Review: The Simpsons “The Many Saints of Springfield”

Overview

Ned Flanders is on the run from the mafia after making a deal with Fat Tony that he could’ve refused, but Tony did a good job swindling the Christ-fearing neighbor of the Simpsons. Eventually, Ned turns himself over to the authorities to rat out Fat Tony and save his family.

Our Take

A rather lazy, by the numbers mob ordeal is the way we kick off February 2023 for The Simpsons. The show has done a number of send-ups featuring Fat Tony and his band of thugs, personally I think “Mayored to the Mob” is a top-ten episode of all-time in terms of how hard I laugh every time I revisit the shocking climax. “Bart the Murderer”, also a much better Fat Tony-laden episode. Unfortunately, “The Many Saints of Springfield” didn’t offer much to remember that could match up to the aforementioned.

One BIG stand-out, and pretty much the only reason this episode is getting as high of a score as it is despite the 32-minute runtime, the opening couch gag produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios. Personally, I think it might be a top-5 all-time in terms of externally produced couch gags made for The Simpsons, and personally, I would’ve liked to have seen a whole episode with this premise. A yarn mash-up take on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids!, sign me up! A lame and forgettable effort, from Al Jean of all people which is shocking, go ahead and put this one out of its misery. A Paul Fusco cameo ruined! (Bring back, Alf)