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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad: season 21, 1, 5, episode 4, 4, 4
"Treehouse of Horror XX"/"Birth of a Salesman"/"Brains, Brains and Automobiles"
October 19, 2009 - 12:10a.m.
The Simpsons’ annual Halloween episode is regularly the precursor to one of Fox’s strongest nights for animation ratings year-round. As much as The Simpsons is no longer the ratings powerhouse it once was, their Halloween special has become something ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad: season 21, 1, 8, 5, episode 3, 3, 3, 3
"The Great Wife Hope"/"The One About Friends"/"Spies Reminiscent of Us"/"Home Adrone"
October 12, 2009 - 12:10a.m.
Sometimes, I wonder if Matt Groening and Seth MacFarlane have each other on speed dial and if every week, one calls the other on the phone to run down just how good or bad that week’s episodes of their ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad: season 21, 1, 8, 5, episode 2, 2, 2, 2
"Bart Gets a Z"/"Da Daggone Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance"/"Family Goy"/"Moon Over Isla Island"
October 5, 2009 - 12:10a.m.
It’s the second week of Animation Domination, and most of the night’s shows are already coasting. Been hoping you might get to see a Simpsons episode that gives a tertiary character what seems like a promising storyline, then ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad: season 21, 1, 8, 5, episode 1, 1, 1, 1
"Homer the Whopper"/"Pilot"/"Road to the Multiverse"/"In Country ... Club"
September 28, 2009 - 12:09a.m.
Is there anything left to say about the Fox animation bloc at this point? Somewhere along the way, we’ve all decided if we’re Family Guy fans or if we think The Simpsons is still worth keeping up with ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad: season 13, episode 12, 17
King Of The Hill: "The Boys Can't Help It"/"To Sirloin With Love"
September 13, 2009 - 09:09p.m.
At its core, King Of The Hill has always been a show about manhood. Hank Hill is the main character, an Arlen, Texas resident simply trying to get by in the world—support his family, run a successful propane sales ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Coming to Homerica"/"Uh-Oh Canada"/"Peter's Progress"/"Stan's Night Out"
May 18, 2009 - 12:05a.m.
So your friend and mine Steve Heisler is otherwise detained this evening, which means that I will be guiding you through the season finales of the Fox animated bloc (depending on when, exactly, Fox chooses to burn off the leftover ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Back In Time"/"Four Great Women And A Manicure"/"Manger Baby Einstein"/"Three Kings"/"Daddy Queerest"
May 11, 2009 - 03:05a.m.
Due to the most raucous of Mother's Day plans—I can't elaborate here, but suffice to say I'm no longer welcome in any Arby's or Home Depot, or Virginia—I wasn't able to get to ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"World's Greatest Teacher"/"Waverly Hills 9021-D'Oh"/"Bad News Bill"/"We Love You Conrad"/"Weiner Of Our Discontent"
May 3, 2009 - 09:05p.m.
In keeping with the new format of reviews, here's a summary, analysis, and grade for each of tonight's shows.
Sit Down, Shut Up: Recycle much?
Like the two episodes previously, this Sit Down, Shut Up, had some good ... -
The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Serves Me Right For Giving General George S. Patton The Bathroom Key"/"Father Knows Worst"/"Miracles Are Real"/"Stew-Roids"/"Every Which Way But Lose"
April 26, 2009 - 10:04p.m.
Hey there Sunday Funday Cartoon Lovers! Happy 250th King Of The Hill episode to you, too. We have a lot of ground to cover for the remainder of the season, now that Sit Down, Shut Up is part of the ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Born Again On The Fourth Of July" / "Good, Sad And Drugly" / "420" / "DeLorean Story-An"
April 19, 2009 - 10:04p.m.
Steve always seems to have to take off on the Sundays that FOX animation steps up its game. The last time I covered for him turned out to be pretty strong across the board, and tonight was another string of ... -
The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Eeeny Teeny Maya Moe"
April 5, 2009 - 09:04p.m.
The focus was entirely on The Simpsons tonight—no other shows aired new episodes. And having just finished it, albeit a little late, I can't shake the feeling that this was a really odd outing. It wasn't particularly ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Wedding For Disaster"/"Not All Dogs Go To Heaven"/"Wife Insurance"
March 29, 2009 - 10:03p.m.
It's hard to resist the temptation to start every review with something about how The Simpsons have lasted 20 years, and what had to happen for this episode to exist. I admit it's a tired construction, but for ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"In The Name Of The Grandfather"/"Nancy Does Dallas"/"FOX-y Lady"/"Bar Mitzvah Shuffle"
March 22, 2009 - 09:03p.m.
[Hello devoted Fox Animation Dominators-
Because of a conflict having nothing to do with TV Club or bashing Family Guy, I won't be able to write anything until really late Sunday night—or, worst case scenario, Monday morning. So ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Gone Maggie Gone"/"Uncool Customer"/"The Juice Is Loose"/"Jack's Back"
March 15, 2009 - 09:03a.m.
Hooray all around! I don't know what's gotten into this Sunday night block of sketch-em-up TV, but tonight saw vast improvement across the board; in fact, the more I think about it, I think tonight was, if anything ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"No Loan Again, Naturally"/"Bwah My Nose"/"Family Gay"/"Roy Rogers McFreely"
March 8, 2009 - 08:03a.m.
I think the last time The Simpsons was the strongest of the animated shows, it was the week in December where it aired solo, the rest on break already. But tonight's just barely passes everything else for the win ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"How The Test Was Won"/"Master Of Puppets"/"Live And Let Fry"
March 1, 2009 - 10:03a.m.
Well, that was a close one, huh? I turned on my TV at 7pm like a diligent TV Clubber to find NASCAR coverage still going strong after 19 hours or so, and the thought crossed my mind that this most ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Take My Life, Please"/"What Happens At The National Propane Gas Convention In Memphis Stays At The National Propane Gas Convention In Memphis"/"Oceans Three And A Half"/"Family Affair"
February 15, 2009 - 04:02p.m.
And we're back! Not since November have all four shows aired as one mighty, mighty block. It's nice to have everyone back, but the enjoyment is fleeting—as has been happening a lot this season for some reason ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Lucky See Monkey Do"/"Stan Time"
February 8, 2009 - 04:02p.m.
Grammys schmammys: There's plenty of hot, musical action happening over at the Fox Sunday Night Animation Domination Pre-Syndication Sensation! And by that I mean, two great episodes of cartoony TV and a welcome respite from Grammy-related mishaps/Twitter messages ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad: season 0, episode 0
"Lisa The Drama Queen"/"Chimdale"
January 25, 2009 - 02:01p.m.
Welcome back, everyone, to another edition of Fox Sunday Animation Good Times Variety Blog. I trust everyone had happy, restful holidays/New Years's/inaugurations. Me? It's been so long, I almost forgot these shows were still on the ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"The Burns And The Bees"
December 7, 2008 - 10:12p.m.
Its animated brethren are already slumbering for the winter holidays, but The Simpsons refuses to call it quits just yet. And why should it? There's so much more ground to cover, so much more Springfield to tell. Or rather ... -
The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Mypods And Boomsticks"/"Straight As An Arrow"/"Phantom Telethon"
November 30, 2008 - 10:11p.m.
This fall's Sunday night schedule has been a bit wonky, with random weeks-off cropping up here-and-there. (There were no episodes last week due to Fox's 24 movie/extended preview for the new season.) And it looks like, after ... -
The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words"/"A Bill Full of Dollars"/"Tales of a Third Grade Nothing"/"Pulling Double Booty"
November 16, 2008 - 11:11p.m.
It's good to be back, people, but catching up on last week's episodes and reading Genevieve's blog bummed me out; wouldn't you know it, the one week I'm tied up with Sunday night commitments is ... -
The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Dangerous Curves" / "No Bobby Left Behind" / "Man With Two Brians" / "Escape From Pearl Bailey"
November 9, 2008 - 10:11p.m.
Hello Sunday night animation lovers/haters/ambivalenters. Steve is out for the night, so I've returned to the ol' blog for this one-night-only opportunity for you all to tell me how wrong I am about that one show you ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Treehouse of Horror 19"/"Lost in Myspace"/"Baby Not on Board"/"Choosy Wives Choose Stan"
November 2, 2008 - 11:11p.m.
Welcome back, Animation Domination, um, Obama-nations. (TBD.) We had a week off for the World Series–part of a game at least–and we're here just in time for the annual Treehouse of Horror tradition on The Simpsons.
But ... -
The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Double, Double, Boy In Trouble"/"Square-Footed Monster"/"Road To Germany"/"One Little Word"
October 19, 2008 - 10:10p.m.
Hmm…not the best night of television, eh?
After a week off, our beloved Fox Animation Domination has returned…before taking another week off next week. But before keeping us waiting with bated breath, wondering what scary movie tropes The ... -
The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Lost Verizon"/"Earthly Girls Are Easy"/"I Dream Of Jesus"/"The One That Got Away"
October 5, 2008 - 11:10p.m.
What a difference a week makes. Last time I was pretty hard on American Dad for hammering its jokes too hard, and felt like King of the Hill was the best for telling a compelling, complete story. Well things have ... -
The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes"/"Dia-Bill-ic Shock"/"Love Blactually"/"1600 Candles"
September 28, 2008 - 08:09p.m.
First off, I want to thank Genevieve for covering this Sunday block last season, and she'll be picking up Pushing Daisies coverage later this week. I'll be taking things from here, and I'm pretty excited. My DVR ... -
The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"All About Lisa" / "Life: A Loser's Manual" / "Spring Breakup"
May 18, 2008 - 10:05p.m.
Look at that picture. Just look at it. My God, I made up my mind to dislike this episode of The Simpsons before I even saw it, based solely on that promotional picture. So let's give it up for ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Mona Leaves-A" / "It Came From The Garage" / "Stannie Slickers II: The Legend Of Ollie's Gold"
May 11, 2008 - 09:05p.m.
In honor of Mothers' Day and tonight's Simpsons, I have to start out with a little shout-out to Mama Koski (yes, she reads this, so be nice!), who watched The Simpsons every week with me from the very beginning ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Any Given Sundance" / "Cops And Robert" / "Long John Peter" / "Office Spaceman"
May 4, 2008 - 11:05p.m.
Tonight's lineup got me thinking about the use of guest voices in our FOX programs. Generally there are two big warning signs that a celebrity name in the credits presages a cringe-worthy, gimmicky cameo. One, it's a non-actor ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Apocalypse Cow" / "Strangeness On A Train" / "Former Life Of Brian" / "Red October Sky"
April 27, 2008 - 11:04p.m.
It's been two long months, my little TV Clubbers, but finally we can all once again come together–Simpsons apologists, Family Guy haters, King Of The Hill die-hards, and the three of us who watch American Dad–to ridicule ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Papa Don't Leech" / "The Courtship Of Joseph's Father"
April 13, 2008 - 09:04p.m.
Favorite Simpsons episode ever, annnnnnd GO!
Okay, it's a pretty impossible question for a die-hard fan, but if I were forced at gunpoint to name my favorite episode ever, "Colonel Homer" would probably be the first to leap to ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Six Characters In Search Of A House"
April 6, 2008 - 09:04p.m.
Let's get the good news out of the way first: Though many thought this season (and last season, and the season before that) would be King Of The Hill's last one, FOX has reupped with Mike Judge and ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Smoke On The Daughter" / "Pour Some Sugar On Kahn"
March 30, 2008 - 10:03p.m.
I think it speaks to my very long tenure as a Simpsons and King Of The Hill fan that I I'm starting to really enjoy new episodes whose plots retread familiar territory. Wait, what? Yes. Bear with me.
By ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Behind Closed Doors"
March 17, 2008 - 09:03a.m.
King Of The Hill has a tendency toward being formulaic, evidenced by this season in particular, which has rehashed the Hank-vs.-jackasses conflict to varying effects nearly every week. However, tonight's episode proves that the show is still capable ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Dial 'N' For Nerder" / "Lady And Gentrification"
March 9, 2008 - 09:03p.m.
Every week before I watch these shows, I read the synopses provided by FOX about each new episode, because I take these cartoons seriously, man. Based on the write-ups of tonight's shows, I was expecting a good-to-really-good Simpsons (a ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"The Debarted" / "The Accdental Terrorist" / "Play It Again, Brian"
March 2, 2008 - 09:03p.m.
Tonight's local telecast of The Simpsons was delayed by some big Nascar event; as few things in life infuriate me more than grown men wearing jumpsuits and driving around and around and around in circles, this was an inauspicious ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Love, Springfieldian Style" / "Untitled" / "Back To The Woods" / "Widowmaker"
February 17, 2008 - 11:02p.m.
I have to admit, I did a bit of whining this week when I found out that all four FOX shows were new this week; after nearly three months with truncated schedules, I've gotten a bit spoiled, not having ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Trans-Fascism"
February 10, 2008 - 09:02p.m.
At this point I've pretty much given up trying to figure out what new shows FOX will deliver unto us each Sunday night; I just sit back and let Tivo tell me what's up. Tonight, I was happy ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"That 90s Show" / "Oedipal Panties"
January 27, 2008 - 10:01p.m.
As I watched TV tonight, I could practically hear the heads of die-hard, lifelong Simpsons fans exploding across the country. A nation of Comic Book Guys threw down their nachos in disgust over the blatant disregard for continuity, shaking their ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"McStroke" / "Tearjerker"
January 13, 2008 - 10:01p.m.
Okay, so I must confess that I know very little about the logistics of producing the shows I critique each week; I don't know how long it takes to make an episode, I don't know the steps involved ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"E. Pluribus Wiggum" / "Doggone Crazy" / "Frannie 911"
January 6, 2008 - 10:01p.m.
Regarding tonight's episode of The Simpsons, I think I have to refer to the words of the ever-wise Lenny Leonard: "Well, I thought every part of it was good, but overall, I hated it."
So much about "E. Pluribus ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Dreamweaver"/"The Most Adequate Christmas Ever"
December 17, 2007 - 09:12a.m.
Ah, the perils of technology! Due to unforeseen circumstances involving winter weather, a sensitive satellite dish, and my blind reliance on TiVo, I missed tonight's new Simpsons episode and two-thirds of the new King Of The Hill. I'm ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"The Minh Who Knew Too Much"
December 9, 2007 - 09:12p.m.
How long has it been since we loyal King Of The Hill viewers have been privy to the inner workings to the Arlen Gun Club? Aside from one plot six years ago and countless tossed-off references since, Dale Gribble's ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Surro-gate"
December 2, 2007 - 10:12p.m.
Yeah, I'm still here. Just me and one lousy ol' American Dad episode tonight. The Sunday night animation well is running dry my friends. But I will stick it out, dammit! Why? Because I get paid to, that's ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Tears Of An Inflatable Clown" / "Funeral For A Fiend" / "Peter's Daughter"
November 25, 2007 - 10:11p.m.
And so continues FOX's Great Sunday Night Shuffle. And there wasn't even a football game to blame this time. I'm not sure what happened to the American Dad that was scheduled to air tonight (it's still ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Husbands And Knives" / "Raise The Steaks" / "Padre De Familia" / "The 42-Year-Old Virgin"
November 18, 2007 - 10:11p.m.
Oh Simpsons, you're such a tease. Here I thought I was in for a geeked-out story pitting Bart against Comic Book Guy, with a little Jack Black thrown in for good measure. It wasn't gonna be great, but ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Little Orphan Millie" / "Death Picks Cotton" / "Lois Kills Stewie" / "Haylias"
November 11, 2007 - 11:11p.m.
Presumed dead. Really dead. Not really dead. Almost dead.
So went tonight's shows, in what I can only assume was FOX's traumatic parental death week. A few weeks ago I brought up the subject of The Simpsons' changing ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"Treehouse of Horror XVIII"/"Stewie Kills Lois"/"Big Trouble in Little Langley"
November 4, 2007 - 10:11p.m.
Well, now that the Red Sox have won the Series, we can all get back to the important business of dissecting the minutiae of animated prime-time sitcoms. Not that baseball isn't important (really, it's not), but come on ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"I Don't Wanna Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" / "Four Wave Intersection" / "Dope & Faith"
October 14, 2007 - 10:10p.m.
There may have been no new Family Guy episode this week, but there was no lack of that show's particular style of humor. In fact, with the exception of King Of The Hill, these two hours very well could ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
Midnight Towboy / The Powderpuff Boys / Believe It Or Not, Joe's Walking On Air / Meter Made
October 7, 2007 - 10:10p.m.
Uh oh. Looks like the writers of The Simpsons and American Dad need to start comparing notes. Either that or it's parking enforcement week in FOX Sunday night animation land. Apparently non-moving violations are the newest untapped comedy cache ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
Homer Of Seville / Bobby Rae / Movin' Out (Brian's Song) / The Vacation Goo
September 30, 2007 - 10:09p.m.
It's clear what's going on here. The writers of the shows of FOX's Sunday night lineup obviously traveled back in time somehow, read last week's entry and its comments, and applied the collective wisdom of myself ...
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The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad
"He Loves To Fly And He D'ohs" / "Suite Smell Of Excess" / "Blue Harvest"
September 23, 2007 - 07:09p.m.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must preface this project by acknowledging my biases when it comes to the four shows in FOX's Sunday night lineup. While I'll do my damndest to give The Simpsons, King Of ...
