What's your favorite episode of The Simpsons? To try everything Brilliant has to offer for free for a full 30 days, visit brilliant.org/midnight.

Ralph crying and turning his dial to red after being yelled at in the focus group is one of my favourite all time jokes

"I have to go. My planet needs me." :::Captain Midnight shuffles upwards off screen::; [CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT DIED ON HIS WAY BACK TO HIS HOME PLANET]

Homer: "Will this episode be going to air live?" June: "No, Homer, very few cartoons are broadcast live. It's a terrible strain on the animator's wrist."

Homer giving a heartfelt speech as Poochie was interesting since it shows that even something corporate mandated has the potential to be good if there are passionate creatives behind it. But the sad irony is that the same corporate overlords who mandated the decision have no loyalty to it and will throw it out the moment it stumbles, trashing the hard work of the creatives who actually tried to make it work.

The dude popping out from behind a rack of clothes and saying, "Would you kids like to come with me?" set me and my brother off laughing so hard for several minutes that we _nearly_ pissed our pants and _did_ cramp our rib muscles.

They like Captain. They like Midnight. One kid seems to love the Speedo man.

I always quote the milhouse line: "When are they gonna get to the fireworks factor?"

"Excuse me but proactive and paradigm, aren't these just buzzwords that dumb people use to sound important? Not that I'm accusing you of anything like that" ... "I'm fired aren't I?" "Oh yes"

This video is great and all, but when are we going to get to the fireworks factory?

Where's Poochie? There he is!

The funny thing is this exact situation is what helped kill *Pinky and the Brain.* The network wanted the writers to add a third main character late in the show's run, so the writers did an episode called "Pinky and the Brain and Larry" as a not at all subtle dig at what a bad idea that would be. Then the network forced them to add Elmyra Duff to the show anyway and rebrand as *Pinky, Elmyra, and the Brain* and everyone hated it.

The thing they cut from the episode is Krusty announcing that Poochie can't even be brought back legally. That's why he's holding that scroll in a lot of reruns but it's never addressed.

I think what this episode gets right that a lot of other shows (or even later Simpsons, really) get wrong when they try to do this meta commentary bit is that even without the meta aspect of this one, it's still a really good episode. Strong jokes that stand on their own, a well-paced and solid plot, and some legitimately pretty good character writing. It still works on its own as a good episode of the show.

I've always appreciated how this episode put a spotlight on EVERYBODY. From the indifferent executives to the jaded and disinterested writers to the fickle and entitled fans. The fact that this episode is still being talked about almost thirty years since it originally aired is a testament to how good it is. Great stuff

"Homer Barbershop Quartet", "Bart sells his soul", "Mother Simpson" and "Bart on the road" are my favorites

Put a sock in it, Roy!

Well, I can honestly say that was the best video of Commander Nighttime I’ve ever seen!

Reminds me a little of all the times the show runners of Teen Titans Go turned the characters into mouth peices to fire back at the haters.

I think my favorite thing about this episode is just how many of the real Simpsons staff show up as Itchy and Scratchy staff.

The jokes about fans were funny in this episode. Later on they tried and failed to do this. E.g., "Saddlesore Galactica", yet another episode where The Simpsons get a horse. Instead of throwing the script out and doing something new, they just have Comic Book Guy point out they're doing the same idea again, and then have Homer ask a crowd, "Does anyone care what this guy thinks?", to which they all shout, "NO!" Regarding the amount of time The Simspons has been on the air, they only hold the record in America. Japan's Sazae-san has been on longer.

Poochie may be the Scrappy Doo of Itchy and Scratchy but it acts as a grim reminder for annoying new characters in established franchises to this day.

Wait this was the first use of Comic Book Guy’s Worst ____ Ever! joke? Always assumed it started way earlier

'A Milhouse Divided' still holds up as the #1 Episode in my books!

I've been re-watching old Simpson's recently, and watched 'Bart Gets Famous' yesterday. Absolutely great send up of the fickle nature of entertainment fads, and is delightfully self aware.

I'm a Fighting Hellfish guy. It doesn't symbolize anything besides the Simpson's love of pointless lore they'll never talk about again, and the best funniest characters in the show facing off. Also it taught me what a tontine was when I was eight, so that's cool. Gotta get that logo tattooed someday.

Homer Badman would be my choice but I have more appreciation for the bellyaching at studio execs now as an adult

I really think that Season 8 was the best ever season of the Simpsons. So many classics from that year. It feels like the writers were at the peak of their creativity. Almost every story they told that season gave us something unique and inventive or took the characters to new places. Excellent season of television all around.

Since Itchy & Scratchy is obviously a parody of Tom & Jerry, I always thought that The inclusion of Poochie was a stab at the inclusion of the dog Spike later on in Tom & Jerry (especially since he is the only "main character" who frequently talks)

So it's not 22 Short Films About Springfield?

There was a great video from Super Eyepatch Wolf that addressed the online criticism of the time, where he shows several quotes from extremely negative online reviews of episodes with the implication being that they were reactions to post-season 20 Simpsons, only to reveal that they were for a now beloved episode from sesson 6 during the peak of the golden age. It's really fascinating to see how harsh the most vocal, and therefore visible, fans were back then, and really puts this episode in perspective.

Oh come on. We all know the best episode is “You Only Move Twice” featuring the best one-off character ever, Hank Scorpio.

Milhouse: "when are they gonna get to the fireworks factory? 😢"

Radioactive Man episode makes fun of Hollywood movie making process particularly the comic book franchise.

Your channel is one of the few where I instantly watch a new video

A classic. Up there with the "Monorail", "Chanel suit" and "X-Files" episodes.

The animated Clerks show had a scene where the characters address angry nerds.

One thing to note when Scrappy was introduced was that he was actually popular and DID revitalize the show. But when the show started getting worse by removing the Mystery Gang, studios used Scrappy as a scapegoat and removed him to say the show was fixed...

4:41, Roy. What a character

The "proactive, paradigm" quote is still used in my circles, it's just that freaking amazing.

It's the baseball one all day !!! Ken Griffeys Gigsntism

I really love the ending, cause it has the take that no matter what you do, things just aren't meant to last. Everything has it's expiration date. Tap out when the time is right, or risk becoming a noise in the background.

This episode made my top seven all time episodes right when it aired so I really enjoyed your video about it. And glad you brought up that West Wing episode!

Remember kids. Always recycle. *TO THE EXTREME!!!* edit: didn't know you were going to end the clip with that quote 😄 I miss TWP. I haven't found anything that matches that kind of snarky recapping.

When I am hearing about later Simpsons seasons, I'm still thinking about season 10. And I am always glad I stopped back then.

One of my absolute favourite meta episodes in any television series. The commentary is as relevant as ever

I withdraw my comments.

Wow! Another video already?? I love you stuff!

I feel a similar way about The Principal and the Pauper. It's hated for meta reasons but the episode itself is very funny and I think well written.

I’ve been waiting since the 90s for the triumphant return of Poochie. 😎🐕 to the EXtreme!

Skateboard and backwards cap are the universally understood signifiers of pandering to "the youths", whether you're a 90s kid or not. And I bet thanks to the "how do you do, fellow kids" meme it will stay that way forever!

Excellent video! This is absolutely one of my favorite episodes of the show as well. It just has so many fun moments, and as you said, is one of the most quotable. I think my favorite is always going to be "A Fish Named Selma", but Poochie firmly holds the second spot to me. This era of the Simpsons just hit different.

The most tragic part of this episode was that they never got to the fireworks factory. I also loved how Krusty introduced the episode comparing it to the moon landing.

If you watch The Simpsons during the golden age you can count the seconds between each joke or gag and it's literally somewhere between four of five seconds. It's really a testament to the superb writing during the golden age of this once great show.

I just re-watched it and you’re so right. Great Cheap Trick reference too

This was a good-ass video. You rock, CM!

Ok, I love your video! ❤ I’m a professional writer and I was first published at 11-12. I am 34 now. I include this fact because I wanted to establish how long I’ve been working as “a creative”. Anyway, the zinger quipped by the gentleman in the “Genius at Work” shirt is quite literally, my most feared and dreaded comment from my editor/s over the years 😅 I daresay that most creators of media/content would agree with me lol 😂 so even at a young age, when Homer shot this guy down so effectively and brutally- it’s SO satisfying like ice/aloe vera on a sunburn! My fave episode of “Simpsons” is either “Marge v.s. The Monorail” or “22 Short Films About Springfield”. Far too often, when I’m burnt out or struggling with writer’s block, I turn to the snappy, hilarious, and downright fricking clever writing from this beloved cartoon!

One of my favourite facts is that Roy was going to appear in the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror segment Time & Punishment as Homers eldest son in an alternative timeline that he visits thanks to his time travelling toaster.

‘It gave us one of the best one off Simpsons creations’. It sure did. We love Roy.

When I was a kid this was my favourite episode and I can actually remember the day it was broadcast for the first time. I don't know if I'd call it the best episode ever, but it definitely holds a special place in my heart.

My favorite is the one about the clown school, but this one is also pure gold. You had to be there to see what Simpsonmania was like, it was out of this world.

5:52, “that specific kind of character is less relevant”. Chloe Carmichael would like a word with you

Before there were "And Knuckles" or "Featuring Dante from The Devil May Cry Series" jokes everyone I knew would make "And Poochy" jokes. Even if this episode isnt THE BEST to people, it most certainly is the most memorable.

One of the many great episodes. Sad what its become as of late.

Love how homer dismisses Roy by saying “yea, hi Roy”

“You mean Cerberus?” is my favourite joke in the entire series. Not that I’ve seen an episode in the last twenty years.

I can almost guarantee that the writing staff of the Simpsons are bigger nerds than any of us could be.

Even at the time, I love not only how it skewered the idea of adding in a new character to spice things up, but also how at the time companies thought they could spice any given product or media by making it XTREME! 😂 the 90s were a special time indeed

Always been one of my favorites. This show been around for a min min

Keep in mind the whole Genius at work T-shirt guy is a throwback to the SNL skit with Shatner at a mock Trek convention. In Shatner's own words to the Trek Nerds: What is wrong with you people, Get a life, Kiss a girl!

nice surprise at the end haha

Poochie didn't go to his home planet. He moved in with his cousin Rude Dog and his dorky harem.

The number of times I've referenced Poochie in media discourse is directly proportional to the increasing relevance of Poochie references in media discourse.

Simpsons called Itchy & Scratchy stale in Season 8 yet kept using it in bits until Season 30.

It's a sad thing that they never went to the fireworks factory.

The way you talk about Comic Book Guy reminds me of Whizzkid in the Doctor Who serial The Greatest Show In The Galaxy. He was also created as a direct response to fan criticisms of the show it aired as a part of.

5:45 Certainly explains why I loathed Scrappy so much. I casually watched Scooby cartoons as a kid. Scrappy felt like he was obnoxiously trying to steal the thunder of the show as much as possible.

This is my favorite episode too! So many great jokes and such clever satire.

PLEASE KNOW YOU ARE BASICALLY AND TECHNICALLY 100% CORRECT.

In 1997 the Simpsons was firing on all 8 cylinders but one fuel injector is a little dirty, now its firing on 2 cylinders and has a fouled out spark plug

I will admit this might be the most influential episode of Simpsons in my household. Somehow, almost daily, my wife or I will ask "do you want A or B?" And the response is always a stupid high pitched, raspy, "DO YOU!?"

5:04 if Smithers can have snap total Vitilego by dog Lindsy can dye her hair blond

All the talk in the episode about Nielsen ratings makes me ask: at what point did the Simpsons machine convince the powers that be to keep the show running despite decreasing cultural relevance beyond 1996 or ratings at all since? For sure at some point in the 2000-2010 era, everyone involved had serious talks about when and how to end this world cultural institution and yet, here we are with 20+ years’ worth of seasons the world has passed by.

I think season 8 began the silver age of The SImpsons. Still good, but the fall had already begun. The true beginning of that fall was "Homer's Enemy", where the writers stated that killing a man in a markedly cruel way would be mined for a joke. This episode is fun, and makes a good commentary on television itself.

As an aspiring comic writer, I am still attempting to create that realistic, down to earth story that's completely off the wall and swarming with magic robots.

Damn I'm 10 mins late to a new Captain Midnight, boy I hope someone got fired for that blunder

This episode was basically The simpsons predicting South park Simpsons already did it.

The Simpsons started declining after season 9, not 8.

1:24 I was very surprised to see that the episode was written by David "S." Cohen since I was familiar with David X. Cohen's work on Futurama. TIL that both names refer to the same person and his middle name is "Samuel." He changed his credited name for Futurama because of WGA rules and IMDB uses the newer name for The Simpsons retroactively. I guess there must some other writer named "David S. Cohen."

"I'm fired aren't I?"

I don’t know if they’ve brought poochie back at all since I haven’t seen the simpsons in years. But bringing him back NOW that he’s beloved nostalgia would be even MORE symbolic. This thing that was supposed to be a throw away and never seen again , now being a fan favorite and brought back

To me the best episode is the one with Burns' casino, it has so many iconic and hilarious moment

"It's funny because it's true".... best line ever... cable theft episode

Great video.

7:56, agreed

I think part of the frustration of modern Marvel and Star Wars isn't even the content itself, but the fans outgrowing them and refusing to admit that they aren't the target audience anymore. That, and bigotry.

Hurricane Neddy, when Flanders went nuts.

Poochie's soul patch is perfect.

Just had to give it to you on this one Midnight..... The fact I know he was with original Captain Marvel way back in the day means..... I am in way too friggin' deep!

Yes