Our Television Heritage: The Simpsons Preface
Going through America's first family, 1-2 episodes at a time
The Simpsons is very likely the most important work of fiction made in the last quarter of the 20th Century. Without question among the most important TV series made in that last quarter.
There’s such a wealth of content to talk about The Simpsons, which is funny to say when I earlier wrote that television feels under discussed in comparison to film. But even today, over 30 years removed since the show’s debut, it still commands such a huge, fervent following, that attempting to bring one more voice into the show’s golden years seems redundant.
Yet here I am anyway!
What’s left to say that hasn’t already been said? idk, but I’ll find something. The Simpsons is special to me, as a lifelong admirer of animation. While I wasn’t able to watch the show until age 7 or 8, it’s always been a constant presence in my life, the one cartoon I couldn’t watch, but seemingly every adult liked. As my mother would say, Matt Groening wouldn’t let his kids watch the show, so why should she?
When I was finally allowed to watch the series, I can’t say that I understood every gag at the time, but I had fun right away. It’s as I get older that the show continues to find new layers for me. Although has it already started to show its age as well? We’ll find out.
This is pretty basic, so bear with me here. When we go through the show, I’ll ideally have more to say. I haven’t seen a lot of these episodes in years, so it’ll be interesting to go through them, that’s for sure.
I’ll do “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” by itself, and then do two episodes a week following, until we get to the odd-numbered seasons, where I’ll pick a place to do a solo review for. And I’m intending to stick to The Simpsons up through season 10, where I’ll pause for the time being, and will come back to 11-20 at some point.
Until then, wait for the first review this Sunday!