The Simpsons: The Fifteenth Season

Featuring burn-out metal-loving bus driver Otto on the cover, this 22-episode 2003-04 15th season of Matt Groening's iconic animated series boasts a bevy of gems. The set kicks off with the annual “Treehouse of Horror” Halloween show, an Emmy-nominated three-parter that finds Homer accidentally taking over the role of Death, nerdy Professor Frink's father being brought back to life, and Bart and Milhouse using a magical stopwatch to play pranks. Other episodes feature guest stars such as Glenn Close, back as Homer's mother (“My Mother the Carjacker”); Isabel Sanford and William Daniels in “Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore”; Jon Lovitz returning as Marge's high school flame in “The Ziff Who Came to Dinner”; and Sarah Michelle Gellar as a rough ‘tween Bart meets in juvie. The best stories here are “Catch ‘Em If You Can,” in which the kids track Marge and Homer across the country on a missed-out vacation, and the hilarious U.K.-set “The Regina Monologues,” with Tony Blair, Ian McKellen, and J.K. Rowling, who sarcastically answers Lisa's request concerning the fate of Harry Potter, “He grows up and marries you. Is that what you want to hear?” Extras include episode audio commentaries, an intro by Groening, a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, and sketch galleries. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus episodes (from earlier seasons). Recommended. (J. Williams-Wood)