We Put the Spring in Springfield: Chronicling the Golden Era of 'The Simpsons'

by Justin Sedgwick

"We Put the Spring in Chronicling the Golden Era of 'The Simpsons'" is a detailed study into the quirky intangible factors that lead to the rise and fall of The Simpsons phenomenal early years. From Michael Jackson's bizarre guest appearance that kickstarted the golden era to the death of Maude Flanders and all the Conan O'Brien throwaway gags, Phil Hartman guest voices, extensive movie references and encore worthy musical numbers in between, "We Put the Spring in Springfield" serves as the perfect companion guide to the Simpsons' golden years and delves into the particular elements that made seasons 3-8 so magical. For anyone who was religiously watching FOX Sunday nights throughout the 1990's or just happened to borrow the season 3-8 DVDs from a friend, "We Put the Spring in Springfield" is a must read, promising to make a Simpson out of all of us.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction

62 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2014

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

WHAT I EXPECTED
My expectations, based on the subtitle of this book, looked like Sedgwick making good on arguing (1) that there was a Golden Era and that (2) it has ended and maybe (3) some thoughts re: nothing good ever lasts, especially when it comes to television, so now that we've identified that there was a golden era, how did The Simpsons'd Golden Era speak to larger (political) truths and realities in the US and internationally, how irony is a salve for truth, etc.,

I also wanted big bold claims that were hard to argue for but were difficult to dispute. I wanted a little writer's room dirt. I wanted shit talking on using guests as a crutch, What-If episodes as muddying the concept of Springfield as a Place, and maybe some claims about how this show can be saved as it ends in a few years.

WHAT I GOT
Praise for Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, and episode synopses. I mean, I don't know. I've seen the episodes, I don't need a summary or to know why they were good.

I also got a lot of sentences that followed this syntax: "Although [musical number/voice acting/Conan O'Brien] added [good or "serviceable" thing] the [episode/season], the [episode/season] was [compromised somehow].

OK, ALRIGHT
I appreciate this thing's brevity, but why would anyone want a re-hashing of episode plots? I wish this was a less of a reference book and more of a hot-take book.

[Chance theriot · Rating 4 out of 5]

We put the spring in springfield was in my opinion, the best book that was chronicling the golden age of the simpsons I have ever read. It doesn't only state the good episodes, it also talks about the bad episodes. After reading this book, i want to watch the old episodes again.

[Rob McDermand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very quick and entertaining exploration of the best years of The Simpsons. Took me down some nostalgic rabbit holes. Highly recommend!

[Cale · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Reviewing the Audible Edition)

If a picture's worth a thousand words, and animated TV shows use 24 frames a second, this book translates to roughly 6 seconds worth of a Simpsons episode.
This is the audiobook equivalent of someone at a party recreating an episode for you - I'd say about a quarter of the content is literally the author dictating or quoting lines from episodes, including truly terrible readings of Simpsons songs. The reasoning behind this, to cover Simpson's golden era, seems pretty shallow in its logic, and there's very little background information to support his claims, other than 'that's when Conan O'Brien was writing it,' and long-winded, repetitive descriptions of specific episodes. And I've got to say, his argument about what the best Simpsons episode was is woefully under-supported, although maybe that's just because I wasn't actually certain I had seen the episode - it isn't one I consider even memorable.
This got two stars because it did remind me of some favorite moments from early Simpsons. But considering the audiobook is about an hour and a half, I could have watched 4 episodes instead. At that above calculated rate, it would have been about 880 times better than this.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Justin Sedgwick discusses and analyzes a great number of Simpsons episodes, and gives us his favorites.
He takes a slightly different take on when the Golden Age of the Simpsons starts and ends- and I wonder if he was the first one to write about this. This is a wonderful tour through classic episodes, and he definitely knows the material. I felt there was something lacking ; but I have to say I enjoyed what was there.

[JC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Nothing new here for any fans.

It's a whistlestop tour through the Golden years with some questionable assertions.
A lot of it is just quoting the dialogue.

The author obviously loves this topic which is why I wouldnt give it one star.
I did finish it but I dont see any real value in it?

Would I recommend? No.
Would I reread? No.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really what I was looking for when I read 'Planet Simpsons' - basically perfect until one line at the very end,

"It is much more political" in regard to watching an episode of the Simpsons now, as if golden age Simpsons didn't discuss topics of unionization, cancel culture, immigration, gender roles and on and on.

This was so close to perfect.

[Richard Luck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly adequate.

[Paul Mashack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree with a lot of the author's views in this audiobook: Last Exist to Springfield was the best episode ever, and Homer's Phobia signaled the end of the Golden Era of the Simpsons.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun rip through the 'golden era' with some great reminders of special episodes and what made them terrific.

[Isaac Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ooof. The very definition of cursory. I've seen youtube videos with more insight on The Simpsons. At least it is very short.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book about a fascinating Simpsons subject.

[Tony Laplume · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now the second Simpsons book I've read this year, and the second to share the common notion that the early seasons were the best time to watch, Spring in Springfield is best to be read to relish some of the best of the best from those years. It's not to be read by those infuriated by especially poor editing (for instance, you really shouldn't expect it's author to know its one of those things that bugs people, not knowing where to, ah, place those pesky apostrophes), alas. And easily proven bias plus needless repetition kind of get in the way, too.

But I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who can explain why the show went to pot without coming off as besotted with nostalgia...

[Jenny T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was basically an essay about the author's thoughts about the Simpsons TV show. I haven't watched the show in years, but fondly remember the ones from the '90s that are referred to as the Golden Era. Interesting read if you don't mind reading about TV episodes rather than watching them.

[Bradly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun enough trip down 742 evergreen Terrace but nothing new here that a Simpsons Fanatic hasn't know for the past 15 years.