Even though I didn't start watching the show until many years after it started airing, I was quickly hooked on The Simpsons and continue to watch the new episodes now. I have been picking up the DVD sets since they started to be released and I recently finished watching The Simpsons - Season 6.
Matt Groening originally created Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie Simpsons for short animated segments that would air between sketches on The Tracey Ullman Show. The characters became popular enough for Fox to decide they deserved their own show and The Simpsons began to air in 1989. The show has been on the air ever since, airing the 400th episode in May of 2007. A full length movie, The Simpsons Movie, was released on July 27, 2007 and seasons continue to be released on DVD. Groening also created another animated show, Futurama, that began airing in 1999.
The show mostly focuses in on the lives of the Simpson family with Bart and Homer tending to receive more attention than the others. Other members of the family like Grandpa Simpson and Marge’s sisters Patty and Selma also turned up and were the main focus of an episode here and there. The family isn’t exactly normal which has caused them to end up in some interesting and unique situations which tended to add a good deal of humor to the episodes. Certain things that were done were silly, but I felt those things worked for the show. Many characters said and did things that made me laugh. There’s no way I couldn’t laugh when Bart ended up taking ballet lessons. There were things featured that were more adult in nature without getting graphic. Parents may not want younger children to see some of the episodes.
Sideshow Bob made a return in Sideshow Bob Roberts in which he managed to get out of jail and then ran for Mayor of Springfield. I’ve always enjoyed the episodes that feature Sideshow Bob. The episode did make references back to events that happened in previous episodes featuring Sideshow Bob. Most of the other episodes in the sixth season were self contained and didn’t refer to things from earlier episodes. It was common for episodes to start focusing on one thing before going off in a completely different direction. The last episode of the season, Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One) actually wouldn’t be resolved until the first episode of the seventh season. As far as I know, this is the only cliffhanger episode for the series. It was a very entertaining episode that had Mr. Burns doing something so awful that basically every character had a motive for shooting him.
Another Simpsons Clip Show had Marge and Homer sharing a few stories and clips from previous episodes were included. The episode And Maggie Makes Three was another flashback episode that shared events from when Marge discovered she was pregnant again with their third child. I liked how the episode added more history to the family. Another episode, Lisa’s Wedding, was actually set many years in the future. I really liked the episode and thought it was interesting to see the characters in the future. It was funny how Maggie still didn’t talk even though Homer complained at one point that she never shut up.
Bart of Darkness put a Simpsons twist on the plot from Rear Window after Bart broke his leg and saw something through his telescope. Itchy & Scratchy Land was obviously poking some fun at the Disney amusement parks, especially with a branch of the park in Europe that was deserted. Mr. Burns played a larger part in A Star Is Burns, Two Dozen and One Greyhounds, and Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One). He continued to come up with evil plans and even sang See My Vest in Two Dozen and One Greyhounds. Lisa did receive more attention throughout the season, which was nice to see. Marge was the main focus of Fear of Flying and The Springfield Connection in which she became a cop.
The fifth Halloween special, Treehouse of Horror V, continued the tradition of having three short spooky stories connected to Halloween in some way. The first one was a Simpsons version of The Shining that was very entertaining. The only episode I don’t remember seeing before I watched them on this set was Fear of Flying. I really enjoyed all the episodes in the season and think they are all worth watching. Some of them, especially Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One), have become classic episodes of the series.
The main characters as well as many of the minor supporting characters continued to be voiced by the same actors. Most of the cast regularly provided voices for several of the characters. Yeardly Smith continued to only do the voice for Lisa and Marcia Wallace usually only provided the voice for Edna Krabappel. Julie Kavner did the voices for Patty and Selma as well as their mother the few times she turned up. The voices for Patty and Selma sound very similar, but that works for the characters.
Phil Hartman continued to provide voices for semi-regular characters like Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz. Those two characters were around at least briefly in several episodes throughout the season. Kelsey Grammar returned as Sideshow Bob. His voice is just perfect for the character. Other guest voice actors for the season included Winona Ryder, Albert Brooks, Sara Gilbert, Jon Lovitz, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dr. Demento, Larry King, James Earl Jones, Meryl Streep, Dennis Franz, Anne Bancroft, Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, Rhea Pearlman, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, Patrick Stewart, Dick Cavett, Joe Mantenga, Johnny Unitas, Mel Brooks, Susan Sarandon, Maurice La Marche, Mandy Patinkin, Frank Welker, Steve Allen, and Tito Puente. Some of the guest stars appeared as themselves and others voiced new characters.
The animation was done with bright, vibrant colors that helped to give the show its unique look. I did think the animation was well done even though it wasn’t as good as what was being done for animated movies at the time these episodes were originally made. I do think the animation had a much cleaner look than it did in the first couple of seasons even after it was cleaned up for the DVD sets.
DVD Information
The Simpsons - Season 6 was the first DVD set of the show to have two different case options. One was the normal case like was used for the first five seasons. The other case was shaped like Homer’s head. I ended up with the special case shaped like Homer’s head. It is unique looking, but the odd shape and the way it opens make it a bit awkward to get to the discs. I prefer the more traditional cases since they are easier to get to the discs. All twenty-five episodes from the season are included on four discs. With my copy, the message from Groening was in the booklet since there was no unfolding case for it to be printed on like it was in the first five seasons. I’m guessing it was done the same way with the other version of the case as well since it wouldn’t be practical for two different versions of the booklet to be printed.
The booklet was made to look like police case files and it even said on the cover The Simpsons Case File. I believe that was done because of the episode when Mr. Burns was shot. Groening’s message was on the first page. The third page had a list of the episodes on each disc, the years the episodes first aired, and the principal cast was listed. The next page listed which extras were included on each disc. That page also had the icon key that would be used throughout the rest of the booklet to show which extras were connected to each episode. The booklet was a little bit longer than the ones from the previous seasons because only one episode was featured per page.
The main menu on each disc was animated. Characters connected to each episode were standing in a line up with the episodes listed below them. If a selection wasn’t made fast enough, something new would happen with the characters. There was the option to select and play each episode one at a time or to play all the episodes one after the other. There were commentaries for every episode and many of them contained deleted scenes. There were a few other extras connected to specific episodes. On the fourth disc was a tv special, Springfield’s Most Wanted, that was connected to Mr. Burns being shot. That disc also included an airplane featurette and suspect gallery for the last episode. James L. Brooks did an introduction to the last episode.
Episode List
Bart of Darkness Lisa’s Rival Another Simpsons Clip Show Itchy & Scratchy Land Sideshow Bob Roberts Treehouse of Horror V Bart’s Girlfriend Lisa on Ice Homer Badman Grampa Vs. Sexual Inadequacy Fear of Flying Homer the Great And Maggie Makes Three Bart’s Comet Homie the Clown Bart Vs. Australia Homer Vs. Patty & Selma A Star is Burns Lisa’s Wedding Two Dozen and One Greyhounds The PTA Disbands! ‘Round Springfield The Springfield Connection Lemon of Troy Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)
The Simpsons - Season 6 was a very entertaining DVD set that fans of the show will enjoy. I do think it is worth owning.
The Simpsons Season 6 DVD includes all 25 episodes from season 6 plus episode commentaries, animation showcases and deleted scenes on four discs.More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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