The Simpsons - Season 16 [DVD]

The sixteenth season of The Simpsons was released on December 2nd 2013 and is taken from episodes airing in 2004-2005. It is packaged in the usual style with a box on the outside and a pull out DVD container made from cardboard with pretty designs in an elaborate theme. This time the theme is science with Professor Frink taking the cover and the inner artwork and the booklet are revolved around science. The look of the packaging is very much entertaining and I won't complain too much this time just to say that due to the wonderful cardboard holder my disc 2 was scratched after 1 use - so thanks 20th Century Fox - nice one!This season was the first in which Ian Maxtone-Graham and Matt Selman were credited as executive producers. It's a really decent season with only a couple of episodes that don't quite meet top quality standards including Praknksta rap which guest stars 50 Cent. After season 10 (the last of the golden age) there were a few below par seasons but after a while the show picked up the quality again and this season is probably the best since then. The jokes are really good and I really enjoyed this season which has a contemporary feel but is still a solid season, not a poor imitation of Family guy, which they were trying to be last season (see my review).The season begins with Treehouse of Horror XV which is a decent addition including a parody of Jack the Ripper in the Whitechapel murders but nothing is ever going to compare to the early versions of the Halloween franchise. Sleeping with the enemy was a good episode with Marge adopting Nelson when her kids don't want her company. Fat man and little boy (named after the 2 A bombs which were dropped on Japan in WWII) is an interesting one with Bart designing his own t-shirts. There's something about marrying gives a nod to gay marriage when Selma marries what she believes is a woman who turns out to be a man. Not the greatest episode and a bit risky. On a clear day I can't see my sister sees Bart with a restraining order against him and he has to live in the garden, which by the way has grown massively for just the purpose of this episode! There's a reference to the classic cult movie The Wicker man when Bart builds a huge effigy of Lisa to burn. Mobile Homer is one of the best with Homer buying a mobile home (which features the original guy from season 1 when Homer purchased an RV to go out to the forest in Call of The Simpsons). Future drama is a highlight with the characters in a not too distant future .Don't fear the roofer is an episode I've really enjoyed from the start, and guest stars Ray Romano as Homer's friend and soul mate. The ending with Stephen Hawking is a little bit ludicrous as to explain how Homer imagined this man existed but it doesn't ruin the episode; in fact it's pretty imaginative! Thank God it's doomsday is really good with Homer watching a movie called 'Left below' and he becomes obsessed with the end of the world. I love his mad man rant of "God loves you; he's gonna kill you!". Home away from Homer is another risky episode about girls moving in with Ned Flanders and making soft porn together, which leaves Ned embarrassed enough to move away from Springfield, only to return and kick out the bullying coach who's taken his place.As usual there are many extras and special features. It begins with Matt Groening's introduction, there's audio commentary on every episode; Al Jean once again takes charge joined by writers and producers (Matt Groening appears a whole 6 times this time around), deleted scenes with optional commentary, a special language feature for Pranksta rap (in 4 different languages as usual), sketch galleries, Living in the moment feature which has 2 parts - The longest daycare which has a number of stills of Maggie and has a reference to The Oscars and Tapped out which features two entertaining advertisements for a Simpsons video game. There's an animation showcase with storyboards and animatic for Future drama and a bonus episode entitled Holidays of future past which has a very modern feel to it. This is due to it being made in 2011, only a couple of years before this season was released on DVD. It begins at Christmas time and through a series of photos, fast forwards about 20 years into the future. Live! It's The Simpsons is a table read of Thank God it's doomsday where Al Jean announces at the beginning that he and his wife are expecting a baby. It's an interesting watch/listen as you hear everything read out together for the first time with all the actors present and the reaction to the script and jokes. It lasts for 35 minutes so you can appreciate what a good job the editors do condensing into a 20 minute quality episode.I'm only reviewing this season now even though it was released nearly 2 years ago because I haven't bought season 17 yet. I guess I'm not as dedicated to buying the DVDs as I used to be. If you are a serious collector or just a casual DVD buyer of The Simpsons I would definitely recommend you check out this season and it's such a relief that it's a whole season of really good quality episodes this time around so you can enjoy every one. I would say money well spent if it wasn't for the poor DVD packaging design. That's the only real flaw.

Great entertainment

Kim Cattrall plays an old friend of Marge's who Lisa admires in "She Used to Be My Girl", Homer and Grampa smuggle drugs out of Canada in "Midnight Rx", Marge helps Moe remodel his bar in "Mommie Beerest", 50 Cent guest stars in "Pranksta Rap", where Bart fakes his kidnapping, Selma adopts an Chinese baby in "Goo Goo Gai Pan", Ray Romano appears in "Don't Fear the Roofer", Homer predicts (and is correct!) about the end of the world in "Thank God, It's Doomsday" and Bart goes to Catholic school in "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star", in which Liam Neeson guest starring as a priest with a great line after Marge takes Bart out of the school - "if I don't get him back I'll be the worst priest ever! Except, you know..."

The Simpsons is starting to get a bit tired, but you know that won't stop me buying and watching all the episodes!

Ok while not the best season at all it is still funny in parts i like the Kim Cattarll episode and enjoyed the Halloween episode although there hasn't been a good one since season 11!!The extra are as usual great i enjoyed the season 23 episode they included i thought that was a great extra as i haven't seen that season!!!! the usual appear as well... deleted scenes,sketch gallery Matt intro and moreOverall not the best release but no doubt it won't be the worse also the sooner we get Ned on the cover the better!!!!!!

I have bought this for my grandson who has been collecting them from series one it is for Christmas so I know he will love it. I pre ordered it as it has only just been released and was very pleased as it arrived by the date stated great service from start to finish.

no problem with the dvd,but it was a xmas present for my son and because of someone not labelling it properly,it didn't get delivered,it got returned and I had to re-order and hope I got it in time,so not greatly pleased

My son has all the Simpsons box sets, so when this one came out just before Christmas, naturally I got it to go with his collection. Haven't watched it myself - although I will have seen it on TV, but he loves his Simpsons, and this is no exception.