The Simpsons (season 12)

The twelfth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons originally aired between November 2000 and May 2001. It began on Wednesday, November 1, 2000 with "Treehouse of Horror XI". The season contains four hold-over episodes from the season 11 (BABF) production line. The showrunner for the twelfth production season was Mike Scully. The season won and was nominated for numerous awards including two Primetime Emmy Awards wins and an Annie Award. Season 12 was released on DVD in Region 1 on August 18, 2009, Region 2 on September 28, 2009, and Region 4 on September 2, 2009.

Production
The season's executive producer was once again Mike Scully, in his last season as executive producer, while it was produced by Gracie Films and 20th Century Fox Television. He later returned to the series in season fourteen as a writer and executive producer for the episode "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation". Mike Scully has stated his goal during his tenure was to "not wreck the show".

Don Payne, John Frink and Bob Bendetson began writing for the series, while Larry Doyle, Julie Thacker and Tom Martin left following the completion of this season. Rob LaZebnik received his first sole writing credit for the episode "Homer vs. Dignity". LaZebnik would not get a writing credit for another episode until the 20th season, where he was credited for writing "Father Knows Worst". Shaun Cashman received his sole directing credit on the series this season (for the 250th episode "A Tale of Two Springfields"), while Neil Affleck received his final directorial credit (also for "Homer vs. Dignity"). Tom Gammill and Max Pross have been promoted to produce this season. As of 2009, Gammill & Pross are still credited as such, along with David Mirkin. Mike Reiss (Al Jean's former writing partner) returned to the writing staff as a producer.

The season began with the annual Treehouse of Horror episode, beginning a practice of starting the season with the episodes, as well as airing the episodes shortly after Halloween in November, due to Fox's coverage of the World Series. This season brought back Sideshow Bob, who had not been seen since the eighth-season episode "Brother from Another Series". Ian Maxtone-Graham's episode "Tennis the Menace" became the second episode of the series to be animated using digital ink and paint, which had not been used since the season seven episode "Radioactive Man" and would not be used again (this time on a permanent basis) until the 14th season. The season would also have four episodes that would air the following season.

Voice cast & characters

Main cast
 Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Grampa Simpson, Mayor Quimby, Groundskeeper Willie, Sideshow Mel, Krusty the Clown, Kodos, Bill, Louie, Frankie the Squealer, Yes Guy, Blue-Haired Lawyer, Hans Moleman, Itchy, Barney Gumble, Gil Gunderson, Mr. Teeny, Rich Texan, Arnie Pye and various others
 Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson and Patty Bouvier
 Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Kearney Zxyzwicz, Todd Flanders, Ralph Wiggum, Database and various others
 Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson
 Hank Azaria as Captain McCallister, Carl Carlson, Chief Wiggum, Professor Frink, Moe Szyslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Comic Book Guy, Bumblebee Man, Dr. Nick Riviera, Johnny Tightlips, Officer Lou, Snake, Old Jewish Man, Superintendent Chalmers, Cletus Spuckler, Mr. Costington, Raphael, Kirk Van Houten, Drederick Tatum, Disco Stu and various others
 Harry Shearer as Lenny Leonard, Dr. Hibbert, Kent Brockman, Kang, Marty, Mr. Burns, Jasper Beardsley, Principal Skinner, Waylon Smithers, Legs, Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy, Judge Snyder, Scratchy, Rainier Wolfcastle, Otto Mann and various others

Recurring
 Pamela Hayden as Milhouse van Houten, Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey Powell, Patches and various others
 Tress MacNeille as Agnes Skinner, Lindsey Naegle, Mrs. Vanderbilt, Dolph Starbeam, Bernice Hibbert, Poor Violet and various others
 Marcia Mitzman Gaven as Helen Lovejoy, Miss Hoover and various others
 Russi Taylor as Martin Prince, Sherri and Terri, Üter Zörker, Martha Prince, Wendell Borton and various others
 Karl Wiedergott as additional characters

Reception

Critical reception
The twelfth season has received mostly positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the twelfth season of The Simpsons has an 80% approval rating based on 5 critical  reviews. Matt Haigh of Den of Geek said that "The bad episodes are never really terrible, it's more that they're a bit boring and will most likely have you yawning 10 minutes in. With this in mind, season 12 ends up being very much a 50/50 affair". Nancy Basile gave a list of "Must See TV" episodes and "Not So Must See TV" episodes — with more of the former.

Awards

"HOMR" was nominated for various awards. Al Jean received a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour) the eleventh win for the series. Another Primetime Emmy Award nomination is for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series. Another win for "HOMR" is an Annie Award for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Television Production. Other Primetime Emmy Awards nominations include Hank Azaria for "Worst Episode Ever". Lisa Simpson also won a Board of Directors Ongoing Commitment Award. The show also won at the 2002 Kids' Choice Awards.

Nielsen Rating
The season ranked 21st in the seasonal ratings with an average of 14.7 million viewers an episode, rising 6% from last season. As of 2023, season 12's Nielsen ranking of #21 remains the highest in the show's history.

Episodes

Home media
The DVD boxset for season twelve was released by 20th Century Fox in the United States and Canada on Tuesday, August 18, 2009, eight years after it had completed broadcast on television. As well as every episode from the season, the DVD release feature bonus material including deleted scenes, animatics, and commentaries for every episode. The boxart features Comic Book Guy, and a special limited edition "embossed head case" package was also released.

References

Bibliography

External links
Season 12 at The Simpsons.com

Simpsons season 12
2000 American television seasons
2001 American television seasons