The Simpsons (TV Series) Behind the Laughter (2000) User Reviews

My second favorite Simpsons episode

[schneidertonyr · 9/10 · 21 September 2017]

Behind the laughter is my favorite season 11 episode in a season that is filled with crap and mediocrity (I'll get to kill the alligator and run at some point) but this episode is the outlier here, and here is why. A lot of what I like about this episode is that the family breaks their characters which may seem like a bad thing, but this is for good because of the genre change from sit-com to documentary. The fact that this is parodying the vh1 show behind the music is so cool and funny, and the fact that the family is shown as real people instead of cartoon characters is very odd but also very fitting. Now the episode isn't perfect, what Marge does after the break up of the family is very hard to explain, but cringe worthy at best, and the reunion was a little thin but it is still a pleasant watch.

But what you should watch this for is Jimmy Carter break dancing.

Behind the Laughter

[MrFilmAndTelevisionShow · 7/10 · 31 January 2022]

They decided not to do a clip show (which is a very good decision) but instead they did this, obviously not canon and supposed to be a bit of fun, which it is. But given it's parodying nature it wasn't The Simpsons rather a joke episode so I can't rate it too highly.

Lots of laughter

[safenoe · 8/10 · 3 March 2023]

A fine meta-upon-meta referential episode of The Simpsons that parodied Behind the Music, with all the tropes and in-jokes that made me laugh big time for sure. Sure, as one reviewer said, it's somewhat outside Simpsons canon, but so what, I laughed big time. The reference to Bart taking over from Lorenzo Lamas in Renegade was absolutely hilarious for sure.

The reference to the way the cast grew beyond measure was also hilarious, and reminded me of The Simpsons cast poster that I proudly have framed but I do need to eventually put it up on the wall.

Sure, this episode falls outside the golden era (the first 10 years) but still worth watching.

Very great episode !

[ugogiunta · 10/10 · 28 February 2020]

This episode should have been the last of the show, a great best of that could have been a unbelievable ending

"Interracial Homoerotocism"

[pageiv · 10/10 · 1 December 2008]

This episode is a take from "Behind the Music" off VH1. The perfectness of this episode is the dead seriousness behind every scene. I almost want to believe the Simpson family is a real family, aren't they? You'll see the dark side of fame for the Simpson family. It ain't pretty, but with Jimmy Carter's comedy break dancing you cant go wrong. With looking at these scenes and secrets, you'll get a full take on how the Simpson's fame affected both themselves and the residents of Springfield.

I'd ask the show's producers looking into more takes offs of "real shows" this episode didn't feel "forced" or "old". But it is nearly 8 years old as of now. Anyways, how about an "Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition"?

One of my favourite episodes-TOP 10!

[lesleyharris30 · 10/10 · 23 April 2010]

The Simpsons episode "behind the laughter"is one of my all time favourite Simpsons episodes and it is without a doubt in my top ten,the episode is a parody of V.H.1s behind the music saying that Homer decided to make a show of his family and tried to get it onto a major network,but he wasn't able to get past the guards but Marge then found out that her hairdresser was the owner of Fox studios,so Fox then ordered 13 episodes for their first season and the show was an instant hit,Bart first knew that the show was a hit when he came into school and saw a kid wearing a Bart Simpson t-shirt,and all the Simpsons merchandise were selling like crazy,but on their second season their show started facing problems,fame was going over their heads and the family splits up and Fox puts the show on hiatus,behind the laughter is a brilliant Simpsons and it is a absolute must see.

Very good fun

[studioAT · 6/10 · 23 July 2017]

Yes, this episode is completely out of canon, but it's also a very funny episode, that pokes fun not only at Hollywood and celebrity culture,but at 'The Simpson's' itself.

There's loads of great lines and visual gags, with the writers I think enjoying writing for the characters in a slightly different way.

In a series of not so great episodes this is a reminder that when it is at the top of its game 'The Simpsons' can still be great.

Season 11: Really only memorable for how far it falls in almost no time at all

[bob the moo · 14 August 2015]

Although I watched a lot of The Simpsons when it came to the UK, I think around this time in the run was when I lost touch, since in this period of rewatching the series, it was now that I found myself watching the majority of the episodes for the first time. This chance was, if I recall, because I lost Sky (or the show moved to Sky from Channel 4 – I don't remember), and I just never watched it again due to it not being accessible. Having watched the eleventh season now, I do think that there was an element of good fortune to this, because by far the most memorable aspect of this season is how far and how fast it falls from the quality of the seasons before. I had of course read of the decline of the show, but I had assumed it would occur nearer season 20, not so close to the glory days I remembered – but here it was.

There are still some laughs, but generally the plots are silly and do not have the charm or wit needed to sell them in the way the show at its best did. Many feel lazy and really lacking in the level of crafting and finesse that they should have. I'm not meaning to ignore everything that has gone before because, like the last episode of this season highlights, the show has never had the most realistic plots – in particular putting Homer through a lot of punishment; however this season is different as there is not that strong foundation of smartness, character, charm, and wit. It is hard to describe, but having watched these first eleven seasons in a comparatively short period, I was really surprised by just how jarring the drop in comparative quality was here. Needless to say the animation remains very good, and the voice cast have their usual great timing and delivery, but the material is really below the show's high standard and it is this that does it in.

The reason I started watching through the seasons from the first one, was mainly to catch up on a show I stopped watching around season 10. This eleventh season made me consider whether I should just call it a day at this point and, although I will continue and give it a chance, it was surprising to see the drop-off.