The Best of The Simpsons, Vol. 4 - Tree House Horror (The Simpsons Halloween Special)/ Bart Gets an F

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The first Treehouse of Horror and Bart learns something, 2005-06-01
With "The Best of The Simpsons, Volume 4" we get to the second season of the animated series and the first of the celebrated Halloween specials. These really represent the early years of the show when the focus was on Bart rather than on Homer as it is today, which makes the second one of these two episodes a paradigmatic story for the series:

Episode 16, "Treehouse Of Horror" (First aired October 25, 1990), is the first Halloween special for "The Simpsons," complete with Marge's warning (if you tuck your kids into bed tonight, you do not have to write angry letters tomorrow) and James Earl Jones doing voices. There are a trio of scary stories that Bart and Lisa tell each other in the treehouse while Homer listens outside: "Bad Dream House" (Written by John Swartzwelder) has the Simpsons moving into a house that is cheap because it is haunted. However, the house has met its match in the Simpsons. "Hungry Are the Damned" (Written by Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky) has the Simpsons abducted by the giant one-eyed aliens Kang and Kodos. Aboard the spaceship Serak the Preparer keeps giving the family an endless feast of food. Lisa is suspicious that the aliens are fattening up the family for a feast of a different kind. "The Raven" (Written by Edgar Allan Poe and Sam Simon) turns Homer into the narrator, Marge into Lenore, and since Lisa is reciting the poem, Bart gets to be the raven. Not as good as the Treehouses of Horror to come, but a start in the right direction (especially since it turns Poe into a writer for a cartoon series). (4 Krusty Burgers)

Episode 14, "Bart Gets An F" (Written by David M. Stern, First aired October 11, 1990) begins with Mrs. Krabappel warning Bart that he is going to flunk history if he does not do better on the next exam. Of course, Bart watches TV instead of studying and then pretends to be sick to skip the test. When he takes it he not only gets an F, but is also told he is going to be kept back a grade. Bart makes desperate deals, first with Martin and then with God (the latter proves more helpful). An unusual episode simply because Bart freaks, otherwise you actually have to know something about American history to get some of the jokes in this one (what a subversive show). This one has the Itchy & Scratchy cartoon "Let Them Eat Scratchy" and Bart writing, "I will not encourage others to fly" on the blackboard during the credits. (4 Krusty Burgers)

SIMPSONS ROCK!, 2002-03-12
As always, the Simpsons rock, no matter what! And the Treehouse of Horror kicks butt! I used it in the classroom when I taught the Raven. The kids loved it and it brought about some interesting discussion! Plus, it's just plain hilarious!