User Reviews

What makes season 10 worth having on DVD (provided you get it as a gift and don't have to spend money on it)? There are a handful of fairly good episodes and one of them is Treehouse of Horror IX. Matt Groening points it out in the introduction to the season 10 DVD, and I'm sure that's not because it's very unique (every season except the first has had a Halloween special) but because it's simply better than most of the other episodes in this year. And so I'll share my thoughts on this episode, as part of my reviewing of Halloween and horror-themed shows throughout this October.

Unlike some later THOHs, the story concepts still feel Halloweenish, by which I mean, based in horror or science fiction. The stories also haven't been done in a THOH before: here we have possession (oddly enough, by evil hair), Bart and Lisa getting trapped in one of the ultra-violent cartoons they love so much, and man-alien hybrids (Maggie!). The first segment, Hell Toupee (I didn't realize until someone pointed it out to me that this is a play on the phrase "Hell to pay") has some good jokes about the ridiculousness of a three strike penalty and Dr. Nick not being an ideal doctor. The idea of revenge from beyond the grave has always been a good idea for a horror story (indeed, we saw it in THOH VI). The segment of Bart and Lisa getting trapped in an Itchy and Scratchy Halloween special allows for some interesting self-references- should mothers let their kids watch such violent Halloween cartoons, like the THOHs? Moreover, we can explore a question once raised by the Itchy and Scratchy Land episode- would Bart and Lisa find this violence funny if it was happening to them? And, Scratchy and Snowball II get together, I always thought they'd make a good couple. Finally, the third segment is good- giving Maggie a starring role is always a good idea. She's usually neglected.

Happy Halloween.

The Treehouse of Horror mini-franchise does it again, with number IX (that's 9 for those who aren't roman numeral literate I guess). Anyway, we have a veritable feast of cameos including Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger (or Kruger in German), Kathie Lee Gifford, Regis Philbin, Ed McMahon and Jerry Springer.

The Itchy and Scratchy segment was reminiscent of the famous It's a Good Life segment of The Twilight Zone movie where the character played by Nancy Cartwright (who of course would later voice Bart Simpson) goes into a horrific cartoon, so kind of meta-ironic in a way.

I wonder how long The Simpsons will go for.

This is another favourite Treehouse of Horror specials in The Simpsons, even it has several celebrity guest star appearances like Ed McMahon and Jerry Springer.

Starts with a classic couch gag with much the same intro which only got Freddy Krueger (voiced by well-known Robert Englund) and Jason Voorhees (from Friday the 13th series, and gets voice role) expecting the family to appear which they didn't like Homer crushed by car and Lisa launched headfirst in garage wall.

First segment is pretty good as it's based on Wes Craven's movie Shocker. Homer gets some toupee transplant (from Snake after swore revenge on the three witness to his final arrest (which involves smoking), one of them being Bart) attached to him and controlling his mind. This was pretty good - there was violent moment like Homer (possessed by Snake) removing Moe's heart with a corkscrew. Finally, Wiggum gave decent punchline of "bad hair day" as this one ended despite Marge late on the laugh. And there was the part Snake's hair gets onto Bart's face and Homer resolves by punching it only usual strangulating Bart following it after Bart insulted him.

Second segment is somewhat the weakest of the three even getting trapped in a television show is somewhat humiliating. This even got the appearance of Poochie the skateboarder dude dog. There was moment Bart and Lisa fall into real-life Regis Philbin and Kathie.

Final segment is somewhat odd yet has it hilarious moments like Homer swung about from Maggie on the ceiling. On the Jerry Springer show, lady from audience rightly asks Kang if he's really Maggie's father then what's his parental neglect - I even nod slyly grinned and applaud just like Homer seen doing. Obviously, Marge got easily distracted while zapped by insemination gun.

Overall, another favourite Treehouse of Horror special.