Another Simpsons Clip Show (S06, E03-106)

FOX executive trying to convince producers a clip show is a good idea.png

Plot Summary
As the non-clip portion of the episode begins, Marge starts to wonder if classic romance has died, whether she and Homer, as adults, have failed to carry on those virtues to their children.  The next day, Marge gathers up the family in an attempt to teach them about the values of romance.  Failing to come up with a good example, she finally settles on that time she was nearly swooned by the bowler Jacques.  Homer, stunned by the revelation that Marge nearly had an affair, decides to vengefully reveal his near scandal when he found himself attracted to a new co-worker.  With neither story exactly giving off a romantic feel, Marge asks if anyone else has a romantic story.  Lisa, instead, offers another romantic tragedy: the time she gave Ralph a Valentine's Day card out of pity and he took it the wrong way.  Marge then has Bart recall a romantic memory that didn't end tragically: the time Bart was infatuated with the new girl next door, but then remembering that she had a boyfriend, Bart is left sad, hell, everyone is sad now.

Trying desperately to salvage the conversation, Marge tries to bring up other family related romances.  She almost brings up that time Selma got married, except that didn't go so well.  She then retells how her mom and Homer's dad almost sorta kinda hooked up.  With neither kid inspired, Marge gives up.  Homer, however, saves the day as he does have a story of a romance with a happy ending: the story of how he and Marge got together.  Recalling kiss after kiss, the two share a few more with the kids having left over the incoming PDA.

Quick Review
Its time for another one of these episodes.  Unlike the last clip show, where the episode still had an original and even somewhat creative plot with several brand new jokes and good use of clips, this one pretty much just mails it in.  This episode ties in not just clips, but segments of entire episode premises under a romance theme and it just... doesn't work.

Since this clip show was centered around romantic encounters, the chances for good jokes either new or old ended up being quite limited.  All said and done, this has been the worst episode of the show thus far, 106 episodes in.

Final Score: 5.8