What a long, strange trip it’s been for “The Simpsons.”
Consider that in its infancy the television show was criticized, ostracized and demonized by hordes of critics, including the first President Bush.
But now here we are, nearly 20 years later, and the family Simpson – making a hype- filled debut on the screen today – not only has survived but also thrived as a beloved icon embraced by millions across the world.
Matt Groening’s zany creation, in the words of author Chris Turner (“Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation”), has gone from being a “subversive smart bomb” that exploded upon prime time, to “pop-cultural wallpaper” – an entertainment entity that is so deeply woven into the American tableau that it’s almost taken for granted.
And along the way, some of the show’s edginess has been lost, according to journalist Mark Pinsky (“The Gospel According to the Simpsons”), who points out that TV’s favorite mustard-colored brood has been left in the dust by animated shows for which it paved the way, including “South Park” and “Family Guy.”
“The culture has moved on,” he says. “The Simpsons’ started out on its far reaches and made it safe for those other shows. But now, ‘The Simpsons’ are very much like centrists.”
The early objections to “The Simpsons” do indeed now seem quaint, considering all the taboo-busting exploits by movies and television in recent years. But back in the late 1980s, the uproar had an unmistakable intensity to it.
Bratty little Bart incurred the wrath of parents and religious groups across the country for the way he back-talked authority figures (“Eat my shorts!”). Also, the show’s use of previously unacceptable language, such as the word “sucks,” sparked heavy criticism.
In 1992, the show even provoked a presidential rebuke when Bush insisted that families should be “a lot more like ‘The Waltons’ and a lot less like ‘The Simpsons.”‘ First lady Barbara Bush took it a step further by deeming “The Simpsons” to be the “stupidest thing” she had ever seen.
“You had a show that was a smart, vicious satire about American culture as mainly told through the perspective of a potty-mouthed kid,” Turner says. “And some people thought it was out to destroy American values … that people wearing Bart Simpson T-shirts were going to take down the republic.”
Gradually, the uproar died down as America loosened up. And as Turner points out, “The Simpsons” somehow became more acceptable when the show’s main focal point moved from Bart to Homer.
“It’s interesting to see what Americans get worked up about,” he says. “For whatever reason, sex on TV and in movies really bothers them, but extreme violence? Not so much. In this case, a rebellious little boy had people really riled. But a lazy, self-centered couch potato who drank a lot and was a crappy parent was quite OK.”
Even many church leaders have stopped having a cow. Gradually, they realized that, despite the fact that “The Simp- sons” regularly takes satirical shots at organized religions of all stripes, the family is also one of the most God-fearing clans on television.
“In a lot of ways, they mirror a typical American family. They say grace before meals. They quote the Bible. And they regularly get down on their knees to pray – although it’s often out of desperation,” says Pinsky.
Make no mistake, “The Simpsons” still has the ability to offend, and it remains willing to sink its fangs into any deserving individual or institution, including the network that feeds it. On the other hand, many fans and critics believe it is well past its so-called golden age, roughly pegged to 1991-97.
“It’s still better than most shows on TV. And it still manages to have some great moments,” says Vestnys. “It’s just not as good as it was at its very best.”
“They’re sort of like the Rolling Stones of television,” adds Turner. “With each tour, they get a little further away from ‘Exile on Main St.”‘
With that in mind, many devotees are placing heavy expectations on the movie opening today.
“There’s a hope that, perhaps, the movie can recall the glory days and reinvigorate the franchise somewhat,” Pinksy says. “Whatever happens, ‘The Simpsons’ aren’t about to go away any time soon. Other great shows tend to come and go and have their moment, but with ‘The Simpsons,’ their moment never seems to end.”
