DVD review from The Movie Snob

The Simpsons - Season 4 (A-). When The Simpsons was at its creative zenith several years ago, I was among its biggest fans. Season 4 is the latest installment of the series to be released on DVD, and it is the first one that I have actually watched (despite having owned the first three seasons for a while now). Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised if and when I get around to watching the earlier seasons, but my hunch is that Season 4 is when the show really hit its stride. Just a few highlights:

A Streetcar Named Marge. Marge is Blanche DuBois in a local musical version of A Streetcar Named Desire. Jon Lovitz guests as tyrannical director Llewellyn Sinclair. Maggie is temporarily placed in the Ayn Rand Day Care Center, where signs proclaim "A=A" and "Helping is useless." Sublime.

Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie. Homer is convinced that Bart could become chief justice of the Supreme Court if he disciplines him properly. Unfortunately for Bart, this means getting grounded from seeing the phenomenally popular Itchy & Scratchy movie.

Mr. Plow. A classic. Homer buys a snow plow and starts a successful plowing business - until his best friend Barney muscles in on his action. Features the memorable jingle: "Call Mr. Plow/That's my name/That name again/Is Mr. Plow."

Last Exit to Springfield. Mr. Burns tries to take away his employees' dental plan at the exact time the Simpsons find out that Lisa needs braces. So Homer becomes the union leader, cluelessly handles negotiations with the evil Burns, and instigates a strike. Probably one of the greatest episodes of all time.

The Halloween episode is great too.