Friday, January 14, 2005
In Praise of Simpsons
In the last nine days, I have watched the entire third season of "The Simpsons." My local library had the DVDs for checkout, and I have been peppering my study time with commercial-free hilarity all week. One day I will be rich enough to purchase all the Simpsons DVDs myself.
I would like to take this time to present two of many possible arguments in favor of "The Simpsons." It's a show I really like, and there are many people out there (some of whom are in my immediate family) who are opposed to it and prefer such trash as "Friends."
1. Because "The Simpsons" is animated, it offers various advantages over live-action shows. Remember the later years of "The Cosby Show," when they got that new cute girl (Olivia, I think) so Bill could have someone to play with now that Rudy was too old to be little and cute? Well, "The Simpsons" has been on the air for like 15 years, and Maggie is still a baby. Also, you can have crazy dream sequences, believable alien abductions, cat-and-mouse parodies, and other such crazy visual things that just can't happen live-action. More than that, though, the animation of it takes it one step away from reality (also note that the opening credits are shown on the screen of the TV the Simpsons are watching--a reminder that we're watching TV and this isn't real). You can believe that Mr. Burns would hire real major league baseball players for the nuclear plant softball team, or that Uncle Herb really invented a baby translator. They can thereby infuse the story with off-kilter antics, satire, and parody.
2. The Simpsons teach moral values. The number one argument against "The Simpsons," that they are crude and teach evilness, is just plain false. Sure, they swear, but despite my anti-cussing diatribe below, I don't mind--often it's used for comic effect! Quick--can you name another TV show in the history of the world where the main characters regularly go to church? No, you can't. Can you even name the religion of any major non-"Simpsons" TV character? No, you can't, but even minor characters in "The Simpsons" have religious affiliations.
Furthermore, just about every single episode has the fundamental moral that family is the most important thing in life. Just to cite examples from the third season: Homer is tempted to commit adultery by Lurleen Lumpkin, but doesn't hesitate to get out and return to Marge; Lisa sacrifices the pony she's always wanted for the sanity of her father (who has in turn sacrificed his sanity to give his daughter a pony); even when he's out of money, Bart learns from Michael Jackson that a song from the heart can be the best birthday gift of all for his sister; mothers are the glue that hold families together; it's wrong for Sideshow Bob to try to murder his new bride. And on and on.
Even if some say they have jumped the shark these days, I say: Long Live "The Simpsons!"
I would like to take this time to present two of many possible arguments in favor of "The Simpsons." It's a show I really like, and there are many people out there (some of whom are in my immediate family) who are opposed to it and prefer such trash as "Friends."
1. Because "The Simpsons" is animated, it offers various advantages over live-action shows. Remember the later years of "The Cosby Show," when they got that new cute girl (Olivia, I think) so Bill could have someone to play with now that Rudy was too old to be little and cute? Well, "The Simpsons" has been on the air for like 15 years, and Maggie is still a baby. Also, you can have crazy dream sequences, believable alien abductions, cat-and-mouse parodies, and other such crazy visual things that just can't happen live-action. More than that, though, the animation of it takes it one step away from reality (also note that the opening credits are shown on the screen of the TV the Simpsons are watching--a reminder that we're watching TV and this isn't real). You can believe that Mr. Burns would hire real major league baseball players for the nuclear plant softball team, or that Uncle Herb really invented a baby translator. They can thereby infuse the story with off-kilter antics, satire, and parody.
2. The Simpsons teach moral values. The number one argument against "The Simpsons," that they are crude and teach evilness, is just plain false. Sure, they swear, but despite my anti-cussing diatribe below, I don't mind--often it's used for comic effect! Quick--can you name another TV show in the history of the world where the main characters regularly go to church? No, you can't. Can you even name the religion of any major non-"Simpsons" TV character? No, you can't, but even minor characters in "The Simpsons" have religious affiliations.
Furthermore, just about every single episode has the fundamental moral that family is the most important thing in life. Just to cite examples from the third season: Homer is tempted to commit adultery by Lurleen Lumpkin, but doesn't hesitate to get out and return to Marge; Lisa sacrifices the pony she's always wanted for the sanity of her father (who has in turn sacrificed his sanity to give his daughter a pony); even when he's out of money, Bart learns from Michael Jackson that a song from the heart can be the best birthday gift of all for his sister; mothers are the glue that hold families together; it's wrong for Sideshow Bob to try to murder his new bride. And on and on.
Even if some say they have jumped the shark these days, I say: Long Live "The Simpsons!"
Comments:
I agree with your views on the Simpsons. It is a great show. Unfortunately the last couple of seasons have resorted to the 'sexual humor' which gets laughs but shows the writers are losing it -- beginning to jump the shark. Last week's episode though was great and back on track.
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