After 20 years on the air The Simpsons has been signed up for two more seasons, which makes it TV's longest running show ever! What is it about this crude humored cartoon that has kept Americans entertained for twenty years and counting? The show isn’t just a silly cartoon that makes people laugh and that they watch every now and then, it has earned its spot on primetime TV. The fact that it has received 24 Emmys over the years and even a Peabody (not really sure what that is though) makes it known that whatever it is that they are talking about has kept us entertained and even maybe learned some things along the way. The dad Homer in the show is the stereo-typical overweight, alcoholic buffoon that we all can relate to in some form or another. Homers antics over the years have made us laugh, but in a slightly non obvious way make us learn little tiny life lessons here and there. The Simpsons may be a fictitious cartoon family but it seems as though Americans can see themselves in this show more than they can in other primetime series that have been canceled and why is that? Why is it that after twenty years most of us can still relate to this stereotypical family that doesn’t seem to be evolving in its ideals about family?Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Record-Setting 'Simpsons' Back For Two More Years
After 20 years on the air The Simpsons has been signed up for two more seasons, which makes it TV's longest running show ever! What is it about this crude humored cartoon that has kept Americans entertained for twenty years and counting? The show isn’t just a silly cartoon that makes people laugh and that they watch every now and then, it has earned its spot on primetime TV. The fact that it has received 24 Emmys over the years and even a Peabody (not really sure what that is though) makes it known that whatever it is that they are talking about has kept us entertained and even maybe learned some things along the way. The dad Homer in the show is the stereo-typical overweight, alcoholic buffoon that we all can relate to in some form or another. Homers antics over the years have made us laugh, but in a slightly non obvious way make us learn little tiny life lessons here and there. The Simpsons may be a fictitious cartoon family but it seems as though Americans can see themselves in this show more than they can in other primetime series that have been canceled and why is that? Why is it that after twenty years most of us can still relate to this stereotypical family that doesn’t seem to be evolving in its ideals about family?
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I think that the Simpsons have been on the air this long because they both push the envelope (with their crude humor) and they portray a family that makes everyone feel better about their own problems at home. Homer is an alcoholic, abusive, idiot that somehow manages to keep his job and family after countless instances that should have lost him both. Marge is an annoying, stay-at-home mom (literally, you barely ever see her leave the house, and when you do it’s to shop or go to church) that lives for her family; sometimes she tries to break out of that role, but she mainly seems content where she is. And of course Bart, Lisa, and Maggie are the three kids. Bart is the hell raiser, Lisa is the smart one, and Maggie is the baby. This family image gives people both something to envy (how do Marge and Homer stay married after all these problems?) and something to laugh at (Homers constant stupidity is always good for a laugh). But while it does all this, it also shows people what many think is OK behavior in these respective characters. Honestly, why would we find it funny when Homer tries to strangle Bart? If that happened in real life no one would be laughing (hopefully), he would be sent to jail immediately. Why do we think it’s OK for Marge to be such a one-dimensional character? Does it make people feel better about all the women in positions of power to see this one woman that’s always at home? To me, although the Simpsons might push the envelope with their language and humor, they are only upholding the many stereotypes surrounding families; they aren’t trying to do anything really new, they are just using an old formula and making it appear new again.
ReplyDeleteI think Sarahs right, a lot of the reason why society still watches The Simpsons is because in one way or another, The Simpsons relate to everyones family. Maybe all the fighting between Homor and Marge and their troubled marriage give hope to those in the same situation. I know with me things that make me laugh the most is when cartoons and TV shows relate to my life and I think thats how every show has stayed on the air as long as they have. The Simpons obviously have just been doing the best job.
ReplyDeleteIm not a big fan of the Simpson's Show and rarely watch it but I do feel that the Simpson's family relates to a lot of families in the US. They have crude humor and know how to take it to an appropriate level so people of all different ages still watch it and find it amusing.
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