Lets stick in season 6 with what is likely my personal favorite episode.
Seasons 6 came out in 1995. I was 12 years old. I had gotten a pair of rollerblades for my birthday that year, along with just about every other boy in my friend group. Why? In 1991, the San Jose Sharks came to town, the team’s very first professional sports organization. The first two seasons they played in San Francisco at the Cow Palace, and in 1993, the San Jose Arena opened up. A place that would become very special to me. In April of 94, the Sharks pulled off one of the biggest NHL playoff upsets of all time, defeating the 1st seeded Red Wings in 7 games in an amazing series. So naturally, all us boys around that age fell in love with hockey as our first professional sports team did something incredible, and it started a lifelong love of hockey for me (though I wasn’t a Sharks fan, go Devils!)
Anyway, all that to say Lisa on Ice is my favorite episode of the Simpsons.
Within the first thirty seconds, we have one of the best series jokes of all time, with Channel 6 action news! “Hello I’m Ken Brockman, Our top stories tonight, a tremendous EXPLOSION in the price of lumber, President Reagan DIES… his hair says Garry Trudeau in his new musical comedy revue.” And the death count from the killer storm sitting at 0, but ready to shoot right up at a moment’s notice.
Homer liking the odds of hilarity at the laugh n brew.
Lisa wakes up Bart with a fake snowball “Nice jammies Simpson, did your mommy buy those for ya?” “OF course she did, who else would have?” “Alright Simpson, you win this round”
Special assembly for academic alerts.
And Lisa is failing gym, so she needs to join a peewee team
It doesnt go well.
“Children, that was our only ball. There will be no team this year.”
Bart’s a good guy at sports, but its ok. Homer isn’t overly competitive.
Pigs and Gougers.
Millhouse gets a concussion so only one thing makes sense.
Comeon, defense defense, you call that blowing?
Wiggum celebrates winning but can’t take the team out for pizza because he bet on the other team.
HEADS UP LITTLE GIRL!
Mom, will you stop showing us those?
“Have you seen my teef?” “…No…”
Ahhhh, a simple time, when an F in 2nd grade gym could disqualify you from president can get you shipped off to monster island. Don’t worry, its just a name.
“Now that my daughter is on your team, I want to make a few things clear. I don’t want anyone to give her a hard time just because she’s different”
“With her!”
“Sucker! Competitive violence, that’s why you’re here!”
“We’d invite you along, but… ya know.”
“Don’t have a stereotypical view of me just because Im your mother. I’m no Harvey Globetrotter but…”
“Hack the bone! Hack the bone!”
Theres more but you get the idea. Let me end with one of my favorite pieces of media of all time. This episode led me to the discovery of Simpsonswave (years ago, obv) and this is by far my favorite one.
