The Simpsons has been a staple of tv for 35 years now, and with every passing decade, followers have debated which period of the long-running animated sitcom is the perfect — from its starting to the current day. Many level to the sequence’ “golden age”, which extends from the very first episode (a Christmas-themed story of misfortune and redemption) by means of the top of the Nineteen Nineties, as the perfect The Simpsons has ever been. It is arduous to argue with this logic, given what number of standout episodes had been produced throughout this era.
And but, in line with the present’s longest-serving employees member, Al Jean — who has labored on The Simpsons from the very starting, first as a author after which as a producer — the heyday of the sequence wasn’t all the time wine and roses for these working behind the scenes. Jean reminisced with The Guardian about one specific episode he and different staffers feared would finally result in the sequence’ cancelation:
Having been there throughout the ‘golden period,’ I’ll simply say it did not really feel like that on the time… There is a present from season three that I consider on a regular basis: ‘Homer on the Bat.’ We had two script reads; that was the second, and it was lifeless silent. It was the worst learn ever. Mike Reiss [Jean’s co-showrunner] and I checked out one another like: we’re going to get fired.
Jean additionally states that fan backlash was very a lot current throughout the “golden period” as properly:
Early on, we’re already making enjoyable of ourselves for being successful. We had a joke about Simpsons T-shirts in season two. Some individuals speak about how ‘Lisa bought too wordy and brainy’ — that occurs within the Christmas present [when she eloquently rebuffs her aunt’s insults of Homer]. So I assume we jumped the shark in act three of the very first episode!
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One other former author, John Vitti — who was concerned in such traditional episodes as “Mr. Plow,” “Cape Feare,” and “Lisa’s Substitute” — echoed Jean’s sentiments, stating that the criticism that the present is not nearly as good because it was once is one thing he is been listening to since season two. However he additionally acknowledges followers’ issues over the gradual exaggeration and simplification of sure characters, a phenomenon often known as “Flanderisation.”
Over time, Christian individuals have turned on Ned Flanders, the place they really feel like he is a parody. It’s true that he bought to be extra of a Christian — however that wasn’t the intent. The unique intent is properly expressed within the [1989] Christmas episode — that he is a pleasant man. He thinks he is Homer’s pal. He is very blissful together with his personal life … And it is good that Flanders by no means is aware of he drives Homer loopy or enjoys it, as a result of that is a simple factor for a comedy author to do. [But] with the search for more durable laughs, there’s an excessive amount of of ‘The Simpsons’ for that by no means to have occurred.
And it was really a revelation, however when Homer began to get meaner, our followers — together with a number of the web guys, who you won’t affiliate with being extremely character-driven — these viewers do not hate Homer, they hate you. It is an vital lesson to recollect as a author.
Many followers contemplate the present iteration of The Simpsons, led by showrunner Matt Selman, as a return to kind for the sequence. Nonetheless, others insist the “golden age,” with its nostalgic hand-drawn animation and sharp-witted satire of the American household, is the perfect. Wherever you stand, it is clear that The Simpsons is an establishment with years and years price of snickers out there to viewers.
- Launch Date
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December 17, 1989
- Community
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FOX
- Seasons
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36
- Story By
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Matt Groening and James L. Brooks