'Peanuts' spoof works well
'Simpsons' sends up cartoon classic in latest 'Treehouse'
By Bruce R. Miller | Posted: Friday, October 31, 2008
"The Simpsons" won an Emmy two months ago for best half-hour animated program on television.
Good grief, Charlie Brown. Bart Simpson is moving in on your territory.
In "The Simpsons: Treehouse of Terror XIX," Bart and the gang riff on Peanuts. Milhouse is waiting for the Grand Pumpkin, Homer makes like Snoopy. And Marge sounds like the adults in the Charlie Brown TV specials (she's playing the trombone).
The bit -- one of three in the half-hour Halloween episode -- shows the most promise simply because there's more to do than adapt the look of other characters. Homer takes on "Mad Men" in a second segment and Bart and Lisa tackle the Transformers in a third.
There's even a voting introduction that finds Homer entering a "double-wide" voting booth in order to cast his ballot for Obama. The machine, however, has other ideas and registers Homer's vote for McCain. Repeatedly. Then, it turns on him. "This doesn't happen in America," Homer says. "Maybe Chicago."
Then, the "Treehouse" episodes roll out. in "Untitled Robot Parody," Bart buys Lisa a cheap Malibu Stacy car for Christmas. It's actually a Transformer that triggers other household appliances to revolt. Cute, initially, but the concept goes on too long.
Similarly, "How to Get Ahead in Dead-vertising" runs the risk of being really crass. After Homer accidentally kills Krusty, he's approached by ad men to off several other celebrities. Apparently, dead celebrities are more cooperative when it comes to product endorsement. The show's creators do a funny bit with John Wayne. And Edward G. Robinson gets to confront Police Chief Wiggums, who sounds suspiciously like him.
Still, getting Homer to kill George Clooney, Prince and Neil Armstrong doesn't seem all that funny. Abraham Lincoln and George Washington get in the action, too, but, once more, the bit dissolves.
Thankfully, the "Grand Pumpkin" segment wraps things up. It has the Peanuts look, the Peanuts style and the Simpsons sensibility. The show's creators have chosen their targets well and given Charles Schulz the kind of hug Charlie Brown never would. Look closely and you'll even see a tip of the hat to Matt Groening's other series "Futurama."
The "Grand Pumpkin" concept is so good it should be extended to other animation legends. A Rudolph spoof? A Frosty freeze? The possibilities are plenty. Making the "Treehouse" a one-story structure (instead of splitting the focus among three) would be wise. Only the last installment keeps it rooted in tradition.
"The Simpsons: Treehouse of Terror XIX" airs at -- p.m. Sunday on Fox.
In "The Simpsons: Treehouse of Terror XIX," Bart and the gang riff on Peanuts. Milhouse is waiting for the Grand Pumpkin, Homer makes like Snoopy. And Marge sounds like the adults in the Charlie Brown TV specials (she's playing the trombone).
The bit -- one of three in the half-hour Halloween episode -- shows the most promise simply because there's more to do than adapt the look of other characters. Homer takes on "Mad Men" in a second segment and Bart and Lisa tackle the Transformers in a third.
There's even a voting introduction that finds Homer entering a "double-wide" voting booth in order to cast his ballot for Obama. The machine, however, has other ideas and registers Homer's vote for McCain. Repeatedly. Then, it turns on him. "This doesn't happen in America," Homer says. "Maybe Chicago."
Then, the "Treehouse" episodes roll out. in "Untitled Robot Parody," Bart buys Lisa a cheap Malibu Stacy car for Christmas. It's actually a Transformer that triggers other household appliances to revolt. Cute, initially, but the concept goes on too long.
Similarly, "How to Get Ahead in Dead-vertising" runs the risk of being really crass. After Homer accidentally kills Krusty, he's approached by ad men to off several other celebrities. Apparently, dead celebrities are more cooperative when it comes to product endorsement. The show's creators do a funny bit with John Wayne. And Edward G. Robinson gets to confront Police Chief Wiggums, who sounds suspiciously like him.
Still, getting Homer to kill George Clooney, Prince and Neil Armstrong doesn't seem all that funny. Abraham Lincoln and George Washington get in the action, too, but, once more, the bit dissolves.
Thankfully, the "Grand Pumpkin" segment wraps things up. It has the Peanuts look, the Peanuts style and the Simpsons sensibility. The show's creators have chosen their targets well and given Charles Schulz the kind of hug Charlie Brown never would. Look closely and you'll even see a tip of the hat to Matt Groening's other series "Futurama."
The "Grand Pumpkin" concept is so good it should be extended to other animation legends. A Rudolph spoof? A Frosty freeze? The possibilities are plenty. Making the "Treehouse" a one-story structure (instead of splitting the focus among three) would be wise. Only the last installment keeps it rooted in tradition.
"The Simpsons: Treehouse of Terror XIX" airs at -- p.m. Sunday on Fox.
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