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The Simpsons season 5

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The Simpsons
Season 5
DVD cover
No. of episodes22
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseSeptember 30, 1993 (1993-09-30) –
May 19, 1994 (1994-05-19)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 4
Next →
Season 6
List of episodes

The Simpsons' fifth season originally aired on the Fox network between September 30, 1993 and May 19, 1994. The showrunner for the fifth production season was David Mirkin who executive produced 20 episodes. Al Jean and Mike Reiss executive produced the remaining two, which were both hold overs that were produced for the previous season. The season contains some of the series' most acclaimed episodes, including "Cape Feare" and "Rosebud".[1] It also includes the 100th episode, "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song". The season was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and won an Annie Award for Best Animated Television Program as well as an Environmental Media Award and a Genesis Award. The DVD box set was released in Region 1 on December 21, 2004, Region 2 on March 21, 2005, and Region 4 on March 23, 2005.

Production

The season was the first to be executive produced by David Mirkin, who would also run the following season. Several of the show's original writers who had worked on The Simpsons since the first season had left following the completion of season four. "Cape Feare", which was the final episode to be produced by the "original team",[2] aired during this season as a hold over.[2] Jay Kogen, Wallace Wolodarsky, Sam Simon and Jeff Martin wrote their final episodes for the season four production run. Show runners Al Jean and Mike Reiss left to produce their own series The Critic, but returned in subsequent seasons to produce more Simpsons episodes, and Jean again became the show runner starting with season thirteen.[3] George Meyer and John Swartzwelder, Conan O'Brien, Frank Mula and future show runners Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein all stayed with the show following the previous season. O'Brien would leave the series halfway through the production of the season to host his own show on NBC, Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He had been working on "Homer Goes to College" when he found out he was chosen to host Late Night and was forced to walk out on his contract.[3] He later had a cameo appearance in "Bart Gets Famous". He recorded his part while Late Night was on the air, but O'Brien thought that his show might be canceled by the time the episode aired.[4]

A whole new group of writers were brought in for this season. Jace Richdale was the first to be hired by Mirkin and others to receive their first writing credits were Greg Daniels and Dan McGrath.[5] Mike Scully wrote "Lisa's Rival", which was produced for this season, but aired the next. Two freelance writers wrote episodes: David Richardson wrote "Homer Loves Flanders" while Bill Canterbury received two writing credits. Bob Anderson and Susie Dietter, who had previously worked on the show as part of the animation staff, would direct their first episodes.[4][6]

A seated man wearing a cap smiles as he looks into the distance. His hands are crossed.
David Mirkin was the show runner for this season.

The season started off with "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" which was chosen as the season premiere because it guest starred George Harrison. The Fox executives had wanted to premiere with "Homer Goes to College" because it was a National Lampoon's Animal House parody, but the writers felt "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" would be a better episode because of Harrison's involvement.[7] Even though the episode aired during the beginning of the fifth season, "Cape Feare" was the last episode written by the original team of writers and guest starred Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob.[2] Compared to previously produced episodes, the episode featured several elements that could be described as cartoonish.[1] This was a result of the staff's careless attitude towards the end of season four as the majority of them were leaving which, combined with the shortness of the episode, led to the creation of the rake sequence, became a memorable moment for this episode.[8] "Cape Feare" and "Rosebud" were both broadcast early in the season and are amongst the series' most acclaimed episodes, both having placed highly on Entertainment Weekly's list of the top 25 episodes.[1] The episode "Deep Space Homer" was the only episode to be written by David Mirkin and was controversial amongst the show's writing staff when the episode was in production. Some of the writers felt that having Homer go into space was too "large" of an idea. Matt Groening felt that the idea was so big that it gave the writers "nowhere to go". As a result, every aspect of the show was worked on to make the concept work. The writers focused more upon the relationship between Homer and his family and Homer's attempts to be a hero.[9] "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song" was the series' 100th episode. It was chosen because it heavily featured Bart and was promoted as "Bart's biggest prank ever," even though Bart did not actually pull any pranks in the episode;[10] rather, Bart accidentally let his dog loose, eventually resulting in Principal Skinner's firing. Cletus Spuckler and the Rich Texan were the only recurring characters to be introduced this season, first appearing in "Bart Gets an Elephant", and "$pringfield" respectively.[11] Other minor characters who first appeared this season were Luigi and Baby Gerald. Two more episodes, "Bart of Darkness" and "Lisa's Rival" were produced as part of the season five (1F) production run, but both aired the following season.[12]

Awards

The Simpsons won an Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production, while David Silverman received a nomination for "Best Individual Achievement for Creative Supervision in the Field of Animation".[13] "Bart Gets an Elephant" won both an Environmental Media Award for "Best Television Episodic Comedy" and a Genesis Award for "Best Television Comedy Series".[14][15]

At the Primetime Emmy Awards, Alf Clausen and Greg Daniels received a nomination in the "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics" category for the song "Who Needs The Kwik-E-Mart?" from the episode "Homer and Apu". Clausen also was nominated for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)" for the episode "Cape Feare".[16] The producers submitted episodes for "Outstanding Comedy Series" category rather than the "Outstanding Animated Program" as they had previously done and were not nominated.[17][18] The series was also nominated for a Saturn Award for "Best Genre Television Series".[14]

Ratings

Like the previous three seasons, The Simpsons aired Thursday at 8:00 pm in the United States and was coupled with the series The Sinbad Show.[19] "Homer's Barbershop Quartet", the season premiere, finished 30th in the ratings with a Nielsen rating of 12.7.[20] "Treehouse of Horror IV", which was broadcast on October 28, was the highest rated episode of the season, finishing 17th with a Nielsen rating of 14.5[21] and finishing ninth in terms of viewers, being seen by approximately 24 million.[22] "Secrets of a Successful Marriage", the season finale, aired during the week of May 16–22, 1994 and finished 43rd with a Nielsen rating of 9.8.[23]

Episodes

See also: List of The Simpsons episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
821"Homer's Barbershop Quartet"Mark KirklandJeff MartinSeptember 30, 1993 (1993-09-30)9F2119.9[24]
832"Cape Feare"Rich MooreJon VittiOctober 7, 1993 (1993-10-07)9F2220.0[25]
843"Homer Goes to College"Jim ReardonConan O'BrienOctober 14, 1993 (1993-10-14)1F0218.1[26]
854"Rosebud"Wes ArcherJohn SwartzwelderOctober 21, 1993 (1993-10-21)1F0119.5[27]
865"Treehouse of Horror IV"David SilvermanConan O'Brien, Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein, Greg Daniels & Dan McGrath and Bill CanterburyOctober 28, 1993 (1993-10-28)1F0424.0[28]
876"Marge on the Lam"Mark KirklandBill CanterburyNovember 4, 1993 (1993-11-04)1F0321.7[29]
887"Bart's Inner Child"Bob AndersonGeorge MeyerNovember 11, 1993 (1993-11-11)1F0518.7[30]
898"Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood"Jeffrey LynchDan McGrathNovember 18, 1993 (1993-11-18)1F0620.1[31]
909"The Last Temptation of Homer"Carlos BaezaFrank MulaDecember 9, 1993 (1993-12-09)1F0720.6[32]
9110"$pringfield (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)"Wes ArcherBill Oakley & Josh WeinsteinDecember 16, 1993 (1993-12-16)1F0817.9[33]
9211"Homer the Vigilante"Jim ReardonJohn SwartzwelderJanuary 6, 1994 (1994-01-06)1F0920.1[34]
9312"Bart Gets Famous"Susie DietterJohn SwartzwelderFebruary 3, 1994 (1994-02-03)1F1120.0[35]
9413"Homer and Apu"Mark KirklandGreg DanielsFebruary 10, 1994 (1994-02-10)1F1021.8[36]
9514"Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy"Jeffrey LynchBill Oakley & Josh WeinsteinFebruary 17, 1994 (1994-02-17)1F1220.5[37]
9615"Deep Space Homer"Carlos BaezaDavid MirkinFebruary 24, 1994 (1994-02-24)1F1318.2[38]
9716"Homer Loves Flanders"Wes ArcherDavid RichardsonMarch 17, 1994 (1994-03-17)1F1418.0[39]
9817"Bart Gets an Elephant"Jim ReardonJohn SwartzwelderMarch 31, 1994 (1994-03-31)1F1517.0[40]
9918"Burns' Heir"Mark KirklandJace RichdaleApril 14, 1994 (1994-04-14)1F1614.7[41]
10019"Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song"Bob AndersonBill Oakley & Josh WeinsteinApril 28, 1994 (1994-04-28)1F1819.7[42]
10120"The Boy Who Knew Too Much"Jeffrey LynchJohn SwartzwelderMay 5, 1994 (1994-05-05)1F1915.5[42]
10221"Lady Bouvier's Lover"Wes ArcherBill Oakley & Josh WeinsteinMay 12, 1994 (1994-05-12)1F2115.1[43]
10322"Secrets of a Successful Marriage"Carlos BaezaGreg DanielsMay 19, 1994 (1994-05-19)1F2015.6[44]

DVD release

The menu for the first disc of The Complete Fifth Season; the new format of menus has since been used in the rest of the released season box sets

The DVD boxset for season five was released by 20th Century Fox in the United States and Canada on December 21, 2004, ten years after it had completed broadcast on television. As well as every episode from the season, the DVD release features bonus material including deleted scenes, animatics, and commentaries for every episode. The menus are a different format than the previous seasons, and that format would be used in every set after.[45]

The Complete Fifth Season
Set details[46][47] Special features[46][47]
  • Optional commentaries for all 22 episodes
  • Introduction from Matt Groening
  • Animation Showcases
  • "A Look Back" with James L. Brooks
  • Deleted Scenes for 14 episodes
  • Commercials
  • Illustrated commentaries
  • Audio outtakes
  • Original sketches
Release dates
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
December 21, 2004 March 21, 2005 March 23, 2005

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Family Dynamic". Entertainment Weekly. 2003-01-29. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  2. ^ a b c Vitti, Jon (2004). Commentary for the episode "Cape Feare". The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  3. ^ a b Jean, Al (2004). The Simpsons season 5 DVD commentary for the episode "Cape Feare" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  4. ^ a b Groening, Matt; Brooks, James L.; Mirkin, David; O'Brien, Conan; Dietter, Susie; Silverman, Davis (2004). Commentary for the episode "Bart Gets Famous". The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  5. ^ Mirkin, David (2004). The Simpsons season 5 DVD commentary for the episode "Burns' Heir" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  6. ^ Anderson, Bob (2004). Commentary for the episode "Bart's Inner Child". The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  7. ^ Groening, Matt; Reiss, Mike; Jean, Al; Martin, Jeff; Azaria, Hank; Lovitz, Jon; Kirkland, Mark (2004). The Simpsons season 5 DVD commentary for the episode "Homer's Barbershow Quartet" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  8. ^ Jean, Al (2004). Commentary for the episode "Cape Feare". The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  9. ^ Groening, Matt; Mirkin, David; Silverman, David; Kirkland, Mark (2004). Commentary for the episode "Cape Feare". The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  10. ^ Groening, Matt; Mirkin, David; Silverman, David; Oakley, Bill; Weinstein, Josh; Anderson, Bob (2004). Commentary for the episode "Cape Feare". The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  11. ^ Richmond & Coffman 1997, p. 139.
  12. ^ Richmond & Coffman 1997, pp. 148–150.
  13. ^ "Legacy: 22nd Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1994)". Annie Awards. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-06. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b "Awards for "The Simpsons"". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  15. ^ "1995 Genesis Awards". Humane Society of the United States. Archived from the original on 2008-02-24. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  16. ^ "Primetime Emmy Awards Advanced Search". Emmys.org. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved 2008-04-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Jean, Al (2004). The Simpsons season 4 DVD commentary for the episode "Mr. Plow" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  18. ^ Walt Belcher (1994-07-22). "Casting about for an Emmy — Bart Simpson and Tim Allen aren't in the running for TV's big awards". The Tampa Tribune. p. 1.
  19. ^ Verne Gay (1993-05-26). "Fox adds 6 hours of new shows in fall". The Record. p. F2. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Associated Press (1993-10-06). "Nielsen ratings / Sept. 27 - Oct. 3". Press-Telegram. p. D5. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ Associated Press (1993-11-03). "Nielsen ratings / Oct. 26-Nov. 1". Press-Telegram. p. C6. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  22. ^ "The Ratings — Off into the 'Sunset'". Entertainment Weekly. 1993-11-12. Retrieved 2008-04-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ Associated Press (1994-05-25). "Nielsen ratings / May 16–22". Press-Telegram. p. 4E.
  24. ^ "Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. October 6, 1993. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  25. ^ "Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. October 6, 1993. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  26. ^ "Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. October 6, 1993. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  27. ^ "Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. October 6, 1993. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  28. ^ "Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. October 6, 1993. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  29. ^ "Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. November 8, 1993. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  30. ^ "Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. November 15, 1993. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  31. ^ "Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. November 15, 1993. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  32. ^ "Midler's 'Gypsy' Coming Up Roses for CBS – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. December 15, 1993. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  33. ^ "Midler's 'Gypsy' Coming Up Roses for CBS – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. December 22, 1993. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  34. ^ "Midler's 'Gypsy' Coming Up Roses for CBS – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. January 10, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  35. ^ "Midler's 'Gypsy' Coming Up Roses for CBS – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. February 7, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  36. ^ "Midler's 'Gypsy' Coming Up Roses for CBS – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. February 14, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  37. ^ "Midler's 'Gypsy' Coming Up Roses for CBS – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. February 21, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  38. ^ "Midler's 'Gypsy' Coming Up Roses for CBS – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. February 28, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  39. ^ "Wednesday Wins for ABC – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. March 24, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  40. ^ "Wednesday Wins for ABC – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. March 31, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  41. ^ "Wednesday Wins for ABC – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. April 28, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  42. ^ a b "Wednesday Wins for ABC – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. May 7, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  43. ^ "Wednesday Wins for ABC – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. May 21, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  44. ^ "Wednesday Wins for ABC – Nielsen Ratings" (PDF). USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. May 28, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  45. ^ The Simpsons season 5 DVD boxset (DVD). 20th Century Fox. 2004.
  46. ^ a b c d e "Simpsons, The — The Complete 5th Season". TVShowsonDVD.com. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
  47. ^ a b "The Simpsons Season 5 DVD". The Simpsons Shop. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
Bibliography

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