1989, USA
Animation, Comedy, Family, TV
To quote Homer J. Simpson, patriarch of the longest running animated show ever: "It's those TV networks Marge...One quality show after another, each one more brilliant than the last. If they only stumbled once -- just gave us thirty minutes to ourselves. But they won't, they won't let me live!" Oh, but they will, Homer.
As 15 year-old "The Simpsons" itself has jabbed many times, it is just such a program that has saved the Fox Network from certain ruin. Where else do yellow-tinted, four-fingered, bug-eyed humanoids provide biting social commentary for the adults and crude bodily function humor for the college students, er, kiddies? For the past three years, a DVD has been released for each of the first three seasons.
The three disc Complete First Season includes extras such as audio commentary (including creator Matt Groening), original scripts, outtakes, foreign language clips, early sketches, magazine covers and television specials. Episodes include the pilot Christmas episode, the introduction of Bleeding Gums Murphy, and the use of the word kwyjibo.
The four disc Complete Second Season includes extras such as audio commentary by creator and crew, interviews with Groening and producer James Brooks, various PR stunts with commentary, music videos, Butterfinger commercials, and early drawings. Episodes include "Two Cars in every Garage and Three Eyes on every Fish" and the introduction of Kang and Kodos on the first annual "Treehouse of Horror" episode (necessary viewing at Halloween).
The four disc Complete Third Season includes such extras as audio commentary by creator and crew, multiple language options for the second "Treehouse of Horror," audio outtakes, Butterfinger commercials, Simpsons jukebox, sketches, and storyboards. Episodes include the use of the sex-education filmstrip "Fuzzy Bunny's Guide to You Known What" and Michael Jackson's aliased guest appearance. So much good TV it should be illegal.