he despised. But photos of Maggie on the wall opposite his console give him the inspiration he needs to get through his day. ****
- "Bart's Comet"
As punishment for a prank, Bart must assist Principal Skinner with his astronomy. He discovers a comet, which turns out to be on a collision course with Earth. Springfield residents pile into Ned Flanders' bomb shelter, but when there isn't enough room inside, they pile out -- and watch the underwhelming comet destroy only the bomb shelter, nothing else. ****
Disc 3:
- "Homie the Clown"
Krusty opens a Clown College in which Homer enrolls. Homer is not a great clown, but looks remarkably like Krusty, leading to many life-enhancing opportunities -- until he is captured by mobsters who have loaned money to Krusty. *****
- "Bart vs. Australia"
Bart makes a collect call to an Australian boy which wins up costing $900. He is ordered to come to Australia to apologize and receive a boot on the butt. But when he arrives, he moons the Prime Minister, making matters much worse. ***1/2
- "Homer vs. Patty & Selma"
Homer runs up a debt that he can only repay by borrowing money from Marge's sisters. Patty and Selma constantly humiliate him until he finds a way to get them to forgive their loan. Meanwhile, Bart takes ballet and is surprisingly good. ****1/2
- "A Star Is Burns"
Film Critic Jay Sherman comes to Springfield for a local film festival. Entries include an artistic effort by Barney, an overproduced piece of propaganda from Mr. Burns, and Homer's favorite, Moleman getting hit in the crotch. *****
- "Lisa's Wedding"
The Simpsons visit a local fortune teller, who describes Lisa's wedding in the future. She is engaged to a charming British man, but her family inadvertently mucks it up, and Lisa realizes she will have to wait a little longer to find true love. I liked this much better the first time around, but not so much the second time. ***1/2
- "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds"
The Simpsons' dog impregnates another greyhound, leaving the Simpsons with litter of 25 puppies. Mr. Burns attempts to get the little dogs for purposes which turn out to be quite nefarious. Featuring the musical number "See My Vest." *****
- "The PTA Disbands"
When Principal Skinner implements new budget cutbacks at Springfield Elementary, the teachers go on strike. Lisa and even Bart start to miss the school, and local parents must step in to teach the classes. Finally, Skinner is able to give him teachers a raise by using school space to house local convicts. ****1/2
Disc 4:
- "Round Springfield"
Bart gets an appendicitis from a box of Krusty-O's cereal. While visiting him in the hospital, Lisa is dismayed to discover that her idol, jazzman Bleeding Gums Murphy, is also being treated there. When Bleeding Gums dies, a distraught Lisa gets a local radio station to play his album in tribute. ****
- "The Springfield Connection"
Marge confronts a street hustler who takes $20 from Homer, and enjoys it so much she decides to become a cop. She discovers the work is not as much fun as she anticipated -- at one point she must even arrest her husband. Finally, after witnessing corruption within the ranks of Springfield’s finest, she resigns. ****1/2
- "Lemon of Troy"
When a popular Springfield lemon tree is stolen by kids from Shelbyville, Bart vows to get it back. He learns the tree has been moved to an impound lot, and using a plan greatly reminiscent of the Trojan Horse, he and Homer are able to take back the tree and return it to Springfield. ***1/2
- "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part One)"
Mr. Burns attempts to take oil from beneath Springfield Elementary School, then blocks out the sun, enraging local residents. Soon after, Burns is mysteriously shot in the chest -- and there is no shortage of suspects. ****
Video:
Sound: [9.5/10.0]
The series is still brought to you in 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound for the English track, but FOX also gives you the standard 2.0 option for an alternate English, Spanish and French audio tracks.
Extras (Special Features): [9.0/10.0]
You receive audio commentaries on every single episode in the season.
”Springfield’s Most Wanted”
America’s Most Wanted’s John Walsh introduces some clips from the previous six seasons.
”The Simpson’s Plane”
There’s an actual airplane with the Simpsons characters on it.
30 minutes worth of extras.
There are a few commercials for with the characters in them.
The “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” episode has a few extras by itself. The first would be an animatic, original sketches and it comes in four languages.
This special feature focuses on all the major conspiracies about who shot Mr. Burns.
The 411: Season six was another stellar one for America's first family of television. FOX always manages to cram a lot of extras into The Simpsons' DVD sets, and season six is no exception. In my opinion, season six was the beginning of the end for the Simpsons. Anyway, go buy this set now!
