[5.4/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] This one was just boring. On paper, this seems like it ought to be good. Bart finding a prank god even greater than him, but worrying about the “loser” life the guy leads after elementary school is a good premise. And Marge bristling at the exacting standards of her local mommy and me group is a decent topical B-story. But both are just kind of dull and free from genuine laughs.
There’s the odd highlight here and there. The running gag of Lisa calling Bart and Andy Hamilton “losers” is worth a larf. I like the notion that Skinner was the fun-loving cool teacher until he was pranked into his present state. And Homer’s in a good guise as a comedy side character. But for the most part, it’s just a laughless half hour, with Jonah Hill not really bringing anything to the table in his guest spot.
Again, there’s a solid beginning, middle, and end, and even a half-decent character motivation for Bart here. But there’s just very little spark to the proceedings. And Marge’s escapades with the Whole Foods knockoff and strict rules for baby foods come off like an old man “can you believe young people these days?!” set of complaints.
Overall, the bones of a good episode are here, but the show never builds much of anything worthwhile around them.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2019-04-06T05:58:06Z
[5.4/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] This one was just boring. On paper, this seems like it ought to be good. Bart finding a prank god even greater than him, but worrying about the “loser” life the guy leads after elementary school is a good premise. And Marge bristling at the exacting standards of her local mommy and me group is a decent topical B-story. But both are just kind of dull and free from genuine laughs.
There’s the odd highlight here and there. The running gag of Lisa calling Bart and Andy Hamilton “losers” is worth a larf. I like the notion that Skinner was the fun-loving cool teacher until he was pranked into his present state. And Homer’s in a good guise as a comedy side character. But for the most part, it’s just a laughless half hour, with Jonah Hill not really bringing anything to the table in his guest spot.
Again, there’s a solid beginning, middle, and end, and even a half-decent character motivation for Bart here. But there’s just very little spark to the proceedings. And Marge’s escapades with the Whole Foods knockoff and strict rules for baby foods come off like an old man “can you believe young people these days?!” set of complaints.
Overall, the bones of a good episode are here, but the show never builds much of anything worthwhile around them.