General Simpsons Thread

Selma was intriguing in how she had more personality besides just being an Obnoxious In Law to Homer and even had something resembling a character arc in her attempts to have a family.

I admit it's curious we hear very little about Marge's late father besides that one famous gag.

I haven't seen the episode, but the episode "Puffless" dealt with Marge's father and Patty & Selma learning that he died from lung cancer.

I wish we'd see more of Selma baby ling it's like they totally forgot she exists and it would be nice for maggie to have a playmate.

Ling is one of those big changes to the series that really wasn't. At best, she appears once every five seasons or so in a group shot, but I can't think of a time she's been important to a story. Which considering one of Selma's driving motivations through the series is to start a family, is kind of a bizarre decision.

They even subjected her to Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome, because I definitely recall an episode where she's about five years old and can speak in full sentences. It's just... odd.

In light of Star Wars Day, a new Maggie Simpson Star Wars-themed short is incoming!

Recently I came across something funny. There was a YouTube video with some clips from "Homer the Great," and its title was "Homer Joins The Illuminati." Wha? XD No he didn't; he joined the Stonecutters. Yeah, "Illuminati" is kind of negative.

I mean the Stonecutters are kind of deplorable with the way they use their power before Homer becomes the Supreme Stonecutter; Remember, they rig every Oscar night and hold back the Electric Car. And the most evil thing they do; make Steve Guttenberg a Star.

Azaria should've apologized for nothing, as it's not his fault Apu was written to be Indian, it's the writers to blame.

Anyway, it seems that we still have no word on Apu's new voice. Do you think there will be an in-universe explanation on Apu's new voice, with him going through throat surgery, and someone else taking his job at the Kwik-E-Mart (like, say, James Woods again)?

He chose the voice, specifically meant to be exaggerated for humorous effect, and based it on another white man's performance. That's a reason to apologize.

the impression I get is that while he should apologise, without the writers acknowledging their reasonability as well he comes across as being unfairly singled out

I don't think they commented in-universe about new voices for characters like Carl or Dr. Hibbert. So, I don't really see them doing that.

Also, if they're trying to avoid controversy, it'd probably be for the best they not bring back James Woods. He's kind gone down the conspiracy rabbit hole, if you catch my drift.

Well that’s just prime. x_x

I know people have discussed inconsistencies of the Simpsons family, but have they talked about their wealth? Even Grimes made a note of how despite seemingly lower-middle class they are, the Simpsons could afford certain luxuries.

The Simpsons are weird in that they seem to have a lot more than you'd expect from a family with only one income, but several jokes are made about how they are drowning on debts and the house seems to be falling apart at one point or another. Hell, Marge once said that she feeds the 5 on $12 a week.

Honest Trailers said it best:

"Meet the Simpsons, a perfect representation of how Harvard nerds envision a middle-class family."

I don't think it is really that absurd, the problem is that the show has been around for so long that society has changed over 30+ years and what is seen as middle class is different. The economy in general varies a lot in just a few years, and the show was never so realistic as to be spot on regarding how much Homer makes at his job, the standard of living and the abstract location of Springfield itself means there is nothing to really compare it to.

I guess to me middle class largely means having your own home in a decent suburban neighborhood. The Simpson family doesn't have money shortage or surplus unless required for the plot anyway.

Also what kind of show is Krusty the Clown Show anyway, a variety show for children? Because apparently it has history as an adult show.

It's hilarious though that their house keeps changing from a wreck to a relatively fine house, and the change of furniture and space too.

Edited by Ookamikun on May 11th 2021 at 10:23:35 PM

As the this wiki's page for The Artifact goes, the Simpsons were parodying a bygone time in America that was transitioning from the world influenced by the post-War generation to the upcoming post-Cold War generation. Seriously, post World-War and post-Cold War can be looked at side by sides with the Simpsons in how our values and mindsets have changed.

Yes, it was basically a children's variety show. They were still pretty popular in the 90s. I think a roughly similar real world show would be The Amanda Show.

Let's not forget All That was a variety show as well.

Sure, but Amanda was the one I was most familiar with through Nickelodeon.

Its not so much a Variety Show as it is a Syndicated Bozo The Clown Klone lol.

Well, it's variety in that it switches live action segments with cartoons and skits.

Oh I'm familiar with children's variety shows (grew up with them), I'm just wondering how the show was in the past because "Classic Krusty" looked more like a talk show.

Krusty's show is really just whatever Rule of Funny dictates it is at the moment. That extends to his company as well: sometimes he's a struggling local act and sometimes he's an entire multimedia corporation.