“E. Pluribus Wiggum”

Welcome to January folks - the month of many a season finale. One show that is still rolling out new episodes, thankfully, is The Simpsons. The reason for this is mainly due to the amount of time it takes to produce the show. Most of the 19th season was completed before the Strike - but there is no word on exactly how many episodes we’re getting this year. What we do know, is that last night we had a new one - with a great plot.

“E. Pluribus Wiggum” starts off with a bang. The new couch gag is probably going to join the ranks of my all time favorites. I won’t spoil it - but it’s excellent. The show opens with Homer going on a binge to consume as much fast food as he can after Marge calls him on his promise to go on a diet. Upon exiting a fast food drive through, Homer decides to throw away some trash in the car - including uncashed checks, a tricycle, and an old car battery. The car battery leaks on on a gas line and blows up the entire fast food district of Springfield. As a result, a bond issue must be passed to rebuild the area, and to do that they have to move up the election primary…and hilarity ensues.

John Stewart guest stars, Old Media gets ragged on, and the entire electoral process gets sent up. The best part? Both the Republicans and the Democrats are equally sent up in this episode, and there is no real political opinions suggested - other than that the entire system is stupid. The episode is seriously ‘The Simpsons’ at its very best. Don’t tell me the show has ‘jumped the shark’ - everything that makes ‘The Simpsons’ great, and in a sea of re-runs and shoddy reality shows, this is a very welcome change.

Grade: A