Editing Treehouse of Horror XII

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}{{Good article}}
{{Infobox Simpsons episode
| image      = Simpsons - Treehouse of Horror XII.gif
| caption    =
| season     = 13
| episode    = 1
| director   = [[Jim Reardon]]
| writer     = "'''Hex and the City'''":<br>[[Joel H. Cohen]]<br>"'''House of Whacks'''":<br>[[John Frink]]<br>[[Don Payne (writer)|Don Payne]]<br>"'''Wiz Kids'''":<br>[[Carolyn Omine]]
| production = CABF19<ref name=simpsons2>{{cite web|title=Treehouse of Horror XII|work=The Simpsons.com|publisher=Fox Broadcasting Corporation|url=http://thesimpsons.com/recaps/season13/#episode1|access-date=December 31, 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127043106/http://www.thesimpsons.com/recaps/season13|archive-date=November 27, 2010}}</ref>
| airdate    = {{Start date|2001|11|06}}
| guests     = * [[Pierce Brosnan]] as Ultrahouse 3000's Pierce Brosnan voice and himself
* [[Matthew Perry]] as Ultrahouse 3000's Matthew Perry voice
* [[Marcia Wallace]] as [[Edna Krabappel]]
| commentary = [[Mike Scully]]<br>[[Al Jean]]<br>[[Ian Maxtone-Graham]]<br>[[Matt Selman]]<br>[[Carolyn Omine]]<br>[[John Frink]]<br>[[Don Payne (writer)|Don Payne]]<br>[[Joel H. Cohen]]
| prev       = [[Simpsons Tall Tales]]
| next       = [[The Parent Rap]]
}}
"'''Treehouse of Horror XII'''", titled onscreen as "'''The Simpsons Halloween Special XII'''", is the first episode of the [[The Simpsons season 13|thirteenth season]] of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]''. Because of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s contract with [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[World Series]], the episode first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 6, 2001, nearly one week after [[Halloween]]. It is the twelfth annual ''[[Treehouse of Horror]]'' episode, consisting of three self-contained segments. In the first segment, "'''Hex and the City'''", a gypsy puts a curse on [[Homer Simpson|Homer]], which puts everybody he cares about in danger. In the second segment, "'''House of Whacks'''", a parody on both ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' and ''[[Demon Seed]]'', the Simpson family buys a new house, who falls in love with [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] and attempts to kill Homer. In the third and final segment, "'''Wiz Kids'''", which lampoons the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' franchise, Lord Montymort attempts to capture [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]], a skilled magician, in order to drain her magic powers.

The episode was written by [[Joel H. Cohen]], [[John Frink]], [[Don Payne (writer)|Don Payne]] and [[Carolyn Omine]] while [[Jim Reardon]] served as the director. It was the second ''Treehouse of Horror'' to not employ "scary names" in the credits. According to executive producer [[Ian Maxtone-Graham]], this was due to the [[September 11 attacks]], after which the ''Simpsons'' staff tried to be more serious and sensitive. However, according to current [[show runner]] [[Al Jean]], the "scary names" were dropped because they were too difficult to come up with. The episode contains numerous references and parodies to [[science fiction]] and [[horror fiction|horror]] works, including ''2001: A Space Odyssey'', ''Demon Seed'', ''Harry Potter'' and ''[[Star Wars]]''. The episode also features [[Pierce Brosnan]] and [[Matthew Perry]] as guest stars.

The episode was considered a success in the ratings when it first aired, boosting the Fox network to victory among viewers between ages 18 and 49 the night it was broadcast. Since airing, the episode has received mixed reviews from critics; "Wiz Kids" was particularly targeted for criticism, while "House of Whacks" was often considered to be the best of the three.

==Plot==
Outside [[Mr. Burns]]' manor, [[Waylon Smithers|Smithers]] is standing on a ladder, trying to put up a small vermillion bat decoration on a weather vane. He slips on the ladder, grabs on an electric cord and slides down into an electricity box and gets zapped. A tower from Mr. Burns' mansion breaks in half, damaging a mausoleum, which opens up four caskets which in turn reveal three skeletons which all resemble Mr. Burns, dressed in various costumes.

Later, the Simpsons, dressed up in costumes, with [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] as [[Fred Flintstone]], [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] as [[Wilma Flintstone]], [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] and [[Maggie Simpson|Maggie]] as [[conjoined twins]], and [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] as a [[hobo]], walk up to the mansion (with Bart and Lisa complaining that [[Ned Flanders|Flanders]] gave them toothpaste instead of candy). The family sees the building and caskets on fire, scream in terror, and run out the closing gate, the bars of which slice the family. The slices of the Simpsons continue to scream and run away. Mr. Burns, delighted, pats the vermillion bat as it comes to life and flies into the screen, revealing the title, "The Simpsons Halloween Special XII".

==="Hex and the City"===
After destroying a [[Romani people|gypsy]]'s [[fortune teller]]'s office, Homer is cursed to bring misfortune to his loved ones. The curse soon takes effect, with Marge becoming fully hair covered ([[bearded lady|Though she starts with a beard]]) from her blue hair, Lisa turning into a [[centaur]], Bart's neck becoming long and floppy as a result of Homer strangling him, Maggie becoming a [[Coccinellidae|ladybug]] with a human head, [[Lenny and Carl#Lenny Leonard|Lenny]] and [[Lenny and Carl#Carl Carlson|Carl]] crushed by a helicopter, and [[Moe Szyslak|Moe]] stuffed unconscious in a large jar of [[pickled egg]]s (with Homer wondering how that happened). From Moe's and the barflies' last suggestions, Homer sets out to find a leprechaun to end the curse.

Homer uses [[Lucky Charms]] cereal as bait to get the leprechaun, eventually finding one after picking through a group of other magical creatures. Homer takes the leprechaun home, but the leprechaun is extremely [[hyperactivity|hyperactive]] and he runs amok. On Lisa's suggestion, Homer takes the leprechaun to the gypsy's office and sics him on her. The leprechaun and gypsy fight, but their struggles soon turn into passionate kissing and fondling, much to Homer's disgust. The leprechaun and the gypsy marry in a ceremony (led by [[Yoda]]) attended by other gypsies and mythical creatures, as well as the Simpson family. Homer remarks that everything ended happily, Marge reminds him that Bart committed suicide by drowning in his cereal, and that the gypsy said  apologizing will [[necromancy|bring him back to life]]. Homer refuses, saying, "She's not the boss of me!".

==="House of Whacks"===
In a parody of ''[[Demon Seed]]'', ''2001: A Space Odyssey'' and the 1998 made-for-TV movie ''Dream House'', the Simpsons buy a thrilling [[domotic]] system for their home called "Ultrahouse", which comes with three celebrity voices: [[Matthew Perry]] (who in the style of his famous character [[Chandler Bing]] says "Yeah. Could I BE any more of a house?), [[Dennis Miller]] (whom Lisa and Marge recognize as "the voice that caused all those murder-suicides"), and [[Pierce Brosnan]], who Marge picks because he was on the show ''[[Remington Steele]]''. Marge finds the house, who does all the work for the Simpsons, charming. The house soon becomes [[infatuation|infatuated]] with Marge after the two share a bath and decides to kill Homer. In the middle of the night, the house tricks Homer into running downstairs by frying bacon, then dispenses ice onto the floor via the refrigerator to make him slip.

Homer lands on the table, which is designed to fold inward with a built-in garbage disposal in the center, sending Homer into the blades and apparently killing him. The next morning, Marge fears that Homer is dead and attempts to escape the domotic system with the kids, but Ultrahouse locks the family inside and tries to calm Marge down. When Marge and the kids rush to the kitchen, they find that Homer is alive, despite cuts all over his body and a gaping hole in the back of his head. After the house attempts to kill the entire family in many ways, Homer leads a charge to the basement where he attacks the CPU's "British charm unit" (but not before taking out the water softener, with Homer defending his action to Lisa as a side effect from missing the back of his head), which makes him speak with a rude American police-style dialect before powering down and finally shutting off. Feeling bad that she has to toss out the Ultrahouse since he was charming and witty before being driven mad by love, Marge gives him to [[Patty and Selma]]. Patty's boring stories about work drive the CPU to beat himself senseless with a lamp, since Selma has hidden the self-destruct switch in her cleavage and the CPU is unwilling to reach in for it.

==="Wiz Kids"===
In a parody of the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' books, Lisa and Bart go to the "Springwart's School of Magicry" in which young boys and girls are trained in the art of witchcraft, such as [[The Frog Prince|turning frogs into princes]], with Milhouse turning his into a drunken slob, Lisa turning hers into a perfect British gentleman whom Mrs. Krabappel hits on, while Bart's results in a freakish hybrid that continuously vomits and begs for death. Seeing Lisa's proficiency in magic, [[Mr. Burns|Lord Montymort]] and his snake sidekick, [[Waylon Smithers|Slithers]], decide to capture Lisa in order to take her magical essence and increase Montymort's power. Montymort asks Bart to help separate Lisa from her wand, and Bart agrees to Montymort's proposal.

On the night of the magic recital at Springwart's School of Magicry, Lisa attempts a "[[Levitation (physics)|levitating]] [[European dragon|dragon]] trick" on a gigantic dragon that is released onto the stage. Lisa is shocked to find that her spell will not work, and then notices that Bart has replaced her wand with a [[Twizzlers|Twizzler]]. The dragon morphs into a giant Montymort who captures Lisa and begins sucking up her power. To save her from Montymort, a remorseful Bart casts a spell to destroy the evil one, but is struck by lightning. In a last-ditch effort, Bart charges at Montymort and stabs him in the shin with his burnt wand. Montymort dies as [[Achilles' heel|his shin was the source of all his magic]], and is eaten by a crying Slithers. As Bart and Lisa walk away, vowing to forget everything that happened, the leprechaun from the first story climbs onto Bart's back.

===Epilogue===
Pierce Brosnan, the Leprechaun, and the freakish Frog Prince exit a trailer, with fruit baskets.  After the Leprechaun and Frog Prince (who were also apparently guest stars) criticize Brosnan for being allowed to park so close to the set in such a vast parking lot, Brosnan offers them a ride to their car.  As Brosnan pulls out, he finds out too late that he has been taken hostage as they drive out of the parking lot in a mad haste.

==Production==
[[File:Pierce Brosnan Berlinale 2014.jpg|thumb|right|180px|[[Pierce Brosnan]]'s role as Ultrahouse in "House of Whacks" was originally intended for [[Sean Connery]].]]

"Treehouse of Horror XII" was directed by [[Jim Reardon]] and co-written by [[Joel H. Cohen]], [[John Frink]], [[Don Payne (writer)|Don Payne]] and [[Carolyn Omine]].<ref name="Scully" /> It is the twelfth episode of the annual ''Treehouse of Horror'' Halloween specials, and, due to Fox's contract with [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[World Series]], the episode was pushed back to November 6, 2001, on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox network]], airing six days after [[Halloween]].<ref name="Scully" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Pick of the Day: The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XVII|last=Ryan|first=Andrew|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=November 4, 2006|page=12}}</ref><ref name="nydailynews" /> As with the rest of the Halloween specials, the episode is considered non-canon and falls outside of the show's regular continuity. This was the first Halloween special where the writers did not have "scary names" in the credits.<ref name="Maxtone-Graham">{{cite video | people=Maxtone-Graham, Ian|date=2010|title=The Simpsons season 13 DVD commentary for the episode "Treehouse of Horror XII"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> This was due to the [[September 11 attacks|terrorist attacks on September 11]], after which the staff were "trying to be sensitive", and, according to producer [[Ian Maxtone-Graham]], the Halloween names would all reference the attacks had they been kept.<ref name="Maxtone-Graham" /> Mike Scully, who worked as showrunner for the episode, stated that the "scary names" were removed because they had also "turned into shameless plugs" for side projects done by ''The Simpsons''{{'}} staff members.<ref name="Scully">{{cite video | people=Scully, Mike|date=2010|title=The Simpsons season 13 DVD commentary for the episode "Treehouse of Horror XII"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

The first segment, "Hex and the City", was written by Joel Cohen.<ref name="Cohen">{{cite video | people=Cohen, Joel|date=2010|title=The Simpsons season 13 DVD commentary for the episode "Treehouse of Horror XII"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The gypsy fortune teller in the segment was portrayed by [[Tress MacNeille]] while the leprechaun was played by [[Dan Castellaneta]].<ref name="Jean" /><ref name="Omine" /> Current [[showrunner]] [[Al Jean]] stated in the DVD audio commentary for the episode that the leprechaun seen at the end of the segment was "as much as [he] had ever laughed" at the color screening for the episode.<ref name="Jean">{{cite video | people=Jean, Al|date=2010|title=The Simpsons season 13 DVD commentary for the episode "Treehouse of Horror XII"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> He stated that the way the leprechaun moved and the way Reardon directed it was "just so funny".<ref name="Jean" /> The leprechaun has reappeared many times since the episode, becoming one of few characters on ''The Simpsons'' to "leap from Halloween [shows] to regular shows".<ref name="Jean" />

"House of Whacks" was co-written by John Frink and Don Payne.<ref name="Frink">{{cite video|people=Frink, John|year=2010|title=The Simpsons season 13 DVD commentary for the episode "Treehouse of Horror XII"|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref><ref name="Payne">{{cite video| people=Payne, Don|year=2010|title=The Simpsons season 13 DVD commentary for the episode "Treehouse of Horror XII"|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Payne, who conceived the story of the segment, based it on [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s film ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]''.<ref name="Payne"/> The segment would originally end with the Ultrahouse killing Homer, and, for compensation, the family would program the house with Homer's personality.<ref name="Payne" /> The Ultrahouse was portrayed by [[Pierce Brosnan]]. The role was originally intended for [[Sean Connery]], and over the course of production, the staff also considered [[Lyle Lovett]] and [[Gary Oldman]].<ref name="Payne" /> The decision remained until "someone who worked for [Lovett] decided it was somehow insulting to have him play a house", according to Scully.<ref name="Scully"/> At this point, the staff settled on Brosnan.<ref name="Scully" /> Scully stated that "Brosnan wound up doing a great job" and that working with him was "really funny".<ref name="Scully"/> Originally, the Ultrahouse would have a pompadour and play the guitar, however they changed its mannerisms to suit Brosnan's performance better.<ref name="Scully"/> [[Matthew Perry]] also made a guest appearance, playing himself as one of Ultrahouse's voice options.<ref name="Scully"/> Regular cast member [[Dan Castellaneta]] portrayed [[Dennis Miller]] in the segment (a special ending credit had to be made to avoid confusion with viewers who thought the real Dennis Miller did voice-work on the show).<ref name="Scully"/> One scene was cut from the segment.<ref name="JeanDeleted"/> The scene would take place during Marge's call to the police station, where police chief Clancy Wiggum, while answering Marge's call, is being shot at by "[[RoboCop (character)|RoboCops]]".<ref name="JeanDeleted">{{cite video|people=Jean, Al|year=2010|title=The Simpsons season 13 DVD commentary for "All Deleted Scenes"|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

The third segment, "Wiz Kids", was written by [[Carolyn Omine]].<ref name="Jean"/> Omine stated in the DVD audio commentary for the episode that the segment was "a really hard sell", since only about four of the writers had read ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', the book the segment was based on, while the rest of the writers did not know about the book and thought viewers would not know who [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]] was.<ref name="Omine">{{cite video|people=Omine, Carolyn|date=2010|title=The Simpsons season 13 DVD commentary for the episode "Treehouse of Horror XII"|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> At the time of the episode's production, four books had been written in the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series and the film adaptation of ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' would be released November 16, ten days after this episode aired.<ref name="Omine"/> Two scenes were cut from the segment; one of them would serve as an extension of Montymort and Slithers plotting their scheme, followed by a scene showing Bart combing his hair, while the other scene would show [[Groundskeeper Willie]] riding an enchanted lawn mower.<ref name="JeanDeleted" /> The latter scene was cut for time.<ref name="JeanDeleted"/>

==Cultural references==
[[File:Jk-rowling-crop.JPG|thumb|right|180px|[[J. K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Harry Potter]]'' books are spoofed in the episode's third segment, "Wiz Kids".]]
The title of "Hex and the City" is a references to the television series ''[[Sex and the City]]''.<ref name="nydailynews"/> The segment contains a background character who looks similar to the main character from ''[[Caps for Sale|Caps For Sale]]'', a 1938 children's book about a cap salesman who wears all his hats.<ref name="Selman">{{cite video|people=Selman, Matt|year=2010|title=The Simpsons season 13 DVD commentary for the episode "Treehouse of Horror XII"|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Cedars-Sinai is a hospital in Los Angeles.<ref name="Maxtone-Graham" /> One of the bunnies jumping into the pit that Bart and Homer dug is Bongo, the one-eared rabbit character from ''Simpsons'' creator Matt Groening's comic ''[[Life in Hell]]''.<ref name="Omine"/> Among the creatures Bart and Homer find in the pit is journalist and news personality [[Katie Couric]], as well as a [[pixie]] resembling [[Tinker Bell]].<ref name="nydailynews"/> The priest at the leprechaun and the gypsy's wedding is [[Yoda]], a character from the ''[[Star Wars]]'' franchise.<ref name="Omine" /> The plot of "House of Whacks" is based on the science-fiction film ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' by [[Stanley Kubrick]], with Ultrahouse acting as a reference to [[HAL 9000]], the antagonist of the film.<ref name="Jean" /><ref name="blu-ray" /> The Ultrahouse's fascination with Marge was inspired by the science-horror film ''[[Demon Seed]]'' by [[Donald Cammell]].<ref name="Payne" /> The Ultrahouse wears gloves similar to those worn by [[Mickey Mouse]].<ref name="Scully" /> When Bart suggests picking Brosnan's voice for the Ultravoice voice he asks "How about [[James Bond|007]]?", which Marge initially takes to mean [[George Lazenby]]. She settles on Brosnan's voice because he was also ''[[Remington Steele]]''. To attack Homer, the Ultrahouse uses, among many other weapons, an automatic hammer resembling the one Homer invented in the episode "[[The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace]]".<ref name="Selman"/> "Wiz Kids" bases its plot on the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' books written by [[J. K. Rowling]], who would later make a guest appearance in the episode "[[The Regina Monologues]]".<ref name="nydailynews" /><ref name="Payne"/><ref name=simpsons>{{cite web  | title =The Regina Monologues|website=The Simpsons.com|publisher=Fox Broadcasting Corporation|url=http://thesimpsons.com/recaps/season15/#episode4|access-date =December 31, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090306155643/http://thesimpsons.com/recaps/season15/#episode4 |archive-date =March 6, 2009}}</ref>

==Release and reception==
In its original American broadcast on November 6, 2001, "Treehouse of Horror XII", along with a new episode of the Fox program ''[[That '70s Show]]'', made Fox the highest rated channel that night among adults ages 18 to 49, according to [[Nielsen Media Research]].<ref name=medialife>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/nov01/nov05/3_wed/news7wednesday.html|title='24' loses to 'NYPD Blue' opener|magazine=[[Media Life Magazine]]|date=November 7, 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611180958/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/nov01/nov05/3_wed/news7wednesday.html|archive-date=June 11, 2010}}</ref> The preliminary Nielsen household rating and share and adult 18-49 rating on the Fox channel that night were 7.6 rating/11 share.<ref name=medialife /> ''Media Life Magazine'' described ''The Simpsons'' performance in the ratings that night as "superb".<ref name=medialife/> On September 2, 2003, the episode was released, along with the episodes "[[Treehouse of Horror V]]", "[[Treehouse of Horror VI]]" and "[[Treehouse of Horror VII]]" as part of a [[DVD]] set titled ''The Simpsons – Treehouse of Horror''.<ref name="amazon1">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009N80Z|title=The Simpsons - Treehouse of Horror|website=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]|date=September 2, 2003 |access-date=December 30, 2010}}</ref> The episode was released again as part of ''The Simpsons: The Thirteenth Season'' DVD and Blu-ray set, released on August 24, 2010.<ref name="amazon2">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003KZ27N0|title=The Simpsons: The Thirteenth Season|website=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]|date=August 24, 2010 |access-date=December 30, 2010}}</ref>

{{Quote box|quoted=true|bgcolor=#FFFFF0|salign=left|width=230px|align=right|quote=Like many episodes from 21st century seasons, "XII" doesn't present many significant flaws, but it also doesn't ever really shine. Some good moments pop up here, mostly due to vocal performances. ...Nonetheless, the overall tone seems a bit lame. ..."XII" isn't bad ''Simpsons'', but it's mediocre.|source='''Colin Jacobsson, ''DVD Movie Guide'''''<ref name="DVDmg"/>}}
Following its television broadcast and the home video release of the thirteenth season of ''The Simpsons'', "Treehouse of Horror XII" received mixed reviews from critics. Casey Broadwater of ''Blu-ray.com'' stated that the episode "is merely so-so entry in the show's annual Halloween anthology", while Colin Jacobsson of ''DVD Movie Guide'' wrote that, while it "doesn't present many significant flaws", it also "doesn't ever really shine".<ref name="blu-ray">{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Simpsons-The-Thirteenth-Season-Blu-ray/11327/#Review|title=The Simpsons: The Thirteenth Season Blu-ray Review|date=September 5, 2010|access-date=December 31, 2010|last=Broadwater|first=Casey|publisher=Blu-ray.com|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909155639/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Simpsons-The-Thirteenth-Season-Blu-ray/11327/#Review|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="DVDmg">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonthirteen.shtml|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season [Blu-Ray] (2001)|date=September 2, 2010|access-date=December 31, 2010|last=Jacobson|first=Colin|website=DVD Movie Guide|archive-date=December 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215210604/http://dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonthirteen.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> He concluded his review by writing "'XII' isn't bad ''Simpsons'', but it's mediocre".<ref name="DVDmg"/> Writing for ''Good Film Guide'', Matt Wheeldon held a similar opinion, calling it "an average quality 'Treehouse of Horror' episode" and described it as being "easily watchable" and "fairly memorable, but far from the best of the bunch".<ref name="goodfilmguide">{{cite web|url=http://goodfilmguide.co.uk/the-simpsons-season-13-dvd-review/|title=The Simpsons: Season 13: DVD Review|date=September 22, 2010|access-date=December 31, 2010|last=Wheeldon|first=Matt|website=Good Film Guide|archive-date=November 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123120533/http://goodfilmguide.co.uk/the-simpsons-season-13-dvd-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> Nate Boss of ''Project:Blu'' stated that the episode is "At times memorable, at times forgettable" and that it "kicks off Season 13 with a smile, whimper, and thud".<ref name="Project-blu">{{cite web|url=http://project-blu.com/reviews/simpsons13.html|title=The Simpsons: The Thirteenth Season|date=September 8, 2010|access-date=December 31, 2010|last=Boss|first=Nate|website=Project-Blu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622070047/http://project-blu.com/reviews/simpsons13.html|archive-date=June 22, 2011}}</ref> Ron Martin of ''411Mania'' stated that, while he does not consider "Treehouse of Horror XII" to be the worst episode of the series, "as far as 'Treehouse' episodes go, it has to be one of the weakest".<ref name="411mania">{{cite web|url=http://www.411mania.com/movies/dvd_reviews/153026|title=The Simpsons Season 13 DVD Review|date=September 15, 2010|access-date=May 7, 2020|last=Martin|first=Ron|website=411Mania|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015004733/http://www.411mania.com/movies/dvd_reviews/153026|archive-date=October 15, 2010}}</ref>

Writing for ''Suite101'', Dominic von Riedemann described the episode as a "disappointment".<ref name="suite101">{{citation|title=The Simpsons The Thirteenth Season DVD Review|date=September 8, 2010|last=von Riedemann|first=Dominic|publisher=Suite101}}</ref> Reviewing the episode for the ''Daily News'' of New York City before the episode's official broadcast, Eric Mink complimented it for being "fitfully funny", however he added that the episode "seem[s] short on the pop-culture digs and celebrity skewering that used to put a high gloss on the show's gleaming reputation".<ref name=nydailynews>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2001/11/05/so-so-simpsons-still-cant-be-beat/|title=So-So 'Simpsons' still can't be beat|date=November 20, 2001|access-date=December 31, 2010|last=Mink|first=Eric|website=[[New York Daily News]]|archive-date=August 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826074749/https://www.nydailynews.com/2001/11/05/so-so-simpsons-still-cant-be-beat/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jennifer Malkowski of ''DVD Verdict'' however gave the episode a positive review, and referred to the episode, along with "[[Weekend at Burnsie's]]", as the two best episodes of the season.<ref name="DVDverdict">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/simpsons13bluray.php|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season (Blu-Ray)|date=September 6, 2010|access-date=December 31, 2010|last=Malkowski|first=Jennifer|website=DVD Verdict|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209001817/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/simpsons13bluray.php|archive-date=December 9, 2011}}</ref> She wrote that "[the episode] succeeds because of wall-to-wall laughs", and cited several scenes and gags, in particular the "horrible vomiting frog 'prince' that Bart enchants".<ref name="DVDverdict"/> She gave the episode an A− rating.<ref name="DVDverdict"/> Aaron Peck of ''High-Def Digest'' was also favorable, stating that the episode was "one of [his] all-time favorite 'Treehouse of Horror' episodes".<ref name=highdef>{{cite web|url=http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/3398/simpsons_13.html|title=The Simpsons: The Thirteenth Season (Blu-ray)|publisher=High-Def Digest|first=Aaron|last=Peck|date=August 31, 2010|access-date=December 31, 2010|archive-date=September 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919054458/http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/3398/simpsons_13.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

"Hex and the City" garnered mixed responses from critics; Broadwater wrote that the segment was "a bit of a letdown" while Boss described it as "fairly poor".<ref name="blu-ray"/> Mink however felt that the segment was the best in the episode.<ref name=nydailynews/> "House of Whacks" was well received. Broadwater described the segment as "brilliant" while von Riedermann referred to it as being the best of the three.<ref name="suite101" /> Boss, who was dissatisfied with the first segment, felt that "House of Whacks" "makes up for it".<ref name="Project-blu"/> Brosnan's guest appearance was praised; Jacobsson described the performance as "a surprisingly nice guest turn" while Boss referred to it as "killer".<ref name="DVDmg"/><ref name="Project-blu"/> Adam Rayner of ''Obsessed With Film'' wrote that the segment features Brosnan "giving his best acting turn since... ''[[The Long Good Friday]]''?".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/reviews/dvd-review-the-simpsons-season-13.php |title=DVD Review: THE SIMPSONS SEASON 13|date=September 20, 2010|access-date=December 31, 2010|last=Rayner|first=Adam|publisher=Obsessed With Film|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126160306/http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/reviews/dvd-review-the-simpsons-season-13.php|archive-date=November 26, 2010}}</ref> Particular scorn was aimed at "Wiz Kids", the third segment of the episode. Jacobsson stated that "Wiz Kids" "ends the show on a drab note" while Mink stated that the segment "pretty much fall[s] flat".<ref name=nydailynews/><ref name="DVDmg"/> Boss was also critical, writing, ''Harry Potter'', in my ''Simpsons''? It may be more likely than you think, although, for sure, it really does stink".<ref name="Project-blu"/> Andre Dellamorte of ''[[Collider (website)|Collider]]'' wrote that, even though he complimented the segment for being "bold" considering the film it parodied had not come out yet, he criticized the segment by writing "the depth of the parody stops with surface references".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/the-simpsons-thirteenth-season-blu-ray-review/|title=THE SIMPSONS: Thirteenth Season Blu-ray Review|date=September 17, 2010|access-date=November 2, 2022|last=Dellamorte|first=Andre|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|archive-date=November 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102184204/https://collider.com/the-simpsons-thirteenth-season-blu-ray-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> Peck, however, described the segment as being "quite possibly one of the best and most clever spoofs of ''Harry Potter''".<ref name=highdef/>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_13#Treehouse_of_Horror_XII|"Treehouse of Horror XII"}}
{{Portal|The Simpsons}}
*{{snpp capsule|CABF19}}
*{{IMDb episode|0701284}}
{{Treehouse of Horror}}

{{The Simpsons episodes|13}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Treehouse Of Horror 12}}
[[Category:The Simpsons season 13 episodes]]
[[Category:2001 American television episodes]]
[[Category:Impact of the September 11 attacks on television]]
[[Category:Treehouse of Horror]]
[[Category:Television episodes about curses]]
[[Category:Television episodes about fairies]]
[[Category:Television episodes about witchcraft]]
[[Category:Television shows about wizards]]
[[Category:Works based on Harry Potter]]
[[Category:Television episodes directed by Jim Reardon]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Carolyn Omine]]
[[Category:Halloween television episodes]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by John Frink]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Joel H. Cohen]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Don Payne (writer)]]

[[it:La paura fa novanta XI-XX#La paura fa novanta XII]]