A Look Back at SEASON 5 of THE SIMPSONS: An Important but Uneven Season
Season 5 of The Simpsons is one of those seasons of television where I feel like the show needed to find a way to change and grow but in the process, it would somewhat suffer in the quest to find a way to keep the series fresh.
Season 5 was the first season in which the bulk of the writing staff was filled with newcomers with only a scant few remaining from the previous seasons like John Swartzwelder and George Meyer.
The new showrunner was David Mirkin, a veteran television writer who was a fan of the show despite not having written for it. Mirkin was known for being more of a brash and cynical comic writer and after stints on showrunning a more genteel sitcom like Newhart, you can tell his sensibilities might not have been as suited for a show such as that.
After coming off of working on Chris Elliott's cult hit Get a Life, Mirkin nabbed The Simpsons gig and hired several new writers who would go on to do very good work on the show, particularly Greg Daniels who would go on to co-create King of the Hill and develop the American version of The Office.
I have talked a lot about how the early years of The Simpsons had a more frequent sentimental tone at times that might seem surprising in retrospect considering how much the show got a lot of negative feedback from more conservative viewers as it aired, but I would say Season 5 is when the show tends to slip away more from that tone and delves more into brasher, faster comedy that is often more cynical.
I also think Mirkin tended to delve more towards concepts and plot devices rather than character driven stories...and while these can still be good, I feel like the bigger and brasher plotlines sort of jarred me when I revisited the season for the first time in over a decade back in 2016.
The season isn't bad by any means...but it is probably one of my least favorite seasons from the first 8 seasons of the series.
Most of these top 10 selections are episodes that could easily be flipped around because most of these episodes don't make feel as passionate as most of the episodes have so far from the previous seasons.
I will say that my #1 selection is an episode that I do consider to be a classic.
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#10 - Deep Space Homer
Written by David Mirkin
I honestly wasn't sure if I wanted to put this episode this episode on my top 10 of the season, but I felt it was worth singling out as not only was it a prime example of the show going in a different direction, it also was the only episode to be credited solely to David Mirkin.
Yes, in the grand scheme, Homer going into space is an absolutely ludicrous plot line and one that would be referenced by the iconic Frank Grimes in the legendary "Homer's Enemy" from Season 8...but Mirkin does manage to balance the absurdity well with a solid family dynamic.
Plus, you gotta love Homer going after the flying potato chips while The Blue Danube plays. Gotta love when something evokes 2001: A Space Odyssey!
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#9 - Burns' Heir
Written by Jace Richdale
This is one of the episodes that just seemed to be primed to happen from the moment they began developing Burns as a character...or rather, the most diabolical and hilarious villain out there.
When Burns almost drowns in his bathtub when Smithers leaves him alone, he realizes he doesn't have an heir to take on his immense wealth. Smithers, who has devoted his life practically to serving Burns, assumes he would become heir but Burns feels Smithers will get the better prize: getting buried alive with Burns when he dies. That is easily one of the best Burns/Smithers moments in the show's history.
Moving on, Burns and Smiters decide to hold auditions to find an heir. Lisa is rejected on the basis that she is a girl...which she is obviously peeved about in addition to the whole charade in the first place...but as is to be expected, Bart is chosen to be Burns' heir.
By episode's end, Bart will learn a lesson about greed and wealth and the importance of family but the real punch in the face is Homer's piece of advice: "Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is never try".
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#8 - Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badassss Song
Written by Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein
When I think about The Simpsons, I often marvel at the universe that was created for it. These characters are all fantastic (some less than others but I will go off the majority for the moment) and I think it is amazing how many great comic pairings were born out of the writers room.
One such pairing is that of Bart and Principal Seymour Skinner, perhaps a more endearing version that is reminiscent of Rooney and Ferris Bueller's relationship in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
After getting Skinner fired by accident, Bart soon regrets his actions and tries to find ways to get Skinner his job back.
Sure, this many not completely change everything in their relationship, but you see a certain warmth there between these two that had been arch enemies since the show premiered.
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#7 - The Last Temptation of Homer
Written by Frank Mula
Sigh... every now and then, I am willing to acknowledge that an episode is good. However, it does bother me how often that the writers did choose to dive into the well of "Homer is tempted by another woman" storyline...something that they STILL do from time to time. In fact, Olivia Colman recently did a guest spot a season or two ago as a woman pining for Homer.
In this outing, we get a pretty attractive lady named Mindy (voiced by Michelle Pfieffer) who seems to share a lot of Homer's opinions and loves about life. The major difference between Season 3's episode "Colonel Homer" and this outing is that here he actually is able to admit he is drawn to Mindy and loves how much he has in common with her. So, in some ways, this episode hits in a stronger way than other iterations of it have.
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#6 - Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy
Written by Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein
I will always proclaim myself as card-carrying member of the Lisa Simpson fan club. She is the character I was always drawn to the most and she (in addition to Marge) would provide great "straight man" support to the people around her.
This episode is another one of those "Lisa takes a stand" outings that became commonplace after Season 3's "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington".
Lisa has always loved the Malibu Stacy doll, but she is quite appalled with the new version which can talk and gives off a very demeaning vibe towards women.
From here, she chooses to take on the company and wants to develop her own doll: Lisa Lionheart.
As to be expected, despite getting to create the more feminist-friendly doll in the end, she ends up losing to Malibu Stacy all because they released a version in which she wears a hat.
Does anyone still wear a hat? Apparently, Malibu Stacy now does.
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#5 - Homer & Apu
Written by Greg Daniels
As the first episode credited to eventual American Office creator Greg Daniels, "Homer and Apu" holds the distinction of being the first Simpsons episode I can vividly remember watching.
When this episode aired in February 1994, I was coming off a rather violent case of Pneumonia that left me feeling incredibly weak for quite a while. I can still recall details from that time even though I was only 5 years old.
I obviously knew of The Simpsons but never actively watched episodes due to my young age. For all I know, I probably did watch several episodes prior to this one but as memory serves (even if it may be to my detriment), this was where I remember watching and wanting to keep up with the show.
Apu has become something of a problematic character in recent years and, if I am being honest, I think it was wise to let him go. Frankly, he was never a character I loved as much as others in the first place.
This episode probably represents him at his best. It all comes down to his big song and dance number that he shares with the Simpsons family: "Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart?"
Also, one of my favorite Simpsons lines of all time comes from this episode. After the song and when everyone thinks the world is back in order again, the family realizes that Apu does indeed miss the Kwik-E-Mart which leads Homer to exclaim:
"Hey, he's not happy at all. He lied to us through song! I HATE WHEN PEOPLE DO THAT!"
Also, the subplot of James Woods taking over the Kwik-E-Mart as a means to prepare for an acting role feels like precursor to Family Guy and their desire to basically copycat anything The Simpsons ever did.
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#4 - Homer's Barbershop Quartet
Written by Jeff Martin
A minute-long Barbershop Quartet song about a popular car decal manages to sweep the nation and bring great adoration to Homer, Barney, Skinner, and Apu?
"Homer's Barbershop Quartet" sets up the story that in 1985-1986. Homer and his friends formed a Barbershop Quartet called "The Be Sharps" which was intended to be play off of The Beatles, even down to one of their most famous album covers.
During this time, the group wins a Grammy and gets to perform at the Statue of Liberty's Centennial Show...and of course, they soon end it all.
One thing the show does comment on, which could be viewed a cheap ploy, is that Bart asks why Homer never brought this up before...especially considering Bart was actually around 5 years old when this all happened. Conveniently, Homer never answers his questions.
The episode ends with another Beatles callback. After not having performed in public for years, The Be Sharps perform on the roof of Moe's Tavern unannounced for the public below which is a reference to the iconic rooftop concert The Beatles did about a year before they broke up for good (which you can finally see that full concert in Peter Jackson's truly magnificent Beatles Documentary Get Back on Disney+).
While the people love it, George Harrison drives by and dismisses it because it has already been done.
While this episode may have been dismissed by many at the time of its airing as being something too outlandish or that it was too cheesy in its plot, its fanbase has grown over time.
I also still stand by the fact that the "Baby on Board" song is a classic...but I also say that as someone who has a softspot for Barbershop Quartets.
They make me want a single plum floating in perfume served in a man’s hat…haha…
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#3 - Rosebud
Written by John Swartzwelder
It is kind of fitting that aside from my #1 selection, this and my #2 selection were both written by John Swartzwelder, who was one of the only remaining writers who had been with the show since its premiere and would remain until season 15.
Swartzwelder's cerebral sensibilities are strongly felt throughout his time on The Simpsons and there is no ignoring how many stellar episodes he had contributed. Here, he delves back into the world of Burns and a great attempt at giving the show's evil villain a comical desire to find his childhood teddy bear. To be expected, the bear manages to fall into the hands of little Maggie who promptly falls in love with it.
To further add to the hilarity of the episode, the show is in great form as a parody with Burns' quest to find his bear becoming a similar quest to that to find the meaning of "Rosebud" in Citizen Kane.
One random tidbit: I very much adore the quick bit where Homer has what is obviously Barney and Friends on TV and it shows Barney the Dinosaur singing a song in which the only lyrics are: "Two plus two is four" repeated over and over again.
And lastly, this episode has one of the best ending moments to the series in its history...but I will save it for the end of this post.
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#2 - Bart Gets Famous
Written by John Swartzwelder
The fifth season of The Simpsons does seem to put Bart off to the side a lot more compared to previous seasons. When the series first premiered, Bart was such a stand-out character that he had a lot of Conservative Americans up in arms (I have already told the Bush Sr. story multiple times so if you don't know what I mean, Google it!). Now I feel like this is the portion of the series where they began to focus more on other characters at more of a fair rate which I think is a huge plus.
Though, "Bart Becomes Famous" was perhaps this new writing staff's biggest success this season...and yes, a lot of that was due to the fact that Swartzwelder was at the helm.
This episode is also the show in very early meta form and the concept of Bart becoming famous as Krusty the Clown's new sidekick complete with a hot catchphrase: "I didn't do it", is in line with Bart's catchphrase frenzy with lines like "Eat my shorts" or "Aye-carumba!".
That catchphrase concept leads us to another ending which is a pure classic. I would rather let the actual clip speak for itself:
"What kind of catchphrase is that?!"
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#1 - Cape Feare
Written by Jon Vitti
This was simply no contest...and I feel like the majority of fans would agree with this selection.
Not only is this episode quite possibly the definitive Sideshow Bob outing, but it may very well be the show's definitive parody of another piece of entertainment...that being the film Cape Fear, mostly the 1991 remake directed by Martin Scorsese.
Everything about this episode is simply perfect:
-The animation styles used to evoke Cape Fear.
-The obtuseness of the jury on letting Sideshow Bob be released from prison.
Quote:
Lawyer: What about that tattoo on your chest? Doesn't it say 'Die Bart, Die"?
Sideshow Bob: No, that's German for "The Bart, The".
*Courtroom murmurs approvingly followed by a Juror stating* "No one who speaks German can be an evil man!"
-Homer not being able to understand the concept of a new surname as they get put into Witness Protection.
-The whole new credits sequence where The Simpsons becomes The Thompsons.
-The iconic and legendary rake sequence with Sideshow Bob which is the DEFINITIVE example of how a repetitive joke can actually go from being funny to just plain ridiculous and back to being funny again.
-Homer scaring Bart unintentionally with a butcher knife and a chainsaw even though his original intention was just to offer Bart some brownies.
-Sideshow Bob being foiled thanks to his love for Gilbert & Sullivan.
This episode was technically the final episode to be produced under the writing staff that consisted of the majority of the original team. What a truly stunning and hilarious episode for them to go out on!
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IN CONCLUSION:
So yes, Season 5 of The Simpsons is a bit of a conundrum for me. In some ways, it was needed because the show probably would've descended into a stale territory for more quickly than it did but at the same time, the tonal shifts take a lot to get used to at times. However, when they did succeed strongly at nailing the more brash and cynical comedy, it gave us some truly hilarious results.
Not sure what else to say, but to quote the great ending of the "Rosebud":
"Marge, I'm confused. Is this a happy ending or a sad ending?"
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