Why I love the Simpsons (Simpsons,The)

Member Name: kca101

Product:	Simpsons,The
Date:	24/07/00 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Consistently funny, original and wacky

Disadvantages: There are none!

Love it or hate it, The Simpsons is a clever TV program. What other show could have such universal appeal with a fine mix of irreverence and slightly twisted morality?

The Simpsons have had a significant effect on our society, from introducing new words and catch-phrases to spawning a whole merchandising operation (much of which I admit is rubbish). How often have you had a phrase in your head all day from the Simpsons? Maybe it's just me watching to much TV.....

The best kind of TV programs work at two levels, one aimed at kids and the other at adults. What The Simpsons does time and again is give the adult jokes in a way that the kids don't get! In fact, they don't even realize there is a joke there unless people laugh. (Okay, sometimes they do get it but not that often, and most of the time the jokes are not rude, just close to the mark).

The characters have developed very well over time, and if you need any reminding how far they have come take a look at some of the first series episodes.

Whilst the Simpsons family represents all that is funny about family life, it is the supporting characters that give the show depth. The fact is we all know people who are in some way like Mr Burns, Apu, Barney, Moe, Chief Wiggum, Dr. Hibbert, Ned Flanders, etc. These recurring characters always bring a smile to my face.

My all time favorite supporting character? "Sideshow" Bob Terwilliger - he gets better each time I watch him. With Kelsey Grammer providing the voice you can bet he'll be entertaining in each episode he's in. The Cape Fear rip-off is my favorite episode with Bob singing HMS Pinafore, it's an absolute masterpiece of comedy.

One final point that continually amazes me is how the script moves between totally unrelated topics with such ease. In my house we play a game with old Simpsons episodes called "where does it end up" where we have to guess how that episode ends.
Try it, you'll be as astounded as we are, and you'll probably wonder what the scriptwriters have been drinking/smoking. It's like taking a trip to the shops but going down every side street you see and actually ending up on the Moon. Brilliant.

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