Review: The Simpsons “Convenience Airwaves”

Overview

The Simpsons are trapped on a flight with the most unruly passengers in America.

Cutaway Gag

Spirit Airlines, Ball Gag, Horror Movie

Our Take

How fucking wild is it that in the same week that a Congressional hearing concerning discount airlines’ unfair policies happens on C-Span, that The Simpsons would have an episode featuring a Congressional hearing about airlines’ unfair policies…also airing on C-Span? Like, we’ve seen The Simpsons predict the future numerous times but having an episode written probably nine or so months ago to release coincided with real life is the stuff only South Park really gets to do. Weird…

Though if there was one writer that could look into the future and see all of this happen it would be that of WGA-winning writer Loni Steele Sosthand. Just in time for the holiday travel season, Loni sketches up a flogging of discount airlines and their unruly passengers. As luck would have it, almost everyone from Springfield is featured in this week’s chaos along with guest voices Kate Berlant, John Early, and Jay Pharoah joining in on the fun in what turned out to be one of the funnier episodes of the year.

Rob Oliver’s direction is totally on point here this evening as well. His layout of a discount plane that featured a fully-functioning dungeon was very impressive, and a flight showing every worst thing that could happen was made funnier with extraneous details coupled with even a few cutaway gags for good measure (Spirit Airlines gets crucified). All in all, we’ve only got a few episodes of The Simpsons left this year, but if we get more like this the show could be a surprise entry in one of the best animated comedies of the year category.