He gets rid of the theme song and couch gags to give us more episode time, more down to earth plots, better characterization of the simpsons, usually better humour

I think a problem with these high concept shows is that sometimes, they want to just dick around with their world and characters and not do anything substantial and it often ends up failing.

Does it? I see mainly shrugs, people expecting it to get canned, or people who "like it enough" like I do.

Also: things I loved:
-the strippers caring about their children, with zero irony
-the great animation sequences. Nice 360 of Homer and Marge kissing. The subtle movements of Homer's stomach when he was being hit with the socks in bed, the whole scene where Homer walked through the strip club
-the kids acting like kids…

I WAS JUST WAITING FOR HIS NAME TO POP UP AND IT DID

CAN MATT SELMAN PLEEEEASE TAKE OVER LIKE SERIOUSLY

Oh I agree. As a crossover, SImpsons Guy did what crossovers arre supposed to do. I think it's partly because how "similar but different" they are.

The HD era and especially season 26 onwards is pretty much in a "it's alright" sort of groove, with bad episodes and standouts peppered in

He should be tbh

I wish this was the hour long episode

Man, will we ever get an absolute rocking power hour like 100 Bounces and Stand By Gene ever again?

I would say Season 6, yes. The Gene and Courtney show is one of my all time favourites

This episode made me realise that at some point, Gene surpassed Tina for me.

Yeah, I'd say the show is more polarizing rather than outright good or bad nowadays.

It that would be good, it needs its own Barthood/Haloween of Horror

Noticed too actually. Great stuff.

I gave this an A.

I mean, the whole show is called Son of Zorn, you'd think he'd be more interesting.

Yeah. There's also Elaine Stritch

Yeah, I was expecting an emotional moment at the end of this related to Burns and Smithers