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The Simpsons: Season 6 Director: Various Rating: PG 575 minutes approx 20th Century Fox Get off your oh-so-hip high-horse, 'Family Guy' fans. As much as you sit around toasting the success of your favourite dysfunctional cartoon family with dry martinis and cocktail weenies, you can't deny that someone else did it first. And, yes, though I shudder at the thought of even considering knocking 'Futurama' from the soaring pedestal I hold it up on: this is the original. This is the best. Sure, you've seen all of these episodes of Matt Groening's classic 'The Simpsons' a thousand times. Sure, you can catch the show at least once a day on free-to-air TV and countless more times on Foxtel; but I'm damned if it doesn't look sweet back to back for hours. And, if you're like me, you've given up watching it on TV a long time ago - it was just getting a bit old, and let's face it - Homer & Co. haven't been looking so hot in more recent episodes. So, having done away with 'The Simpsons' for its more modern counterparts in the last couple of years, putting on season six reminded me of the show's wit, its social commentary, its genius. The show took a while to find its feet - the first few seasons were a little too heavy on morals and a little too light on Homer saying things like: "Lisa! In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!" But, by the time 1994's season rolled around, the show was in full swing and at its prime. I'll say this now, but the next DVD release will no doubt prove me wrong: this is the best season of 'The Simpsons'. Classics abound: Lisa's Rival, featuring Homer and a lot of sugar ("White gold! Texas tea... sweetener!"); Bart Vs. Australia, featuring some of the most hilarious Australian stereotypes ever ("Bull frog! That's an odd name. I'd have called them chazzwozzers."); Homer The Great, featuring the infamous Stonecutters ("Who rigs every Oscar night? We do!"). I could go on, every one's a gem: Lemon Of Troy, Lisa On Ice, Homer Badman... all right, that'll do. The most amazing thing is finally seeing the season as a whole: it's astonishing just how consistent the writers were at their prime - the only dud here is the obligatory clip show. Pack that in with audio commentary on every single episode (take that Family Guy!), animation breakdowns, a hilarious America's Most Wanted spoof that documents the huge excitement that surrounded this season's amazing cliffhanger finale Who Shot Mr. Burns? (the highpoint of the show's popularity) and more, and you've got yourself one great DVD package showcasing one amazing television phenomenon.  |
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