TBS and TNT's Winter Break Programming

Thanksgiving  Christmas  Holidays   

        TBS and TNT's annual winter break programming event is back starting November 4.  This is also includes the two networks' annual 24 hours of  A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve through Christmas Day across both channels.  Also included is 24 hours of Elf and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The 1966 animated "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" will be airing, per tradition, and the TV premiere of "A Christmas Story Christmas".   Here's the details all times ET/PT. 

A CHRISTMAS STORY 

TBS


Saturday, December 2 at 8pm ET/PT


Sunday December 3 at 6:30pm ET/PT


24-hour marathon airs from Sunday, December 24 at 8pm to December 25 at 8pm ET/PT

 

TNT 

Monday, November 13 at 8pm ET/PT


Tuesday, November 14 at 3pm ET / 12pm PT


Thursday, December 14 at 8pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 17 at 5:33pm ET/PT


Monday, December 18 at 7:45pm ET/PT


24-hour marathon airs from Sunday, December 24 at 8pm to Monday, December 25 at 8pm ET/PT

 

A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS

TBS


Saturday, December 2 at 10pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 3 at 8:30pm ET/PT


TNT


Monday, November 13 at 8pm ET/PT (TV PREMIERE)


Sunday, November 26 at 10pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 17 at 7:33pm ET/PT


Monday, December 25 at 9pm ET/PT

 

8-BIT CHRISTMAS 

TBS


Saturday, November 25 at 8pm & 10:15pm ET/PT (TV PREMIERE)


Sunday, December 10 at 10:15pm & 2:45am ET/PT


Saturday, December 16 at 10:07pm ET/PT


TNT


Monday, December 18 at 9:45pm & 2:45am ET/PT


Saturday, December 23 at 10pm ET/PT


Saturday, December 24 at 6:45pm ET/PT

 

MODERN FAMILY  

TBS


Thanksgiving Themed Episodes Marathon


Thursday, November 23 begins at 3:30pm ET/PT


Holiday Themed Episodes Marathons


Saturday, December 16 begins at 1:30pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 24 begins at 1:30pm ET/PT

 

AMERICAN DAD! 

TBS


All-New Episodes


Monday, November 20 at 10pm ET/PT


Monday, December 18 at 10pm ET/PT


Holiday Themed Episodes Marathon


Monday, December 18 starting at 10:30pm ET/PT

 

FRIENDS 

TBS


Thanksgiving Themed Episodes Marathon


Thursday, November 23 starting at 10am ET/PT


Holiday Themed Episodes Marathons


Saturday, December 16 starting at 8:30am ET/PT


Sunday, December 24 starting at 8am ET/PT

 

BIG BANG THEORY 

TBS


Thanksgiving Themed Episodes Marathon


Thursday, November 23 starting at 6pm ET/PT


Holiday Themed Episodes Marathons


Saturday, December 16 starting at 5pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 24 starting at 5pm ET/PT

 

ELF 

TBS


Saturday, November 4 at 7:30pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 5 at 7pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 19 at 5pm & 10pm ET/PT


24-hour marathon airs from Friday, November 24 at 8pm to Saturday, November 25 at 8pm ET/PT

TNT 

Sunday, November 12 at 8pm ET/PT


Monday, November 13 at 6pm ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 7pm ET/PT


Friday, November 24 at 3:30pm ET/ 12:30pm PT


Monday, November 27 at 8pm & 10pm ET/PT


Thursday, November 30 at 8pm & 10pm ET/PT

 

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION 

TBS


Saturday, November 4 at 9:30pm ET/PT


Sunday November 5 at 12:30pm ET/PT


Saturday, November 11 at 7:45pm & 9:45pm ET/PT


Friday, November 17 at 8pm & 10pm ET/PT


TNT


Sunday November 5 at 8pm & 10pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 19 at 8pm ET/PT


Monday, November 20 at 4:30pm ET/ 1:30pm PT


Thursday, November 23 at 9pm ET/PT


Friday, November 24 at 1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT


24-hour marathon airs from Saturday, November 25 at 10pm to Saturday, November 26 at 10pm ET/PT

 

DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS 

TBS


Saturday, November 18 at 5pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 10 at 7pm & 7:30pm ET/PT


Saturday, December 16 at 8am ET/PT


Friday, December 22 at 8pm ET/PT


Saturday, December 23 at 7:30pm ET/PT


TNT


Sunday, November 12 at 7:30pm ET/PT


Monday, November 13: at 5:30pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 19 at 7:30pm ET/PT


Thursday, December 14 at 7:30pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 17 at 5:03pm ET/PT

 

FRED CLAUS 

TBS


Saturday, November 4 at 3pm ET/PT


Sunday November 5 at 12:30pm ET/PT


Saturday, November 18 at 12:30pm & 1am ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 1:15am ET/PT


Friday, November 24 at 10:30am ET/PT


TNT


Sunday, November 12 at 5pm & 10pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 19 at 2pm & 12am ET/PT


Monday, November 27 at 3pm & 12am ET/PT

 

JACK FROST 

TBS


Saturday, November 4 at 12:45PM ET/PT


TNT


Monday, November 13 at 12:15am ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 12pm ET/PT


Monday, November 27 at 11am ET/PT

 

THE POLAR EXPRESS 

TBS


Saturday, November 4 at 5:30pm ET/PT


Sunday November 5 at 5pm ET/PT


Saturday, November 11 at 4pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 12 at 1:30pm ET/PT


Saturday, November 18 at 3pm & 11pm ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 10:15pm ET/PT


Friday, November 24 at 2:45pm ET/PT


TNT


Sunday, November 19 at 4:27pm & 10pm ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 2:12pm ET/PT


Friday, November 24 at 11:30am ET/ 8:30am PT

FOUR CHRISTMASES 

TBS


Saturday, November 11 at 6pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 12 at 3:30pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 19 at 3:15pm & 12am ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 3:45am ET/PT


Friday, November 24 at 1pm ET/PT


TNT


Sunday November 5 at 6pm & 12am ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 5:15pm & 11pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 26 at 2:15am ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 3:45am ET/PT


Monday, November 27 at 1:15pm ET/PT

 

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 

TBS


Saturday, November 11 at 1:30pm & 11:45pm ET/PT


Saturday, December 9 at 8pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 10 at 4:30 ET/PT


Friday, December 22 at 10:30pm ET/PT


Saturday, December 23 at 3pm ET/PT


TNT


Sunday, November 26 at 12:15am ET/PT


Monday, November 27 at 5:30pm ET/PT


Thursday, December 14 at 5pm & 12am ET/PT


Sunday, December 17 at 12:45pm & 12:30am ET/PT

OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

TBS


Sunday, November 12 at 5:15pm & 11:30pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 19 at 1pm & 1:45am ET/PT


Sunday, December 3 at 4:15pm & 10:45pm ET/PT


Friday, December 22 at 1am ET/PT


Saturday, December 23 at 10:07pm ET/PT


TNT


Sunday, December 17 at 9:48pm ET/PT


Monday, December 18 at 5:30pm ET/PT


Saturday, December 23 at 5:45pm ET/PT


Saturday, December 24 at 2:30pm ET/PT

 

DECK THE HALLS 

TBS


Saturday, November 11 at 2:15am ET/PT


Sunday, December 10 at 8pm & 12:22am ET/PT


Saturday, December 23 at 8pm & 12:22am ET/PT


TNT


Sunday, November 12 at 2:45pm ET/PT


Thursday, November 30 at 5:56pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 17 at 3pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 24 at 4:42pm ET/PT


Monday, December 25 at 11:15pm ET/PT

 

THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS (1974) 

TBS


Saturday, November 18 at 5:30pm ET/PT


Sunday, November 19 at 12pm ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 12:15am ET/PT


Friday, November 24 at 4:45pm ET/PT


TNT


Sunday, November 19 at 6:27pm ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 4:12pm ET/PT

 

THE WIZARD OF OZ 

TBS


Saturday, November 18 at 6:30pm & 8:45pm ET/PT


Thursday, November 23 at 8pm ET/PT


Friday, November 24 at 5:45pm ET/PT


Saturday, December 9 at 12:30am ET/PT


Sunday, December 10 at 12:15pm ET/PT


Saturday, December 16 at 8pm ET/PT


Monday, December 25 at 8pm & 10:15pm ET/PT


TNT


Monday, December 11 at 8pm & 10:15pm ET/PT

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS 

TBS 

Friday, November 24 at 8:30am ET/PT 

Saturday, December 23 at 1pm ET/PT 

 

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 

TBS


Saturday, December 9 at 10:30pm ET/PT


Sunday, December 10 at 2:30pm ET/PT


Friday, December 22 at 8:30pm ET/PT


Saturday, December 23 at 5:30pm ET/PT


TNT


Tuesday, November 14 at 5pm ET/ 2pm PT


Sunday, December 17 at 10:30am ET/PT

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1999) 

TNT 

Thursday, December 14 at 10pm ET/PT 

 

FAMILY MATTERS 

TBS 

Holiday Themed Episode Marathon 

Sunday, December 24 starting at 6am ET/PT 

Press Release after the Jump

Halloween: The Haunting Hour: Scarecrow

Halloween 

            The Haunting Hour: The Series was a children's horror- fantasy show that ran on The Hub Network (now known as Discovery Family) for 4 seasons. I've covered this series in a couple other posts, but classic me, didn't continue but there's a long thing.  Let's get on here. 

            The last episode I did for the Halloween strand here, I did an episode that explicitly took place on Halloween, this one doesn't, but hey it fits because why not?  This is a really good series especially since it really was free with what it could do even in the constraints of children's TV. Which always makes Children's TV horror stuff kind of more interesting sometimes because  of those and to see how far something can go even in those.  This episode is called "Scarecrow" It first aired in the US on December 11, 2011 and is from the second season.  Also, spoilers at times. 

Stupid crows eating my corn/ Copyright the Hatchery 

            This episode starts at farm, which is good place for a scarecrow.  The episode has Bailee Madison who had in the series premiere, playing a girl named Jenny. Her problem is that the crows keep bothering her crops as crows do. (Caw caw, that's right the first thing I say is caw) She's growing her own crops to make money for a new computer.  Apparently her father gave her that acre because he wants her to learn how hard farming is. That's probably why he has gray hair. Her mother mentions that she has problems with rabbits and deer. The boy from the start is her brother named Bobby, played by Richard Harmon , whom you may know from "The 100".  He takes care of the cows and is kind proud that things don't bother cows.   '

You know what is great about cows? They don't give you bull/ Copyright The Hatchery

            The episode uses the word Emo more than you think it would. There's a girl named Amy Kessler, played by Genevieve Buechner. She seems to be Bobby's love interest (but is she evil? hmm)  Bobby and Jenny go into town and see her at the shop to get feed, she works at the counter. She's reading a poem, which I'm sure won't be somehow tied into the plot at all, "The Hollow Men" by T.S Eliot. 

Sssh! She's reading the plot device/ Copyright The Hatchery 

            A strange man shows up and also knows the poem and finishes it. I noticed that the bell didn't ring when he entered, hmm.   I'm sure saying stuffed with straw from the poem won't mean anything later.  He explains the poem is about the end of the world, he likes the idea because the world would be quiet if it ended. (That's some logic, I guess)  Then he buys jerky and walks away doesn't elaborate. 

I'm glad she mentioned the poem, I was waiting like 3 hours for her 

          Later we see the man just standing around at night -menacingly.  Jenny gets home from school and  the creepy man's car is moving up to follow her.  If this was a different show, there would be a different thing going on.( I'm glad this isn't a Lifetime movie) Also, don't talk to strange men in old cars who pull up when they see you get off the bus. Don't do that.  Since he didn't murder her, her brother sees the car drive off and he wonders who that was and she tells him it's the strange man from the store. Bobby's first response isn't to tell his sister to not talk to strange men who pull up in cars after you get off the bus, bad brother. 

See, strange/ Copyright the Hatchery 

            The strange man wanted to sell her a scarecrow. Bobby says she shouldn't buy anything from the guy, he seems like a creep. Good brother.  So, this episode long about moral should be don't talk to random guys who pull up in cars and buy stuff from them. (Not even you) 

CBS Announces Holiday Programming 2023

CBS Thanksgiving Christmas New Year 

        CBS is ready for the holidays with their annual holiday programming. This includes the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade , Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman , and more. The season caps off with the return of CBS' New Year's Eve  Live Nashville's Big Bash.   Here's a look at the line up.    All times are ET/PT , unless otherwise noted.

 Thursday, November 23

 

     9AM-12PMET/PT (Watch live 8AM CT/7AM MT)   The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS 

Friday, November 24 

    8pm    The Greatest @HomeVideos : Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer 

    9pm     Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer 

Saturday, December 2 

     8pm  Reindeer in Here 

     9pm  Robbie the Reindeer 

Monday, December 4

   8pm The Price is Right at Night Christmas Week : Office Holiday Party

Tuesday, December 5 

   8pm  The Price is Right at Night Christmas Week :  College Students Home for The Holidays

Thursday, December 7

  8pm    The Price is Right at Night Christmas Week :  Blind Holidate

Friday, December 8

8pm   The Price is Right at Night Christmas Week : Holiday Heroes

Saturday, December 9 

8pm   Byron Allen Presents A Merry Soulful Christmas 

Friday, December 15th 

8pm National Christmas Tree Lighting 

Saturday, December 16

9pm Frosty the Snowman 

9:30pm Frosty Returns 

Monday, December 18

8pm The Price is Right At Night Christmas Week: Holidays with the Family. 

Friday, December 22 

8pm  The 25th Annual a Home for the Holidays 

9pm Fit For Christmas 

Sunday, December 24 

9pm When Christmas was Young

Monday, December 25 

 9pm Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All ! 

Friday, December 29 

9pm Must Love Christmas 

Saturday, December 31

7:30pm  New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash 

Full Press Release after the Jump 

Halloween: The Smurfs Halloween Special (and one more thing)

Halloween 

           We take a dip into the "Smurfs" again this time taking in for Halloween. This special is an episode from season 3 of "The Smurfs" series and doesn't seem to be a popped out primetime special compared the ones like their Christmas specials. The name seems to be both "The Smurfs Halloween Special" and "All Hallows' Eve". That's confusing.  This special aired in 1983. 

                The special starts with Mother Nature, who in Smurfs' lore has shown up before (yes, Smurfs has a lore) she is voiced by June Foray, which will make you think of Granny from the Sylvester and Tweety cartoons.   She's busy making sure that the leaves of the forest are red by Halloween. (Does that mean orange, yellow, and brown leaves are failures?)  I don't know why just red though. She takes her red wand and goes on. 

I'm late for an important date/ Copyright Hanna-Barbera

        Meanwhile, the smurfs are busy making birthday stuff for Jokey's birthday. His birthday is on Halloween.  I like how the Smurfs are amazed that someone has a birthday on Halloween and that Jokey thinks he's the only one that does. It's also not often I see a birthday on Halloween thing, though.  In twist, it's also Gargamel's birthday. He's not happy probably because his name is Gargamel and just naturally he's not happy.  The obsessed on Smurfs man is also annoyed that they are happy (because he's grumpy) because they are celebrating the harvest. 

I also hate telemarketers! / Copyright Hanna-Barbera

More after the jump 

Halloween: A Really Haunted Loud House

Halloween  

        Back in 2021, I wrote about a live-action Christmas movie adaptation of  The Loud House series. I thought it was really enjoyable and pretty good.  At the end of that post I wrote,   " I think I'd like to see them make more Loud House live-action stuff."  Well they did, they made a live-action series under the name "The Really Loud House"  Which began in November 2022. Now, we're back here with a different holiday movie, for Halloween and from 2023, it's  A Really Haunted Loud House 

        This movie starts the day before Halloween with Lincoln and Clyde planning out their Halloween tricks or treats plans. [ I speak in the language of Peanuts]  This movie has lot of stuff thrown at the viewer to set up but it uses it ALL later, everything in first part is used later for the rest of the movie.  The family has made their house really spooky and ready for Halloween. Something from the animated series them multiplied by 100.   

Big Spider/ Copyright Paramount 

         The details in the movie are things like Lisa has grown a giant pumpkin named Esmeralda, that she seemingly had  been talking to so much that she's grown (heh) attached to it.  It's also nice to see it more than just Lucy putting together the house celebration. They also do a nice twist on Lucy doing a scare, and even having Lynn trying to take the role is fitting because she's competitive. 

          Rita has been in control of candy. Lynn Sr. has been so bothered by Lynn Jr.'s scaring is that he's beginning to lose it. There's a Lana candy shooter, Luan made a giant Franken-Coconuts.   There's a dentist appointment scene, this also fits into the plot to move it along. Even Lynn Jr's scaring thing comes to play when she accidently scares the nurse and causes the nurse to inject the dentist with Novocain.  Lisa is able to finish the stuff and tells everyone they have tons of cavities. 

You are the weakest link/ Copyright Paramount 

        That's when Lincoln gets to introduce us to Xander,. Who's Xander? (Who is Xander, I need to know!) Xander is a character they made up for this movie. (oh) He seems to be new but has gained popularity because *checks notes* plot reasons.  He seems to be one of those internet influencer kids, because that's  how you do fellow kids? 

Join our coat gang, we wear coats even in summer/ copyright Paramount 

            Xander Cottington (no offence to the real  Xanders out there) is having a party. (I  should have read what he was going to write, oh well, Xander is cool name) Lincoln wants to go instead of tricks or treats.  Clyde thinks he's gone mad, and tries to change his mind with Ace Savvy  costumes. Then Lincoln tells him that he spoke to Xander.   Since Lincoln took the idea that they are too old to trick or treat seriously.  Then Xander shows up and invites Lincoln and Clyde.  Whatever they paid the kid playing Xander, it wasn't enough to make him say "Hashtag" in a sentence,  I don't think kids speak like that. 

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 3: Episode 3: Listen Up/ Never Say Diorama

The Weekenders Disney 

Episode 3a: Listen Up 

  

            I'm just going to mention here that I think the Pizza shop owner really is losing it, he decided to go with Leftover Pizza this time, I'm concerned.  Tino tells us the plot of the episode, where Tino and his friends are part of a program (we know, we're watching it now!) called Preteen Pals from the in show charity thing of Helpers Helping the Helpless.  Preteen Pals is like 12-year-olds helping 11-year-olds get used to middle school. 

        I like the idea of the 12-year-olds in the show also thinking of 11-year-olds as younger than  what an 11-year-old is, but plays a nice way of showing how those years can be different. The day has come and the kids get paired up with a younger one.  Tino gets a big kid, who I hope isn't just some 30-year-old actor playing a kid, that'd be strange ... except in Dawson's Creek. 

             The interactions here are fun: Tino is awkward with the big kid and trying to make sure he's actually a kid. Tish's kid doesn't want to be there. Lor and her girl don't know what to say to each other. Carver is not listening to his kid named Tommy at all.  Bluke (the kid in dark overalls) and the girl who picked him have the best interactions here.      

             Mrs. Duwong notices that Carver isn't really listening to Tommy and pulls him aside after the the meeting and he's fired. He rambles to his friends- how can he be bad listener? and doesn't listen to his friends telling him.  They help him learn how to listen.  He's given another test by Mrs. Duwong to see if he really is going to listen.  Carver copying her is also a really funny moment.  But fails at getting the point. (oops) 

            He goes to his sister, Penny, for help and no. He goes to the museum lady to help.  She sends him to Jules.  In a great moment, Carver figures out what he should do himself.   He wasn't able to go back to the thing, but he does find Tommy at the arcade.  He listens to him, actually, and helps him out. A good moment too.  Mrs. Duwong was there playing virtual knitting, well that's a game and offers him  a second chance. 

           This was a good episode, it flowed well from being the friends to focusing on Carver.  This one has some simple funny moments, which also works to the series. There's humor without it being too over the top to make it seem off.  This one is very direct in its message which is fine, the idea of listening to others and really be listening is something at even adults should probably try more of too.  Good episode 8/10. 

More after the jump

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 3: Episode 2: Cry/ The Perfect Son

The Weekenders  Disney 

Episode 2a: Cry 

  

      Tino is hiding in a bush because he humiliated himself in class, that is until he's kicked out of the bush by other kids who also did the same.  Tino explains to us , that in 5th period he watching Romeo and Juliet and he cried when when Juliet went down. Also, I think this the most we've seen inside the school since this series premiered, besides the gym it's been mostly exterior shots.   

     The other kids are making fun of him for crying. Good thing it's Friday. His friends also seem not helpful. There's an interesting thing about this episode being about emotions and expressing them, especially for boys to do something.  He tells his Mom that she's the reason why he's "an emotional whimp" and he decides to no longer show any emotion. 

     Tino's Saturday goes with him being emotionless. The other friends are concerned and want to show him its okay to have emotions and they try different things to get him to be emotional.  That doesn't work, so plan B is to make him angry. Which mostly seems to be breaking things.  Plan B doesn't work.  His mom tells him that she's tried to help him be InTouch with his emotions because that's important. 

     The next day, looks like the friends seem to have a new plan.  A Chugafreeze guy shows up and tells him good on him for giving on up emotions. He did the same and is proud of it, even if his wife left him. (She didn't take is emotions in the divorce) He lost his business and can't a hold a job. This works.  Tino's Mom apparently paid the guy 20 dollars do tell him that story. (Her plan 1 , Friends' plan 0)  

             Then he finishes off the episode by expressing his emotions hard.   Though maybe in current times, people can be too emotional. (Someone is not going to like that)  This is good episode to show that it's healthy, especially for boys, to be in tuned into their emotions. The episode does a good job at saying emotions are good within reason and are normal for people to have.  It's pretty funny to see the ways the friends try to fix Tino. Tino's Mom coming in clutch but this time by paying a guy and giving him some food  was a different way than normally.   It's a good episode.  7.5/10. 

More after the jump 

One Shot Posts: The Simpsons: Uh oh the 1990's

The Simpsons  

        My past posts on The Simpsons have been episodes I think might gems but also not from the early seasons. This one is not that.  This one is a controversial episode from season 19. I'm going to remark that season 19 came out in 2007 and 2008. "That 90's Show" aired in January of 2008,  and time is important for this post. 

           This episode doesn't seem to be well liked. I checked IMDB because I wanted to see how people on that site rank the episodes of season 19. This one isn't the lowest rated, but it's in that zone.  There's reviews from the episode I found from different places, from the time it aired and it also doesn't seem to be well received.  

          I'm not going to be saying people wrong or tearing the episode apart, but giving a look and also a look at some context of why this episode isn't beloved.  (No, Patrick, it's not because it's a season 19 episode) 

            One of the biggest things I've seen as something that brings the episode down is the continuity thing.  The episode has Bart finding Marge's memory box and the kids find out that Marge went to college, that's not the continuity thing that makes the episode less appealing to Simpsons fans. What does is that Homer mentions that he and Marge were a young couple in the 1990's.  

             The Simpsons has and is a current show, its main thing is that it takes place in current times (plus the months it takes to make an animated episode). The series started in 1989. (Yes, and earlier with shorts) That's not to say the show can't and hasn't done things that are timeless and feel timeless, but it is also interlinked with times. The show has never really fully locked the characters into the time the series started, since the characters don't really age.  We, on the other hand, sadly do.  

            This episode is a flashback episode, something the show did before this one and did after this one. The difference though, was that a flashback episode about Homer and Marge in The Way We Was (Season 2; Episode 12) from 1992 told a story of Homer and Marge met and fell and love in 1974. Which works for an episode that takes place in 1991-1992.  That would be hard to work in for an episode that takes place in 2007-2008 and still have the characters meeting in 1974.  Being a network show , and even more at the time this one aired, they wanted a targeted demographic. The broadest part is 18-49.  The youngest viewer in that demo, turning 18 would have been born in 1989 or 1990, if they had a January birthday.  It would also be coming in when 90's nostalgia was really starting to become a big thing, much like how late 60's/ early 70's nostalgia was  in play during the Simpsons' early days.  

           I don't think the continuity thing hurts the episode, because it is kind of understandable why there would be a 90's flashback in a show that started in the 90's , but was on long enough to where if it had ended earlier, there'd probably had been a 90's nostalgia fueled bring up the show to the point it might have been brought back in the 2010's.  I can see how someone would be bothered by the show doing this when the classic stories were the ones that they really attached and loved. 

               That doesn't mean that the episode is strong. Some of the episode is very much like "HEY IT'S THE 90'S REMEBER THE 90'S!"  That's many of the jokes the punchline is the 90's thing. "Heh dial up internet."  Homer, Carl, Lenny, and Officer  Lou are part of an R&B group, which kind of feels like them going with that time Homer was part of a doo-wop group in the 90's in a flashback episode in the 90's. (stop that) That's kind of a nice touch. 

This is how the 90's looked/ Copyright Fox 

        Homer finds out that Marge applied to college and has gotten accepted and finds out that college is expensive. Homer decides he going to work to help her pay for it and his Dad runs a laser tag spot. Marge goes to college. She also has 'The Rachel' haircut because 90's.  Marge has a professor named Stefane August who is like the professors a talk radio host would go after.  

Imagine wearing a jacket, sweater, and shirt/ Copyright FOX 

             The episode, really though, is using the flashback and the 90's to really kind of cover over that it's a basic plot the show has done before in some way.  Homer sees the professor  and that the man is handsome and that Marge seems to be infatuated on him.  Homer gets jealous and maybe he's justified, but it's not an episode that's trying anything new or interesting as a story, except using that hook of the flashback. That actually kind of hurts it more because you really know that Homer and Marge are going to end up together, so whatever happens here in the flashback doesn't matter and doesn't bring anything interesting to the table.     Going back to "The Way We Was" , there we also know Homer and Marge are going to get together, but it presents an interesting story about the characters as teens and why Marge ended up liking Homer and why Homer likes Marge.  

more after the jump