Welcome to 2026 on Frezno's Raving Rants, (a little late I know, but blame snowstorms, flu, and tragedy), where the theme is "big ambitions". So here we are, tackling a really big show in a project that will probably take me at least a quarter of the year. (I was an optimist when I wrote those words in January. Fuck.) Why would I do this to myself? Hubris, or something. Really, the seeds of blossoming nostalgia were planted back in June of 2024 when I went on that throwback trip with Street Cents, the Canadian show that helped teens spend their money wisely. I won't rehash all of that, as it's right there if you want to hear about 90's Canadiana vibes, but I will once again mention the Studio Coquette block that ruled my weekday afternoon TV watching. Because I never get tired of reminding you all that the CBC really did put a CGI French-Canadian bulldog as their after-school mascot. I found another promo for it again, and this one shows the particular oddities of that afternoon block. Street Cents and Jonovision make sense as shows targeted to Canadian tweens and teens. Road To Avonlea, a period drama with ties to Anne Of Green Gables, feels very much like the odd one out. Very weird, but we're here to talk about the reason why I showed up for this particular program block. At long last, it's time to talk about The Simpsons.
