Classic Simpsons tonight on Fox

[Batman]

According to my trusty Comcast program guide, Fox is breaking out the old, old Simpsons episode where Homer goes to the insane asylum and befriends the 300-pound white guy who thinks he's Michael Jackson. On at 8 p.m. EDT.
Very cool.
When was that first aired, in Season 2 or 3?

 

[BYH]

Oh that is so awesome. thanks for the tip.

And yeah, 1991, I think...so season 3.

 

[Della9250]

Lisa, it's your birthday.
God bless you this day.
You gave me the gift of a little sister,
And I'm proud of you today.

Lisa, it's your birthday.
Happy birthday, Lisa.
Lisa, it's your birthday.
Happy birthday, Lisa.

I wish you love and good will.
I wish you peace and joy.

I wish you better than your heart desires.

And your first kiss from a boy.

Lisa, it's your birthday.
Happy birthday, Lisa.
Lisa, it's your birthday.
Happy birthday, Lisa.

Yeah!

 

[Trey Beamon]

Awesome ... and all because of a pink shirt.

The episode, titled "Stark Raving Dad" was the season three premiere.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stark_Raving_Dad

Homer: Who are you?
Leon: Hi, I'm Michael Jackson, from The Jacksons.
Homer: I'm Homer Simpson, from The Simpsons.

 

[mustangj17]

Awesome awesome awesome.

 

[ColbertNation]

That is fantastic news. I haven't watched The Simpsons in a long time, but there's no way I'm missing it tonight.

 

[Batman]

It'll be interesting, too, to compare the relatively crude animation from those days to the look of the last couple years. It's like the difference between Picasso and a fourth-grader with a box of crayons and a case of the hiccups.

 

[mustangj17]

Homer looks more svelte.

 

[JakeandElwood]

It's just like the time you voted for me.

 

[BYH]

Damn that was awesome.

A funny reference that foretells a future event: Homer laughs at the baby with the nail gun. Doesn't Maggie shoot him in the head with a nail gun much later in the show?

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

Not sure if Maggie shoots Homer. But she does shoot Mr. Burns.

I may have to open seasons 2 or 3 or 4 later tonight and watch an episode or two.

 

[BYH]

Not sure if Maggie shoots Homer. But she does shoot Mr. Burns.

No way. That was Tito Fuente.

 

[Batman]

I realize this was probably a one-off deal, but how great would it be if Fox did this every summer? Instead of showing last season's reruns, dip into the vault and do a summer season of "greatest hits"?
With the 300-plus episode catalogue they have, there's dozens of great ones that people haven't seen in years. DVD owners notwithstanding, of course.

 

[slappy4428]

Not sure if Maggie shoots Homer. But she does shoot Mr. Burns.

No way. That was Tito Fuente.

Tito Puente....

Tito Puente Tito Fuentes

 

[sgreenwell]

I realize this was probably a one-off deal, but how great would it be if Fox did this every summer? Instead of showing last season's reruns, dip into the vault and do a summer season of "greatest hits"?
With the 300-plus episode catalogue they have, there's dozens of great ones that people haven't seen in years. DVD owners notwithstanding, of course.

Are they even allowed to do this because of syndication? I can't speak for every market, but in Rhode Island the FOX affiliate shows two episodes per weeknight.

 

[slappy4428]

I realize this was probably a one-off deal, but how great would it be if Fox did this every summer? Instead of showing last season's reruns, dip into the vault and do a summer season of "greatest hits"?
With the 300-plus episode catalogue they have, there's dozens of great ones that people haven't seen in years. DVD owners notwithstanding, of course.

Are they even allowed to do this because of syndication? I can't speak for every market, but in Rhode Island the FOX affiliate shows two episodes per weeknight.

I would think Fox owns the right to show any episode they want in prime time...

 

[Batman]

I realize this was probably a one-off deal, but how great would it be if Fox did this every summer? Instead of showing last season's reruns, dip into the vault and do a summer season of "greatest hits"?
With the 300-plus episode catalogue they have, there's dozens of great ones that people haven't seen in years. DVD owners notwithstanding, of course.

Are they even allowed to do this because of syndication? I can't speak for every market, but in Rhode Island the FOX affiliate shows two episodes per weeknight.

I would think Fox owns the right to show any episode they want in prime time...

I'd also have to think, given the number of stations that air syndicated episodes and the number of episodes they air, breaking out an older episode won't impact the local affilates' ratings too much.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Man, seasons 2-5 or so of the Simpsons, I would put up against ANY comedy, ever.

That was a great trip into a time before the Simpsons got too weighed down by its own cliches. And when Homer was written as a lovable, yet oafish, dude, instead of a simple buffoon.

Some nice One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest references too. Think I spotted Charley Cheswick and Mr. Harding in the asylum.

 

[GuessWho]

The guy who did Michael Jackson's voice nailed it. I still remember watching that episode when it originally aired and thinking for the first few minutes, "No way they actually got MJ to do that . . . is there?"

 

[chester]

The guy who did Michael Jackson's voice nailed it. I still remember watching that episode when it originally aired and thinking for the first few minutes, "No way they actually got MJ to do that . . . is there?"

I thought I read it was actually MJ, but there was some contractual thing or some other reason why they had to call him by a pseudonym in the credits. I could be way wrong, though.