while i respect the first 2-3 seasons the show doesn't really kick into gear until season 4 for me. 4-8 are the cream of the crop...with a bunch of classics 9+ but a bit more scattered.
season 3 turns the tide and they have by far some of the more iconic episodes of the entire series... they're not as hilarious and dumb as season 4-8 gets. We're still doing the basics of what makes the simpsons funny in season 3. like soapbox derby or Colonel homer. I hated colonel homer as a kid, too boring. They were still trying to be a TV show here and there. Season 4+ is when they said, fuck it, lets just be hilarious + endearing because we've grown to love the characters. They're important seasons...just not as funny.
im looking at wiki right now.... i know tv was different back then but the first epsiode of season 2 had 30million viewers!!!?! haha what the fuck.
The Simpsons was insanely popular almost immediately. They wrote one of the earliest Treehouse of Horrors about it, Bart's wish from the monkey's paw deal with fame and fortune, and backlash from oversaturation.
Ya I agree. There was a switch in animation and guys like Simon and especially swartzwelder wrote some of the most amazing episodes.
Ya it's easy to forget that the show was a bigger brand than it was a show. An easy way to tell is how homer tends to be your main character but back then the bulk of society knew who Bart Simpson was. And if the ratings back then weren't enough, George hw Bush and his wife actively campaigned against the show saying it didn't harbor good family values. Thanks to their comments, we were given one of the best episodes in 2 bad neighbors.
Owner: Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse... Homer: [worried] Ooooh, that's bad. Owner: But it comes with a free Frogurt! Homer: [relieved] That's good. Owner: The Frogurt is also cursed. Homer: [worried] That's bad. Owner: But you get your choice of topping! Homer: [relieved] That's good. Owner: The toppings contains Potassium Benzoate. [Homer stares, confused] That's bad. Homer: [worried] Can I go now?
I have to post the long related comic now, from Rebecca Sugar the creator of Steven Universe. WARNING: TEARS
what are the "classic" episodes, if any, from season 12 onwards? Only one I can think of off the top of my head is the 'Trilogy of Error' one where Homer, Bart & Lisa have those interconnecting stories. That's it!
Confession: I used to think that they actually got the Bush's to guest in that episode. Like I thought it was really them.
I'd say the disparity between the size of the brand and the size of the TV show itselt has gotten even bigger over the years, especially internationally. The brand can be used to sell stuff to more people than just those that actively watch the show still.
I haven't cared for the new seasons (I haven't watched any of the past few) but I was never in the "Fuck modern Simpsons!" category until now. The dude works on the show for 27 years and you fire him over the phone? Fuck that a thousand times. End the show.
I still watch every new episode but I'm really starting to wonder what their endgame is. Why try so hard to keep the show running forever? I imagine they probably still make more money on merchandise and older episodes than they do new ones
I just started watching from the beginning. Finished the first season in just a couple days. I'm excited to keep going, I know it just gets better and better (for a little while at least) but I was surprised at just how strong the show was from episode 1.