The Simpsons - The Complete Fifth Season (DVD)

It is amazing just how long "The Simpsons" have managed to stay on the air. I remember loving the opportunity to check out their mini-episodes on the Tracy Ullman Show so long ago and now they have entered their 16th season and I am here to review the lowly origins of the series with the 5th season in the longest-running primetime animated series in history, and the longest-running sitcom currently on primetime television.

Although I like "The Simpsons" I have never made it a Sunday night ritual to catch the show, but I have managed to see what seems like every episode as it continues in syndication even though it is still going strong with new episodes.

With this fifth season box set I think what it contains is best described by Matt Groening himself on the inside of the box as he says, "We've loaded this thing with all the time-wasting extras that fans demand, like interactive, multi-angle views of our crude animatics and storyboards; fully animated, never-before-seen, deleted-for-good-reason sequences; illustrated commentaries... and downright shameless TV commercials. We also continue our proud Simpsons tradition of providing garrulous audio commentaries for each and every episode, including brief moments when we actually pay attention to what's happening on the screen."

I could not have said it any better myself, and that is why I haven't. This set, like the ones before it, has so much stuff crammed onto each disc that it will take fans an eternity to explore the entire thing. Each menu has clickable little extras, the illustrated commentaries are absolutely hilarious and the animatic and behind-the-scenes goodies show you just how much work goes into creating each and every episode, and to have done it for 16 years is still mind-blowing.

The fifth season of "The Simpsons" is just as good as the ones before it and is another milestone to mark as you begin to see the direction the show is going in as quick shots are taken at television and political satire increases. Not to forget, Homer almost cheats on Marge, Bart becomes Krusty's assistant, Homer goes into space and even becomes friends with Ned Flanders. These are just a few of the gems to be found on this set, which is perfect for all Simpsons fans from the die-hards to the casual viewer.

To get a look at the deleted scenes and a look back at the season check out the clips we offer to the right.