The Simpsons Appreciation Thread

[Teelie]

I watched the series regularly from the start up until around I think season 12 or 13. I forget where exactly but a few years ago I went back and binged-watched everything from season 1 through 22/23 and I've kept up with it since then. It's definitely nowhere as good as it used to be but occasionally an episode will shine the way the first decade's worth did.

After 25 years I'm not surprised it's lost something along the way.

 

[FrozenBanana00]

that's a whole lotta D'OH! t:

Lol for sure!

 

[Slushy]

Homer discovered the Higgs Boson!

Mindblown!

 

[DarkKnight88]

"Steamed Hams" at 25: 'Simpsons' Cast and Crew Attempt to Decipher Classic Moment's Extraordinary Cult Following

 

[henzINNIT]

I watched some like season 31 episodes a while back and it was on much better form that when I last saw it. Considered a complete watch in lockdown but it was too intimidating. Are there any fans that have kept up and can actually retain 30+ seasons of content?

 

[Lily Adler]

They actually did something with Sara Wiggum after how many years?

 

[Albright]

I tried it more than once with the newer seasons, but I give up every time. That Thanksgiving of Horror episode was nice, with the Apocalypto spoof on turkeys.

To my defense I still enjoyed the Simpsons until season 20 but my favourite phase was season 4-12

 

[Captain Tired]

I wish they'd put a bullet in this show's head already.

 

[Drizzle]

I haven't watched the show regularly in almost 20 years apart from the occasional episode here and there, and the movie of course (which was probably the best thing to come from the franchise since the '90s along with the Hit & Run game). Something about the show being in HD and utilizing CG in some of the animation kind of made it lose some of its charm for me. The characters sounding more aged doesn't help either.

That being said, I'll still revisit classic episodes on Disney+ from time to time.

 

[Silvermoth]

I think moving from fox to Disney has actually helped the show. The more recent episodes seem to be a bit more family friendly and sweeter

 

[Albright]

the Simpsons were best when, they weren’t family friendly...

 

[Drizzle]

The Simpsons were more or less always family friendly. It was a culture shock back in 1990 when they first appeared on the scene but those episodes that were considered controversial at the time are pretty tame by today's standards. Sure, there are some raunchier elements like cartoon nudity but most of those raunchier jokes go over kids' heads, otherwise I'm sure it wouldn't be on Disney+. It's really no different than films that were rated PG pre-'80s that had raunchy humor, swearing or nudity in them. For example, I remember watching the Mr. Plow episode when I was maybe 8 but my favorite joke from that episode is when Homer lies to the cops by saying he was at a pornography store instead of drinking at Moe's, which I definitely didn't get until I was older.

 

[Albright]

If you compare it to South Park and Rick & Morty, they are sure more family friendly

 

[Drizzle]

If you compare it to South Park and Rick & Morty, they are sure more family friendly

Family Guy as well, which actually is on Disney+ in some regions.

 

[DarkKnight88]

In their prime it was that perfect mix of edgy but heart. Which makes it timeless.

South Park, Family Guy, Rick & Morty I love for different reasons, but 90s Simpsons is timeless because no matter how ridiculous it gets, it never gets cynical. Which is so refreshing compared to everything else. Those seasons holds up better than any of those IMO.

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

the Simpsons were best when, they weren’t family friendly...

90s era Simpson’s was the best

These last couple of years they’ve turned into what they used to mock

 

[Drizzle]

90s era Simpson’s was the best

These last couple of years they’ve turned into what they used to mock

I have a feeling that the more wholesome image in recent years has to do with the Universal Park attractions where kids are part of that target audience. No way in hell would you see the same thing for something like Family Guy, which was even pushed to a later timeslot recently.

 

[DarkKnight88]

But kids were always interested. I mean, I was a kid when I got into Simpsons. I assume we all were. Simpsons may be marketed to a kid audience today, but they always appealed to kids.

 

[DarkKnight88]

John Swartzwelder, Sage of “The Simpsons”

'Simpsons' Legendary Writer John Swartzwelder Discusses Darkest Episode in First Major Interview

Asked whether he has a favorite of the 59 episodes he penned, Swartzwelder replied, "I don’t have one I prefer over all the others, but I do have some favorites I always enjoy watching. 'Itchy & Scratchy & Marge,' 'Bart the Murderer,' 'Dog of Death,' 'Homer at the Bat,' 'Homie the Clown,' 'Bart Gets an Elephant,' 'Homer’s Enemy,' and 'Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment.' "

Discussing the 23rd episode of Season 8, in which the antagonist Frank Grimes accidentally kills himself in a fit of rage at Homer's unearned, random good fortune in life (compared to Frank's anyway), Swartzwelder said, "Grimey was asking for it the whole episode. He didn’t approve of our Homer. He was asking for it, and he got it. Now, what was this you were saying about heart?"

 

[Captain Tired]

Swartzwelder was arguably the best writer the show ever had. The only ones that rivalled him were Conan and John Vitti imo. I'm really intrigued to see what he has to say, given how quiet he's been throughout his whole career. His comedy detective books are also top tier funny. I'd really recommend them.

Here's the whole interview, and not just some selective highlights:

https://archive.ph/i3P0w

 

[Drizzle]

Killing off a background character who never spoke, real brave of them.

 

[blueharvest]

Killing off a background character who never spoke, real brave of them.

I didn't even know he had a last name, to be honest.

 

[Drizzle]

I didn't even know he had a last name, to be honest.

Neither did I. For an idea of just how obscure he was, 20-25 years ago there was a fairly popular Simpsons toy line and he and his background bar buddy Sam were some of the only regularly seen characters who didn't get figures, and they made figures of practically everyone from the show.

Also related to the show, I read that the contract that Universal made with Fox for the Simpsons Land at their parks ends in 2028. In no way do I see Disney/Fox extending that contract at a competing park but at the same time I can't see them incorporating a Simpsons area into any of the Disney parks either. Maybe a couple of pop up restaurants and characters walking around but the popularity of The Simpsons is well past its prime to justify an entire area like Star Wars or Marvel.

 

[henzINNIT]

Neither did I. For an idea of just how obscure he was, 20-25 years ago there was a fairly popular Simpsons toy line and he and his background bar buddy Sam were some of the only regularly seen characters who didn't get figures, and they made figures of practically everyone from the show.

Also related to the show, I read that the contract that Universal made with Fox for the Simpsons Land at their parks ends in 2028. In no way do I see Disney/Fox extending that contract at a competing park but at the same time I can't see them incorporating a Simpsons area into any of the Disney parks either. Maybe a couple of pop up restaurants and characters walking around but the popularity of The Simpsons is well past its prime to justify an entire area like Star Wars or Marvel.

World of Springfield baby. Crazy toy line that was, I had a few back in the day.

 

[DarkKnight88]

In no way do I see Disney/Fox extending that contract at a competing park but at the same time I can't see them incorporating a Simpsons area into any of the Disney parks either. Maybe a couple of pop up restaurants and characters walking around but the popularity of The Simpsons is well past its prime to justify an entire area like Star Wars or Marvel.

I don’t know. I think Simpsons is like Mickey at this point. Even if the show is well passed its prime, the characters themselves are so iconic they still sell and draw a ton of people. You’d be surprised how many kids know all the characters.