Another year, another assortment of not-so-scary stories starring my favorite tv family, the Simpsons. This year was probably the most goriest in recent memory, but had some great moments. I’m sure it’ll be on Hulu later this week for those of you who missed it, so try to catch it when you can.
Spoilers are on.
There was some great commentary on kid’s costumes that reminded me of fellow Newsarama contributor Troy Brownfield’s recent blog posts (pretty damn funny) about how kids have abandoned the Universal old school monsters in favor of the likes of Master Chief, Heath Ledger’s Joker, and Iron Man (see the intro to know what I mean).
The first segment was a tribute to Hitchcock and his movies, namely Strangers on a Train, though elements of Psycho and North by Northwest as well. The second was a take on zombie movies, especially 28 Days Later. The third was a take on Sweeney Todd with Moe murdering Homer and his blood making his beer becoming the best thing ever. The thing is though…it was set up like an actual stage play. My inner theater nerd was having a field day.
Even after twenty years, this is one thing I look forward to every year and it just keeps getting better. This one probably ranks up there in my top 5 Treehouse episode. For those of you who saw it, what’d you readers think?
October 18th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
loved it! the stories were good, but the intro was by far my favorite part. iron man dracula? angry monster wives? “it’s not cheating if you wear a costume”? bwahahahaha! great stuff!
October 19th, 2009 at 7:01 am
I look forward to the day that all of these are strung together in one big box set, if it hasn’t already.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:26 am
The Dial M for Murder segment also visually referenced ‘spellbound’ i believe, the hitchcock film which had visuals from salvador dali. I found the ending to the zombie segment fairly disappointing, but the brilliance of the final vignette more than made up for it. Can’t believe it’s been 20 years, and nothing has stopped the initial stories involving kang and kodos, and the dramatization of ‘the raven’.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:05 am
First: Thanks to Kevin for the “Spellbound” reference. (I was a bit confused by that part as I didn’t know the reference.)
This was another good year. I especially enjoyed the stage play segment. It’s always fun when they have that added layer of pseudo-reality.
The Treehouse episodes are always standouts. But I have to say, last year’s “It’s the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse” segment is a particular favourite (and it’s hard to choose!)But really: Simpsons + classic Charlie Brown + a psychotic pumpkin? How can you lose?
October 19th, 2009 at 8:08 am
I wasn’t a huge fan of this year’s Treehouse of Horror. I felt like it had all been done before, and way better the first time.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:59 am
The recently released Treehouse of Horror comic was better, as it always is.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I thought this year’s ToH comic was garbage, just like last year’s was.
But then, I am an old man of 45, not caring for the style of art in those 2 ToH issues…
October 19th, 2009 at 10:18 am
None of these clips will be rememebered, by me at least, as being among the best THOH segments. I really didn’t like the Sweeny Todd clip, though I did appreciate it’s unique use of stage play in the clip. Still, it was neither funny nor shocking.
I did like the opening Halloween costume clip, when Wolfman, Dracula, and the others dressed up like Harry Potter, Iron Man, Spongebob and Jack Sparrow. But there really was no point to that clip. It was a commentary on modern costumes, yes, but not very shocking. Overall, that’s the problem with THOH. It’s not really supposed to be scary, but it is supposed to be funny and shocking, and lately it’s been neither.
Remember when the Simpsons were considered the worst thing on TV for kids to watch because they were “too mature”? HA! How far we’ve come. Sad that The Simpsons still think it’s being edgy in today’s South Park and Family Guy world. Whether you find those shows funny or not, my point is that the bar has been raised and The Simpsons are about as outrageous and shocking as anything on Nickelodeon.
October 19th, 2009 at 11:09 am
I can’t believe they won’t release a DVD of nothing but Treehouse episodes.
It’s been the biggest complaint against the Simpsons franchise for as long as I can remember. You’d think the 20th anniversary would’ve been the perfect opportunity, just in time for Christmas.
October 19th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I think the fact that the Simpsons is no longer considered as a edgy as it once was has more to do with changing social mores and perceptions than it does with the content of the show.
October 19th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Well, I enjoyed this years episode. I really wish they would put them all on DVD.
October 19th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I tried to watch either this year’s or last year’s–not sure, but it opened with a short riffing on Transformers–and it was painfully unfunny to watch after about 3mins. I turned it off, which is what I’ve done with the Simpsons for the last 8-10 years.
October 19th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
What was the music from the Hitchcock segment? Not the North by Northwest theme, but the one at the start (and later), that seems predominantly strings? That tune has been in my top 3 “unknown songs” list for years now!!!
October 19th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Mike, I’m pretty sure it’s Psycho’s theme.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
My god, Lan, you’re absolutely right. That’ll teach me to not watch Psycho.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Great episode as always it was also fun that fox followed it up with Family guy’s Stephen King Paredies
great night all around cheers “clinks glass” then say good day
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