The 138th Episode of the Simpsons is rather appropriately named The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular. It is odd that anyone would use the terms Clip show and sentimental favorite in the same sentence, but that is exactly what I am going to do here. The sentimentality comes from the fact that it is hosted by the Phil Hartman character Troy McClure. McClure was a B-Movie actor as most Simpsons fans can tell you, but Phil Hartman was a talent. Before the tragic murder suicide took his life, Hartman would record episodes all the way up to number 205. However, this is the last one where I really remember Hartman as being front and center in and given a chance to display his natural charm. McClure treated the Simpsons kind of like a show that he happened to be a part of. It adds a certain meta to the whole thing as well as establishing Troy McClure in the Simpsons universe as a character like Neil Patrick Harris is Kumar movies, or James van Der Beek in the B from apartment whatever or John Malkovich in Being John Malkovich. I also liked the fan mail especially all of the visions Smithers has about Mr Burns as well as the alternate endings to Who Shot Mr. Burns? I remember watching it in syndication shortly before Hartmans real life death and it always kind of stuck with me. The chalkboard gag read I will only do this once a year. The couch gag was a series of couch gag escalating into the song and dance number that was in Lisas First Word. Philip Edward Phil Hartman (September 24, 1948 – May 28, 1998)
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 00:59:12 +0000
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