The Sitcom Studies Podcast

The Simpsons Deep Dive 14: Heartbreak and Healing

Get your tissues and maybe a glass of wine ready: we're discussing two episodes all about heartbreak and healing this week, “I Love Lisa” (season 4, episode 15) and  “Alone Again, Natura-diddly" (season 11, episode 14). We see Lisa learn how to respond when she does not reciprocate a crush, and we see Springfield try to help Ned Flanders when Maude passes away unexpectedly. We love that The Simpsons still sprinkles these episodes with some more lighthearted and funny moments. And Bart, don't make rejecting Ralph harder for your sister than it needs to be!  Historical Highlights: Facts About Martha Washington [https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/keys-fact-about-martha-washington?gad_campaignid=258226631&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADye4kEkdxYOU3DI7Xt1Y4pjzPP2U&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIx4j0juSilAMVIRWtBh00BQakEAAYASAAEgKnFPD_BwE]

The Simpsons Deep Dive 13: Characters Seen Once, But Never Forgotten with SPECIAL GUEST Dave Lee

We are thrilled to be joined this week by animation and pop culture enthusiast and Rotten Tomatoes film critic Dave Lee, known on YouTube as Dave Lee Down Under! He joins us to share his love for The Simpsons (and other classic 90s sitcoms) as we discuss two fantastic episodes featuring one-time characters who have left a definitive mark on this series: “You Only Move Twice” (season 8, episode 2) and “Homer’s Enemy” (season 8, episode 23). Hank Scorpio and Frank Grimes cause quite a bit of upheaval for the Simpsons clan, but as always, Homer somehow manages to come out on the other side. Dave, thank you so much for your time and for sharing your love of sitcoms with us.  Check out Dave's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveLeeDownUnder [https://www.youtube.com/@DaveLeeDownUnder] Historical Highlights:  https://www.npr.org/2010/09/30/130192940/nixons-failed-attempts-at-poisoning-the-press [https://www.npr.org/2010/09/30/130192940/nixons-failed-attempts-at-poisoning-the-press] https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/12/23/132287697/nixon-era-probe-of-dan-schorr-uncovered-a-great-reporter-fbi-files-show [https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/12/23/132287697/nixon-era-probe-of-dan-schorr-uncovered-a-great-reporter-fbi-files-show]

The Simpsons Deep Dive 12: Homer and Marge Forever

This week it's all about the couple of the hour, Homer and Marge! In the two flashback episodes “The Way We Was” (season 2, episode 12) and “I Married Marge” (Season 3, Episode 12), we learn about how these two first met and what happened when Marge first learned she was pregnant with Bart. We simply can't get enough of these two! History Highlights: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3987368/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3987368/]

THE SIMPSONS Deep Dive 11: We’re Not Crying, You’re Crying!

Get your tissues ready for this week's episodes: “Lisa’s Substitute” (season 2, episode 19) and "Mother Simpson" (season 7, episode 8). We discuss these two very important episodes for Lisa and Homer and the insight they offer into issues of mentorship and abandonment during childhood. Not to mention, each episode has a truly ICONIC guest star.  Historical Highlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Texas#Texas_Revolution [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Texas#Texas_Revolution] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman#Life_and_work [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman#Life_and_work]

THE SIMPSONS Deep Dive 10: Simpsons Sibling Shenanigans

We're talking all things Simpsons siblings this week, in particular “Separate Vocations” (season 3, episode 18) and “Lisa's First Word" (Season 4, Episode 10). We get quite a bit of backstory here and even a glimpse into what the future might look like for our favorite brother and sister. Oh, and we finally hear from Maggie... History Highlights: https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/history-standardized-testing-united-states [https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/history-standardized-testing-united-states] https://daily.jstor.org/short-history-standardized-tests/ [https://daily.jstor.org/short-history-standardized-tests/]