The Simpsons Bracket: Day 4 – D’oh

By: Connor Lenahan

Previously: Moe’s Tavern Region/Nuclear Plant Region/Springfield Elementary Region

Every single day has become like a wonderful dream. On just about every television in my house The Simpsons have been on constantly. The quantity of episodes has been incredible, but the fact that they’re all quality makes it all the sweeter. I imagine this feeling is what it’s like to consume the Gummy Venus De Milo.

Similar to the strong stretch the marathon remains in, the bracket again has heavy hitters looking to jump into the final group. Here’s the Lard Lad Donuts region.

Round 1:

Outright Victories:

“Bart the Fink” over “How Munched is That Birdie in the Window?,” “The Book Job” over “The Daughter Also Rises,” “Catch ‘Em if You Can” over “Sleeping with the Enemy,” “Life on the Fast Lane” over “The Ten-Per-Cent Solution,” “Secrets of a Successful Marriage” over “Waverly Hills 9021D’oh,” “The Great Louse Detective” over “Girls Just Want to Have Sums,” “Fear of Flying” over “The Great Wife Hope,” “The Last Temptation of Krust” over “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore,” “$pringfield” over “Moe’N’a Lisa,” “Wild Barts Can’t Be Broken” over “Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington,” “Homer vs. the 18^th Amendment” over “Moe Goes from Rags to Riches,” “Homer’s Enemy” over “Gone Abie Gone,” “Bart the Lover” over “Homer Simpson: This Isn’t Your Wife,” “Homer vs. Patty and Selma” over “Four Great Women and a Manicure,” “Beyond Blunderdome” over “Any Given Sundance,” “The Frying Game” over “Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou?,” “Insane Clown Poppy” over “The Great Simpsina,” “Simpson and Delilah” over “Treehouse 12,” “She of Little Faith” over “Co-Dependants Day.”

Coin Flips:

“Saddlesore Galactica” over “Homer and Marge Turn a Couple Play,” “Ned ‘n Edna’s Blend” over “Lona-a Lisa,” “Bart the Mother” over “The Seven Beer Snitch,” “Simpsons Bible Stories” over “Husbands and Knives,” “Mobile Homer” over “Love is a Many Strangled Thing,” “Half-Decent Proposal” over “The Italian Bob.”

Matchups:

“Treehouse 11” over “Last Tap Dance in Springfield” – With “G-G-Ghost D-D-Dad,” “Scary Tales Can Come True,” and “Night of the Dolphin,” this is a fairly terrific Treehouse of Horror episode. Good enough to push out Little Vicky and her dance class.

“The PTA Disbands” over “The Springfield Connection” – “The PTA Disbands” is an episode that has more moments than you remember. Guy jumping out the window in a panic, “purple monkey dishwasher,” “that’s a paddlin’.” It’s just awesome.

“The Old Man and the ‘C’ Student” over “Apocalypse Cow” – I don’t know about you, but I like “Springy the Springfield Spring” as a future Olympic mascot.

“Guess Who’s Coming to Criticize Dinner” over “The Great Money Caper” – Underrated Simpsons musical moment: When Homer, upon wandering into a retirement party, is asked if he likes food he begins singing acapella about the foods he loves including “baby deer” before mimicking one. Always great.

“Days of Wine and D’oh’ses” over “Fraudcast News” – Isn’t it nice to have Barney turn his life around? After having him as a punching bag for so long it’s fairly refreshing to see him sober and together.

“Special Edna” over “The Old Man and the Key” – The Principal Skinner & Edna Krabappel relationship was a really fun one to watch grow for years, and “Special Edna” was a sweet little moment before it ended.

“Saturdays of Thunder” over “Funeral for a Fiend” – Watching Bart and Homer bond and become closer is a whole lot better when it includes betrayal and a furious Martin Prince being denied medical clearance to race.

 

Round 2:

Outright Victories:

“Bart the Fink” over “Saddlesore Galactica,” “Fear of Flying” over “The Great Louse Detective,” “The Last Temptation of Krust” over “The Old Man and the ‘C’ Student,” “$pringfield” over “Guess Who’s Coming to Criticize Dinner,” “Homer vs. the 18^th Amendment” over “Wild Barts Can’t Be Broken,” “Days of Wine and D’oh’ses” over “Ned n’ Edna’s Blend,” “Homer’s Enemy” over “Bart the Mother,” “Bart the Lover” over “Simpsons Bible Stories,” “Homer vs. Patty and Selma” over “Special Edna,” “Simpson and Delilah” over “Mobile Homer.”

Matchups:

“Treehouse 12” over “The Book Job” – Long live King Snorky.

“Life on the Fast Lane” over “Catch ‘Em If You Can” – For all the great moments in Simpsons lore, the fact that Homer got Marge a bowling ball with his own name on it is grossly underrated. Plus the perfect definition of brunch comes from this episode.

“Secrets of a Successful Marriage” over “The PTA Disbands” – Watching Homer fall into utter despair without Marge is funny enough, but when he points out that they’ve been separated “a day” I lose it.

“Saturdays of Thunder” over “Beyond Blunderdome” – Boy that Mel Gibson episode did not age well did it?

“The Frying Game” over “Insane Clown Poppy” – I have absolutely no problem admitting that I would pay a five-figure dollar amount to own a Screamapillar.

“She of Little Faith” over “Half-Decent Proposal” – There’s something perfect about Lisa finding Buddhism in “She of Little Faith.” It’s a perfect fit. Also, the meditation chant of “Who likes short-shorts?” is spot on.

 

Round 3:

Matchups:

“Bart the Fink” over “Treehouse 11” – Krusty has had a rollercoaster career through the entirety of the show, but watching him really hit bottom (and fake his death) is shockingly entertaining. Bob Newhart makes one of the greatest cameo appearances ever, Rory B. Bellows remains my pseudonym, and this episode moves on for it’s overall sharp, high quality writing.

“Secrets of a Successful Marriage” over “Life on the Fast Lane” – How great would it be to be in Homer’s adult education class? I mean really. Not only is it informative, as Homer innocently details his family’s personal life, but he also is such an entertaining boob. I will never look at eating an orange the same way.

“Fear of Flying” over “The Last Temptation of Krust” – Seriously, “Fear of Flying” could win this entire tournament for the Guy Incognito joke alone.

“Homer vs. the 18^th Amendment” over “$pringfield” – Before we let it go, I would like to recognize “Floreda” and “Lisa cried, then I cried, then Maggie laughed… she’s such a little trooper,” as two of my favorite jokes in the entire series, but alas they are not enough to topple the amazing rivalry of Rex Banner and the Beer Baron. This actually is a very happy birthday for Rex Banner.

“Homer’s Enemy” over “Days of Wine and D’oh’ses” – “He was blown up in a silo explosion.” Frank Grimes seriously is the greatest isn’t he?

“Homer vs. Patty and Selma” over “Bart the Lover” – Maybe I am higher on “Homer vs. Patty and Selma” than most, but it’s such a great half hour. Homer smashing a plate over his head for no discernable reason, being forced to bark like a dog, the pumpkin investment. It’s quietly great.

“The Frying Game” over “Saturdays of Thunder” – “The Frying Game” is an oddly strong story. It’s all an elaborate hoax, but I think that’s what makes me love it. Every time I’ve watched it I find myself getting deeply invested in the story, including getting concerned that Homer is saying goobye to Marge forever. No I’m not crying why do you ask?

“Simpson and Delilah” over “She of Little Faith” – Are there that many moments in The Simpsons when Homer is happier than he is in “Simpson and Delilah?” He finally has his hair back, he’s good at his job, and everything is going right. It all comes crashing back, but that time at the top is spectacular.

 

Round 4:

Matchups:

“Secrets of a Successful Marriage” over “Bart the Fink” – Of all the awkward family dinners in the Simpsons’ home, I’m not sure any come remotely close to Homer’s class observing a “normal” night. Surely none are nearly as funny either.

“Homer vs. the 18^th Amendment” over “Fear of Flying” – Thanks to the former episode, every toast I make for the remainder of my adult life will be “To alcohol, the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.”

“Homer’s Enemy” over “Homer vs. Patty and Selma” – Every single Frank Grimes sequence is pure comedy gold. Watching him slowly lose his mind due to Homer’s incredible luck in life is just the best. “Would you like to see my Grammy Award?” Perfect.

“Simpson and Delilah” over “The Frying Game” – Even after losing the incredible life he finally had, along with peak happiness, Homer is held by Marge in bed. She starts singing “You are so beautiful to me” and everything is okay again. It’s one of the most beautiful segments the show ever has.

 

Round 5:

“Homer vs. the 18^th Amendment” over “Secrets of a Successful Marriage” – Despite largely being an idiot, Homer occasionally is a genius. Figuring out how to become the biggest outlaw in Springfield and not get caught, all while making sure prohibition in Springfield only takes for a matter of hours is one of his absolute brightest moments. It’s peak Simpsons for sure.

“Homer’s Enemy” over “Simpson and Delilah” – While the latter is a personal favorite this is essentially a no contest. “Homer’s Enemy” is absurdly high concept and even higher execution. The idea to put a real person in Homer Simpson’s world through the prism of Frank Grimes could not have been done better. It’s perfect.

 

Round 6:

Matchup:

“Homer vs. the 18^th Amendment” over “Homer’s Enemy” – Without a doubt these are two of the absolute best half hours the series has to offer. The edge here falls with the tale of the Beer Baron in a hyper close decision. Like almost no other episode “Homer vs. the 18^th Amendment” has been able to work its way into my daily vocabulary. “Avenge our deaths,” the aforementioned alcohol quote (a top five quote ever), the affinity for the word funnel, it’s all there. It’s all hilarious too. While Frank Grimes’ time on this Earth was cut tragically short, we will always remember him, but the Beer Baron escapes yet again.

Coming tomorrow, the Krusty Burger region