The Simpsons season 19

The nineteenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons originally aired on the Fox network between September 23, 2007, and May 18, 2008.^[1][2] It was the final complete season to be broadcast in 4:3 and in standard definition, although the first half of season 20 would also retain this standard.

The Simpsons
Season 19
DVD cover featuring Homer Simpson
No. of episodes	20
Release
Original network	Fox
Original release	September 23, 2007 (2007-09-23) – May 18, 2008 (2008-05-18)
Season chronology
← Previous Season 18 Next → Season 20
List of episodes

Production

The nineteenth season of The Simpsons is the first one produced after the movie and contained seven hold-over episodes from season 18's JABF production line. Al Jean served as showrunner, a position he has held since the thirteenth season, while the season was produced by Gracie Films and 20th Century Fox Television.

Army Archerd reported that due to the 100-day Writers Guild of America strike only 22 episodes would be produced instead of the planned 23, which is much closer to the length of a regular season than most live-action and animated programs that were also affected by the strike.^[3] Entertainment Weekly also reported that, at the time, there were only six episodes remaining that were ready, which would make the season's production run consist of a total of 22 episodes.^[4]

The nineteenth season featured the returns of several characters from previous seasons. Kelsey Grammer made his tenth appearance as Sideshow Bob, and David Hyde Pierce made his second as Bob's brother Cecil Terwilliger in "Funeral for a Fiend".^[5] Beverly D'Angelo made her second appearance as Lurleen Lumpkin, who first appeared in season three's "Colonel Homer".^[6] Glenn Close returned as Grandma Mona Simpson for the third time.^[7][8]

Matt Groening described this season as "just about our most ambitious yet".^[9] The season's "The Homer of Seville" was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award.^[10]

Reception

Critical reception

Robert Canning of IGN gave the series a 6.6 saying that it was "Passable" and that "Heck, read through the comments section at the bottom of our IGN Simpsons reviews and more than half will in some way be talking about the poor quality of recent episodes. (And "poor quality" is putting it politely.)" although he praised the late episodes of the season.^[11]

Awards

"Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind" won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program, the tenth in the history of the show.^[12] Alf Clausen also received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (original Dramatic Score) for the episode "Treehouse of Horror XVIII".^[13]

Nielsen rating

The Simpsons ranked 83rd in the seasonal ratings getting a viewership of 7.950 million viewers and an 18–49 Nielsen Rating of 3.8 making it the highest-ranking show from "Animation Domination" right above Family Guy.^[14]

Episodes

See also: List of The Simpsons episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. viewers (millions)
401	1	"He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs"	Mark Kirkland	Joel H. Cohen	September 23, 2007 (2007-09-23)	JABF20	9.55^[16]
After Homer saves Mr. Burns from drowning, Mr. Burns rewards him with a dinner and a flight on his corporate jet, making Homer disappointed that he will never be rich or successful enough to enjoy the high life.^[15] Guest Stars: Stephen Colbert and Lionel Richie.
402	2	"The Homer of Seville"	Mike Frank Polcino	Carolyn Omine	September 30, 2007 (2007-09-30)	JABF18	8.51^[18]
A freak accident turns Homer into an opera singer (which can only be achieved if he lies down) and he becomes the toast of Springfield's cultural elite—and the target of a crazed, motorcycle-riding female fan who blackmails him into becoming his manager.^[17] Guest Stars: Maya Rudolph and Plácido Domingo.
403	3	"Midnight Towboy"	Matthew Nastuk	Stephanie Gillis	October 7, 2007 (2007-10-07)	JABF21	7.89^[20]
Homer befriends a tow-truck driver named Louie, who shows Homer what it is like to tow vehicles for a living. Meanwhile, Marge puts Maggie in a special school to help babies become independent, but when the lessons work too well, Marge finds herself tearfully bonding with a sack of potatoes.^[19] Guest Star: Matt Dillon.
404	4	"I Don't Wanna Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"	Bob Anderson	Dana Gould	October 14, 2007 (2007-10-14)	JABF19	8.70^[21]
Marge breaks her promise to visit a disturbed bank robber in prison, and ends up getting kidnapped by him. Guest Stars: Steve Buscemi, Ted Nugent and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
405	5	"Treehouse of Horror XVIII"	Chuck Sheetz	Marc Wilmore	November 4, 2007 (2007-11-04)	JABF16	11.74^[23]
The nineteenth season's annual trio of Halloween stories, all of which are movie parodies:^[22] "E.T., Go Home" – In this send-up of E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, Bart finds Kodos (who is hiding from the government) and helps her obtain devices to contact her home planet, but Kodos' intentions are proven to be murderous. "Mr. & Mrs. Simpson" – In this send-up of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Homer lives a double life as a government assassin, but discovers that Marge is one too and must eliminate her after she botched his attempt at assassinating Kent Brockman. "Heck House" – In this send-up of Seven Footprints to Satan, Ned Flanders turns the church into a Heck House and asks God for devilish powers so he can teach the children the consequences of committing the seven deadly sins. Guest Star: Maurice LaMarche.
406	6	"Little Orphan Millie"	Lance Kramer	Mick Kelly	November 11, 2007 (2007-11-11)	JABF22	10.53^[25]
Milhouse's parents remarry and go on a honeymoon cruise, but they are presumed dead. Milhouse adopts an aloof attitude after hearing the news, making him popular and Bart unpopular. Meanwhile, Marge hides her eyes from Homer after Homer admits that he does not know what Marge's eye color is.^[24]
407	7	"Husbands and Knives"	Nancy Kruse	Matt Selman	November 18, 2007 (2007-11-18)	JABF17	10.56^[27]
The Comic Book Guy's Android Dungeon faces competition with "Coolsville Comics 'n Toys," a new comic book store owned by a nicer, more personable store owner named Milo. Meanwhile, Marge creates a gym for the average woman, and a self-conscious Homer resorts to plastic surgery after being told that Marge's success will lead to her divorcing Homer and getting a younger, handsomer trophy husband.^[26] Guest Stars: Alan Moore, Art Spiegelman, Dan Clowes, Jack Black and Maurice LaMarche.
408	8	"Funeral for a Fiend"	Rob Oliver	Michael Price	November 25, 2007 (2007-11-25)	KABF01	9.01^[28]
A night at a rib restaurant turns into yet another plot for Sideshow Bob to kill the Simpson family, but the whole scheme turns into a family affair when Bart kills his mortal enemy by throwing away his nitroglycerine (which Sideshow Bob needs for his heart). Unbeknownst to Bart, Sideshow Bob actually faked his death and is plotting with the rest of the Terwiligers to kill Bart. Guest Stars: Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney and Keith Olbermann.
409	9	"Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind"	Chuck Sheetz	J. Stewart Burns	December 16, 2007 (2007-12-16)	KABF02	10.07^[29]
Homer wakes up in the snow with no memory of what he did the night before — and finds Marge and the kids missing. He then goes on a journey inside his memories to remember what had happened.
410	10	"E Pluribus Wiggum"	Mike Frank Polcino	Michael Price	January 6, 2008 (2008-01-06)	KABF03	8.04^[31]
Thanks to Homer's latest blunder (blowing up every fast-food restaurant in the city), Springfield moves up election day and becomes the first city in the nation to hold primary elections. However, all the media attention and similar-sounding politicians wear on the townspeople's nerves, so they elect Ralph Wiggum to be the 2008 presidential candidate as a joke—until Ralph reveals that he wants to be President, so he can bring peace in these divided times.^[30] Guest Stars: Jon Stewart and Dan Rather.
411	11	"That '90s Show"	Mark Kirkland	Matt Selman	January 27, 2008 (2008-01-27)	KABF04	7.45^[33]
After Marge's diploma fell from a box, a family secret is unraveled: Ten years have passed by between Bart's birth and the meeting of their parents. Indeed after high school, Marge wanted to go to college and so Homer helped make her dream come true and paid for it by working for his father. But.. in class, Marge started to fall for her professor, which ultimately led Homer on the path of musician's fame and depression.^[32] Guest Stars: Kurt Loder and "Weird Al" Yankovic.
412	12	"Love, Springfieldian Style"	Raymond S. Persi	Don Payne	February 17, 2008 (2008-02-17)	KABF05	7.81^[35]
On Valentine's Day, Homer and Marge get stuck in a Tunnel of Love ride after Bart turns the water into Jell-O. To pass the time, the family tells stories of famous couples: Bonnie and Clyde (Homer and Marge cut a path of crime through 1930s Springfield by robbing banks), Lady and the Tramp (Homer and Marge again; this time, as the eponymous dogs from the Disney movie), and Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen (Nelson and Lisa are punk rockers in love and addicted to chocolate).^[34]
413	13	"The Debarted"	Matthew Nastuk	Joel H. Cohen	March 2, 2008 (2008-03-02)	KABF06	8.18^[37]
Bart begins to suspect a rat when all of his pranks backfire—and might have something to do with his new friend, Donny. Meanwhile, Homer grows attached to his rental car, which he gets to drive for a week while his old car gets repaired.^[36] Guest Stars: Topher Grace and Terry Gross.
414	14	"Dial 'N' for Nerder"	Bob Anderson	Carolyn Omine & William Wright	March 9, 2008 (2008-03-09)	KABF07	7.31^[39]
Bart and Lisa's prank on Martin Prince goes too far and they worry that they may be implicated in his death by the police (and Nelson, who becomes an amateur sleuth). Meanwhile, Marge calls upon the producer of a reality show that specializes in tracking down cheating couples when she begins to suspect that Homer may be cheating...on his diet.^[38]
415	15	"Smoke on the Daughter"	Lance Kramer	Billy Kimball	March 30, 2008 (2008-03-30)	KABF08	7.14^[41]
Lisa is accepted into a ballet school run by jazz dancer Chazz Busby, and discovers that her dancing improves whenever she is around cigarette smoke. Meanwhile, Homer shows Bart his secret beef jerky project, which has been taken over by raccoons.^[40]
416	16	"Papa Don't Leech"	Chris Clements	Reid Harrison	April 13, 2008 (2008-04-13)	KABF09	6.93^[42]
When Mayor Quimby launches a campaign to shake down anyone who has not paid taxes in years, Lurleen Lumpkin (the country singer who tried to seduce Homer from the season three episode "Colonel Homer") hides out at the Simpson house, which does not sit well with Marge (who still cannot forgive her for almost stealing her husband).^[6] Guest Stars: Beverly D'Angelo and The Dixie Chicks.
417	17	"Apocalypse Cow"	Nancy Kruse	Jeff Westbrook	April 27, 2008 (2008-04-27)	KABF10	7.75^[44]
Bart joins the 4-H Club and befriends a cow named Lou, but when Lou is set to be sent to slaughter, Bart gives Lou to a country girl named Mary—whom he now must marry after finding out that giving a cow to a country girl is considered a marriage proposal in hillbilly tradition.^[43] Guest Star: Zooey Deschanel.
418	18	"Any Given Sundance"	Chuck Sheetz	Daniel Chun	May 4, 2008 (2008-05-04)	KABF11	6.28^[47]
The Simpsons are going to Utah for the Sundance Film Festival after Lisa's short film on her dysfunctional family life becomes a rave with everyone—except for the Simpson family.^[45] Guest Star: Jim Jarmusch and John C. Reilly.^[46]
419	19	"Mona Leaves-a"	Mike B. Anderson & Ralph Sosa	Joel H. Cohen	May 11, 2008 (2008-05-11)	KABF12	6.08^[49]
Mona Simpson, Homer's '60s radical mother, returns, vowing that her days of protesting are over, but Homer will not accept. Things get worse when Mona dies and her last wishes are to have her ashes spread over the mountains, which turns out to be a plot in stopping a nuclear disaster.^[48] Guest Stars: Glenn Close, Lance Armstrong.
420	20	"All About Lisa"	Steven Dean Moore	John Frink	May 18, 2008 (2008-05-18)	KABF13	6.19^[51]
Sideshow Mel narrates the story of how Lisa rose to stardom as Krusty the Clown's latest replacement. Meanwhile, Bart and Homer start coin-collecting and go after a rare 1917 coin known as "The Kissing Lincolns" penny.^[50] Guest Star: Drew Carey.

Home media

On Saturday, July 20, 2019, it was announced by current showrunner Al Jean during the San Diego Comic-Con 2019 panel that the nineteenth season DVD would be released on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, in the United States and Canada by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, eleven years after it had completed broadcast on television.^[52] The Season 19 DVD includes 20 episodes and features “collectible Homer Simpson packaging,” Jean said. There are also custom menus on every disc, along with commentary on every episode, he added. It is the only DVD release of The Simpsons to be released after The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox in March 2019. Frequent guest animator Bill Plympton designed the box art and menu animations, and is given special thanks for doing so in the booklet.

The Complete Nineteenth Season
Set Details			Special Features
20 episodes 4-disc set (DVD) 1.33:1 aspect ratio AUDIO English 5.1 Dolby Digital Spanish 2.0 Dolby Surround French 2.0 Dolby Surround SUBTITLES English SDH Spanish			Optional commentaries for all 20 episodes Introduction ("A Plea for Sanity") with Matt Groening Special Language Feature Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind French (France) 2.0 Dolby Surround Portuguese 2.0 Dolby Surround Italian 2.0 Dolby Surround Hungarian 2.0 Dolby Surround Featurette "Thank You"
Release Dates
Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
Tuesday, December 3, 2019	Monday, December 2, 2019^[53]	Wednesday, December 11, 2019^[54]

References

Notes

1. "Season 19 Information". The Futon Critic. July 22, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2007.
2. . FoxFlash. April 15, 2008. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2008.
3. . Army Archerd. November 8, 2007. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
4. "Striking Home". Entertainment Weekly. August 11, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
5. "Season 19 Information". The Futon Critic. July 22, 2007. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
6. Snierson, Dan (November 15, 2007). "'The Simpsons' Whistle Dixie (Chicks)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
7. Snierson, Dan (January 25, 2008). "Zooey Deschanel, Glenn Close to guest on 'The Simpsons'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
8. . TV Guide. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
9. Douglas, Edward (July 20, 2007). . Comingsoon.net. Archived from the original on May 1, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
10. . WGA. Archived from the original on April 29, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
11. "The Simpsons: Season 19 Review - IGN".
12. ""Simpson's" wins 10th best cartoon Emmy". Reuters. September 13, 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
13. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on September 8, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
14. ABC Medianet April 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
15. "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
16. . ABC Medianet. September 25, 2007. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
17. "Homer of Seville". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
18. . ABC Medianet. October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
19. "Midnight Towboy". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
20. . ABC Medianet. October 9, 2007. Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
21. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. October 23, 2007. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
22. "Treehouse of Horror XVIII". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
23. Gorman, Bill (November 8, 2007). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
24. "Little Orphan Millie". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
25. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. November 13, 2007. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
26. "Husbands and Knives". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
27. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. November 20, 2007. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
28. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. November 27, 2007. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
29. Gorman, Bill (December 19, 2007). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
30. "E Pluribus Wiggum". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
31. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. January 8, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
32. "That '90s Show". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
33. Gorman, Bill (January 29, 2008). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
34. "Love, Springfieldian Style". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
35. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. February 20, 2008. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
36. "The Debarted". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
37. Calabria, Rosario T. (March 3, 2008). "Broadcast TV Ratings for Sunday, March 2, 2008". Your Entertainment Now. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
38. "Dial 'N' for Nerder". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
39. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. March 11, 2008. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
40. "Smoke on the Daughter". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
41. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. April 1, 2008. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
42. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. April 15, 2008. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
43. "Apocalypse Cow". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
44. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. April 29, 2008. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
45. "Any Given Sundance". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
46. "Fox Flash".
47. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. May 6, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
48. "Mona Leaves-a". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
49. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
50. "All About Lisa". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
51. . ABC Medianet. ABC Medianet. May 20, 2008. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
52. "The Simpsons' Will Finally Release Season 19 on DVD, Helping Out Purist Collectors". Variety. July 20, 2019. from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
53. "The Simpsons - Season 19 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. December 1, 2019.
54. "The Simpsons - Season 19". sanity.com.au. December 1, 2019.

Bibliography

• Turner, Chris (2004). Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation. Foreword by Douglas Coupland. (1st ed.). Toronto: Random House Canada. ISBN 978-0-679-31318-2. OCLC 55682258.

External links

• Official website
• The Simpsons at IMDb