Worst Treehouse of Horror episodes

    There are so many episodes of the Simpsons that we sometimes forget their Halloween specials. They started doing them in the second season with three scary stories in the treehouse, one involving 'The Raven' poem by Edger Allen Poe. Ever since then, every season has had and some of them....are not as great as others.

   Before I get to the list, I want to mention my favorite Treehouse of Horror episode ever. In the sixth season, the Simpsons had their fifth Treehouse episode. It had pretty good stories...but the best was a telling of Stephen King's 'The Shining." which they title.... 'The Shinning.' Homer goes crazy with no TV and Beer that he decides to kill his family. He doesn't at the end thanks to a tiny tv and the whole family freezes out in the cold. 

    This has to be ranked as number one of the best episodes written for the Treehouse of Horror series. 

   So... which one's tank and not considered.... amazing? I'll give you a few that I found not worth seeing, while the other ones...are hit and miss.

  UNNORMAL ACTIVITY- Taking place in the 23rd season of the Treehouse of Horror, this story kind of mimics a certain movie called 'Paranormal activity' I wasn't a fan of those kind of films. This one is ok, but not strong enough for me. Apparently, the house is haunted, and Homer decides to film what goes on while they're asleep. Marge eventually reveals that she was going to give the devil her favorite child. 

   The Devil being Moe.

SEND IN THE CLONES- Ever seen Multiplicity? Then this is the Simpsons version of it. The thirteenth Treehouse of Horror story involves Homer buying a hammock and it magically making clones of Homer. There are so many of them that they start getting smarter after Homer ditches them.

   The only way to destroy them is by luring them to a cliff using donuts. I don't know how Multiplicity ends, but if that's how Michael Keaton dies, and the clone takes over.... well, that's what it's like. Not a great episode, but compared to what's coming up, it's ok.

ET GO HOME- This story is just as bad as 'Mac and Me'. In their Treehouse series, there are these two aliens named Kang and Kodos. One is stranded on Earth and Bart finds a way to get back to his planet. Only...this is like if E.T. was a bloodthirsty alien. 

    Bart tries to be friends with him and help him with his plans to send his species to Earth. Only for it to backfire as the stranded alien, Kodos, is caught and dissected. I would give this story a C- 

  

THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERBALL- There was a movie based on this story that involves a paralyzed man blinking for the rest of his life. In this Treehouse of Horror episode, Homer is paralyzed by a black widow spider but can only communicate through flatulence. That's just gross.

   I don't know if the movie is based on a true story, but this would fail if someone had to only communicate by their ass. Homer becomes a paralyzed farting Spiderman

IN THE NA'VI- I'm not a fan of any Avatar movies that are made by James Cameron. When it was becoming popular in Season 22 of 'Treehouse of Horror', one story decided to make an episode where The Simpson family decided to venture into the Avatar world.

  Kang and Kodos are present as well as any other of their alien relatives. I thought this one was pretty lame. I usually skip this one.

  THERE'S NO BUISNESS LIKE MOE BUISNESS- To end the twentieth season of Treehouse of Horror, they do one skit where it's a Sweeny Todd musical involving Moe's affections to Marge. He decides, after Homer falls and gets killed, to finally show his love for her in a musical style.

   It's not horrible, but it's not one that would scare me. The voice actors are very good singers anyway. I guess if you love musicals... it would be up your alley.

  MMMM....HOMER- This has to top as one of the worst stories in the Treehouse of Horror series. Whyt? Homer....eats himself. He resorts to cannibalism after he has an accident and ends up biting a bit of his skin. 

    It gets worse from there. He starts to tear bits of his body up and well...you can tell this is a gory Halloween episdoe, and not for the right reason. I find this one skippable after watching some of the other stories from that season that were ok.

DISHORNORABLE MENTION:

    

MOEFINGER- The reason I put this on the dishonorable list is because I was never a fan of the James Bond series (movies as well), the only plus I would give is that it is creative. Bart goes searching for his missing father with Moe's help. 

   Finding a villain name Remoh, Bart decides to kill people to get to the villain.... which is really his father. I was ok with this one, and it is hit and miss, but one of the enjoyable ones that I have seen.

     The Simpsons are never gonna stop with their Treehouse of Horror segments. They even did another Stephen King book of 'It' in its own small episode. I enjoyed it very well and thought if they can make creative Halloween episodes like that.... there's no stopping them.

     HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Hell-oween POEM

 

That scary time of year,

where ghouls come out to play,

they feast on fear,

they won't go away

People decorate,

in celebration,

of what's yet to come,

the darkness stays longer,

the night,

of Hallo's eve

Don't fear,

or scream,

they feast on it,

and you,

will vanish,

once they come

People dress,

to feast on candy,

as they celebrate,

a holiday,

they find,

extraordinary

Songs,

food,

and celebration,

with games,

that ghouls find fun,

and so,

do humans

Haunted stories,

become extra spooky,

as some fear,

and others,

enjoy,

carving squash,

for celebrating,

the long night ahead

Candy,

is eaten,

candy galore,

don't eat too much,

or you'll feel your stomach,

sore

Parties happening,

through out the night,

without knowing,

when,

they will see,

sunlight

Spooky stories,

Scary movies,

and Trick-or-treating,

non-stop all night,

Halloween doesn't end,

until the next month arrives

How ever you enjoy it,

be safe,

get sweets,

and hope,

you don't get scared,

when you fall alseep,

Have a safe and happy

Hello-ween!

The Best of the Best: Candy edition

 

  Halloween is upon us, and I was thinking...what is the best of the best when it comes to Halloween candy? Some people love chocolate, me being one of them, while others like coconut or peanut butter filled candies as other like lollipops and gummy treats. So....I'm going to list my top ten favorite snacks to have while you trick-or-treat next week.

    Fun Size M&M's- M&M's chocolate is considered one of the most confectioned candies out there. Coming in a fun size pack for every trick-or-treater since the 60's. Recreantly, they began showing glow in the dark bags for kids going out late at night. Do the bags work? They don't glow very long, but they taste delicious.

 Haunted Gummy Bears- Like I've mentioned before, not a lot of kids can have chocolate, but some do enjoy eating a gummy bear that's fun sized and can easily fit in your trick-or-treat bag. Some of the flavors vary with each company. Some will have spooky flavors while others will just have gummy bears or gummy worms. Doesn't matter.

Fun size Snickers- Another goody for children in their Halloween bag. A fun size candy bar like Snickers is considered a joy. To me, I'm not a fan, but many people cannot resist the taste of caramel, nougat and the peanuts that are inside this candy heaven. Some kids will either get a mini or a small size.

Fun size Twix- Another confectioned by the makers of Mars. The same company that makes Snickers. On Halloween, Twix cook is turned green as you take a bite. The fun size Halloween candy is also seen as ghosts as well.

Twizzlers- For many people who have a sweet tooth, Twizzlers is considered the licorice with taste. I don't like licorice, but the red kind is ok. They come in fun sizes for every trick-or-treater who can't stand chocolate, but love candy. For your mummy or ghoul, Twizzlers can be considered a go to when you need a sugar rush. Believe me, they are loaded with sugar.

Reese's peanut butter cups- Or bats or ghosts, anything they can turn into the shape of for Halloween. They still contain the delicious peanut butter that is in every peanut butter cup. Again, not a fan, but this candy is considered the number one candy kids pick out of bowls to bring home with them and eat.

 Milky Way Bars- Milky Way doesn't have the nuts in it like Snickers does, but their caramel is much more delicious than it is in the Snickers. In miniature or fun size of this candy bar will not make trick-or-treaters happy, but the caramel will get stuck in their teeth.

Halloween themed lollipops- A candy on a stick with a ghost, witch or pumpkin on it. Some companies make their own version like Dum Dums. These are considered the best to serve to kids when they are in the mood for something besides chocolate. Tootsie Pops even Blow pops could be a good edition as well.

Hershey Bar- Another candy bar with a glow in the dark bags. I prefer these out of any other candy bar when I was little. Hershey bars are considered a chocolate treat for any young trick or treater no matter who they are or how old they are. Small size that can easily be eaten as you walk to the next house to find more, Hershey's is considered a winner in my book.

Kit-Kat Halloween- With this candy bar, you have options. Recently, Kit-Kat has made different flavors for each trick or treater. Witch's Brew which is green; Ghost toast, which is orange as well as a few other flavors like skeleton or vampire. Any flavor will do, and they still taste like chocolate. Kit-Kat has been experimenting lately.

   You can like Milk Duds, Airheads, Candy Corn (ewe), you can like any candy, but it's something about Halloween that makes candy feel as if they are truly wanted by everyone. Sadly, we do not celebrate Halloween much anymore, but I still get candy no matter what Holiday. 

Worst Simpson Episodes

   I have mentioned before how some Simpson Episodes are just awful, and they aren't worth the watch. Some people feel this show is so dead that it's been kicked around like a dead horse. I'll explain a few recent episodes I found to be...not worth the watch. But believe me 'Lisa goes Gaga' is still the worst.

  Clown in the Dumps- The first episode of the 26th season, God almighty, revolves around Krusty the Clown. Before the season started, they hinted a Springfield Character was going to die. Why? Well...the reason Edna died was because the voice actress died. The reason Maude died was a pay dispute with the voice actor. Who dies in this?

     Krusty's father voiced by the Jackie Mason. He dies without ever explaining if he loved Krusty's comedy or not. What do I think about this one? It's not horrible, but it seemed weak for a certain Springfield character that was barely around and does return mostly as a ghost.

The greatest story ever... D'ohed!- This episode starred Sacha Baren Cohen whose performance feels forced in this episode. Flanders tries to teach Homer how to redeem himself by bringing the Simpson family to Isreal.

  You could tell this episode makes Homer a complete asshole in this. Not only does he piss off Ned, but he does some disrespectful things in the house of the lord by sleeping in the sacred house of the lord. Ned gets banned for life as Homer doesn't even apologize. Ned forces him to do the right thing and saying sorry was not going to be one of them. I didn't care much for this episode, but it's not the worst.

Marge the LumberJill- This episode had a pretty good star-studded cast staring a non-binary actress. Props to that. Another positive was the voice actress Grey Griffin voices Martin, Sherri and Terri replacing the late Russi Taylor. That's all the pluses.

   This episode felt boring as Marge becomes a lumberjack and meets someone new. Homer feels that she has feeling for her and is going to fall in love with her. I don't really remember much of this episode. I kind of pass on it thinking...it's just a boring episode; but I give it props having non-binary voice actors in this episode.

 Every Man's dream- I might have talked about this one before, but I'll mention it again. What a poor way to start off the 27th season. I think the story was just Homer and Marge having problems in their marriage as Homer flirts with a girl (voiced by Lena Dunham). Adam Driver voices in this show too.

   It felt more like an episode of 'Girls' than it did the Simpsons, and I'm not a Lena Dunham fan. Eventually Marge and Homer reconcile as usual, Yada, yada, yada. Didn't care for this episode.

Star of the Backstage- Wow...this one is a stinker as well. Let me explain; most of the voice actors in the Simpsons are talented singers. Hank Azaria, Dan Castellaneta and many others. They decide to throw Kristen Bell as the singing voice for Marge.

   Don't get me wrong, I love Kristen Bell, but this was one of my least favorite episodes of the season. It was the first one. It's another Simpson Musical and well...it just shows how stupid it is and how pointless it is to make an episode like this. Skippable.

McMansion and Wife- This episode feels...egh. Don't hate it, but don't like it. It seems Marge and Homer befriend some neighbors that are making a huge mansion not far from where they live. However, they don't know because Homer was tricked after wanting to rid an expensive car by one of the neighbors.

  There was something positive about this. I guess it was in a dream sequence involving Homer flying and Dick Van Dyke guest voicing as himself riding a Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang.

Codependence day- This episode shows how horrible of a person Homer is. First off...he drinks. Marge doesn't but soon they go to wine country and becomes addicted to wine and drinking.

   She tries to stop, but Homer believes it was best for her to just give in. Suddenly, Homer has a car accident after going to an Oktoberfest. He eventually puts Marge in the driver seat, and she loses her license. Homer is considered a horrible husband in this one. It amazes me they're still together.

Saddlesore Galactica- Wow, this one is kind of bland. I feel it's a good episode until the third act. Homer has a horse that he decides to race with Bart being a jockey. He keeps winning and well...here's where the plot falls flat.

  The Jockeys are really elves. I think whoever wrote this episode was snacking on Keebler products to think of that idea. It's an ok episode, but not one of the best. Also....Maude Flanders last one before her death.

Homer vs Dignity- Whoever wrote this episode...lost their dignity. This episode is horrible. Not only is this where Homer loses much of his but is being paid by Burns to do stupid stuff. The worst is when he has to mate with a panda. Let's just say....it happens, and they had to hide the love making scene.

   Eventually...he is told to dress as Santa and throw fish guts for almost a million dollars. He eventually comes to his senses and tells Burns he would not do it. I feel this episode is ok, but not a great one.

 Werking mom- I love RuPaul, but this is a horrible episode. Granted they do a good job with the LGTBQ+ community, but it feels forced. Marge eventually gets a job as a model...I think. She eventually loves the job; she meets a good friend who.... really is a drag queen.

  Again positive but feels forced. It's an ok episode, but I just feel this isn't needed in an episode like this. Maybe Marge befriends a drag queen, which she does, but eventually reveals how she feels about modeling.

 She does at the end, but it doesn't feel like this episode was good enough, just ok.

    These aren't the best episodes, and like I've said before, they are not great. The Simpsons have been on for so long, I wonder how many dead horses they have kicked. Well, let's just say, the episodes are not the best, but as long as they are not 'The Principal and the Pauper' or 'Lisa goes Gaga' They'll be safe....but will we?

James Earl Jones life

 

    This year, we lost a legend. James Earl Jones passed away in September leaving us amazing works. Like his acting in movies like hunt for red October, The Sandlot, Soul man, Field of dreams and much more. But he was more remembered for his voice talents.

   Born on January 17th in 1931, James Earl Jones was considered a stutterer when he was young. He didn't speak much until later in life. When he got older, he decided to try acting to help his stuttering and it seemed to work. He never even knew his father till later in life and was mostly raised by his grandparents since he was five.

 Like I said, he was mostly known for voice acting; especially his voice work in the 1970's when a certain movie by George Lucas came around. Even though he was never odically Darth Vader in suit, but his voice was known more than the actor in the suit. James Earl Jones voice cemented Darth Vader's persona in every way. Now with him gone, Darth Vadar is truly dead.

  James Earl Jones starred in two baseball movies, but one of them was more memorable than the other. Field of dreams, starring Kevin Costner, is about a man in Iowa changing his corn field into a baseball field. With the words, "If you build it, he will come." I forgot what the name of James character was, but he helped Kevin with everything as he noticed the ghost of his father appearing in the baseball field.

    What I would remember James Earl Jones the most is The Lion King. This movie is like Hamlet where one brother is killed by another. James voiced Mufasa who ends up killed by his younger brother Scar, voiced by Jermey Irons. His voice is beyond recognizable in this 1994 version, that 30 years later, his voice is more remembered in the animated one than the live action.

   Disney decided to make a live action movie of The Lion King. What did I think of it? Not as great as the original. They decided to have an 89-year-old James Earl Jones voice Mufasa and well...it wasn't as great as the original and that's why his voice sounds a lot better in the 1994 version than this one. 

  James Earl Jones has one son named Flynn with his late wife as she lived till 2016, passing away from Ovarian Cancer. His son Flynn has started to become an actor like his late father was. Haven't seen him in much, but he would often say how much of a role model James Earl Jones was to him, and I find that inspiring seeing that my father is the same way...at times.

  One more thing I wanted to say about him...He was the voice of the CNN news. Saying the words, "This is CNN" After his death, the CNN logo dimmed as well as the Hollywood Walk of Fame having his star being covered with flowers.

  It'll be hard hearing his voice as a lion or a villain ever again. I even found out they're going to use his voice in future Star Wars projects. Mostly his recordings because no one, and I mean no one, can ever replace him. 

   "May the force be with him."