What was going on 20 years ago? Bush was just entering the White House.....no, George H.W. Bush. The Berlin wall fell, Pete Rose was banned from baseball, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles became an overnight sensation, I was in diapers, and some of you were still forming into humans.
Well believe it or not 20 years ago, the same year Ted Bundy was executed in an Electric Chair, was the first season of "The Simpsons." Yes, the longest American primetime entertainment series of all time debuted on December 17, 1989. Now in their 20th season, as of September 28th, "The Simpsons" has racked up numerous awards including 24 Emmy awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
I assume you have all seen and heard of "The Simpsons' but, if you haven't, go to this website.
So all of this brings up the question, "why has The Simpsons lasted so long?" Well, that's because it is animated. Let's think about some of the reasons sitcoms starring people don't last half as long as "The Simpsons." 1) The kids get too old and un-cute. This does not apply with “The Simpsons” whose kids have actually gotten better looking since the earliest episodes. 2) The stars aren’t quitting their sitcom to move on to the silver screen. However, America’s favorite yellow, four-fingered family did test out the move scene with The Simpsons Movie in 2007.
So there you have it folks, in theory, “The Simpsons should be able to live until the voices of the characters go mute and the writers completely run out of ideas. Until then, we should be able to look forward to a half-hour of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, and all the rest of the Springfield Community every Sunday night. Who knows how much longer this sitcom dynasty will last?
Well believe it or not 20 years ago, the same year Ted Bundy was executed in an Electric Chair, was the first season of "The Simpsons." Yes, the longest American primetime entertainment series of all time debuted on December 17, 1989. Now in their 20th season, as of September 28th, "The Simpsons" has racked up numerous awards including 24 Emmy awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
I assume you have all seen and heard of "The Simpsons' but, if you haven't, go to this website.
So all of this brings up the question, "why has The Simpsons lasted so long?" Well, that's because it is animated. Let's think about some of the reasons sitcoms starring people don't last half as long as "The Simpsons." 1) The kids get too old and un-cute. This does not apply with “The Simpsons” whose kids have actually gotten better looking since the earliest episodes. 2) The stars aren’t quitting their sitcom to move on to the silver screen. However, America’s favorite yellow, four-fingered family did test out the move scene with The Simpsons Movie in 2007.
So there you have it folks, in theory, “The Simpsons should be able to live until the voices of the characters go mute and the writers completely run out of ideas. Until then, we should be able to look forward to a half-hour of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, and all the rest of the Springfield Community every Sunday night. Who knows how much longer this sitcom dynasty will last?
Personally, I never saw the appeal of The Simpsons. It wasn't funny, most of it didn't lead anywhere and it was all basic, pointless banter between funny looking characters with wacked out voices. I do however commend them on their prosperity. It's a great thing when you can have a run like that! It shows the dedication of the entire array of people who are invovled in the process of making the show possible.
ReplyDeleteI think you nailed it on the head how cartoons can last much longer than regular sitcoms. When you're watching a show, you do it for the consistency of the show and cartoons can be physically more consistent than real life.
ReplyDeleteWow. The Simpsons really looked weird in their first stages. I don't watch it, but I like the new designs way better.
One last thing:
Thanks for getting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle theme song stuck in my head.
Nicely done Zack! I grew up watching this show and have taken in the somewhat ridiculous story lines it has to offer, but that's half of the fun. It is amazing that this cartoon TV show has lasted this long. Do you know of any other shows that have come close to running this long? I remember the "BartMan" days and it's a wonder they really never brought it back. I have a feeling that since this show has lasted through the 80's and the 90's, there is no reason that it won't continue to entertain us well into the future.
ReplyDeleteThe best part about the simpsons is that it has the ability to change alongside our culture. So as our society evolves, and our humor takes a different direction, so will the Simpson's. When watching an episode from it's earlier days, you can tell that the jokes used are way different from the newer shows today. The Simpsons has also been so successful because they were one of the first disfunctional families on TV. People got tired of watching the same fairytale, lovey dovey families like the brady bunch and fullhouse, and wanted something realistic. I believe as long as the writers and voices are still alive, so will the Simpsons.
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