The Simpsons: 30 for 30 - Part One

I read in the news today that The Simpsons might end soon.

Like almost everyone else I stopped watching at least 15 years ago, but the show has still had a great influence on me and the stuff I say.

So to mark about 30 years of Our Favourite Family, I've taken out of mothballs this list of the top 30 episodes I started drafting about two years ago.

The plan is for it to be three parts.

This is Part One. It has lay dormant, complete and unpublished, for about 18 months. I never got around to Parts Two and Three, but I'm confident news of the end will push me on to finish.

Images are generated from the outstanding website frinkiac.com. Video links are from YouTube, and may or may not be of questionable copyright status, so if you're reading this from the future and links are broken you'll know why.

Grammar Rodeo

GRAMMAR RODEO

A Real Conversation with Twin J

Pool Party

POOL PARTY

A Real Conversation with Twin R

Injuries

You can't just have a boring accident in my house.

One week ago, it started with a suspected poisoning...

Rugby League Earth Team 2019

I'm answering the big Rugby League question:

What if the World had to select a team to play an intergalactic Test match?

I've done this twice before: in May 2017 for the international representative window, and in December 2017, following the World Cup.

A lot has changed in the last two years; there are 13 uncapped players in the Planet Earth XVII this time. The one thing that hasn't changed is selections are still dominated by Australians. Even after the shock loss to Tonga on the weekend, they are the most talented team on the planet. But looking at the representation, the 2019 premiership winning Roosters might be the best team, with four players selected and another two in the reserves.

So let's see what the EARTH TEAM 3.0 looks like now...

The Blake Austin Prophecy

I couldn't help but notice that Blake Austin is listed in jersey #21 (emergency reserve) for the Great Britain Lions this weekend.

This reminded me that Austin was at the centre of the most random almost prediction of my life. A near hit as bizarrely specific as it was trivial and pointless.

You don't need to like footy, or even know who Blake Austin is, to appreciate the brilliance (and maybe some luck) of this one...