This was the best episode I've seen in a long time, they seem to have taken some chances with the plot, and delivery, and it really worked. Did anyone else watch it. The last episode that I watched that I can remember being as good, in recent years was the 2011 Christmas episode... 500 episodes, does that make this the longest running American cartoon in history?

D'oh. I missed it. Damn you Xbox!

I missed the chalkboard joke due to a (lame) hockey game.
The episode was great.

500? Already! Hell! Or more like, hell yeah! Can't wait for it to get here!!! Probably in two years.

been awhile since Ive watched the simpsons. Ive got 12 seasons of dads sitting around collecting dust

I watched it and found it pretty funny. The jerk off joke was quite amusing.

When is someone just going to shoot that sad dying dog already?

Oh, I don't know... but if you haven't tuned in for ages, you'd be better off watching this season's futuristic holiday episode, or the episodes on foodies / young adult literature. Still capable of funny (if not fresh) stuff.

I forget it even exists sometimes. I recite the jokes (from the first 6 or 7 seasons) all the time. But it still fades.

Believe me I've felt the same way in the past, but this season has had some really good fresh material, plus some borderline edgy jokes. Not to mention I've really started enjoying the slapstick, they've started recently incorporating.