www.snpp.com/episodes/5F09
Trash of the Titans Written by Ian Maxtone-Graham Directed by Jim Reardon ============================================================================== Production Code: 5F09 Original Airdate on FOX: 26-Apr-1998 Capsule revision 25-Jun-2000 ============================================================================== > TV Guide Synopsis ============================================================================== (Canadian) In the series' 200th episode, Homer dumps a mountain of trouble on Springfield when he promises to trash the city's garbage woes, but his appointment of Sanitation Commissioner busts the budget and causes a huge stink for the townspeople. Steve Martin and U2 members Steve Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton provide guest voices. Marge seems to be the only one who has finished her meal when the boys offer to clear up the table? Maggie buried under a pile of wrapping paper during the "Love Day" ending? Jimmy the Scumbag and Freddy Quimby are registering as sex offenders? Bart and Homer pass two barbershops in their campaign driving? U2 knew to turn and gasp even before Homer's face fully appears? Patterson must have been quite young when he was first elected, if he's been there for 16 years but only two years older than Homer? Patty and Selma are in a line to register as sex offenders? Paul McGuinness and Susie Smith get "Also Starring" credits, but on a different screen from the "regulars" who get that credit? Bunny appears to have a stick going through his head when he pops out of the ground? Quimby looked kind of like a clown when the garbage sprayed him? Lenny thinks that head of sanitation is a "peace of mind" issue? Patty, Selma, Jimmy the Scumbag and Moe are sex offenders? Homer says, "no cutting" as he shoves his way into line? Commissioner Patterson is played on (and off) the stage to the theme of "Sanford & Son"? Burns) - Also starring - Maggie Roswell (Costingtons woman) - Pamela Hayden (Rodd Flanders) - Special guest voice - Steve Martin (Ray Patterson) - U2 (themselves) Some are just my best guess. Krabappel - Chief Wiggum - Miss Hoover - Carl - Kirk Van Houten - Apu (Kirk & Carl are seen looking as Ray walks in) - After Ray mentions Homer messing with his breaks {af} - Front Row L-R: - Lionel Hutz - Lenny - Mrs. Glick - 2nd Row L-R: - Ruth Powers - Sarah Wiggum - Carl - People popping out of cans (left to right) {af} - Apu - Sideshow Mel - Ned Flanders - Oscar the Grouch - As door to Springfield Dump closes {af} - Left side: - Lenny - Kearney - Right side: - Apu - Otto - Dr. ABONDONED MINE - People at town meeting after Quimby asks if anyone is opposed to Homer's firing {af} - Front row L-R: - Pimple-faced teen - Lenny - Carl - Roger Meyers Jr. Nick ============================================================================== > Animation, continuity, and other goofs ============================================================================== * Shouldn't the slump run from July through November, or did somebody come up with Halloween cards? When Homer leaps into Moe's, we see plenty of buildings behind him, which disappear after the scene switches back to the buildings being moved. I'm not saying it was terrible: it had its pleasures, chief among them the fine vocal work from Steve Martin. The problem with the episode is that it just threw on guest voices, musical numbers, and cultural references, and ended up sounding loudly pale. Yes, Steve Martin didn't do much, but U2 made up for the jokes that he didn't do. The musical number was good (and actually funny, for once) and the scene with Mr. Bunny coming out of his grave was one of the funniest jokes of the episode. I LIKED the ending, I thought the idea of moving Springfield five miles down the road was funny, but when I saw it, I just KNEW that everyone was going to complain about it. Ben Collins: Executive Producer Mike Scully has a very Fox-like idea of how a Simpsons episode should work. Chris Courtois: "Trash of the Titans" was an ultimately unsatisfying mixture of good and bad elements we've gotten to know over the past 200 episodes. On the minus side, Homer was more of an asshole than he's been all season, when we did hear from Lisa she was shrill, and the ending was kind of stupid. U2 parodying their 1980s self-righteous image was less successful, mainly because U2 has already been parodying themselves since the ZooTv tour, and the joke is stale. This poses the same problem the writers had with the variety show segment of last season's spin-off showcase: how do you effectively parody something that is already a self-parody. Much of the episode's faults reminded me too much of other recent weak entries, such as "Homerpalooza" or even "The Principal and the Pauper" (this episode's decidedly unfunny and bizarre ending reminded me of PatP's). The few high points were Lisa's reaction to Homer's David and Goliath statement and his refusal to pay for a copy of the Springfield Shopper. Still, these didn't overcome the rest of this episode's faults. At the end, all I could think of was that I had taped over this morning's hilarious "Pinky and the Brain" episode for this. Nathan Mulac DeHoff: This week's episode was somewhat of a mixed (garbage) bag. The episode started out well enough, with a clever blackboard/couch gag, and a good satire on holiday merchandising. The events that led Homer to run for sanitation commissioner were not done especially well. Being stubborn is within Homer's character, but he seemed to carry it to extremes. His campaign was amusing, and Homer's solution to the garbage problem was a good example of Homer being clever and stupid at the same time. I didn't care for the scenes with the garbage erupting into the town, though. It was too unrealistic, and I think that the garbage could have been discovered in a different manner. Overall, it was a decent episode, but a bit too ridiculous, and not handled quite so well as it could have been. Mike Scully rightfully held this episode until now, and the high-quality animation and extra attention to detail given to it because it was the 200th are the only things that can compliment it enough. Surprisingly, he was also one of the least enjoyable aspects of it. Some other problems occurred in this 200th episode, including the whacked out plot, the even wackier(and stupider) ending, and the little air time the other four Simpson family members got. Good song, but Steve Martin talents are wasted and Homer the jerk returns. Homer was back to idiocy, the lowbrow humor reared its ugly head, again, the pacing was off, and the zany plot wormed its way in. Fortunately, the characterization was good (except Homer) and the plethora of problems made it too hard to focus on any one. Keeping that in mind, the grades are: Technical merits: Artistic quality: Tony Hill: Once again plastic reality ruins an episode. Everything up to the golf course scene was cute and funny. It seemed odd to see Steve Martin playing a straight character. Homer's fight with the garbage man, his election campaign, and the town being destroyed. Bunny, Cletus's appearance, and U2s appearance were pretty funny. Haynes Lee: For once the big name guest stars actually contributed to the boot. We have an episode that gives us the classic 8th season, jackass, out of control Homer trying out for a job he was never meant to have. This episode is a pointless, predictable, stupid and unfunny illustration of just how low-brow and down in the trash The Simpsons has gotten. If my sentiments haven't been expressed the best way that they could be, I must say that I agree with everything Michael Neylon had to say about this episode 100%. I haven't heard a song that good since 'Flaming Moe's' or 'We put the Spring in Springfield'. The ending was a bit disappointing however, but the number of 'laugh-out-loud' moments for me were the highest for a VERY long time. Even watching it for a second time was good, as many of the gags still were funny, and the song was excellent. In the rush to pull out all the stops, some of what made the show last 200 episodes in the first place was lost. On the other hand, we did get a good showing from U2 (Steve Mar...
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