''The Simpsons'' (season 17)

The Simpsons (season 17)

DVD cover
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 22
Release
Original network Fox
Original release September 11, 2005 (2005-09-11) – May 21, 2006 (2006-05-21)
Season chronology

The Simpsons' seventeenth season originally aired between September 2005 and May 2006, beginning on Sunday, September 11, 2005. It broke Fox's tradition of pushing its shows' season premieres back to November to accommodate the Major League Baseball games airing on the network during September and October of each year.[1] It was released on DVD in Region 1 on December 2, 2014 and Region 2 on December 1, 2014.

Production

Al Jean remained show runner, with this being his fifth year in the position since he started it in season 13. David Silverman was the supervising director of animation. New writers included Patric Verrone (previously a writer for The Critic, Futurama, and current president of the Writers Guild of America, Western Division), Daniel Chun, and Stephane Gillis. During this season, there were no episodes that aired during the month of October.

Seven hold-over episodes from the season 16 (GABF) production line aired as part of this season. One of these episodes, "The Girl Who Slept Too Little", was intended to air as the season 16 finale on May 15, 2005, but after "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star", an episode satirizing the Catholic Church, was postponed due to Pope John Paul II's death, it was moved into this season.[2]

Reception

Reviews

The season was met with mixed-to-positive reviews. Jeffry Kauffman of Blu-ray.com gave the season 4/5. He said the season was an "arguably an incremental step downward" but he still thought "There are still delights galore to be sampled throughout the season,"[3] Shadowlocked gave the season 4/5 stars. Luke Connolly said that the season did a great job at tying things together and praised "Girls Just Want to have Sums" and "We're on the Road to D'ohwhere" as highlights. He concluded by saying "While season 17 shows its age in certain places, its continual pursuit of originality and familiar comedy more than makes up for this, and one cannot help but be impressed."[4] Fanboy Nation's Sean Mukvihill was positive on the season saying "Even though it isn't as a great as it once was, the show still boast some very clever writing and the best voice cast of any animated program in history."[5] impulse gamer gave the season 3.9/5 and the reviewer was surprised by how he enjoyed the episodes.[6] Capsule Computers was more critical of the season giving the season 5.5/10 and commented "As a long time fan of the early Simpsons that involved great episodes with hilarious, tightly developed plots, it is hard to stomach what the show has become."[7] Spotlight Report gave the season 3.0/5 criticizing that it wasn't as funny as previous seasons.[8]

Awards

"The Seemingly Neverending Story" won an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program, the first Simpsons episode to win since season 14's "Three Gays of the Condo" and the ninth time in the history of the show.[9] Kelsey Grammer received the Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for "The Italian Bob".[10]

Nielsen ratings

The show ranked 56th in the seasonal ratings tied with Invasion, America's Funniest Home Videos, and The Amazing Race with a viewership 9.2 million viewers and an 18–49 Nielsen Rating of 4.4/11.[11]

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
3571"The Bonfire of the Manatees"Mark KirklandDan GreaneySeptember 11, 2005 (2005-09-11)GABF1811.10[12]
After Homer gets into trouble over his football gambling debts, he allows the Springfield Mafia to shoot a porno film (euphemistically called a "snuggle film") in the house without Marge's permission. When she and the kids return home from a trip to "Santa's Village" and find production still going on, a furious Marge leaves for the beach--and encounters a marine biologist named Caleb Thorn who has dedicated his life to saving manatees.[13]
Guest star: Alec Baldwin as Caleb Thorn
3582"The Girl Who Slept Too Little"Raymond S. PersiJohn FrinkSeptember 18, 2005 (2005-09-18)GABF169.79[14]
After the family successfully protests against a stamp museum being built next to their house, a cemetery is built near the Simpson house instead, making the normally unflappable Lisa realize that someone as smart as her can be afraid of something.[15]
3593"Milhouse of Sand and Fog"Steven Dean MoorePatric M. VerroneSeptember 25, 2005 (2005-09-25)GABF1910.19[16]
Homer tries to capitalize on a "pox party" after Maggie is infected with chicken pox, but ends up catching it himself. Meanwhile, Milhouse's parents reunite after years of being divorced, but Milhouse and Bart try to break them up again after Milhouse's parents do not pay enough attention to him.[17]
3604"Treehouse of Horror XVI"David SilvermanMarc WilmoreNovember 6, 2005 (2005-11-06)GABF1711.63[18]
B.I. Bartificial Intelligence – Bart falls into a coma after trying to jump into the swimming pool at Patty and Selma's apartment complex. With Bart incapacitated, the Simpsons buy a robot son, who proves to be a better son than Bart ever was, leaving the real Bart to befriend a group of traveling robots.
Survival of the Fattest – Mr. Burns hunts down Homer and a small collection of male ancillary characters as part of a new reality show called "The World Series of Manslaughter."
I've Grown a Costume on Your Face – After she loses a Halloween costume contest, a witch turns the townspeople into their Halloween costumes, and Lisa (who is now Albert Einstein) finds out that Maggie (who is dressed as a witch) is the key to revert the spell.[19]
Guest stars: Terry Bradshaw and Dennis Rodman
3615"Marge's Son Poisoning"Mike B. AndersonDaniel ChunNovember 13, 2005 (2005-11-13)GABF2011.4[20]
Marge buys a tandem bicycle and after she fails to ride it on her own, Bart offers to ride with her. He soon finds himself increasingly spending time with his mother, until school bullies accuse him of being a "mama's boy". Meanwhile, Moe pushes Homer into the world of professional arm wrestling after seeing Homer doing 50,000 reps on his right arm.[21]
3626"See Homer Run"Nancy KruseStephanie GillisNovember 20, 2005 (2005-11-20)GABF2110.3[22]
In order to win back Lisa's love after shunning her Father's Day gift (and fearing that the action will cause Lisa to despise all men), Homer takes a job as a costumed mascot known as "The Safety Salamander", who wins public acclaim for saving drivers from a car accident. Meanwhile, Springfield holds a recall election to get Mayor Quimby out of office.[23]
3637"The Last of the Red Hat Mamas"Matthew NastukJoel H. CohenNovember 27, 2005 (2005-11-27)GABF2211.46[24]
Marge joins a woman's group after Homer humiliates her at the Mayor's Easter egg hunt, but Marge discovers that her new friends are thieves planning a heist. Meanwhile, Lisa searches for a tutor to help her speak Italian--and finds one in Milhouse.[25]
Guest Star: Lily Tomlin
3648"The Italian Bob"Mark KirklandJohn FrinkDecember 11, 2005 (2005-12-11)HABF0210.39[26]
After Mr. Burns is teased about his car, he sends Homer and the family off to Italy to pick up his new fancy sports car. While on their Italian adventure, the Simpsons end up stranded in a small Italian village where a rehabilitated Sideshow Bob reigns as mayor with a wife and son.[27]
Guest Stars: Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Kelsey Grammer
3659"Simpsons Christmas Stories"Steven Dean MooreDon PayneDecember 18, 2005 (2005-12-18)HABF019.8[28]
In this trilogy Christmas episode, Homer tells his rendition of Jesus's birth during Christmas mass in "The First (Annoyed Grunt)-El", Grampa tells a Yuletide war story in "I Saw Grampa Cussing Santa Claus", and Springfield musically prepares for Christmas in "The Nutcracker...Sweet".[29]
36610"Homer's Paternity Coot"Mike B. AndersonJoel H. CohenJanuary 8, 2006 (2006-01-08)HABF0310.1[30]
Marge's protest against a toll booth causes an accident at the Springfield Tire Yard (which has been perpetually on fire since the 1980s), melting a frozen section of a mountain and revealing the corpse of a mailman who has a letter from Homer's mom, who had an affair with a handsome lifeguard who may be Homer's biological father.[31]
Guest Stars: Michael York, William H. Macy and Joe Frazier
36711"We're on the Road to D'ohwhere"Nancy KruseKevin CurranJanuary 29, 2006 (2006-01-29)HABF049.04[32]
After Bart steals a key from Principal Skinner's office and gets himself into hot water (literally, by fooling around with the school's steam system), Principal Skinner sentences Bart to a "behavior modification camp"--and Homer must give up his Vegas vacation with his bar buddies in order to take Bart there since he has been put on the airport's "No Fly" List. Meanwhile, Marge and Lisa have a yard sale--and discover that their biggest-selling product are the many expired medications they have accumulated over the years.[33]
36812"My Fair Laddy"Bob AndersonMichael PriceFebruary 26, 2006 (2006-02-26)HABF059.51[34]
Lisa attempts to transform Groundskeeper Willie into a proper gentleman after Groundskeeper Willie's shack collapses and, like many other secondary and one-time characters over the years, is forced to live with The Simpsons. Meanwhile, Homer becomes a human billboard to save the company that makes his pants.[35]
36913"The Seemingly Never-Ending Story"Raymond S. PersiIan Maxtone-GrahamMarch 12, 2006 (2006-03-12)HABF069.72[36]

While cave exploring with his family, Homer causes the cave to crumble and finds himself stuck upside down in the ceiling. Marge and Bart search for help while Lisa passes the time by telling Homer a story, which turns into a chain of narrated tales that, bit by bit, explain why The Simpsons are spending the day at Carl's Dad Caverns.[37]

Emmy Award winning episode.
37014"Bart Has Two Mommies"Mike MarcantelDana GouldMarch 19, 2006 (2006-03-19)HABF078.75[38]
Ned Flanders wins a new computer and offers it to Marge, as he has no use for it. In return, Marge babysits the Flanders children. With Marge spending so much time at The Flanders', Homer must look after Bart and Lisa. Homer takes the kids to an animal retirement home, but the trip goes awry when Toot-Toot the monkey pulls Bart into her cage and holds him hostage.[39]
Guest Stars: Susan Sarandon, Antonio Fargas, Dave Thomas and Randy Johnson
37115"Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife"Matthew NastukRicky GervaisMarch 26, 2006 (2006-03-26)HABF0810.09[40]
Homer's obsession with Lenny's new plasma TV prompts Marge to enter the family in a sweepstakes, and they win a trip to the Fox Studio Lot. Against Marge's wishes, Homer signs them up for a Trading Spouses/Wife Swap-style reality show and is forced to take in a controlling wife, while Marge moves in with a beaten-down husband, Charlie, and his perfect son.[41]
Guest Star: Ricky Gervais
37216"Million-Dollar Abie"Steven Dean MooreTim LongApril 2, 2006 (2006-04-02)HABF097.83[42]

After costing Springfield their chance at getting a major football team, Grampa contemplates suicide and goes to a doctor specializing in euthanasia. However, when the police arrests the doctor and Grampa realizes he's not dead, he starts a new life as a bullfighter for the newly converted stadium.[43]

Guest stars: Rob Reiner and Michael Carrington
37317"Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore"Mark KirklandDeb Lacusta & Dan CastellanetaApril 9, 2006 (2006-04-09)HABF108.20[44]
Patty and Selma abduct Richard Dean Anderson (the actor best known for playing MacGyver) during the Springfield Stargate SG-1 convention after Anderson rudely tells the terrible twins that he only did MacGyver to make money. Meanwhile, Mr. Burns outsources his nuclear plant to India and chooses Homer to be the new boss.[45]
Guest Star: Richard Dean Anderson
37418"The Wettest Stories Ever Told"Mike B. AndersonJeff WestbrookApril 23, 2006 (2006-04-23)HABF117.04[46]
When the Simpsons' plans for a nice family outing at the Frying Dutchman turn into a dining disaster, the family (and show writers) try to salvage the night by telling three tales of disasters at sea: in "Mayflower Madman," Pilgrims Moe and Homer fight for the hand of Goody Marge while sailing to Plymouth Rock, in "The Whine-Bar Sea," Bart leads a mutiny against Captain Principal Skinner, and in "Watership D'ohn," The Simpsons (and a collection of ancillary characters) re-enact The Poseidon Adventure.[47]
37519"Girls Just Want to Have Sums"Nancy KruseMatt SelmanApril 30, 2006 (2006-04-30)HABF128.7[48]
Principal Skinner is replaced by a women's education expert after making a sexist statement about women's math skills during a musical (which was written by a former female Springfield Elementary school student who was a math whiz), who segregates the school by gender. At first, Lisa loves the arrangement, but when she discovers that the girls' classes are more about self-esteem boosting than actual learning, Lisa disguises herself as a boy and attends the boys' classes.[49]
Guest Star: Frances McDormand
37620"Regarding Margie"Michael PolcinoMarc WilmoreMay 7, 2006 (2006-05-07)HABF138.50[50]
Marge goes nuts trying to clean the kitchen in time for a best house contest, but when she inhales the fumes of one too many cleaning solvents, she passes out and bangs her head on a stool. When Marge comes to at the hospital, she is stricken with amnesia, which does not last when she immediately remembers everyone in the family through their quirks--except for Homer. With Marge's memory of Homer erased, Patty and Selma help their sister find a new man.[51]
Guest Stars: Sal Bando and Gene Tenace
37721"The Monkey Suit"Raymond S. PersiJ. Stewart BurnsMay 14, 2006 (2006-05-14)HABF148.3[52]
Reverend Lovejoy is appointed to spread the word of creationism in Springfield after Flanders complains about a new museum display about evolution, leading creationism to be taught in schools -- and Lisa to fight back with secret classes about Charles Darwin and his theories of evolution.[53]
Guest Stars: Melanie Griffith and Larry Hagman
37822"Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play"Bob AndersonJoel H. CohenMay 21, 2006 (2006-05-21)HABF168.23[54]
A first baseman for the Springfield Isotopes calls upon Homer and Marge to help him with his marriage to a stripper/pop singer named Tabitha Vixx, who upstages him with a racy musical number during one of his games.[55]
Guest Stars: Mandy Moore and Stacy Keach

Blu-ray and DVD release

The Complete Seventeenth Season
Set Details Special Features
  • 22 episodes
  • 3-disc set (Blu-ray)
  • 4-disc set (DVD)
  • 1.33:1 aspect ratio
  • Languages:
    • English (DVD: Dolby Digital 5.1, with subtitles) (Blu-ray: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, subtitles)
    • Latin Spanish (DVD: Dolby Digital Stereo, with subtitles) (Blu-ray: Dolby Digital 5.1, subtitles)
    • French Canadian (DVD: Dolby Digital Stereo) (Blu-ray: Dolby Digital 5.1)
    • Special Language Feature for "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife" (Portuguese, Italian, Czech, Hungarian)
  • Optional commentaries for all 22 episodes
  • Buogiorno, Simpsons Lovers
  • Deleted Scenes
  • The Great ones
  • Live! It's The Simpsons
  • Sketch Gallery 1 & 2
  • Easter Egg
  • Let there be Music!
  • Animation Showcase
  • Bonus Episodes:
Release Dates
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
December 2, 2014December 1, 2014 December 3, 2014

References

  1. ↑ "FOX Announces Fall Premiere Dates For the 2005-2006 Season". The Futon Critic. 2005-07-11. Retrieved 2013-07-27.
  2. ↑ Pierce, Scott (2005-05-14). "Saturday and Sunday on TV". Deseret News (Salt Lake City), at Findarticles.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  3. ↑ "The Simpsons: The Seventeenth Season Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  4. ↑ Connolly, Luke. "Review: The Simpsons Season 17 - | movies, TV, videogames, crowd-funding - Shadowlocked: find the future!". www.shadowlocked.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  5. ↑ "Blu-Ray Review: The Simpsons Season 17". fanboynation.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  6. ↑ "The Simpsons: The Seventeenth Season DVD Review - Impulse Gamer". Impulse Gamer. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  7. ↑ "The Simpsons Season 17 Review | Capsule Computers - Gaming & Entertainment News, Reviews, Interviews & Competitions". www.capsulecomputers.com.au. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  8. ↑ "The Simpsons Season 17 – DVD Review". Spotlight Report "The Best Entertainment Website in Oz". Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  9. ↑ "Simpsons wins ninth cartoon Emmy". BBC News. 2006-08-20. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  10. ↑ Todd Leopold (2006-08-24). "Welcome to the Emmy 'mess'". CNN. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  11. ↑ no author (May 26, 2006). "Series". Archived from the original on 22 July 2010.
  12. ↑ unknown (12 September 2005). "NFL, Simpsons Take Sunday For FOX". Posted by Adam. Simpsons Channel. Archived from the original on August 3, 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  13. ↑ "Bonfire of the Manatees". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  14. ↑ Ratings: The Girl Who Slept Too Little at The Simpsons Channel. (archive)
  15. ↑ "The Girl Who Slept Too Little". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  16. ↑ Ratings: Milhouse of Sand and Fog (archive)
  17. ↑ "Milhouse of Sand and Fog". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  18. ↑ Ratings: Treehouse of Horror XVI (archive)
  19. ↑ "Treehouse of Horror XVI". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  20. ↑ Ratings: Marge's Son Poisoning at The Simpsons Channel. (archive)
  21. ↑ "Marge's Son Poisoning". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  22. ↑ Ratings: See Homer Run at The Simpsons Channel. (archive)
  23. ↑ "See Homer Run". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  24. ↑ Ratings: The Last of the Red Hat Mamas at The Simpsons Channel. (archive)
  25. ↑ "The Last of the Red Hat Mamas". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  26. ↑ Ratings: The Italian Bob at The Simpsons Channel. (archive)
  27. ↑ "The Italian Bob". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  28. ↑ Ratings: Simpsons Christmas Stories at The Simpsons Channel. (archive) Archived April 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  29. ↑ "Simpsons Christmas Stories". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  30. ↑ Ratings: Homer's Paternity Coot at The Simpsons Channel. (archive)
  31. ↑ "Homer's Paternity Coot". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  32. ↑ Ratings: We're on the Road to D'ohwhere at The Simpsons Channel. (archive) Archived February 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  33. ↑ "We're on the Road to D'ohwhere". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  34. ↑ Ratings: My Fair Laddy at The Simpsons Channel. (archive)
  35. ↑ "My Fair Laddy". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  36. ↑ Ratings: The Seemingly Never-Ending Story at The Simpsons Channel. (archive)
  37. ↑ "The Seemingly Never-Ending Story". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  38. ↑ Ratings: Bart Has Two Mommies at The Simpsons Channel. (archive)
  39. ↑ "Bart Has Two Mommies". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  40. ↑ "By the numbers". The Dallas Morning News. 2006-03-29. p. 3G.
  41. ↑ "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  42. ↑ Ratings: Million Dollar Abie (archive)
  43. ↑ "Million Dollar Abie". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  44. ↑ Ratings: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore (archive)
  45. ↑ "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  46. ↑ Ratings: The Wettest Stories Ever Told (archive)
  47. ↑ "The Wettest Stories Ever Told". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  48. ↑ Ratings: Girls Just Want to Have Sums (archive)
  49. ↑ "Girls Just Want To Have Sums". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  50. ↑ Ratings: Regarding Margie (archive) Archived November 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  51. ↑ "Regarding Margie". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  52. ↑ Ratings: The Monkey Suit (archive) Archived November 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  53. ↑ "The Monkey Suit". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  54. ↑ Ratings: Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play (archive) Archived November 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  55. ↑ "Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
Bibliography
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