David Silverman Movies
- 1997
This film is part of a series that presents Jewish holidays and traditions to the children's audience. The series is on the Parents' Choice Recommended Children's Tapes list. This episode is an entertaining musical excursion into the songs that are traditionally sung at holiday time, and the meaning behind the words. The children visit Bubbe -- the Yiddish word for "Grandmother" -- at her home, where they have a sing-along while decorating for the holidays. Selections include "We Light the Candles, "Dreidel," "Lighting the Menorah," and "The Four Questions." ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The citizens of Springfield are being inundated with advertisements heralding the arrival of something called "Gabbo," raising curiosity to a fever pitch. One day, it is revealed that Gabbo is the irrepressible wooden sidekick of ventriloquist Arthur Crandall (voice of Hank Azaria), and that they are to star in a new television show. However, much to the dismay of Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) and Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith), Gabbo's show is scheduled to air opposite that of their favorite entertainer, Krusty the Clown (voice of Dan Castellaneta), and soon Krusty's ratings sink through the floorboards as Gabbo leaps to unprecedented success. Krusty's show is dropped from the schedule, and after his career as a professional gambler hits the skids, Krusty is left with nowhere to go. Eager to help their fallen hero, Bart and Lisa suggest that Krusty stage a comeback special, featuring some of the big-name stars he's become friendly with during his years in show business. Krusty hands his address book to Bart and Lisa and asks them to get to work rounding up talent, while he attempts to lose the weight he put on with a steady diet of milkshakes. Appearing on Krusty's TV special are Bette Midler, Johnny Carson, Hugh Hefner, Luke Perry, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, all of whom perform their own voices; Barry White and Elizabeth Taylor also provide voice cameos for the episode. "Krusty Gets Kancelled" first aired on May 13, 1993. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Marge Simpson (voice of Julie Kavner) may not have a perfect marriage, but her sister Selma (also voiced by Kavner) seems ready to settle for whatever kind of husband she can find, and begins corresponding with a prisoner at the Springfield Penitentiary after concluding she can't find an eligible man among the law-abiding. It turns out the prisoner in question is none other than Sideshow Bob (voice of Kelsey Grammer), who ended up behind bars after Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) exposed his plan to frame Krusty the Clown (voice of Dan Castellaneta) for robbery. Selma and Sideshow Bob decide to tie the knot, but Bart is convinced Bob has something up his sleeve, and after viewing a video of the couple's vacation trip, Bart must run to the rescue to prevent Selma from being murdered.
Black Widower first aired on April 8, 1992. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Black Widower first aired on April 8, 1992. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1991
After their TV goes on the blink, the Simpson family is faced with the grim prospect of having to actually talk to each other, and Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) decides to make the best of it by telling Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) and Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) the story of how she and Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) fell in love. It's 1974, and Homer Simpson is a skinny guy with a full head of hair who has no idea of what he wants to do with his future. Marge Bouvier has ended up in detention for the first time after burning a bra on school property in the midst of a brief infatuation with the women's movement. There she meets Homer, who has been kept after school yet again for smoking on school grounds. For Homer, it's love at first sight, and he's determined to find some way to get Marge's attention; pretending to be studying French, Homer gets Marge to tutor him, then asks her to the big dance. Marge says yes, but she's furious when she learns Homer isn't really taking French and that he kept her up late the night before a major forensics tournament. Marge decides instead to accept an invitation from debate club president Arnie Ziff (voice of Jon Lovitz) to go to the prom. Homer, however, never hears about this, figuring that if she never formally broke off their date, she'll still go with him, no matter how angry she is, and he finds himself going to the prom stag and watching Marge enjoy her big night with Artie. The Way We Was first aired on January 31, 1991.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) has a reputation for not being very good at picking out gifts for his wife Marge (voice of Julie Kavner), as evidenced by such past birthday presents as a tackle box and a Connie Chung calendar, but he hits a new low when Marge finds she's the recipient of a new bowling ball -- which has been drilled to fit Homer's hand and even has his name engraved on it. Marge is furious that Homer used her birthday as an excuse to get himself a gift, and while she doesn't bowl, she decides to learn just out of spite. Marge's early attempts to teach herself the game are disastrous, but she soon attracts the attention of Jacques (voice of Albert Brooks), a local professional bowler who has a French accent and a way with the ladies. Marge is more than flattered by the attention she's receiving from Jacques (who, just because he likes her, cuts his lesson fee from $50 to $25), and she begins spending more and more time with him. But when Jacques asks her to spend the afternoon at his apartment, she wonders if she ought to leave her marriage behind. Homer, Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith), and Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) all suspect that something more than a friendly game of ten pins is going on between Marge and Jacques, and all react with different degrees of dread. "Life on the Fast Lane" first aired on March 18, 1990. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1990
A puppet cast discovers and enacts the traditions of the holidays in Passover at Bubbe's. This uplifting family film, originally released in 1990, was the winner of a Kids First! Award. It features colorful Muppet-like characters involved in Passover preparations. The holiday story touches the heart of young and old alike with its account of the warm relationship between grandmother Bubbe and her granddaughter. The film contains original music and historically accurate information. Passover at Bubbe's is one of a series of home videos featuring the Bubbe puppet family. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) makes the mistake of trying to protect a batch of cupcakes Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) made for her teacher from schoolyard bully and thug in training Nelson (voice of Cartwright). Nelson gives Bart a beating, and promises more of the same; Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) suggests that Bart try to reason with the bully, while Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) tells his son that fighting dirty is the only answer. Neither strategy seems to work, so Bart turns to Grampa Simpson (voice of Castellaneta) for advice. With the help of Herman (voice of Harry Shearer), the mildly insane owner of a store specializing in military relics, Bart and Grampa organize his fellow fourth graders into an army and orchestrate an all-out water-balloon war against Nelson and his fellow bullies. "Bart the General" was first aired on February 4, 1990. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1990
It's Halloween in Springfield, and Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright) and his sister Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) are swapping scary stories in their backyard treehouse. In Bad Dream House, the Simpsons move into a big old house, but soon learn why the place was a bargain -- it's haunted. Before long the entire family is chasing each other with sharp objects. Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) tries as usual to be the voice of reason with the spirits, who quickly give up rather than co-exist with Springfield's most dysfunctional family. Hungry Are the Damned finds the Simpsons kidnapped en masse by a trio of one-eyed, tentacled space aliens -- Kang (voice of Harry Shearer), Kodos (voice of Dan Castellaneta), and Serak (voice of James Earl Jones). Eager-eater Homer (voice of Castellaneta) is pleased when the aliens provide a groaning dinner table for their earthling captives, but Lisa is shocked when she discovers a cookbook on board entitled How to Cook Humans. Finally, Lisa turns to Edgar Allan Poe's classic poem The Raven, with James Earl Jones reading the eerie verse, and the menacing bird bearing a strange resemblance to Bart. Treehouse of Horror, the first of a series of annual Halloween episodes on The Simpsons, first aired on October 24, 1990. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1990
ALF sneaks into a retirement home on Valentine's Day, in hopes of meeting his favorite old-time movie star Virginia Russell (Frances Bay). As he mingles with the other senior citizens, ALF lifts their spirits and renews their energy--to the point that they're all behaving as if they were young again. Though not an official spoof of the movie Cocoon, this episode comes mighty close! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
While taking an art class, Lynn (Andrea Elson) encourages ALF to try his hand at painting. Dutifully, ALF creates a "still life" using food, then substitutes his masterpiece for Lynn's current class assignment. ALF's "painting" is lauded as a work of genius--and a green-with-envy Lynn wishes that she'd kept her mouth shut! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
While Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright) has never been a star student, his grades have been slipping even further than usual, and his teacher Mrs. Krabappel (voice of Marcia Wallace) warns him that if his marks don't improve, he might fail history and be left back rather than graduate to the fifth grade. Bart intends to study before his big test, but Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) persuades him to watch some television with him first; by the time Bart finally cracks his books, he's nearly fallen asleep. The next morning, Bart is convinced he can't pass and fakes being sick; Bart gets answers for the test from Milhouse (voice of Cartwright), but Milhouse turns out to be a bad choice, and Bart gets an F. Desperate to pass his class, Bart makes a deal with class brain Martin (voice of Russi Taylor) -- if Martin shows Bart how to be smart, Bart will show Martin how to be cool. Martin, however, turns into a party animal and fails to live up to his end of the bargain, and Bart prays to God for a reprieve on his test. To Bart's astonishment, a freak snowstorm causes school to be cancelled the next day, and while all his friends are out having fun, Bart studies like he's never studied before in a last-ditch attempt to pass the fourth grade. "Bart Gets an F" was first aired on October 11, 1990. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1990
As the Simpsons and their extended family prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving around the dinner table, Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) shows off the centerpiece she's constructed, which celebrates the efforts of women who helped settle America. Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright), however, is in a typically mischievous mood, and while tussling with Lisa over where the centerpiece should go, he accidentally destroys it. Bart doesn't want to apologize to Lisa, so Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) and Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) send him to his room without supper. Feeling unappreciated, Bart sneaks out his window and ends up on Springfield's Skid Row, where he sells a pint of his blood for $12 at a plasma center and gets a free meal at the homeless shelter. A news crew is doing a human interest story about the shelter, and Bart ends up on television; when Homer and Marge realize their son has run away, they head out to find him. Meanwhile, Bart is cold and lonely and wants to come home, but he knows that he now has to work up the courage to apologize to his sister. "Bart Vs. Thanksgiving" first aired on November 22, 1990. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In the 102nd and final episode of ALF, the titular alien is thrilled to learn that his fellow Melmaccians Skip and Rhonda are going to establish a new colony on another planet--and he's been invited to join them if he can come up with a security deposit. This means that ALF will have to leave the Tanners, a prospect he faces with both sadness and regret (mostly over not being able to raise money for that deposit). Alas, just as he's prepared to make his final farewells, ALF is captured by the Alien Task Force! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
ALF begins its fourth and final season with a major addition to the cast--or more precisely, two major additions. Infant twins Charles Nickerson and J.R. Nickerson share the role of baby Eric, newest member of the Tanner family. In his efforts to adjust to this new "life-form", the Tanners' resident space alien ALF begs for the opportunity to serve as babysitter while the family is out. Dutifully, ALF changes diapers and burps the kid--and inevitably, he misplaces little Eric! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
After another run-in with the Tanners, ALF runs away from home. He is offered a place to stay by Willie's brother Neal (JM J. Bullock), who quickly learns to regret his hospitality. If ever a TV series episode can be described as an out-of-this-world version of The Odd Couple", this is it--and just guess which character is Felix and which is Oscar? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In the first episode of a two-part story, Kip Niven returns to the series, but not in his familiar role as Vera's duplicitous ex-fiance Steve Marsh. Instead, he shows up as Steve's cousin Travis Marsh, a heavily bewhiskered country-western singer. After hearing Alice (Linda Lavin) warble a tune, Travis invites her to join his travelling band--but his interest in Alice is a bit more than professional! Linda Lavin and Kip Niven sing "Higher and Higher". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Alice (Linda Lavin) has joined the travelling band fronted by country singer Travis Marsh (Kip Niven). At Travis' insistence, a reluctant Alice performs a solo number, which enchants the audience--and entrances Travis, who has obviously fallen in love with her. The episode reaches its climax as a confused Alice finds herself torn between Travis and her old beau Nick Stone (Michael Durrell). Guest star Kip Niven sings "Sweet Honeymoon". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Enterprising Mel (Vic Tayback) purchases a nursery school for the purpose of bulldozing the property and erecting a parking lot for his diner. This scheme causes the school's faculty and students, not to mention the diner staff, to regard Mel as a super-villain--and in fine "sitcom retribution" fashion, it is Mel himself who suffers most from the situation. Future Designing Women regular Rue McClanahan is cast in the unlikely role of Mother Goose!
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Accompanying Carrie (Martha Raye) to the racetrack, Tommy (Philip McKeon) surprises everyone--including himself--by winning big. Convinced that he has hit upon the perfect "system", Tommy continues placing bigger and bigger bets...and when things start turning sour, Alice (Linda Lavin) holds Carrie responsible. Vic Tayback (Mel) does not appear in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Worried about a family of blue jays that has nested in the sign in front of Mel's Diner, Vera (Beth Howland) climbs upward to shelter them from harm. Alas, what goes up generally comes down, and poor Vera is no exception. Seriously injured, she is whisked off to the hospital--where the rest of the diner staff show up to pay their respects, only to mistake another bandaged-up lady for Vera! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Finally moving out of their cramped apartment, Vera (Beth Howland) and Elliot (Charles Levin) find a wonderful old house, fully furnished with charming antiques. Unfortunately, one of these "antiques" is not so charming: an elderly minister (David Bond) with more than one screw loose. Reluctantly, the newlyweds agree to play landlord for the cuckoo clergyman. This is the final episode of Alice's eighth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
College freshman Tommy (Philip McKeon) is now living away from home for the first time--and loving it. Alice (Linda Lavin) worries that Tommy is turning into a party animal, at the expense of his studies. Ultimately, Alice's fears are confirmed when Tommy lands in jail after a pizza-parlor food fight sparked by his new circle of chums. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
It's plate-carriers vs. plungers when Alice (Linda Lavin), Vera (Beth Howland) and Jolene (Celia Weston) participate in a TV quiz show. The category is "musical trivia", and the girls' competition consists of a trio of plumbers, led by peppery oldster Louie (Cliff Norton). For a while, it looks like the waitresses are going to win--but that's when the competition starts flushing up the dirty tricks. This episode was codirected by series regular Vic Tayback (Mel). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
