This week we introduce a first in Marquee’s history, an edition of “collectible” covers featuring the work of Len Prince and Prince/Paulson, New York artists whose work is currently on display at Mercury Art Works in a show titled “Glam POP Rock” (Page 6).
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The classic to clunker ratio is still extraordinarily high, though The Simpsons‘ sixth season could give some devoted viewers pause. The show that takes cheeky delight in mooning television convention gives us “Another Simpsons Clip Show” and its first season-ending cliffhanger, “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” And, as does Bart in “A Star Is Burns,” we should all feel a little dirty at the “cheap cartoon crossover” appearance of Jay Sherman (Jon Lovitz), designed to give a boost to the ill-fated animated series The Critic. But this is just beard-stroking tongue-clucking regarding a season that delivered episodes that rank in the hallowed The Simpsons pantheon, among them, “Homer Badman,” in which lust for a gummy Venus de Milo, peeled from the behind of an unwitting babysitter, makes Homer the object of feminist protest and tabloid TV fodder, and “Homer the Great,” in which Homer is discovered to be the Chosen One to lead the secret society, “The Stonecutters” (”Who holds back the electric car/Who made Steve Guttenberg a star?/We do!”). Several episodes take their inspiration from classic films and books: Hitchcock’s Rear Window (”Bart of Darkness”); Michael Crichton’s Westworld and Jurassic Park (”Itchy and Scratchy Land”); and Stephen King and Ray Bradbury (”Treehouse of Horror V”).
This season’s roster of guest voices is also especially impressive, including Winona Ryder as “Lisa’s Rival,” Meryl Streep as Rev. Lovejoy’s bad-seed daughter (”She’s like a Milk Dud,” a smitten Bart laments. “Sweet on the outside, poison on the inside”), the late Anne Bancroft in “Fear of Flying”; Patrick Stewart in “Homer the Great”; Mel Brooks and Susan Sarandon in “Homer vs. Patty and Selma,” and Mandy Patinkin as Lisa’s future fiancée in the surprisingly moving “Lisa’s Wedding.” There has, of late, been a feud a-brewin’ between fans of The Simpsons and Family Guy. Which show is funnier? Has The Simpsons lost it? Is Family Guy a Simpsons-wannabe? Hey; Can’t we all just laugh along? Best to just marvel at another exemplary Simpsons season that, to quote Homer in “Lisa’s Rival,” delivers it all: “The terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles.” –Donald Liebenson
DVD: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Company: 20th Century Fox (2005-08-16)
List Price:Â $39.98
Amazon Price:Â $22.88
Used Price:Â $16.85
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Quiddler, is a beautiful word game with naturally smooth gameplay that plays fast. These are essentials for a successful game that few word games have. Using special cards, Quiddler draws on one’s ability to combine letters into words. Players must combine their entire hand into words trying to use the highest point value letters. Quiddler challenges you to do this first with three cards (round one), then with four, on up to ten cards in the last round. A bonus is given for both the longest word, and the most words made by a player in each round. The average game takes 20-40 minutes. Although it may appear that the person who knows the most words would consistently win, this is not the case when playing Quiddler. There is a visual perception aspect that draws on combining the cards with the highest points into the words rather than the first words a player recognizes. There is also an element of strategy. Players who win often don’t go out at their first opportunity; on the other hand, sometimes they go out as soon as possible. Their actions are aimed at increasing their odds of getting either the long-word or the most-words bonus. The game works well for both beginning readers and accomplished word game players. Youngsters can enjoy Quiddler because players can win using short words. This results from the bonus for getting the most words in any round, which, of course, is obtained using short words i.e., zoo, is, of. On the other hand, accomplished word lovers are challenged because of the bonus given for the longest word in any round, as well as the aspects noted above. The solitaire rules included with Quiddler result in endless hours of word challenges for the single player. Although each game is quick to play (about 15-20 minutes), people have tended to play game after game. For 1 to 8 players. Ages 8 to adult.
Toy:Â MENSA Award Winning Word Game
Company:Â SET Enterprises Inc.Â
List Price:Â $12.99
Amazon Price:Â $6.85
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