Mike86

Synopsis:

Lisa discovers that Springfield's anthem was lifted from another town, so she composes a new one, while Homer gets a big lesson in "Wide Pride."

Season 26, Episode 13

RichC2

As someone who struggles with weight, I liked the direction the episode took. Tired of the "just be you, be happy!" message that seems to be everywhere these days.

Mike86

Good episode tonight. Liked the reference to Bart and Michael Jackson's birthday song from the episode Stark Raving Dad. Also liked the quick reference to Who Shot Mr. Burns. I also found it kind of funny that Hans Moleman was apparently mayor of Springfield at one point. The overall storyline about Homer's weight problem was good too. I liked how it didn't hit us over the head with it but got the point across.

PhantomStranger

I don't think the show makes that joke about Michael Jackson as a former guest if he were still living.

Mike86

I don't see why it really matters. The joke and reference was still pretty good and true.

Pointyskull

It was a different time...

Raul3

That was awesome.

PhantomStranger

The pointless Pharrell guest shot made it quite clear the appearances are useless today.

Mike86

I actually didn't mind the Pharrell appearance to be honest. It was just a quick little bit and the episode didn't make a point of centering around his appearance. I'd rather have something like that over a celebrity that's just shoehorned into an episode for no real reason.

LorenzoL

I liked this episode.

Shazam

So the thing with the city anthem is a real thing.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yZ4H7qfoBiw?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

People LOVED this song. And then we found out it was reused.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...-could-tell-us

CPA-ESQ.

Ha ha - there are real city anthems in real life!!

Some of the call back jokes were ok - but Homer already did the whole embrace your fat thing to go on disability (which they did show him in his moo-moo at the end --

Maybe the Simpsons should spend some time doing episodes in the "past" - that would give the show a fresh perspective, and would keep from re-treading the same plot line again and again.

RichC2

The biggest complaint I've read is it was an episode with two A plotlines, plots that need room to breath, and neither got the chance to.

The town anthem plot could have easily been expanded on and made into something really solid and old school, but instead it was just an odd jumping off point. Similarly, Homer meets the Overeaters group, is immediately with them, and it's immediately over.

I liked the episode, but I agree with those complaints.

Mike86

Realistically though being on for twenty-six years the series is bound to repeat itself at times or do a new variation on an old plot. They seem to do a fairly good job at not doing that too often but its easy to see how it happens on occasion.

PhantomStranger

I am very surprised we haven't gotten the modern Simpsons in an episode time-traveling to events depicted during the golden years of the show.