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| The faces on Bart and fake Lisa say it all, really. |
In the first of what will end up being several non-Halloween 'trilogy' episodes, this one has a special theme to it: Spin-Off! Troy McClure narrates this special episode, noting that FOX has a lot of airspace to fill and requested the producers of The Simpsons to fill said time. They came up with three possible spin-off shows featuring characters from the show in new and different scenarios.
Chief Wiggum P.I.
Having been dismissed from the Springfield police due to massive corruption, Wiggum, along with his son Ralph, set up a detective agency in New Orleans. Seymour Skinner comes with them to act as Wiggum's sidekick. Though Wiggum is determined to clean up New Orleans, he quickly gains an enemy: Big Daddy. One night, Wiggum is given a warning via a corked alligator, but the distraction allows for Ralph to be kidnapped. Wiggum and Skinner are given a call by Big Daddy, who states that he has Ralph, unharmed, and will return him to Wiggum once he agrees to leave town. The two notice that the call seemed to have background noise like that of a party. Struggling to figure out what kind of party that would be in New Orleans, they are shocked to learn that its currently Mardi Gras. Wiggum runs out and meets the Simpsons, who just happened to be there at the time. They point out Ralph, who is enjoying the party with Big Daddy, but as Ralph sees "regular daddy", Big Daddy tries to escape. He ultimately flees to the governor's mansion, which had been stolen and placed in the middle of a swamp, while Wiggum gives chase. The two confront one another there, but Big Daddy tosses Ralph at Wiggum and escapes, very slowly swimming away. Wiggum is confident the two will meet again each and every week, and then Skinner makes a fat joke.
Individual Score: +1.9
The Love-Matic Grampa
Lonely once again, Moe is stunned to learn that his love testing machine is possessed by Grampa Simpson, who for the purpose of this story has died only to of gotten lost on the way to heaven, ending up in Moe's machine. Grampa declares that he'll help Moe with his love life. After a brief confrontation with Homer, a beautiful woman comes in, her car having broke down. Grampa helps Moe court her to dinner. At the dinner, Moe somehow 'sneaks' Grampa in, leave him in the bathroom to give him advice as needed. However, when Moe goes in one time, he finds the machine beaten up by bullies. Clearly malfunction, the machine gives Moe faulty advice, which promptly gets Moe in trouble. As he starts kicking the machine for blowing the date, the woman walks in, exposing Moe's scheme, but falls for him anyway after seeing what he's going through to 'do' her. The two, along with Grampa, enjoy the moment.
Individual Score: +1.3
The Simpson Family Smile-Time Variety Hour
Its a 70s-themed variety show featuring, among others, every member of the Simpson family except for Lisa, who refused to do the show. Instead, a hot blonde takes her place under the role of a preppy teenager. The family has a skit involving beavers, and then a musical number regaling everyone's love for candy. Tim Conway is also around but he only appears at the beginning and end of the bit.
Individual Score: +0.8
As the episode ends, Troy McClures shares some plotlines that will surely appear for Season 9: magic powers! Wedding after wedding after wedding (all involving Selma)! Long lost triplets! Lastly, a little green man named Osmodiar that only Homer can see. Troy and Osmodiar wish the audience a good night as the episode ends.
Quick Review
This was a rather clever episode, doing a very good job parodying the types of shows that the spin-offs are about. Wiggum's spin-off was by far the best of the three, but the other two have their moments as well. Having Lisa be replaced in the variety show was probably the best thing about it, even if older, blonder, hotter Lisa didn't directly provide any laughs herself. Overall, its a remarkably excellent episode, among Season 8's best.
Final Score: 9.7
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