Top 10 Simpsons Episodes

Now, this is one of the toughest top 10 lists I've ever put together. The Simpsons has such an incredible selection of episodes, both in number and quality, that choosing only 10 is a near-impossible task. Almost everyone has compiled their own top 10 list of Simpsons episodes and almost all of those people have surely received some sort of retaliation for their choices (no one can seem to agree with anyone on this subject). Below is what I, Brian Russell, feel are the best of the best thing to ever come out TV land. If you don't agree, feel free to voice your disapproval.

10. Rosebud (Season 5)
For an episode that strongly revolves around Mr. Burns (no matter what anyone says, he is one of my least favourite Simpsons characters), "Rosebud" is actually very impressive. It's Mr. Burns' birthday and what should be an occasion for celebrating is marred by the fact that Mr. Burns is having recurring dreams of losing his childhood teddy bear, Bobo. When he discovers that Maggie is the new owner of the bear, he goes to the highest lengths to get it back.

Of course, a lot of my reason for putting this on the list is because of the entire episodes reference to Citizen Kane. That movie is brilliant and "Rosebud" thrives off of its glory. Apart from that, though, seeing Homer's love for Maggie and the level he will go to fight for her is a truly touching moment for The Simpsons and gives this episode something to relate to.

9. Mr. Plow (Season 4)
When the Simpsons meet winter, there is always fun to be had. Of all the winter themed episodes, none have made the impact that "Mr. Plow" has. A simple premise, Homer decides to buy his own plow truck and start a driveway plowing business. Unfortunately for him, his bar buddy Barney has done the same thing and is seeing better results. But, even amongst the business tension between the two of them, when Barney gets stuck in snowy trouble, Homer comes to the rescue.

What makes "Mr. Plow" so memorable and such a great episode is the fact that it's filled with some of the funniest sequences of the fourth season. Adam West's cameo, Homer's self-produced Mr. Plow commercial, Barney's hot tub conversation with Linda Ronstadt, just to name a few. And who can forget the Mr. Plow jingle? "Call Mr. Plow, that's my name, that name again is Mr. Plow."

8. Treehouse of Horror IV (Season 5)
The "Treehouse of Horror" series of Simpsons episodes are generally fan favourites thanks to their allowance for some of the weirdest, most surreal Simpsons stories around. Rarely, though, do these Halloween-themed episodes achieve a level of greatness that the more standard Simpson fare does. "Treehouse of Horror IV" is an exception.

The hilariously un-scary stories, which include Homer selling his soul to Devil Flanders for a donut, Bart seeing a gremlin on the school bus and the Simpson family discovering Mr. Burns is a vampire, are shining examples of Simpsons humour and Halloween antics working together in perfect harmony.

7. Homer's Enemy (Season 8)
Most Simpsons fans love Homer and his utter mindlessness, but let's face it, if Homer were a real person, he would be the most annoying person in the world. That fact can be seen at its clearest in "Homer's Enemy".

Frank Grimes, a man who has had to work hard for everything in his life, has recently acquired a job at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Unfortunately for him, he is working in close quarters with Homer. Day in and day out, Homer drives Grimes up the wall, eventually leading Grimes to go insane and, in an effort to prove Homer is an idiot, accidentally kill himself. It's definitely one of the darkest Simpsons episodes ever made, but sometimes "dark" can be funny.

6. The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson (Season 9)
This is the episode that I consider to be the last of the great Simpsons stories. The story is fresh, the humour is top-of-the-line; just about everything in this episode is excellent. Unfortunately, it is also the opener to season nine, meaning that the rest of the 25 episode season is filled with standard, passable material. In this outing, Barney has been made the designated driver for the drinkers at Moe's Tavern. Barney uses Homer's car to drive everyone home, but the next morning, Homer can't find his car and Barney doesn't remember where he left it. It turns out the car is at the World Trade Center in New York and now Homer and his family must travel there to get it back.

This is the only episode of The Simpsons to ever be taken out of syndication. The reason for its removal was because of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. It has recently been put back in syndication, but it's still quite rare to see it on TV. The DVD is the best way to go to if you want to see this classic.

5. One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Bluefish (Season 2)
One of Homer's most prominent traits is the fact that he likes to eat. So, to no one's surprise, when the Simpson family goes out for dinner to a Japanese restaurant, Homer orders whatever he can get his hands on. He unknowingly tries fugu, otherwise known as pufferfish, and thanks to Homer's impatience, the chef doesn't slice it properly, causing Homer to eat the poisonous part of the fish.

What's most notable about this episode is that it's actually quite a sad story. For the entire episode, Homer, knowing he will soon die from the toxic fish, tries to live out all the things he wants to do before it's too late. And while attempts at humour are made, and essentially succeed fairly well, it's still kind of heart-wrenching. Of course, and I don't think I'm spoiling this for anyone, Homer doesn't die, but the final scenes are what I consider to be the most moving Simpsons scenes ever. If you haven't seen this one yet, watch it now. It's definitely worth the 20 minutes.

4. Last Exit to Springfield (Season 4)
"Last Exit to Springfield" is an episode many people consider to be the best episode of The Simpsons ever made. It appears on most people's top 10 lists, quite often at number one, and received the best critical praise the show has ever seen. There's also a lot going on in this one. Mr. Burns (yes, I know, he's on the list again, but I still don't like him) has gotten fed up with the power plant's union and has decided to take away their dental plan. At the same time, Lisa learns she needs braces and that without Homer's dental plan, she will have to settle for the most clunky, mechanical set of braces there is. Homer takes on the job of union leader and fights to get the plan back with the support of his co-workers.

The reason I haven't placed "Last Exit to Springfield" at the top of my list is because I never liked the ending. The rest of the episode showcases some of the best material in the series, including Homer dreaming he is a mob boss, but the ending just never cut it for me. It seems too rushed and inconclusive, more like something out of the recent Simpsons years. I'm not going to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but watch it anyway and see if you agree.

3. Life on the Fast Lane (Season 1)
I really struggled with this one, deciding whether to put it at number three or number two, but I have settled with third position. First of all, "Life on the Fast Lane" is hands down the best episode of the first season. Albert Brooks always brings laughs when he does a voice for the show and this is truly his finest performance (even though he does appear again on this list). It's Marge's birthday and Homer has forgotten to get her a gift. While at the mall, he spots a bowling ball which he buys for himself, but foolishly ends up giving it to Marge for her gift. Magre gets mad, keeps the ball anyways and meets Jacques, a smooth talking French bowling instructor while spending some personal time bowling with her "birthday gift".

This is one of the few instances where Homer has reason to be upset with Marge due to her extended periods of time socializing with Jacques. Not much more can be said about this episode. It's simply full of hilarious Simpsons material and that's enough to qualify it for top three. And, just to note, Albert Brooks actually ad-libbed most of Jacques dialogue, my favourite line being "four onion rings!", and gave the show more than three hours of material to work with.

2. Simpson and Delilah (Season 2)
This episode doesn't get enough credit for how great it is. I think that being near the top of season two and considering its age, it has sort of gotten lost among the other great episodes. What makes "Simpson and Delilah" so special is that the story is extremely well structured and it marks the first prominent instance of character development for Homer. After seeing an ad for Dimoxinil, a "miracle" hair growth formula, Homer decides he wants to try it and manages to get it paid for by his work's medical insurance. Luckily, the formula works and he gets a flowing new head of hair, which gets him an executive job at the power plant and allows him to hire his own secretary, Karl, played by Harvey Fierstein.

After Bart breaks the bottle of Dimoxinil, Homer goes bald again and loses the confidence he gained from having hair. Karl tries to reassure Homer that his hair had nothing to do with his recent success and that's where we get to see Homer at his weakest and someone caring enough for the man when he's feeling down. Fierstein does a brilliant job with his role and honestly, without his participation, I don't think this episode would have been as great as it is. Nonetheless, this is prime Simpsons territory that every TV viewer should check out.

1. You Only Move Twice (Season 8)
For me, season eight is the most consistent in terms of good quality episodes. Each one has something memorable about it, but the best of the season and the best overall is "You Only Move Twice", the episode that brought back the feel of the amazing early days of the series. When Homer is offered a job at the Globex Corporation, he convinces his family to move to Cypress Creek to be closer to the company. Homer's new boss, Hank Scorpio, voiced by the already well-established Albert Brooks, seems perfect, but unknown to Homer, Hank is truly evil and he has a doomsday device to prove it. The government wants it and Homer is unknowingly a part of Hank's plans.

Though the episode does primarily revolve around Homer, the rest of the Simpson family have their own sub-stories that correlate to the main premise. This gives the episode a lot of meatiness and the best part is that none of it becomes overwhelming. All the different stories are easily followed and they all come around in the end and conclude perfectly. Along with some of the best jokes, animation and cultural references in the series, "You Only Move Twice" takes the number one spot and truly deserves it.

Now, there were some episodes that almost made it in my top 10, but just didn't have enough to earn a spot. So, seeing as how I still enjoy these ones a lot, I'll number them 11-15:

11. Bart the General (Season 1)
12. Homer's Phobia (Season 8)
13. Homer at the Bat (Season 3)
14. Bart the Daredevil (Season 2)
15. Treehouse of Horror V (Season 6)

So, there it is. Yet another top 10 list of Simpsons episodes. It seemed impossible, but it's done. Whether you agree or disagree with these choices, you must admit, The Simpsons really is one of the greatest TV shows ever created. It transcends age, time and sense of humour. It has something for everyone.

Some Thoughts on American Idol

Lee DeWyze, Ryan Seacrest and Crystal Bowersox.

The season finale of American Idol aired last night and it didn't quite manage to pull off anything outstanding. In fact, it was really disappointing.

This season of American Idol was fairly low-key and dull to begin with, especially compared to last season. The most obvious reason for this is that no contestant this time around had talent on the level of last season's Adam Lambert. However, this year's final two came relatively close.

Crystal Bowersox, 24, and Lee DeWyze, 24, who both auditioned in Chicago, Illinois, were definite front runners this season and were both very deserving of their spots in the finale.

I've watched this season strictly for these two because apart from their talent, Idol was a lost cause.

Last night's star-filled finale, which included performances by Janet Jackson, Alice Cooper and Alanis Morissette, was ridiculously boring and it seemed like the producers of the show had just given up. Crystal and Lee received surprisingly little attention as the show kept reminiscing about Simon Cowell's time as a judge because this just so happens to be his last year on Idol.

So, while viewers were forced to watch Cowell's "emotional" goodbye, they were also subsequently forced to ignore the fact that Idol was going to crown a winner moments later. Pathetic.

Is Lee having a heart attack? Nope, just a mediocre win!

Lee DeWyze ended up winning (although we all know it should have been Crystal) and now it's just a matter of time until the public finds out which one of them becomes more successful (and it will probably be Crystal).

Lee's win got a very standard level of applause and celebration. There was simply no excitement. I truly believe no one cares that Lee won and no one cares that Idol exists. It's the same dull, lame, boring, routine and depressing series it has been for the last couple of years.

Idol contestant Casey James doesn't fear laughing in the face of Bret Michaels.

There are really no more words to describe how much this season fell flat. (But, doesn't it say something when one of the best moments of the finale was when Bret Michaels made an appearance even though his health is in jeopardy?)

And what the hell was up with Paula Abdul's return to the show? She looked and sounded completely mental.

Simon is gone. The show is predictable. The contestants are average. Ellen DeGeneres was a horrible choice for a judge. American Idol has "jumped the shark". To the TV powers that be: just cancel it while it still has a thin shred of dignity left.

The Cleveland Show: Season Premiere Review

Take Family Guy, American Dad, a catchy theme tune, and just a touch more Family Guy, and you have the ridiculous mess that is The Cleveland Show.

Last night's season premiere was an utter disappointment, although to be honest, I wasn't expecting much in the first place. The premise of Seth MacFarlane's newest comedy "hit" is a simple one: Cleveland lost his house in his divorce from Loretta (a now obscure Family Guy character), and has decided to move away from his tiresome life in Quahog. He takes his son Cleveland Jr., now a pudgy little nerd, and visits his home town of Stoolbend, Virginia. There, he meets up with his old high school flame, Donna Tubbs, and her children, and by the end of the gag-filled half hour, Cleveland and Donna get married and start their lives together.

It is a very cliche plot, and it shows. The episode started out like another episode of Family Guy, with cameos from Peter, Quagmire, and the rest of the Quahog gang, and it felt that way right through the whole thing. I just don't see The Cleveland Show having a very bright future, even with its wide assortment of guest voices. It's not a spin off of Family Guy, it's a ripoff.

True fans of Family Guy might find something special in this show, but the average viewer will avoid it. The jokes are tired, the stereotypes are lame, and hearing Cleveland's voice for a whole 30 minutes is annoying. Plus, why is a talking bear living next door to him? Has MacFarlane simply run out of ideas? Well, no matter what the case may be, with the addition of The Cleveland Show, MacFarlane now has three of the four animated shows on Fox’s Sunday night line-up. Imagine the money he must be making. Love it or hate, The Cleveland Show has already been ordered for a second season. Hopefully it gets better quick.

Gimme A Break

Prison Break has seen it's end, but that doesn't mean another show can't take its place. Variety recently reported that the producers of Prison Break are at it again. Nick Santora and Matt Olmstead are in the works of creating a new show for Fox entitled Break Out Kings. The show will be about ex-cons who now work as U.S. Marshals. I guess these producers really like criminal stories. It looks like Prison Break will be living on in another form. Personally, I wish it wasn't. No word yet on when the pilot is set to air.

Futurama Saved!

Well, Futurama fans can rest easy now. It was announced yesterday that the entire cast of Futurama will be returning to voice their characters next year for the new slew of 26 episodes. If you don't remember, a couple weeks ago word had spread that 20th Century Fox was looking to recast the roles of Fry, Bender, Leela, and many others because of a contract dispute with the shows voice actors. All I can say is thank god the change didn't happen, because if it did, Futurama would be dead as we know it. The new episodes are slated to begin in mid-2010.

Futurama Recast?

Now, don't take any of this news seriously. This has been going around the internet for a few days now, and nobody really knows just how true it is. According to 20th Century Fox, they have decided to replace the entire Futurama voice cast for the new Comedy Central episodes due to air next year because of contract issues with the voice actors. Many fans are now upset after recently rejoicing over the return of Futurama. It seems to be a fairly sound story, but I want to put emphasis on the word "story". This could all be a hoax tale put together to keep fans aware and interested in the shows return to television. I'm placing my bets on it being a hoax. Replacing the entire voice cast of a hit show like Futurama after a 6 year cancellation and the recent 4 movies would be one of the biggest mistakes ever made in the entertainment business. I so hope this news turns out to be fake, or if it is true, I hope that the cast works things out with 20th Century Fox. At this years Comic-Con today, none of the voice actors were on the Futurama panel, but series creator Matt Groening was optimistic about the future. New voices equals a complete failure, something that I don't want to see happen to Futurama.

Futurama Revived! - 100th Post!

Welcome to the 100th post of Rewound Reviews. This may not seem like a huge achievement, but it sure is to us. And what better news to talk about in our 100th post than the revival of Futurama? I have just recently learned that Comedy Central has picked up the fan favourite for 26 new episodes, but the announcement was made on Juune 9th of this year. Apparnetly this revival is due to great DVD sales and massive fan support for the show's return. This news is fantastic. Futurama is simply one of the greatest animated comedies ever made. Keep up the work, fellow Futurama fans. We need a few more great seasons to keep us entertained. The new episodes will start airing on Comedy Central in mid-2010.

Mystery Science Theatre 3000 - Warrior of the Lost World

This episode of MST3K is an older one hosted by the original, and my favourite, host Joel Hodgson. Warrior of the Lost World is set in a post apocalyptic...um...world, where an evil organization named "The Omega" is brainwashing citizens. Watch and be amazed by the bad acting and terrible quality, and be ready for lots of laughs. Also, if you want, let me know which host you like better in the comments section. Is it Mike or Joel? Until next time, enjoy!

Episode Info:
Season - 5
Movie - Warrior of the Lost World (1983)
Length - 1:32:03
Host - Joel Hodgson
Episode Number - 0501

Mystery Science Theatre 3000 - Space Mutiny

If you don't know of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, known among fans as MST3K, then you're missing out on a great comedy. The basis of the show is simple: one man and two robots watch crappy old movies and give funny commentary on them. This is currently one of my favourite shows, (even though it ended a few years ago), and I hope you guys enjoy it, too. I'll be posting more of these soon, so if you like them, don't distress! For more info on MST3K, visit it's Wiki site here, or watch more episodes at Google Video. Beware, however, as each episode does consist of a whole movie, meaning each episode is roughly 90 mins. in length. It's worth the wait though. Hope you like it!

Episode Info:
Season - 8
Movie - Space Mutiny (1988)
Length - 1:32:00
Host - Mike Nelson
Episode Number - 0820

Animation Classics: Popeye - Big Chief Ugh Amugh Ugh

Popeye is one of the most beloved cartoon characters in the world. His collection of cartoons is currently being released on DVD, so this opens up doors to new fans who never had the chance to grow up with the spinach-eating sailor. Big Chief Ugh Amugh Ugh is one of the better Fleischer Studio Popeye's. Fleischer Studios is usually credited with creating the best of the Popeye cartoons, and for good reason. The quality was so amazing for what the animators had to work with. These classic Popeye's were well ahead of their time. As with the previous Betty Boop post I made, some might view this Popeye short as racist. It does have some inpolitically-correct tones, but still, this is Popeye at it's finest (don't take that the wrong way.) Anyways, sit back and enjoy Popeye - Big Chief Ugh Amugh Ugh.

Animation Classics: Betty Boop - Making Stars

This will be the last classic animation for a bit, so I thought I'd choose a very interesting one. This classic Betty Boop cartoon is famous for having racist ovetones. And I mean overtones. It's very obvious this short was made in 1935, a time of racist turmoil. Please don't take this cartoon for any more than a look at the world's history, as this is why I'm posting it. Old cartoons really are the eye into the problems of an era. I in no way support any of the racist themes in this cartoon. If you're very easily offended, watch at you own risk.

Animation Classics: One Froggy Evening

Ok, I'm excited about this one. This is my absolute favourite cartoon, period. This Merrie Melodies short from 1955 is about a ragtime singing frog, Michigan J. Frog to be more specific, giving his founder troubles. It's really that simple, and it's really that wonderful. Watch and enjoy this classic as much as I do.

Animation Classics: Gumby - The Fliver 500

I am starting a new Animation Classics section to Rewound Entertainment. I think this is a great way to communicate with audiences who grew up with these classics, and to even communicate with newer audiences who have yet to experience the wonder of them. So, today's entry is Gumby - The Fliver 500. Gumby is a clay favourite all around the world, and is still making some cartoons today. This is one of my favourite classic Gumby's, and I hope you enjoy it, too!

SNL: Mar. 7th, 2009

In the previous review I did of an SNL episode, I really harshly criticized it because, quite simply, it sucked. The lastest episode, however, shined. It was among the best of the season so far, and that's saying a lot. Here's a breakdwon of the show and why it was so good.

First of all, Dwayne Johnson hosted, and even with him this episode was great. I'm glad to see he's dropped his "The Rock" moniker from his name. He looks a little more professional now.

The cold opener of the show was mediocre at best and was in no way an example of how great the show would be. The skit was about some American politician named Timothy Geithner, (ya, I don't know him either), who was making fun of the economy. It had its moments, but it pretty well bombed.

Next was another MacGruber sketch. And trust me, the show was riddled with them. I won't go into detail on each one because they just sucked.

Now for the great parts. First, in a skit called The Rock Obama, Obama, played by Fred Armisen (ugh) gets mad at his cabinet members and turns into The Rock Obama, played by Dwayne Johnson. I hate to say it, but Dwayne did a better impression of Obama than Armisen will ever do. This skit made me laugh out loud (or LOL for the English impaired).

The Activia yogurt sketch, which had Kristen Wiig playing Jamie Lee Curtis, was pretty funny. At least it did the job.

Later, Dwayne and Fred Armisen (its like the writers can't keep these two apart) played some Hawaiian resort entertainers. I actually liked Armisen in this, and hated Dwayne because he kept READING OFF THE CUE CARDS!!!! Why don't the hosts ever try to learn their lines like actual entertainers. Geez!

Weekend Update was hilarious. Andy Samberg played Cathy from the Cathy comics and Justin Timberlake played her/his husband. Jessica Biel then came in dressed as Jessica Rabbit and, well, hilarity ensued. As for the other bits of Weekend Update, they were alright.

The shows final skits included a sports newscast with an alien host, Donald Trump advertising his new season of The Apprentice, and a weird lighthouse sketch. All of them were pretty funny, but nothing to go into detail about. Just believe me on this.

As for the musical guest, tonight it was Ray LaMontagne. He had a very retro voice and his look brought the show back 30 years. That's not a bad thing, though. I enjoyed his music quite a bit.

So, there it is. This is probably going to be one of last good episodes this season, considering Zac Efron will be hosting soon. If you missed this one, it's bound to be on again in the coming weeks, so don't miss it twice! Adios!

What's Wrong With Joaquin?

If you missed it, Joaquin Phoenix was a guest on Letterman last night. He came out with a beard and a pair of sunglasses and, to be honest, he looked completely unprofessional. That wasn't the weirdest part, however. The whole interview was uncomfortably awkward. Phoenix responded to Letterman mostly with one word answers like "ya", "no", or "sure". He seemed uninterested in having any sort of conversation, and he even got irked at the audience and Paul Shaffer for laughing at him. You can't blame them though. It really did seem like his whole attitude was an act. Some people are saying that it most likely was an act, and that he did it to promote his retirement from acting and his start in a hip-hop career. As for my opinion, I really can't decide. It did seem like an act for the majority of the interview, but when he got mad at Letterman and everyone else around him, I had to wonder. The whole interview can be viewed above. Watch it before it gets taken off YouTube, and get ready to feel awkward.

SNL: Jan. 31st, 2009

I love Saturday Night Live, and as much as people may say it's become very lame and pathetic, I stick to it for the occasional hilarious moments. I must admit, though, that last nights episode was unbelievably painstaking to watch. Steve Martin hosted, and I can honestly say I expected so much more from him. He failed to impress, and overall, there were only one or two great moments. Here's some moments, good and bad, that I need to point out.

First, the cold opening with Fred Armisen as Barack Obama sucked. It wasn't funny and Armisen's impression of Obama seems to be getting worse each week.

Next was the pre-filmed skit about Chewable Pampers diapers. The jist of the "ad" was that Chewable Pampers could be eaten for dinner after your baby dirties them up. This, surprisingly, was one of the better moments. If that's not a good enough gauge of how terrible the rest of the show was, I don't know what is.

Steve Martin took a shot at the usually funny "Socially Awkward Office Mates" sketch and he, quite simply, turned it into crap. I felt sorry for the always funny Kristen Wiig and Will Forte, who had to act alongside Martin in this one.

LaserCats 4Ever was good, just like all the other LaserCats sketches. This was unfortunately the last really great moment of the night.

Fred Armisen sucked once more as Bernie Madoff, who was trying to invite friends to his Superbowl party. This one blew my mind at how unorganized it seemed.

Kenan Thompson played the host of a talk show called "Issues", and he was pretty funny doing it. The rest of the sketch wasn't great, but I wish they would use Kenan more often. He has a great sense of humour.

Jason Mraz performed some songs, and he sounded really great. I hate to say it but for the first time since I started watching SNL 7 years ago, the musician was better than the whole show.

Now, finally, I want to point out the most disturbing, confusing, and stupid part of the night, nay, of SNL's history. Steve Martin got on stage and, with banjo in hand and a few backup musicians, he sang a kids song about going to school. Yep, I'll let you take that in for a moment. I don't care what anyone says about him "sounding good as a singer", or that he was "just showing his musical talent". Who wants to hear one of the funniest comedians SNL can obtain, singing a kids song? It's an insult to everyone who watched the show or bought tickets to see it. Steve Martin, you should be ashamed.

Well, that's it. Ever since Neil Patrick Harris hosted a few weeks back, no episode has even been half of what that episode was. I want to stay a fan of SNL, but if this crap keeps up, I just don't think I can do it. It's not humanly possible.

The Most Memorable: 90's Kids Shows

To those who also grew up in the 90's, we all watched these shows. You may think that some shows listed here are stupid, and trust us, we agree with you. But you have to admit, you've been curious and seen them all. It's just part of our nature to not want to tell anyone about it. So here goes the list of the most memorable 90's kids shows. (Be warned, this is a long list, so only brief descriptions are given. For more info, go to RetroJunk.com).

Pokemon: Ok, so this is an obvious one. Every kid who grew up in the 90's absolutely has to admit that they, if not became a fan, at least showed some sort of interest in Pokemon. This show, with it's trading card spinoff and little yellow mouse who whored itself out to millions, was HUGE! The Japanese truly do know how to market to the young ones.

Animaniacs: Steven Spielberg's wild and zany whats-its always lit up our imaginations when it aired, and this still holds true to that today. Animaniacs is a classic that will go down in animated history. Yakko, Wakko and Dot, we'll never forget thee.

Donkey Kong Country: Although we didn't know it at the time, DK Country would become one of those "Hey, you remember that show...what's it called?" shows. This 3D animated program wasn't SUPER popular, but today it has a cult following of fans from the 90's.

Bill Nye The Science Guy: We learned and laughed at the same time with this TV nerd, and even today kids beg to watch at least one of his shows every time Science class comes around.

Are You Afraid Of The Dark: This show may not be scary now, but it was when we were kids! Scary didn't get much better than this.

Goosebumps: Unless, of course, you're talking about Goosebumps. Every kid watched this show and, let's face it, Goosebumps was a much bigger franchise than AYATD. It was especially cool that we could see the visual representation of the Goosebumps books we read.

Boy Meets World: Come on now, don't groan. You know you gave into the temptation eventually. Even though it was often unbearable, Boy Meets World lasted for 7 years, so somebody was watching it. You may consider yourself one of those 'somebodies'...now.

Arthur: What a weird show. Enough said. I hated the freaky aardvark, but lots of kids enjoyed him. Really...?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Even though it began in the 80's, this show spawned a generation of kids who thought they were turtles. Or was it ninjas? Who knows, but what I do know is that this show is pretty much the mascot for the 90's.

The Magic School Bus: "I knew I should've stayed home today!" Who will ever forget Miss Frizzle and that crazy, morphing school bus that took us on adventures to places we never thought imaginable, including the inside of one of her students bodies. Strange, but fun.

Dexter's Laboratory: If there is one thing I loved about this show, it was the crazy and wild stories in each episode. This kids show started a trend of other wacky ones like it, but none would even come close.

Biker Mice From Mars: If you don't remember this show, don't worry. It's on this list because it's so memorable, its forgettable. Personally, I had the a lot of merchandise for BMFM, but it seems to have been long forgotten. It's time to revive this 90's classic.

Powerpuff Girls: First, I was too old to watch this show, and second, I am a boy. But that didn't seem to stop millions of people from falling for the little cuties (I use that word with pain in my heart) known as Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. The show even won an Emmy! Amazing! Apparently, even adults watched this show from time to time. I still don't understand the whole thing myself.

The Amanda Show: What a DUMB show! This kids sketch comedy show was the now "famous" Amanda Bynes' big break. She would later go on to film, starring in such classics as 'She's The Man', and 'Sydney White'. Ya, I know. That was sarcasm.

Rocket Power: I actually don't remember too much of this show, but I do remember it was pretty popular in its first few years. This cartoon was based on teens who liked to be active by means of snowboarding, skating, etc. Their faces were on everything from yogurt tubes to Cheeze Whiz. Without knowing much about it, it kind of reminds me of The Weekenders, only completely opposite. Now that show was...good.

My So-Called Life: This show was pretty much teen life and emotions all bundled up and unleashed on TV. It was soooooooooooooooooooooooo dramatic, but it only lasted one season. It did teach us a lesson along the way, though. Be extremely dramatic, and people will watch.

Reboot: If you were 12 or younger when this show started, it's time to admit your hidden secret as I have. When you watched this show, you only pretended to understand the storyline just so you could watch this freakin' awesome 3D animated wonder. No one ever really knew what was happening, but who cared? It looked cool to us youngsters, and to this day we still stop to take a look when we're flipping the channels.

Caillou: Ok, so if you're reading this, you probably never watched Caillou. At least not seriously anyway. It was just so ridiculous. You remember the cancer jokes? You remember the lies you had to tell to make it look like you didn't watch it? Ok, so I lied a second ago. We all watched it, but prefered to not have anyone know. Don't lie. You did. Trust me, even if you've tried to forget that part of your past, you watched it.

Pappyland: This show was f***ed up! So much so, I've included a clip. I can't say anymore about it. The show speaks for itself.


Power Rangers: Who will ever forget the multicultural, mulit-fighting moves heroes who, each week, fought some sort of screwed up monster who was set to destroy the universe. We can't forget, considering there have been about 1000 spin-off versions of the original. The original is still the best though.

Mr. Dressup: If you were Canadian, this guy was probably one your faves as a child. This show ran for 29 years before it's final episode, and is now a true Canadian icon. Ernie Coombs, who played the title character, passed away in 2001, but his legacy will live on forever. It wasn't just kids in the 90's who grew up with this show. For some of us, our parents did, too.

The Big Comfy Couch: Loonette the Clown and Molly, her dolly, have entertained kids for years, and it's 'technically' still going today. The theme song is probably what most remember about this classic, but it also taught good lessons to kids. Overall, this kids show was top of the line.

Recess: Who didn't watch this show. It was our experiences in the schoolyard summed up in 30 minutes. I, to this day, quote the show, and sometimes I don't even realize it. It has had that much of an impact. Go Recess!

So, there you have it. Again, for more info on each show, visit RetroJunk.com. Is there a show you think we've missed? Just send a comment our way, and we'll have a look!

Lie To Me

One of the slew of new programs for 2009 began tonight. The much hyped Lie To Me, starring Tim Roth, is about an expert on body language who uses his techniques to help solve crimes for law enforcement. I assumed it was going to be another one of those 'CSI, smarty pants' kind of series, and while it does have slivers of that quality, the show was still really good. Tim Roth fits the role of a snarky Dr. Cal Lightman perfectly, and it's very interesting to learn some facts about how people lie and what they're going through as they do. I must say, I'm quite impressed and I can't wait until next week's episode. Finally, something good on TV for 2009. Sorry to all House fans, but that show's getting old and Lie To Me seems like the perfect replacement. That is, as long as it doesn't run out of plot ideas.

The Rewind: Futurama - "The Series Has Landed"

Futurama is quite simply one of the greatest TV shows ever created. Set in the year 3000, it was a fresh take on late-night cartoons. Although it was created by Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, and had a similar development team, Futurama was, and still is, on a page of its own. The characters are imaginative, the art is unique, and the writing never got old throughout its 4 seasons on air.

Unfortunately, in the summer of 2003, the show was cancelled by Fox (who seems to have a record of cancelling shows at the most inappropriate times), and fans were left in a state of shock. How could such a creative show be tossed out like rubbish. Lucky for them, in the spring of this year, Futurama went back into production for 4 movies, which will later be split up into a 16 episode season. So, in honour of this great un-cancellation, let's look back at the second episode of the very first season of Futurama. I consider it to be one of the best.

"The Series Has Landed" did a superb job of introducing the humour, characters, and basic story of the show to the viewers. It actually did a better job than the pilot episode. This episode followed the Planet Express space delivery team of Fry, Leela, and Bender as they head out for their first delivery to the moon. Fry, being new to the year 3000 after he was cryogenically frozen, has never seen the moon and its futuristic Theme Park. He convinces the others to check it out with him. After a series of hilarious antics, the show ends with one of the funniest and best directed endings I've seen. To understand the beauty of this episode, you really do have to watch it.

Other characters introduced in this episode are the Professor, Dr. Zoidberg, Amy and Hermes, the rest of the regular cast and workers at Planet Express. Zoidberg is my personal favourite. He's just so damn funny. The writing for the characters and the whole series in general is fantastic. Each episode brings something new and fun to the show and uses its cast of hundreds to full adavantage. Never have I seen so many characters used so right.

If you have never seen Futurama, or just don't like these kinds of "cartoons", you really should watch this one. It's nothing like the Simpsons, even though it shares the same creator, and it has a mature humour, even if it doesn't seem like it at times. Thank god someone saw the show for the greatness it is and decided to bring it back. It deserves all the air time it can get.

Expect more reviews of other Futurama episodes now that this little introduction to the series has been done. I've seen this series enough times to write lots about each episode.

You can watch the episode "The Series Has Landed" here, but it's not a site I've heard much about, so just be careful when viewing. Enjoy!
"The Series Has Landed"

The Life and Times Of Tim

I recently happened upon this show on HBO, and now I can't get enough of it. The Life And Times Of Tim is an animated comedy created by Steve Dildarian. It sort of reminds me of Home Movies in the sense that it uses that sort of "real-life chat" dialogue. You know what I mean, the kind of dialogue that sounds like real people are having genuine conversations, not just cheaply written lines. Watch any of these two shows to get what I'm talking about. Anyways, Life And Times is also drawn poorly, and I mean Squidbillies poorly, but that only adds to the charm of the show. It does have some mature content, so it's not for the kids, but if your looking for a fresh and funny new comedy, The Life And Times Of Tim should be at the top of your list.

P.S.: The clip above is from the first episode, "Angry Unpaid Hooker". Enjoy!