Geofferson

Rather lackluster episode. I too enjoyed the opening, but the rest was sub-par, IMO.

Cusm

As Deftones noted, it was on a Monday; but I think the whole reason that THOH has been airing in November is more to do with the World Series than November sweeps. Or maybe it started with one and is using the other as an excuse to wait till November, although many other shows are airing new episodes the week before and of Haloween.

dadaluholla

I laughed at the Abu R2D2 but thats about it. It was pretty much on level with the rest of the recent episodes of Simpsons. I don't mind watching it, but I'm not finding it all that funny.

Xander

I thought it was okay. The first two bits were a stretch for a halloween ep, but that's happened in the past. Got the most chuckles out of the Hunt one and the last one.

slop101

I don't understand all the dislike toward this episode - sure, there have been better episodes, but there have also been far worse episodes too. I'd put this one somewhere in the 50% range, where about half of all Simpsons episodes are better, and the other half worse - but still better than 90% of most every other TV shows.

dhmac

I was thinking the same thing. That's such a mainstay of High School English everywhere that it's very surprising to find someone who has never read or even heard of the story. It's like finding someone who has never read or heard of The Catcher in the Rye or Huckleberry Finn.

RKillgore

Because this is a Treehouse of Horror episode, usually the cream of the crop, and the best results we get are maybe a couple of chuckles or a smirk, then you have to admit that The Simpsons is seriously sucking. If you consider the importance and potential of this episode and you yourself give it a 50%, you might see that a lot of viewers are weary of the wasted potential. Even Jackskeleton came onto this board complaining about the episode and even whole seasons and he's one that would regularly defend The Simpsons, usually touting that even bad Simpsons is better than most TV. If he's turned, you know it's bad.

Over the years, we were forgiving of one or two clunker episodes per season, but that's been increasing over the years and now it seems the inverse is the norm, that there might be one or two good episodes per season. Personally, I was one that The Simpsons had a priority, that I had to watch it every week. Now, I don't give a second thought about missing a new episode and there are instances of changing the channel halfway through a show. It's too bad that Fox moved Arrested Development because when it followed The Simpsons, I was reassured that I hadn't lost my sense of humor and that I could heartily laugh at something on TV, having sat stone-faced through The Simpsons, wondering where the funny went.

I'm reminded of the wisdom of the late Johnny Carson. After seeing so many entertainers decline over their careers, futilely trying to grasp their glory years that they appear sad and pathetic, he decided he wouldn't take that route. I just wonder how bad if will have to be before they decide to wrap up The Simpsons.

fumanstan

I've never heard of The Most Dangerous Game, and I was in all those Honors/AP classes in High School. Ah well.

I only caught bits and pieces of the episode since i was watching a basketball game, but the parts i caught were funny. Moleman turning into a Mole was pretty cool.

Rogue588

Yeah, i'm done trying to figure this out and all the hate for Vincent D'onofrio on L&O CI. Just go with it.

RichC2

Didn't hate the episode, just wasn't particularly entertained by it.

Oh how I miss the days of The Shinning.

Bluebomber

I also thought the first two segments barely belonged, I don't expect much from the regular season episodes these days but for the halloween episode to sink so low it just makes me sad.

The Bus

I thought the episode was a B-. Not very funny and I sadly see some bits where they try to steal some of the thunder from Family Guy.

My Sunday night highlight is American Dad, which is the funniest animated show still on the air. (Otherwise it would get trounced by Futurama and Venture Bros.)

Josh-da-man

I'm sure I've probably read it, but it's probably been years. But not in high school; I went to high school in Kansas, so reading and learning wasn't much of a priority.

Well, actually, my high school literature class seriously put me off of P. G. Wodehouse, so there is that... I also remember reading (for classes) "The Count of Monte Cristo," "Uncle Fred Flits By" (actually, not reading it, because I missed the reading assignment and bombed the fucking test the next day), "Harrison Bergeron," "A&P," "The Pearl," "MacBeth," and "Romeo and Juliet." And a few more that escape my mind at the moment.

"Battle Royale" is fresh in my mind, though, as I'm right in the middle of the manga -- and the bit where Burns wasted Comic Book Guy immediately put me in mind of that.

Bill Needle

Loved the opening rip on baseball. First segment was weak and very, very dated. The second and third segments were strong IMHO, especially the second. "Run for 5 minutes?! Just shoot me now!"

SkullOrchard

When I was a kid, I loved the episode of Gilligan's Island* that spoofed The Most Dangerous Game. I'm surprised that more people aren't familiar with the 1932 film. (Filmed on the set of King Kong)

Available on DVD by Criterion and Alpha. (Surprisingly, the Alpha print is quite good)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...s=dvd&v=glance

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...s=dvd&v=glance

* Guest Star: Rory Calhoun

Pariah

I liked this episode a lot, it was a great Treehouse but I was entertained through the show.

In high school we didn't read "The Most Dangerous Game." We read "Catcher in the Rye," "Ethan Frome" and "Black Like Me." That was in "advanced english" since my school didn't believe in AP classes. We did more in my physics I class than other SP physics classes did, then I took physics II. Grr!

I find it odd that Simpsons took a shot at Family Guy (during the end credits one of the scary names was "Family Guy") the same night Family Guy took a shot at the Simpsons (Homer gets run over and Peter asks who he is.)

DRG

Not up to par with the classics, but still better than the past few Treehouse of Horror eps.

Numanoid

That's what I was thinking during the celebrated 3-D segment from ten years ago. Do you realize they were spoofing the freakin' Twilight Zone in that one? The TWILIGHT ZONE! That was, like, from 50 years ago!!!1!11!!

Bill Needle

Sarcasm aside, you're not actually comparing the pop-culture influence and staying power of the Twillight Zone to that crapfest AI, are you?

Numanoid

First, I'm well known in these parts as a big A.I. defender. Secondly, I'm willing to bet that more "young people" know the A.I. reference than the Twilight Zone reference.

My point is, paying homage to something that came before doesn't necessarily need to be timely. As long as it's in the past, it's fair game, IMO.

GameGenie

decent episode but not that great.

Tyler_Durden

I thought the "you'll have to go through your father" part was hilarious.