Movies

‘Simpsons’ Earth Day Episode Available Exclusively on Disney+

BBG News

To celebrate Earth Day, a fresh new episode of “The Simpsons” can now be streamed exclusively on Disney+.

The episode that goes straight to streaming is titled “Yellow Planet,” and much like real National Geographic documentaries, it’s a humorous take on them. (You might recognize National Geographic from shows like The Simpsons, as both are owned by Disney – quite the corporate collaboration!) In “Yellow Planet,” Homer is portrayed as a whale, Bart becomes a lizard, and Lisa transforms into a bird, among other characters. (If you’re not a fan of nature documentaries, some jokes might be a bit obscure. But when you have Homer playing the role of a whale, I guess some humor just writes itself!)

Here’s a trailer for the special Simpsons episode:

Here is the episode’s official synopsis:

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, let me share my take on the captivating premise of “Yellow Planet.” In this creative twist, The Simpsons family is transformed into a cast of animals in a National Geographic-esque wildlife mockumentary. I find myself reincarnated as a whale named Homer, sailing the vast oceans alongside my wife Marge, who has been reborn as another whale from a different series. Our mischievous son Bart emerges as an iguana, battling against all odds to survive in this new world, while our brilliant daughter Lisa leads her flock of finches, using her intellect to guide them through their adventures.

As we navigate the wilderness, we encounter familiar faces from Springfield in surprising roles that shape our journey and challenge us in ways we never could have imagined. This imaginative tale promises a fresh perspective on The Simpsons that will undoubtedly captivate both newcomers and longtime fans alike!

You can now watch the unique “Yellow Planet” episode of The Simpsons on Disney+, along with 35 previous seasons of the show, The Simpsons Movie, and more than a dozen other Disney+ Simpsons shorts. If you’re intrigued: There are close to 800 episodes of The Simpsons, and since it’s in its 36th season, Fox has already renewed it until the 40th season.

40 years of The Simpsons?!? Unbelieveable.

Sign up for Disney+ here.

TV Shows We Used to Love That Are Cringe Now

The West Wing (1999-2006)

In discussions about classic TV shows that seem outdated in today’s era, The West Wing is frequently mentioned more than others. It’s not because the show was terrible or had poor storylines, or provided awkward dialogue (though these criticisms are occasionally valid). Instead, it was a program that aimed for idealism rather than realism, portraying a sense of unattainable righteousness that doesn’t resonate with the current political climate in this country. In The West Wing, leaders were depicted as wise philosophers who always emerged victorious in ethical dilemmas, or if they didn’t, faced consequences later. However, real life isn’t like that, and revisiting such a show now feels unsatisfying rather than comforting. (And let’s not delve into The Newsroom.)

Entourage (2004-2011)

Without a doubt, “Entourage,” a show that seems almost unbelievable it was made at all, let alone lasted for so long, is one of those rare productions that leaves us in awe. The series revolves around a semi-successful Hollywood celebrity and his group of entertainment industry friends navigating Los Angeles. It might sound innocent enough, but we must remember that this show originated during the latter part of the 2000s, a time marked by pent-up sexual energy and rapid technological advancements shaping lifestyles. Today, the characters portrayed as the epitome of masculinity in 2004, seem more like bothersome nuisances. To put it mildly, the depiction of gender dynamics in “Entourage” is a century’s worth of understatements. Despite this, it remains somewhat entertaining to watch as a snapshot of pre-pandemic times, but just barely.

Supernatural (2005-2020)

Is it inherently cheesy for shows to be cringe-worthy, or does cringeworthiness develop over time? This is the conundrum faced by the series “Supernatural,” which, in its initial phases, offered an enjoyable monster-hunting adventure with a rock soundtrack that creatively interpreted Biblical lore and beyond. However, it extended its stay long past its prime by approximately four to five seasons. After a while, each season’s Armageddon-on-the-horizon storylines blurred together, characters kept dying and coming back to life in quick succession, and the dynamic between the core trio of characters became a monotonous grind. In its closing episodes, it even somewhat legitimized the popular ship preferred by its fans in a manner that left many viewers feeling it was insensitive towards homosexuality. What an incredible journey!

The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008-2013)

The show titled “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” known for its portrayal of teen pregnancy, was often considered awkward or embarrassing, yet incredibly popular. With a title suggesting a 1970s public service announcement about fearful parenting, one might expect it to offer insightful commentary on modern youth, but instead, it became quite conventional in its high school drama narrative and had a rather traditional perspective on teen pregnancy (keep the baby, find a husband, start a family). Its dialogue is so poor that searching for “secret life cringe” brings up numerous examples, including this regrettable exchange of words.

Glee (2009-2015)

The television series, “Glee,” often left viewers cringing with secondhand embarrassment due to its unique blend of awkwardly bad and unintentionally amusing content, much like a car accident that you can’t help but watch. Following the “I can’t believe I’m seeing this” principle, creator Ryan Murphy seems to have made “Glee” his signature style. Unlike “The Secret Life,” which was too cautious for its teen-themed dialogue to ever be intriguing, “Glee” was excessively over-the-top, concocting bizarre plotlines that became more outlandish as the episodes progressed. Each character is both underdeveloped and overloaded with dramatic events, and their renditions of popular songs and musical hits were so grating that we’d rather watch anything else. A faculty member leading a cover of “Blurred Lines” in “Glee” is just one example of the numerous questionable choices made in this series.

Sherlock (2010-2017)

Sherlock has experienced a significant contrast between “we adored this” and “we’ve grown tired of it,” for numerous reasons. Initially, it was incredibly popular upon its release and catapulted Benedict Cumberbatch into international fame as its lead. The mix of classic tales reimagined for contemporary times resonated with viewers seeking a more innovative mystery series than the usual police procedurals available elsewhere. However, due to only three extensive episodes being released every two to three years, the show became too grandiose, and fans who cherished the early episodes had already grown older by the time it reached its later seasons. We all recall the moment when the “mind palace” scene transitioned from brilliant to dull.

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

A popular series initially appreciated and later criticized, “Game of Thrones” transitioned from admired to questionable before its conclusion. Despite this decline in quality, we still believe the show is excellent, up until a certain point. The falloff after that point is significant. The series required a great deal from its viewers, including memorizing fictional titles and places, as well as tracking numerous intricate storylines within each episode. Over time, these demands grew tiresome, particularly when the show was approaching its final stages and eliminating beloved characters, with each death seeming increasingly undeserved. Nowadays, when someone claims to be a fan, they often feel compelled to specify “of the earlier seasons,” to avoid heated discussions that could rival Dothraki battles.

House of Cards (2013-2018)

It might be overly simplistic to declare that a series with a terminated main actor is “poor now,” but we’d argue that House of Cards was never particularly exceptional from the start. As one of Netflix’s pioneering original productions, the show was marketed as the intellectual’s political drama, a darker version of The West Wing. It followed a ruthless congressman and his ambitious wife, portraying their journey to the White House marked by murder and betrayal. Initially, the show’s breaking of the fourth wall was innovative and fresh. However, as time passed, the escalating one-upmanship in its season finales became monotonous and uninteresting, causing many viewers to drop off before the end. The main reason for this was the series’ awkward handling of the lead actor’s public controversy.

Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)

Just like “House of Cards,” the appeal for “Orange Is the New Black” started diminishing well before its finale. Initially, it captivated audiences as a unique blend of prison drama and dark comedy, set in an all-women’s facility with a diverse cast and intricate plotlines hinting at numerous seasons filled with suspense and excitement. However, the show’s primary issue was that it consistently centered around the least engaging character in each scene. This flaw was particularly evident in the main character, who even die-hard fans agreed was the most uninteresting on “OITNB,” yet received the most screentime. After two or three seasons of this repetition, viewers began questioning their continued engagement, and today, it serves as a cautionary tale about how not to approach subsequent seasons of a highly successful series.

The Mandalorian (2019-2023)

As a die-hard movie fan, I must confess that “The Mandalorian” and its spin-offs have seemingly tarnished the luster of the Volume, an innovative video wall soundstage where scenes with digital backdrops could be filmed simultaneously with special effects. The initial season of this series seemed poised to weave a slick, Wild West-inspired “Star Wars” tale about a solitary gunfighter traversing a harsh desert realm. However, subsequent seasons veered off course, overloading the narrative with excessive lore that held little interest for viewers, and delivering shoddy effects and visually muddled landscapes that fell short of the potential promised by the groundbreaking technology employed by the filmmakers. By the time its final season limped along, viewership had plummeted significantly, a stark contrast to the initial excitement generated by what was once an intriguing concept.

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2025-04-22 17:25

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