No man should outlive his wizard

[vovat]

It seems to have become fairly typical for recent Simpsons episodes to be what you might call Good Enough. The show isn't as funny as it used to be, but it's amusing enough to make watching the new episodes worthwhile. Last night's episode was no exception. It also followed the trend of rehashing a familiar idea, but with some new details. We'd already seen Lisa and Marge trying to reach out to Nelson, and it was Bart's turn this time. It worked all right, with some good interaction between the two of them, but it will probably turn out to be a largely forgettable episode. I did enjoy the subplot of Homer reading to Lisa. It didn't go much of anywhere and didn't really relate to the main plot, but it was cute.

American Dad had some good stuff in it. Being somewhat of a grammar snob myself, I liked the bits with characters criticizing each other for using the word "irregardless," and "lay" instead of "lie." I also thought the What's Eating Gilbert Grape? squirrels were funny, although it was weird that they kept coming back to that gag so often.

There was no new Family Guy episode, so you don't get a new review, either. I did, however, come across the newest Chick Tract, which is about the dangers of Freemasonry. A very timely strip, as I know so many people today are chomping at the bit to join their local Masonic Lodge! It opens doors, I'm telling you! I don't have much specific to say about this one, but I love how, in a strip about Masonry, old Jack can't resist taking an irrelevant stab at Islam. "Islam and Christianity have nothing in common." I guess all the stuff in the Qu'ran about Jesus being a major prophet doesn't count. More significantly, though, Chick has already done tracts about Masonry. The guy seems to be in reruns nowadays. We've seen the comics about the evils of Halloween, Islam, Catholicism, and the public school system. Why not go for something more timely, like how Satan is lurking in your iPod, or Jesus hates reality TV? It seems like the most recent development in popular culture of which Mr. Chick is aware is Harry Potter.

Comments

[bethje.livejournal.com]

That IS so Raven!

[travspence.livejournal.com]

Dang. I'm going to call my Dad, who is a Mason, and tell him that's he been screwed out of his 40% discount at the lumber yard!

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Maybe he's not going the right lumber yard. It has to be the one across the street from the gaming store where they sell the Dungeons & Dragons manuals that contain actual working spells, and down the street from the public elementary school where no one has heard of Jesus.

[travspence.livejournal.com]

Dad is only a Mason because my oldest brother joined and he asked Dad to go through with him as a bonding experience or whatever. I had to laugh at the initiation process as depicted in the comic because I know what my Dad and brother went through. My brother's mother-in-law is a hardcore Christian and she was very upset when he joined because she'd heard that to get in, you have to vow to cut the heart out of your oldest child. 25 years later, my niece still has her heart. My Dad and brother never go to meetings anymore because their lodge had dwindled to about 5 really old guys.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

she'd heard that to get in, you have to vow to cut the heart out of your oldest child.

Amazing how many Masons aren't in prison, isn't it?

[vovat.livejournal.com]

No, see, they're not in prison because the judges are also Masons, and have been through the initiation themselves.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Maybe they would have kept going if they'd realized that those five old guys are the ones who actually rule the world! :P

[secretnthewings.livejournal.com]

I'd love to be a Freemason! Masonry opens doors! If I was a Mason I'd...I'd sit in the back and not get in anyone's way.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you feel that way, but we DID want a block of flats, nice though the abbatoir is.

[kristenjarrod.livejournal.com]

Yeah I thought the Whats Eating Gilbert Grape scenes were funny too, way out in left field with that.