Getting Reaquainted

Growing up, there was really not a single show on television that captivated me in the way that The Simpsons did. It was, and in many ways still is, a huge part of my life. I know more quotes from The Simpsons than I do from any book and is probably a show I’ve seen more episodes of than just about anything else. Mrs. Viator, one of my favorite high school English teachers (the one that helped me to discover my love for writing, might I add), used to say that The Simpsons was the best written show on television.

Looking at the show now, it doesn’t quite have that credibility. For many years, the show has been trying to compete with Family Guy, the spiritual successor, and Fox’s new cash cow. Family Guy, is in many ways responsible for some of The Simpsons more extreme moments seen in recent episodes as televisions longest running animated family tries desperately to keep up with the ever changing landscape of cartoon obscenity. With Family Guy, American Dad, South Park, and now, The Cleveland Show, do we still really need The Simpsons?

In a way, we do. The Simpsons is the equilizer. While it may not be as good as its competition, it’s the one of the longest running television sitcoms in history. It recently surpassed Gunsmoke as the longest running primetime entertainment program in history. It’s The Simpsons can be to thank (or to blame) for having such a heavy influence on shows like Family Guy and the highly underrated Futurama.

As a fan, I’ve recently been grabbing up some of the seasons I’m missing from my collection and reaquanting myself with my favorite television show of all time and I’ve not laughed this hard at something I’ve seen before in a long while. So, while I haven’t seen a new episode in at least 6 years, I’ll gladly say that I’ll buy every DVD of this show that’s released until it’s time for them to call it quits. All I ask, is for two more movies to complete a trilogy of epic praportions, and I will be happy. Thank you, Matt Greoning!