The veneration for S2-8 of the Simpsons has always been deeply weird, to me. Its good, but theres plenty good later on, there's plenty good in season one, and I cant help but wonder if people who lament it sharkjumping that early on are people who like, havent actually *watched* it much since it orginally aired and are leaning on memories.
S1 is pretty great too, but yes, I've watched the 'classic' ones whenever I could, and they're still great
Around me the Simpsons and Futurama got compared A LOT, even though we knew you're not really supposed to
― frogbs, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 01:50 (11 months ago) Permalink
well, he's the creator. it's his drawing style, his characters, his general sense of humor. at a certain point it doesn't really matter how much else he did beyond that.
part of what i like about the first couple seasons is that it's very groening-ish humor -- like, you can read 'childhood is hell' and 'school is hell' and watch those episodes and recognize that, whether he wrote any of it or not, it's definitely stamped with his sense of humor and general outlook on life. i haven't read that oral history but i assume he had at least some more input in the early days?
the only episode that matt groening actually wrote, 'colonel homer' (where homer is lurleen lumpkin's manager), has always been one of my least favorites.
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 02:02 (11 months ago) Permalink
uh, 'whether he wrote any of it or not' referring to the simpsons, not LIH.
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 02:03 (11 months ago) Permalink
I remember being all excited when I heard that the Life In Hell guy was going to have his own animated show (I somehow missed the Tracey Ullman shorts). I hoped that the series would spend a season on an animated version of Groening's 5th grade diary (from School Is Hell). I'm glad it didn't, though.
― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 02:15 (11 months ago) Permalink
When Futurama appeared it was a breath of fresh air compared to Simpsons - not talking down to its damn audience as much, imo.
lack of back-patting science nerd references /= "talking down"
― waggin the cock and flow tit (some dude), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 02:16 (11 months ago) Permalink
i think the tracey ullman shorts are great but apparently few other ppl do since they've never been released on dvd (unless there's some rights issue or something).
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 02:21 (11 months ago) Permalink
Yeah, I used to check the ...In Hell collections out of the library (and subsequently sneak them into the house) all the time in elementary school, so I was on top of it when Ullman started.
― Quiet Desperation, LLC (Deric W. Haircare), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 02:21 (11 months ago) Permalink
somedude: granted, but I guess I also meant that it does that nerdlolz without stopping to blatantly explain it, whereas - to me anyway - it feels like the Simpsons (like Family Guy) sometimes overexplain a ref/joke/thing/person.
― Pureed Moods (Trayce), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 03:23 (11 months ago) Permalink
Certainly, they do so NOW, but that isnt what we were talking about, so fair cop.
"Pureed Moods (Trayce)Posted: 22 May, 2012 19:38:12And Im not sure what my age has to do with anything. (fwiw I've seen both shows right from their beginnings and have all of them on DVD, if that helps?)"
There is a bit on How I Met Your Mother where Barney postulates that if you watched Star Wars prior to the age of 8, you'd love the ewoks because they're cute versus hating them for ruining the movie; this may come into it a bit. We were younger & Simpsons fresher when it started out..
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 03:35 (11 months ago) Permalink
...but I was 20 when the Simpsons started lol :|
― Pureed Moods (Trayce), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 03:36 (11 months ago) Permalink
THANKS YALL FEEL OLD NOW :(
― Pureed Moods (Trayce), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 03:37 (11 months ago) Permalink
deric, what's the title of that oral history? would like to check it out
― Sisig Steve (stevie), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 10:24 (11 months ago) Permalink
LOL at Klassic Simpsons "talking down to its audience." That's . . . not the case? They put Ayn Rand jokes in, probably not figuring anyone would get them at all. Or stuff like:
Bart: I know that's funny, but I'm just not laughing. [taps head] Lisa: Hmm. Pablo Neruda said, "Laughter is the language of the soul." Bart: I am familiar with the works of Pablo Neruda.
― it was a dark and stormy genitals. (Phil D.), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 12:05 (11 months ago) Permalink
But yeah, Futurama was a very different animal. I had different expectations from them and got different things. But I will disagree w/Trayce on The veneration for S2-8 of the Simpsons has always been deeply weird, to me. Its good, but theres plenty good later on, there's plenty good in season one, and I cant help but wonder if people who lament it sharkjumping that early on are people who like, havent actually *watched* it much since it orginally aired and are leaning on memories.
I'll go as far out as season 13 in saying there was still more good than bad, and I've watched fairly loyally over the years for the one or two episodes per season that provide a ton of laughs and pleasure, but almost never (and that almost is a very generous hedge) do the reach the dizzying heights of classic after classic like season 4 or 5.
― it was a dark and stormy genitals. (Phil D.), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 12:07 (11 months ago) Permalink
shaving my shoulders... i'm gettin it all shaved off
― ban halen (electricsound), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 12:33 (11 months ago) Permalink
Season 1 of the Simpsons is a revelation. SMH at anyone who thinks otherwise
― ʕ•̫͡ʕ•̫͡ʕ•̫͡ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ (Whiney G. Weingarten), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 12:44 (11 months ago) Permalink
I think it's An Uncensored, Unauthorized History of The Simpsons? The cover looks like this:
― Quiet Desperation, LLC (Deric W. Haircare), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 12:49 (11 months ago) Permalink
awww, sorry Trayce! What I was getting at is that the Simpsons are something we (I) *grew up with* instead of just having the option to check them out as an adult (which is when Futurama came onto my radar. Which I like, but only find okay.)
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 12:51 (11 months ago) Permalink
thanks! will seek out xp
― Sisig Steve (stevie), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 13:03 (11 months ago) Permalink
I hear that simpsons history is bad news fwiw
― ʕ•̫͡ʕ•̫͡ʕ•̫͡ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ (Whiney G. Weingarten), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 13:16 (11 months ago) Permalink
In what way? I mean, some of the key players didn't participate, but the people who did (including Conan) were legit. I read it and it was pretty revealing without being, y'know, salacious or whatever.
― Quiet Desperation, LLC (Deric W. Haircare), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 13:38 (11 months ago) Permalink
i found it second hand on amazon for a penny, will take my chances at that price tbh
― Sisig Steve (stevie), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 14:30 (11 months ago) Permalink
dead homer society just released an ebook on the decline of the simpsons. Could be interesting...
― EDB, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:29 (11 months ago) Permalink
what the fuck is that
― rock the swagon and g.o.a.t. it (Whiney G. Weingarten), Thursday, 24 May 2012 00:00 (11 months ago) Permalink
this is funhttp://moviesimpsons.tumblr.com/
― a finnish scientist who collects nightmares (arby's), Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:05 (11 months ago) Permalink
i love that
― rock the swagon and g.o.a.t. it (Whiney G. Weingarten), Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:25 (11 months ago) Permalink
just saw the "Try-n-save" episode where Brat shoplifts Bonestorm and that episode is classic as ever, it's not just a nostalgia thing, this show was awesome
― frogbs, Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:29 (11 months ago) Permalink
Bart
― frogbs, Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:30 (11 months ago) Permalink
don't question the man, Brat
― cissémanwhore (DJ Mencap), Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:32 (11 months ago) Permalink
do the bratman
― bark ruffalo (latebloomer), Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:35 (11 months ago) Permalink
"Just take it! Takeittakeittakeittakeit! Take it!"
"How's that game gonna help your putting, son?"
― it was a dark and stormy genitals. (Phil D.), Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:36 (11 months ago) Permalink
Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge is still the funniest shit ever
"You have selected Powerblast"
― Cyders from Mars (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:38 (11 months ago) Permalink
"You have chosen . . . driver. Are you sure you don't want to use your putte . . . driver. Ball is in . . . parking lot."
― it was a dark and stormy genitals. (Phil D.), Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:49 (11 months ago) Permalink
"Marge, is Lisa at Camp Granada?"
― it was a dark and stormy genitals. (Phil D.), Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:50 (11 months ago) Permalink
My contribution to this thread: I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PUT THIS SO I'M PUTTING IT HERE
― EDB, Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:02 (11 months ago) Permalink
it's also the episode with
WELCOMETHRILLHO
― frogbs, Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:09 (11 months ago) Permalink
It's a top to bottom classic. Bart holding up the voice balloon in the family picture, Homer commenting, "I don't remember saying that."
― it was a dark and stormy genitals. (Phil D.), Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:18 (11 months ago) Permalink
Or when the photographer tries to do the goofy voice for Maggie by inhaling the balloon and is just like "Hiiii, I'm...oh it's just filled with air"
Even the Bonestorm commercial was great, pretty much a picture-perfect send-up of the Macho Man Slim Jim commercials plus a pretty obvious Mortal Kombat reference
Hell it even had a nice emotional ending and all, no way modern Simpsons can pull that off
― frogbs, Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:33 (11 months ago) Permalink
"Heh heh heh...GET 'IM, MAW."
― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:34 (11 months ago) Permalink
"I though Krusty was Jewish?"
"Christmas is the time when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ."
― it was a dark and stormy genitals. (Phil D.), Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:43 (11 months ago) Permalink
"catfiche?"
(I'm always saying that)
― Pureed Moods (Trayce), Friday, 25 May 2012 05:20 (11 months ago) Permalink
Homer drawing the robot grilling the hot dog
― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 25 May 2012 10:30 (11 months ago) Permalink
BUY BONESTORM OR GO TO HELLLLL
― Pureed Moods (Trayce), Friday, 25 May 2012 10:48 (11 months ago) Permalink
"I will now close the cash register as you are apparently unfamiliar with sarcasm."
This and the one where Bart accidentally burns down the Christmas tree are the unsung heroes of TV Xmas episodes.
― Brony! Broni! Broné! (Phil D.), Friday, 25 May 2012 12:09 (11 months ago) Permalink
i think doing a tribute to something as under-the-radar and recent as logorama is less an "homage" and more "an excuse to steal an idea" tbh
― DJ Admiral Crackbar - IT'S THE TRAP!!! (Whiney G. Weingarten), Monday, 26 November 2012 04:47 (5 months ago) Permalink
Well this eats
http://www.examiner.com/article/sam-simon-has-metastasized-cancer
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 12 March 2013 20:46 (2 months ago) Permalink
sad sad news
by a lot of accounts he, more than groening, was the guy who really came up with the signature tone and style of the show in its classic days
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Tuesday, 12 March 2013 21:35 (2 months ago) Permalink
v sad, he seems like a nice interesting guy. also when he was asked if they could refer to him in the 138th episode spectacular (at that point he had long departed the everyday running of the show after disagreements with groening and brooks, mostly the former it seems), he went one better than just give them permission and instead drew them this image himself
― hot young stalin (Merdeyeux), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 02:40 (2 months ago) Permalink
i've been finding the best scoring avclub reviews of the past couple of years and watching just those episodes. some of them are not bad at all, even with a couple of quite touching and well executed moments. nowhere near the heyday obv.
― great wallogina (Autumn Almanac), Saturday, 4 May 2013 09:23 (2 weeks ago) Permalink