Screenshot from The Simpsons
No program will ever leave such a legacy
By Cazzy Lewchuk, Opinions Editor
I love The Simpsons.
We all do. There are very few people who did not grow up watching and enjoying at least a few episodes of that yellow cartoon family. It’s arguably the most popular TV show of all time. Homer and Bart are international icons, instantly recognizable with their odd hairstyles and four fingers.
Hardcore Simpsons fans (or anyone who caught any episode aired after 2000 or so) knows that the later seasons do not match the Golden Era. In fact, some of them are downright awful (I mean, who could forget the episode where Lady Gaga visits Springfield and does a duet with Lisa? It’s just not the same as Marge opposing the Monorail). Different showrunners and writers have contributed to this dip in quality, with many having written the show off long ago.
Despite the later episodes not being so great, it’s still a pretty wonderful show. It’s my all-time favourite show, and I’d argue, one of the best shows of all time. If for nothing else, it’s the popularity. There are so many phrases, images, and references immortalized by The Simpsons. Broadcasted all around the world, it’s a show that brings us all together. It’s relatable and human, while still being an outrageous cartoon world that is chock full of satire.
No show will ever have the success or recognition that The Simpsons has. Never again will a comedy (especially a cartoon!) be so universally appealing and beloved. The cast is unlike anything ever seen on TV: hundreds of residents of Springfield, each memorable and distinct, voiced by one of the best casts of any show, ever. Most of the voice cast do many characters, and perfecting and maintaining those voices for 30 years is no easy feat.
Julie Kavner, the voice of Marge (as well as every other member of the Bouvier family), refuses to do the voice outside of the studio. “The audience sees these characters as real people,” she said. It’s true: we’ve all known Marge Simpson for years. Her voice, hairstyle, and desperate attempts to keep her family together have touched our hearts for decades. It’s a show about the Simpsons, but every other Springfield resident has a story explored that we can remember. They’re walking stereotypes, but they’re also three-dimensional, honest, and all too real. We all know a little boy like Milhouse. We all know a Jeff Albertson (better known as Comic Book Guy).
The Simpsons is unparalleled in the story and world it’s created. Even if they ran out of ideas long ago, it’s still the same Springfield we know and love. Many say the show should be cancelled and put out of its misery. Personally, I think it should keep going until the beloved main voice cast die.
They’ll never stop The Simpsons! Have no fear; we’ve got stories for years!
