300 actual reasons to love the Simpsons
David
300 reasons why we love The Simpsons
The 300th episode of The Simpsons is broadcast today. Find a space on
the sofa and read why, in 14 years, Matt Groening's show has become
the world's best TV programme.
Euan Ferguson
Sunday April 20, 2003
The Observer
1 The Schadenfreude felt on recalling George Bush Sr's quote from 1992
- 'We're going to keep trying to strengthen the American family; to
make them more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons.' Homer,
Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are now the most popular American family
of all time, especially in America.
2 Homer being voted, in 2001, Britain's favourite TV character ever -
above Basil Fawlty, Father Ted and Del Boy.
3-5 The 'three little sentences' that Homer argues will get you
through life. 1: 'Cover for me.' 2: 'Good idea, boss.' 3: 'It was like
that when I got here.'
6 The minor characters, such as Bad Jack Crawley, such a bad man that
Bob Dylan wrote a song to keep him in jail.
7 Homer: 'Operator, give me the number for 911!'
8 Their proof to TV executives that dumbing up, rather than down, has
nothing to recommend it except awards integrity, ratings, laughter and
profits.
9-15 Number of days (seven), according to the sign outside Springfield
Nuclear Plant, since the last accident.
16-17 Number of times (twice) Homer has saved the plant from meltdown
by pressing the right button at the last minute. Accidentally.
18 Grampa Abe.
19-22 How not to play blackjack: Dealer:'19.' Homer: Hit me! Dealer:
'20.' Homer: 'Hit Me!' Dealer: '21.' Homer: 'Hit me!' Dealer: '22.'
Homer: 'D'oh!'
23 Ideally, you should be able to watch each episode anew at five
distinct stages in life. As a toddler, marvelling at all the bright
colours; as a teenager, enjoying the tilts at authority; as a student,
relishing the in-jokes and movie references; as an adult, musing on
the truths about life, love and death; and in your dotage, marvelling
at all the bright colours.
24 Fabulously incompetent lawyer Lionel Hutz. ('This is the most
blatant case of fraudulent advertising since my suit against the film
The Never-Ending Story '), and in particular...
25 ...this exchange with Marge. Hutz: 'Now don't you worry, Mrs.
Simpson, I - uh-oh. We've drawn Judge Snyder.' Marge: 'Is that bad?'
Hutz: 'Well, he's kind of had it in for me, since I accidentally ran
over his dog. Actually, replace "accidentally" with "repeatedly", and
replace "dog" with "son".'
26 And his mantra. 'If there's one thing America needs, it's more
lawyers.'
27-36 The 10 Harvard-educated writers.
37 Those critics who got it wrong at the start by billing the Simpsons
as 'America's most dysfunctional family.' It's now clear that Homer
almost always ends up doing the right thing; it is, it could be
argued, one of the most moral shows on television today. According to
Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams: 'It's one of the most
subtle pieces of propaganda around in the cause of sense, humility and
virtue.'
38 Patty and Selma. NB: Selma has parted hair and blue dress. Patty's
the other one.
39 The sweet irony that the most profitable and arguably the greatest
TV series ever came about because of the greed of copyright lawyers.
Creator Matt Groening planned to recycle characters from a newspaper
strip but was told this would involve mortgaging his soul to the
studio. Forced to invent some instant unknowns, he drew a new family
on a pad.
40 Maggie's first word ('Daddy') was voiced by Liz Taylor.
41 The deliberate mystery over which state Springfield is in. Always,
just before we see a name, someone stands in front of the map.
Interestingly, Portland, Oregon, where Groening grew up, has streets
called Flanders and Lovejoy.
42 Bart's one trophy. Inscribed 'Everybody Gets A Trophy Day.'
43 Nathaniel West, in Day of the Locust, featured a character called
'Homer Simpson' - played by Donald Sutherland, who also guested in The
Simpsons, as curator of the Springfield Historical Society.
44-57 The 14 glorious years since the first airing on 17 December,
1989.
58 The American love-love relationship with food, including:
59 Homer: 'Donut?' Lisa: 'No, thanks. Do you have any fruit?' Homer:
[offers some of the donut he's eating] 'This has purple stuff inside.
Purple is a fruit.'
60 ...and where it comes from: Homer: 'Lisa, honey, are you saying
you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon?' Lisa:
'No.' Homer: 'Ham?' Lisa: 'No.' Homer: 'Pork chops?' Lisa: 'Dad! Those
all come from the same animal!' Homer: [chuckles] Yeah, right Lisa. A
wonderful, magical animal.
61 And what to do with condiments.
Agent Mulder: 'We want you to recreate your every move the night you
saw this alien.' Homer: 'Well, the evening began at the gentleman's
club, where we were discussing Wittgenstein over a game of
backgammon.' Mulder: 'Mr Simpson, it's a felony to lie to the FBI.'
Homer: 'We were sitting in Barney's car eating packets of mustard. Ya
happy?'
62 And what it's called. Bart (as Tom Sawyer): 'Hmm. Looks like we're
out of cornpone, fatback, hardtack, fatpone, corntack...' Nelson (as
Huck Finn): 'Any tackback?' Bart: 'Tackback?' Nelson: 'I mean
backtack.' Bart: 'Plum out.'
63 They get British humour. And throw it back at us, as in... Bart:
'You're watching PBS?' Homer: 'Hey, I'm as surprised as you, but I
stumbled across the most delicious British sitcom.' Bart: [reading
title] 'Do Shut Up'? Homer: 'It's about a hard-drinking yet loving
family of soccer hooligans. If they're not having a go with the birds,
they're having a row with the wankers.'
64 Homer's Y-fronts. 'My favourite bits', according to novelist A.S.
Byatt.
65 Napier University now uses The Simpsons to teach the defining
characteristics of postmodernism.
66-75 Bart's 10 best blackboard lines: I was not touched 'there' by an
angel; Fire is not the cleanser; Fish do not like coffee; Pork is not
a verb; The hamster did not have 'a full life'; No one wants to hear
about my sciatica; I am not my long-lost twin; The nurse is not
dealing; I will not surprise the incontinent; Temptation Island is not
a sleazy piece of crap.
76 Newspaper editor: 'We're looking for a new food critic, someone who
doesn't immediately pooh-pooh everything he eats.' Homer: 'Nah, it
usually takes a few hours.'
77 America's greatest love affair, between Marge and Homer. The most
telling exchanges?
78 Marge: 'Homer, is this the way you pictured married life?' Homer:
'Pretty much. Except we drove around in a van solving mysteries.'
79 Marge: 'How do I know I can trust you?' Homer: 'Marge, look at me:
we've been separated for a day, and I'm as dirty as a Frenchman. In
another few hours I'll be dead! I can't afford to lose your trust
again.'
80 Homer: 'Marge... I don't really want to go through with this. But
being an astronaut is how I got you to respect me.' Marge: 'Homer,
when I met you, you weren't an astronaut. You didn't even know how to
use a touch-tone, but I still respected you and I always will, no
matter what... [touch-tone sounds come from the phone] ... Homer, you
already dialled...'
81-98 The 18 Emmys.
99 Getting away with the clip shows by making fun of clip shows.
100 D'oh was in the 2001 Oxford Dictionary.
101 The Simpsons star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
102-108 The four best lands of Itchy and Scratchy Land theme park
-Torture Land, Explosion Land, Searing Gas Pain Land, Unnecessary
Surgery Land - and the three most bizarre 'friends' of the
psychopathic anthropomorphs: Disgruntled Goat, Rich Uncle Skeleton and
Ku Klux Clam.
109 Itchy, by the way, is the mouse.
110 In 1997, the programme broke The Flintstones' record for
longest-running animated show.
111 America's second-greatest love affair - Homer and various liquids.
112 Starting, while stranded in a lifeboat, with the least likely:
Homer: 'Flanders! My socks feel dirty. Give me some water to wash
them.' Flanders: 'Again? Homer, we have to ration the water carefully.
It's our only hope!' Homer: 'Oh, pardon me, Mr "Let's ration
everything", but what do you think we're floating on? Don't you know
the poem? 'Water, water, everywhere, so let's all have a drink...'
113 And moving on to the more predictable. Homer: 'Got any of that
beer that has candy floating in it? You know, Skittlebrau?' Apu: 'Such
a beer does not exist, sir. I think you must have dreamed it.' Homer:
'Oh. Well, then just give me a six-pack of beer and a couple of bags
of Skittles.'
114 And Red Tick beer: 'Hmm, bold, refreshing, and something I can't
quite put my finger on,' says Homer. (Scene shifts to brewery, where
dogs are swimming in vats of beer. Brewery worker: 'Needs more dog.')
115 The motto of the earliest Springfield settlers. 'First toil, then
the grave.'
116 Friday nights in the Skinner household, where Principal Skinner's
mother Agnes insists on them enjoying a quiet evening together -
because Friday night is silhouette night.
117 The guest stars, including Stephen Hawking, whose appearance moved
Homer to new heights of taste and empathy ('So, Lisa, did you have fun
with your robot buddy?')
118 Loyal fans. 'My appearance on The Simpsons was the pinnacle of my
career,' Helen Fielding told us yesterday. 'I was quite pleased with
the way I turned out. Apart from the snout.'
119 And Jonathan Ross: 'After 300 episodes I can only think of a very
few flat bits. That's an unbelievable achievement.'
120 'Lisa's my favourite character,' says Glenda Jackson, 'and I loved
the episode where she got a new teacher that really made a
difference.'
121 And the pop-star guest stars. Hard to forget Homer being
introduced to a member of the Smashing Pumpkins: 'Billy Corgan,
Smashing Pumpkins.' ... 'Homer Simpson, smiling politely.'
122 Springfield and religion, and some simple truths, such as country
singer Rachel Jordan explaining what happened to her band . 'They
switched from Christian music to regular pop. All you do is change
"Jesus" to "baby".
123 Or Ned Flanders, telling a bedtime story. 'And Harry Potter and
all his wizard friends... went straight to hell for practising
witchcraft.'
124 The fact, incidentally, that Ned's first name is actually Nedward.
125 Jebus. Many fans' favourite segment...
Homer [to Rev Lovejoy, as he is being forced into a plane to the South
Pacific]: 'Wait, I'm no missionary! I don't even believe in Jebus! Let
me out!' [Homer runs to the door and pounds on it. Cut to outside,
looking in the window] Homer: 'Oh, save me Jebus!'
126 Homer [to God]: 'You're everywhere. You're omnivorous.'
127 And on death: 'Don't worry. Being eaten by a crocodile is just
like going to sleep. In a giant blender.'
128 Homer, again, having swiftly forgotten Jebus. 'I'm not normally a
religious man, but... if you're up there, save me, Superman!'
129-134 The five most emancipated sayings of the Malibu Stacy dolls
(as collected by Smithers and Lisa) - 'I wish they taught shopping in
school'; 'Let's bake some cookies for the boys'; 'Don't ask me - I'm
just a girl'; Now let's forget our troubles with a big bowl of
strawberry ice-cream'; 'Thinking too much gives you wrinkles' and 'My
name is Malibu Stacy but you can call me (wolf-whistle).'
135 The 2002 Mori poll which showed 66 per cent of Britons were
interested in the lives of the Simpsons (18 per cent said the same
about the royals.
136 Homer on the American way. 'Lisa, if you don't like your job you
don't strike. You just go in every day, and do it really half-assed.
That's the American way.'
137 The name of Australia's Prime Minister is simply 'Andy'.
138 Baby Maggie. The cost of Maggie - $847.63 - as she is accidentally
'swiped' during the opening credits was once given as the amount
required to raise a baby for one month in the US.
139 And she shot Mr Burns.
140 And she inspired this exchange. Homer: 'That baby-proofing crook
wanted to sell us safety covers for the electrical outlets. But I'll
just draw bunny faces on them to scare Maggie away.' Marge: 'She's not
afraid of bunnies.' Homer (ominously): 'She will be.'
141 In 1999, in its century's end edition, Time magazine called it
'the best show in the history of television'.
142-144 The finest made-up names. The witch who tricks Bart and Lisa
into her gingerbread house grows un-witchily touchy about her love
life, insisting she does have a boyfriend. Bart/Lisa: 'Yeah, right.'
Witch: 'What? I do!' Lisa: 'What's his name?' Witch: Uh... George.
George... [looks around]... George Cauldron.'
Marge is also inspired, when she gives her address on the phone to the
police as 'um... 123 Fake Street.' (Chief Wiggum, of course, later
checks it out. There is, of course, a crime in progress). Homer's most
devious masquerading comes as he tries to board a rocket for important
people. ('I am the piano genius from the movie, Shine .' Guard: Uh-uh.
And your name is?' Homer: 'Um... Shiney McShine?')
145 Brazil threatened to sue after the line: 'Rio is a city where all
men are bisexual, fearsome monkeys roam the streets and tourists are
kidnapped by taxi drivers.'
146 Marge's deepest secret. ('My hair isn't really blue.')
147 Homer on trust. 'But Marge, I swear to you, I never thought you'd
find out!'
148 The New Bedlam Home for the Emotionally Interesting.
149 The producers turned down Al Gore for a guest role (after he had
refused an earlier request, when they were less globally famous), and
David Beckham.
150-153 Troy McClure's four most magnificent educational films,
including 'Smoke Yourself Thin'; 'Get Confident, Stupid!';
'Firecrackers: the Silent Killer' and 'Fuzzy Bunny's Guide to
You-know-what.'
154-165 The steps in Barney's AA programme. Homer comes along as moral
support, until he finds the donuts are on the other side of the room.
('That's a full, oh, 12 steps away! Who can be bothered with something
that needs 12 whole steps?' etc).
166-172 Number of years between breeding, under the new Springfield
Charter. According to the Comic Book Guy - supposedly Groening's cameo
- 'Inspired by the most logical race in the galaxy, the Vulcans,
breeding will be permitted once every seven years. For many of you,
this will be much less breeding. For me, much, much more.'
173 Sex and Springfield, continued: Mayor Quimby's most successful
chat-up-line ('How would you like to have a street named after you?'
174 And Bart's take on the whole affair. 'What a day, eh, Milhouse?
The sun is out, birds are singing, bees are trying to have sex with
them... as is my understanding.'
175 And Jimbo Jones's. Dolph to Nelson: 'Oh man, you kissed a girl?'
Jimbo: 'That is so gay.'
176 The makers resisted Japanese calls to have the characters redrawn
with four fingers - Japanese culture looks down on missing fingers as
evidence of a menial job.
177-182 The world's worst television, show, 'Rock Bottom', is forced
to apologise for labelling Homer a sexual harasser. The list of other
apologies, scrolled unreadably fast down the screen, includes,
'Styrofoam is not made from kittens', 'The nerds on the internet are
not geeks', 'Roy Rogers was not buried inside his horse' and 'Salt
water does not "chase the thirsties away."' Oh, and 'If you are
reading this you have no life.'
183 'Bleedin' Gums' Murphy, Lisa's sax mentor. Lisa: ' How come they
call you Bleedin' Gums?' Gums: 'Well, let me put it this way. You ever
been to the dentist?' Lisa: 'Yeah.' Gums: 'Not me. I suppose I should
go, but I got enough pain in my life as it is.'
184 And, less groovily, her school music teacher, Mr Largo. 'Lisa,
there's no room for crazy bebop in 'My Country 'Tis of Thee'.
185 The prank calls to Moe's which were based on real-life calls in
the Eighties to the Tube Bar in New Jersey, whose owner, Louis 'Red'
Deutsch, famously threatened the pranksters with the foulest language
ever heard on God's earth. Down the years Moe has fallen for the likes
of Heywood U Cuddleme ('Big guy in the back? Heywood U Cuddleme?') and
Mike Rotch ('Has anyone seen Mike Rotch lately?')
186 The Michael Jackson episode - which he voiced uncredited.
187 The knowing cartoon references, as in this exchange between Bart
and Chester J Lampwick (as played by Kirk Douglas).
Chester: 'He didn't create Itchy: I did.'
Bart: 'Huh?' Chester: 'He stole the character from me in 1928. When I
complained, his thugs kicked me out of his office, and dropped an
anvil on me. Luckily, I was carrying an umbrella at the time.'
188 The 166 couch gags, including the one when the living room had
turned into a nightclub. A bouncer let all the family in. Except, of
course, Homer.
189 Montgomery C. Burns, being forced to smile for a photo. ('I'm
going to be sore tomorrow.')
190-192 Springfield's shops, such as the outdoor clothing store
(Malaria Zone), boys' clothes store (Wee Monsieur) and joke shop
(Yuckingham Palace)
193-195 Homer's code of the schoolyard. ' Don't tattle, always make
fun of those different from you, never say anything unless you're sure
everyone feels exactly the same way you do.'
196-199 The four food groups (of which, according to Bart's enforced
blackboard lines, 'mud' is not one.)
200-202 The dogs in dog hell (because, as Homer points out, as Santa's
Little Helper lies on his deathbed, there couldn't be heaven if there
weren't a hell). 'Who's in there?' asks Bart.
Homer: 'Oh, uh ... Hitler's dog. And that dog Nixon had, whassisname,
um...' Lisa: 'Checkers.' Homer: 'Yeah! One of the Lassies is in there,
too. The mean one -- the one that mauled Jimmy.'
203 More Homer and animals. 'Weaseling out of things is important to
learn. It's what separates us from the animals. [Thinks] Except the
weasel.'
204 And more weaselling genius.
Burns: 'Turn around, Simpson.' Homer: 'No! I can't get in trouble if I
can't see you.' Smithers: 'I'm afraid he's got us, sir.'
205 The decision to release no other singles after the lousy
'Bartman'.
206 And the stroke of genius that allowed voice actor Dan
Castellanata, in the second series, to 'get' Homer's voice perfectly.
From then on, Homer, not Bart, was the true global star.
207 Number 742, Evergreen Terrace, home of the Simpsons.
208 Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel.
209 The one where Homer almost dies.
Homer: 'Ooh! My horoscope. Taurus: today you will die.' Marge: 'WHAT?'
[checks own horoscope] 'Today your husband will die?' (gasp). 'Homer,
I'm scared!' Homer: 'Oh, scary newspaper! Don't hurt me, horoscope!
.. AARGH!' [gets a paper cut].
210-211 Krusty's Brand Goods, and what they say about corporate
America. Krusty's Non-Toxic Kologne ('use in well-ventilated areas');
Krusty's home pregnancy kit ('may cause birth defects').
212-219 Itchy and Scratchy film titles. Bang the Cat Slowly, Field of
Screams, The Last Traction Hero, Aesophygus Now, Skinless in Seattle,
Scar Trek: The Next Laceration, Why Do Fools Fall in Lava? and...
Reservoir Cats.
220 Groening calls one show 'The Worst Episode Ever'.
221-229 Number of months (nine), on average, between inception and
final episode. Each episode is, ideally, 21 minutes and 41 seconds
long.
230-232 Three of the best cases of interplay between father and
daughter. Lisa: 'I'm studying for the math fair. If I win, I'll bring
home a brand new protractor.' Homer: 'Too bad we don't live on a
farm.'
Or Homer, to Lisa: 'You know-nothing know-it-all!'
Or, if you prefer, when they're lost in the countryside: Lisa:
'Remember, Dad. The handle of the Big Dipper points to the North
Star.' Homer: 'That's nice, Lisa, but we're not in astronomy class.
We're in the woods.'
233-272 Number of decimal points (40) to which Apu can recite pi.
(Homer, naturally, greets the news with the phrase 'Mmmm... pie.').
273-274 The sly references to Fox and Rupert Murdoch, for whom
Groening has created the most successful US TV series ever. For
example, Marge: 'Lisa, normally I would say that you should stand up
for what you believe in, but you've been doing that an awful lot
lately.' Bart: 'Yeah, you made us march in that gay rights parade.'
Homer: 'And we can't watch Fox because they own those chemical weapons
plants in Syria.'
Or: Lisa: 'Wow, Dad, you're surfing like a pro!' Homer: 'Oh, yeah! I
invested in something called 'News Corp.' Lisa: 'Dad, that's Fox!'
Homer: [shrieks] 'Undo! Undo!' [hits key, sighs]
275 And the Devil uses Microsoft.
276-287 Number of years since Groundsman Willie said 'cheese-eating
surrender-monkeys'.
288 Homer on aspiration. 'Kids, you tried your best and you failed
miserably. The lesson is: never try.'
289 And priorities. 'If a gun can protect something as important as a
bar, then it's good enough to protect my family.'
290 And real priorities. 'To alcohol! The cause of - and solution to -
all of life's problems!'
291 Lisa: 'And now you can go back to just being you, instead of a
one-dimensional character with a silly catchphrase.'
292 Homer: [breaks a lamp] 'D'oh!'
293 Bart: 'Ay, caramba!'
294 Marge: 'Mmm.'
295 Maggie: [sucks her pacifier]
296 Flanders: 'Heidely-ho!'
297 Barney: [burps]
298 Nelson: 'Ha, ha!'
299 Burns: 'Ex-cellent!'
[Everyone looks at Lisa]
300 Lisa: [unimpressed] 'If anyone wants me, I'll be in my room.'
ยท Additional research by Carl Wilkinson
RA
"David" <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:3ea34fe1...@news.cis.dfn.de...
> From the Observer
>
> 300 reasons why we love The Simpsons
Thanks for the memories!
I laughed out loud again, something that the Simpsons has rarely
been able to induce in me anymore, for the last few years.
All those excerpts are funny because of the writing.
What has happened to the writing?
Has Groening skimped on writers, because he had to pay the voice talent?
Most jokes are now corny, stale and juvenile.
The humor used to be incredibly witty, working on multilevels.
I believe that we continue to love the show, only because of
our attachment to the many wonderful characters who we've come to love.
In addition to the list given here.. there were also some great lines
from various women in power positions, such as corporate executives,
(the woman who wanted the Tomacco) and the Asian real estate broker.
(Stay off the West Side!)
Another favorite quote:
"Game shows aren't about cruelty, they're about greed and wonderful prizes like poorly-built catamarans."
best regards,
RA
Tomkinsss
Liam
"David" <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3ea34fe1...@news.cis.dfn.de...
David
>
>"David" <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:3ea34fe1...@news.cis.dfn.de...
>> From the Observer
>>
>> 300 reasons why we love The Simpsons
>
>
>Thanks for the memories!
>I laughed out loud again, something that the Simpsons has rarely
>been able to induce in me anymore, for the last few years.
>
>All those excerpts are funny because of the writing.
>What has happened to the writing?
>Has Groening skimped on writers, because he had to pay the voice talent?
>Most jokes are now corny, stale and juvenile.
>The humor used to be incredibly witty, working on multilevels.
>
>I believe that we continue to love the show, only because of
>our attachment to the many wonderful characters who we've come to love.
Well I still like it because it still makes me laugh as much as or
more than anything else on television. Of course it isn't as good as
it used to be but writers and producers change so the show couldn't
help but change in quality. They still manage to find the best writers
though. Really I think people who criticize it now sit down in front
of the television ready to hate it instead of leaving themselves open
to enjoying it.
Donut
1. "The President did it" is no excuse.
2. My email address is not butt.butt
Andrew Ryan Chang
>All those excerpts are funny because of the writing.
>What has happened to the writing?
>Has Groening skimped on writers, because he had to pay the voice talent?
I think some of the best just moved on, having proved their talent
at that job level. David X (S) Cohen went on to produce Futurama along
with Groening, Conan O'Brien to his own talk show, ...
And they also hired Mike Scully (who himself has moved on to the
Pitts, IIRC) and Ian Maxtone-Graham, two I hold responsible for the
wholesale degradation of the writing.
--
Lisa: Mom, romance is dead. It was acquired in a hostile takeover by
Hallmark and Disney, homogenized, and sold off piece by piece.
-- No cynicism here, "Another Simpsons Clip Show"
Fritz Foetzl
> From the Observer
> 220 Groening calls one show 'The Worst Episode Ever'.
Is that the one featuring Sherman whats-his-name from "The Critic"? I
heard Groening had his name removed from that episode in protest. I
thought it had some decent gags in spite of Fox whoring out the
Simpsons for their promo. I got a kick out of the exchange between
Bart and Sherman at the very end:
Sherman: "If you ever want to drop by my show sometime..."
Bart [interrupting]: "Nah, we won't be doing that."
Good thread, by the way. Thanks for posting the 300 reasons!
ff
Geoduck
>
>"David" <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:3ea34fe1...@news.cis.dfn.de...
>> From the Observer
>>
>> 300 reasons why we love The Simpsons
>
>
>Thanks for the memories!
>I laughed out loud again, something that the Simpsons has rarely
>been able to induce in me anymore, for the last few years.
>
>All those excerpts are funny because of the writing.
>What has happened to the writing?
>Has Groening skimped on writers, because he had to pay the voice talent?
>Most jokes are now corny, stale and juvenile.
>The humor used to be incredibly witty, working on multilevels.
(snip)
Groening, by his own admission, now has very little to do with the
day-to-day running of the show.
--
Geoduck
http://www.olywa.net/cook
J44XM
> Really I think people who criticize it now sit down in front
> of the television ready to hate it instead of leaving themselves open
> to enjoying it.
Well, it's probably better to say that SOME -- many even most, but who
knows? -- people do. Of course, even at its best, someone will always be too
critical.
--
J44XM (#seventy8.net)
Q. In how many ways can you arrange a deck of 54 different playing cards?
A. Over 230 billion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion! True!
RA
> > Really I think people who criticize it now sit down in front
> > of the television ready to hate it instead of leaving themselves open
> > to enjoying it.
>
> Well, it's probably better to say that SOME -- many even most, but who
> knows? -- people do. Of course, even at its best, someone will always be too
> critical.
It's also possible that some people are easily amused and are
unable to see much of a difference between the hilarious
ground breaking humor the Simpsons once gave us..
and the stale lame jokes that are common on the show today.
It's possible that some people never even understood the
multi-layered depth of some of the classic lines from
previous years.
"ooooh .. look at the pretty colors. I love the Simpsons."
regards,
RA
David
>
>> > Really I think people who criticize it now sit down in front
>> > of the television ready to hate it instead of leaving themselves open
>> > to enjoying it.
>>
>> Well, it's probably better to say that SOME -- many even most, but who
>> knows? -- people do. Of course, even at its best, someone will always be too
>> critical.
>
>
>It's also possible that some people are easily amused and are
>unable to see much of a difference between the hilarious
>ground breaking humor the Simpsons once gave us..
>and the stale lame jokes that are common on the show today.
I haven't seen anyone say there's no difference between the Simpsons
now and then, and with all the writer and producer and even animator
turnover expecting it to be like it used to be is crazy.
>It's possible that some people never even understood the
>multi-layered depth of some of the classic lines from
>previous years.
And maybe some people are too darn full of themselves and would be
happier in a museum studying Homer's crappy modern art
>"ooooh .. look at the pretty colors. I love the Simpsons."
"come on, if we hurry we can still catch the end of heroin chic"
RA
> >> > of the television ready to hate it instead of leaving themselves open
> >> > to enjoying it.
> >> Well, it's probably better to say that SOME -- many even most, but who
> >> knows? -- people do. Of course, even at its best, someone will always be too
> >> critical.
> >
> >
> >It's also possible that some people are easily amused and are
> >unable to see much of a difference between the hilarious
> >ground breaking humor the Simpsons once gave us..
> >and the stale lame jokes that are common on the show today.
>
> >multi-layered depth of some of the classic lines from
> >previous years.
>
> And maybe some people are too darn full of themselves and would be
> happier in a museum studying Homer's crappy modern art
Let's make one thing clear Princess..
A few of us were discussing the writing on the show.
We had made no critisizm of anyone here.
2 of you chose to come in and critisize us personally for our views.
I responded with a rationale for why you might be unable to guage
the quality level of the show and you are now whining like a little pussy;
"Boo hoo.. he's picking on me!"
Looks like you can dish it out.. but can't take it, you little fairy.
regards,
RA
David
>> >> > Really I think people who criticize it now sit down in front
>> >> > of the television ready to hate it instead of leaving themselves open
>> >> > to enjoying it.
>> >> Well, it's probably better to say that SOME -- many even most, but who
>> >> knows? -- people do. Of course, even at its best, someone will always be too
>> >> critical.
>> >
>> >
>> >It's also possible that some people are easily amused and are
>> >unable to see much of a difference between the hilarious
>> >ground breaking humor the Simpsons once gave us..
>> >and the stale lame jokes that are common on the show today.
>>
>> >It's possible that some people never even understood the
>> >multi-layered depth of some of the classic lines from
>> >previous years.
>>
>> And maybe some people are too darn full of themselves and would be
>> happier in a museum studying Homer's crappy modern art
>
>Let's make one thing clear Princess..
Princess? You seem a little too over-sensitive to be referring to
someone else that way. You're also bringing into question your earlier
assertion of having the ability to recognize humor.
And I'm not even going to comment on the rest because frankly I have
no idea what you're exploding about.
Andrew Ryan Chang
>though. Really I think people who criticize it now sit down in front
>of the television ready to hate it instead of leaving themselves open
>to enjoying it.
I criticize it cause it broke faith with the viewers, and broke
the guidelines Groening set down originally that /grounded/ the show. The
plots are much, much looser, the characterization changes to fit the jokes
rather than the humour coming out of the characters, and wacky guest stars
pop in every episode.
--
We were raised on television to believe that we'd all be millionares,
movie gods, rock stars, but we won't. And we're starting to figure that
out.
-- Tyler Durden, FIGHT CLUB (1999)
donut
> I criticize it cause it broke faith with the viewers, and broke
> the guidelines Groening set down originally that /grounded/ the show.
> The plots are much, much looser, the characterization changes to fit
> the jokes rather than the humour coming out of the characters, and
> wacky guest stars pop in every episode.
> >
Then this is the best Fox series.
My God, that's pathetic.
donut
news:OWlpa.112$05...@fe03.atl2.webusenet.com:
I like Homer! He's sooooo tight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aaron Hirshberg
>
> 300 reasons why we love The Simpsons
> The 300th episode of The Simpsons is broadcast today. Find a space on
> the sofa and read why, in 14 years, Matt Groening's show has become
> the world's best TV programme.
> Euan Ferguson
> Sunday April 20, 2003
> The Observer
>
> 1 The Schadenfreude felt on recalling George Bush Sr's quote from 1992
> - 'We're going to keep trying to strengthen the American family; to
> make them more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons.' Homer,
> Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are now the most popular American family
> of all time, especially in America.
Those Republicans. Always using examples from TV fantasy land.
Unless George Sr. was referring to the OJ Simpsons.
> 2 Homer being voted, in 2001, Britain's favourite TV character ever -
> above Basil Fawlty, Father Ted and Del Boy.
Ahead of John Steed and Emma Peele? Or #6? Or those supermarionation
characters like Captain Scarlet and Atlanta Shore?
> 3-5 The 'three little sentences' that Homer argues will get you
> through life. 1: 'Cover for me.' 2: 'Good idea, boss.' 3: 'It was like
> that when I got here.'
The Dan Quayle mantra.
snip
> 65 Napier University now uses The Simpsons to teach the defining
> characteristics of postmodernism.
That's a Clown College.
> 66-75 Bart's 10 best blackboard lines: I was not touched 'there' by an
> angel; Fire is not the cleanser; Fish do not like coffee; Pork is not
> a verb; The hamster did not have 'a full life'; No one wants to hear
> about my sciatica; I am not my long-lost twin; The nurse is not
> dealing; I will not surprise the incontinent; Temptation Island is not
> a sleazy piece of crap.
Sponge Bob is not a contraceptive.
> 78 Marge: 'Homer, is this the way you pictured married life?' Homer:
> 'Pretty much. Except we drove around in a van solving mysteries.'
And the van always broke down or got a flat tire in front of the
Vampire's house, too!
> 99 Getting away with the clip shows by making fun of clip shows.
It's like being in a coma! I just saw that show last night on Fox 25
in Boston.
> 114 And Red Tick beer: 'Hmm, bold, refreshing, and something I can't
> quite put my finger on,' says Homer. (Scene shifts to brewery, where
> dogs are swimming in vats of beer. Brewery worker: 'Needs more dog.')
This is one of my favorite scenes. This and Jasper on the Quimby
jury: "Good, tonight on TV the dog from Frasier is going to ride the
dolphin from Seaquest."
> 117 The guest stars, including Stephen Hawking, whose appearance moved
> Homer to new heights of taste and empathy ('So, Lisa, did you have fun
> with your robot buddy?')
Larry Flynt is right! You guys stink!
> 137 The name of Australia's Prime Minister is simply 'Andy'.
And he sits in an innertube in a pond, with no clothes on, drinking a
giant Foster's. Ay, mate!
Space
chiam margalit
Or perhaps it hasn't occurred to you that the audience driving the
show today wasn't born 25 years ago, or even 15 years ago and can't do
much comparison shopping. The core audience of the Simpsons changes,
and the writing changes along with it. What the writers today are
going after is the 8-15 YO crowd, who is their core audience, after
all. Sure, some adults till watch it, but mostly it's a preteen/teen
show at heart, and they're not what you'd call deep thinkers.
My kids are second generation Simpsonians (I made that word up, I
think) and I like it that way. They watch it daily on reruns, so
they've seen the earliest shows all the way up to 'modern times' and
they still love the new shows. They like it when characters like
N'Synch and Weird Al are on. Me, I think it's unnecessary to pay big
bucks for voices, but than again, I'm *way* over the projected
audience age range.
Thanks for the laughs.
MC
>
> regards,
> RA
David
wrote:
>"RA" <use...@freetoys.com> wrote in message news:<OWlpa.112$05...@fe03.atl2.webusenet.com>...
>> > > Really I think people who criticize it now sit down in front
>> > > of the television ready to hate it instead of leaving themselves open
>> > > to enjoying it.
>> >
>> > Well, it's probably better to say that SOME -- many even most, but who
>> > knows? -- people do. Of course, even at its best, someone will always be too
>> > critical.
>>
>>
>> It's also possible that some people are easily amused and are
>> unable to see much of a difference between the hilarious
>> ground breaking humor the Simpsons once gave us..
>> and the stale lame jokes that are common on the show today.
>>
>> It's possible that some people never even understood the
>> multi-layered depth of some of the classic lines from
>> previous years.
>>
>> "ooooh .. look at the pretty colors. I love the Simpsons."
>
>Or perhaps it hasn't occurred to you that the audience driving the
>show today wasn't born 25 years ago, or even 15 years ago and can't do
>much comparison shopping. The core audience of the Simpsons changes,
>and the writing changes along with it. What the writers today are
>going after is the 8-15 YO crowd, who is their core audience, after
>all. Sure, some adults till watch it, but mostly it's a preteen/teen
>show at heart, and they're not what you'd call deep thinkers.
I don't think that's true. They're still aiming for the 18-49 year
olds and hitting their target quite well. And I'm sure they have much
of the same audience they had years ago.
RA
> >show today wasn't born 25 years ago, or even 15 years ago and can't do
> >much comparison shopping. The core audience of the Simpsons changes,
> >and the writing changes along with it. What the writers today are
> >going after is the 8-15 YO crowd, who is their core audience, after
> >all. Sure, some adults till watch it, but mostly it's a preteen/teen
> >show at heart, and they're not what you'd call deep thinkers.
>
> I don't think that's true. They're still aiming for the 18-49 year
> olds and hitting their target quite well. And I'm sure they have much
> of the same audience they had years ago.
Absolutely, the Simpsons became a phenomena not because of
the kids who like it.. but because of the 18-49 crowd.
It was never aimed mainly at 8 to 15 year olds.. not even the first year,
before Homer became the star and Bart was the main character.
It would have aired on Saturday mornings, if that were true.
regards,
RA
Andrew Ryan Chang
No, there's Futurama. Oh, wait, cancelled. How about Andy
Richter? Still in cancellation limbo. Firefly? Cancelled.
You got me; I can't think of a single scripted Fox show I want to
watch, aside from the Futurama episodes they need to burn off. Okay, and
24. But that's really it.
--
"We believe in opportunity for all Americans: Rich and poor, black and
white...."
--George W. Bush (speech at Bob Jones University, 2/2/00)
Sydney Assbasket
>show today wasn't born 25 years ago, or even 15 years ago and can't do
>much comparison shopping. The core audience of the Simpsons changes,
>and the writing changes along with it. What the writers today are
>going after is the 8-15 YO crowd, who is their core audience, after
>all.
If the show was originally aimed at 8-15 year olds, the writers never would
have written clever political/religious/society based humor, and they wouldn't
refer to things out of a 8-15 year old's range, such as Stanley Kubrick films.
I enjoyed the show when I was 8 because it was funny to me, but also I
responded on an unconscious level to the characterizations. I enjoy the same
episodes even more today because I can get all the references. I doubt that a
kid who is 8 today will look back on today's episodes when he is 18 and find a
new dimension of wit. There's nothing there.
As for someone else's claim that the show is funnier than anything else on
today, I don't think so. The show had descended into total stupidity compared
not only to its former self, but to other, better shows. I would rather watch
Bernie Mac, which is actually funny IMO, than a current episode of The
Simpsons.
But a current ep of The Simpsons definitely beats Mr. Personality or some other
shit show that Fox is pooping out these days.
I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every
other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking
the locks, they are always locking three.
- Elayne Boosler
Remove "bination" to reply.
J44XM
> 2 of you chose to come in and critisize us personally for our views.
Are you referring to me here? If so, I don't see why, since I said that I
agreed that SOME people do just watch the show to criticize it. Unless you
are saying that you yourself are one of these people, you've no reason to
take offense.
RA
>
> Are you referring to me here? If so, I don't see why, since I said that I
> agreed that SOME people do just watch the show to criticize it. Unless you
> are saying that you yourself are one of these people, you've no reason to
> take offense.
You were responding to MY critisizm of the show.
Using your cowardly logic, I could say:
"Some people are so lacking balls that they use every nitpicking
excuse they can dream up to avoid taking responsibility for their actions."
You have no reason to take offense at these remarks,
if they don't apply to you.
regards,
RA
J44XM
> You were responding to MY critisizm of the show.
Incorrect. If you reconstruct the thread, you'll see that I was directly
replying to David, who said: "Really I think people who criticize [the
series] now sit down in front of the television ready to hate it instead of
leaving themselves open to enjoying it."
In reply, I said: "Well, it's probably better to say that SOME -- many even
most, but who knows? -- people do. Of course, even at its best, someone will
always be too critical."
If anything, I was actually DEFENDING you by saying that not all criticizers
of the series are off-base. Why take offense?
--
J44XM (#seventy8.net), who realizes this is likely a waste of time
david peppin
"Andrew Ryan Chang" <arc...@sfu.ca> wrote in message
news:b86r9h$17d$1...@morgoth.sfu.ca...
> I can't think of a single scripted Fox show I want to
> watch, aside from the Futurama episodes they need to burn off. Okay, and
> 24. But that's really it.
>
The only good show on Fox is Malcolm in the Middle, which is better than the
newer Simpsons episodes.
Sydney Assbasket
>newer Simpsons episodes.
>
Bernie Mac's the best Fox show IMO.