Ty Watches "The Simpsons": A New Classic with "The Great Phatsby"

This past Sunday was one of the best "Simpsons" episodes I have ever seen. I'm not one of these fly by night hipster "Simpsons" fans either that say, " it was so much better 10 years ago". Screw those people. "The Simpsons" has been, and always will be the greatest show ever.

Having said that, every once in awhile, an episode like Sunday night comes along and just grabs you. I knew I'd be on board when I saw commercials for the episode leading up to it. I'm an enormous hip hop fan, as you all know very well by now, and the fact that this episode was based around hip hop had me from the start. I also really liked the fact that they based the entire episode around "The Great Gatsby", calling this episode, "The Great Phatsby". That is some tremendous wordplay. The beginning, middle and end were all wonderful. I loved Homer being the narrator for the whole episode.

The B story, with Smithers going to Canada to get a particular kind of ice was very funny. I loved that they kept cutting back to it as well. It seemed that every time I forgot about Smithers, they'd cut to a scene of him going through a horrific incident to bring this fancy ice back to Mr Burns.

The A story was tremendous. Mr Burns tries to throw a fancy party to get back to feeling good about himself. The party is a disaster because he staged in like a 1920's party. Mr Burns and Homer then take his boat out for a ride and they stumble upon a very uproarious and fun party. They both get off the boat and meander their way through the party, trying to find out who is throwing this excellent shindig. Everyone they run into say this is a mystery person, but they do get to meet the man because he is a big, big Monty Burns fan.

The gentleman's name is Jay G, and he is the biggest producer in current rap music. He tells Mr Burns that he owes everything to him and his book on business. They become fast friends, and Homer is there for the ride. Jay G gives Mr Burns the confidence to live lavishly, and Mr Burns does just that, all the way to bankrupting himself.

We soon learn that this was Jay G's plan all along. He followed Mr Burns book to a T. He even wrote a dis rap to sully Burns' name. The video for that song is hilarious. After this, Bart tells Mr Burns that he needs to write a dis rap back, because that is how you win in today's world of rap music. They go to Springfield's rap aficionado, Milhouse, to get all the advice they need. Another great scene.

There is also a C story going on during this where Marge and Lisa open their own store, and it drives both of them crazy. It is very funny and not to be missed. Anyway, back to the A story.

When Bart, Homer and Mr Burns get together to record their song, the voice guest list is second to none. The RZA comes in and does a verse, Snoop Dogg does a verse, Common does a verse and Keegan Michael Key does a verse, and they all sound great. When Burns is ready to release the single, a hologrammed Jay G shows up and says he bought his single and bought out everyone that rapped on the song. When Burns is at his lowest, he steals Jay G's prize goose and threatens to eat it. That doesn't happen, but there is a fight scene between the two of them and they end up on a broken chandelier that is about to crash to the ground. When Jay G tells him why he did what he did, Burns finally understands. Smithers saves them by sledding in on a pallet filled with snow. Mr Burns then tells him he wanted ice, not snow. It was very funny. Mr Burns and Jay G then make an agreement and Burns gets his nuclear plant back. He decides to add music everyday, but after one time, he decides it will only last the one time.

This episode was so good. There was a whole "Empire" tone to the episode as well, with Taraji P Henson playing a character named Praileine. It was awesome. This was one of the better "Simpsons" I've seen in awhile. This is an episode I will think about and watch a lot when it comes on FXX or reruns on Fox. I loved that it was an hour long and all the spoofs and actors and rappers they got to be in this episode was second to none. This was an instant classic in my opinion.

"The Simpsons" is the best show ever, and "The Great Phatsby" proved that tenfold. It was a dynamite hour of television. Go watch it as soon as possible. You won't be disappointed.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He thinks the "The SImpsons" peaked in 2196. It was all downhill from there. Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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