2008 Woodie Awards
Inspirational quotes from a classic TV show
'South Park' be damned. 'The Simpsons' remains the best cartoon show on television, offers words to live by inspires a host of imitators
By: Spencer Marshak
Issue date: 5/7/08 Section: Opinion
Better yet, Burns offers some of his own worldly advice, proudly preaching that, "Family. Religion. Friendship. These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business."
I don't care that the show has dropped in quality over the past few years. In fact, it deeply saddens me. But not only is that quote funny, those first 10 seasons or so provided enough humor to fill a brain's worth of brain cells. In fact, that pretty much describes my brain.
I have run into quite a few people in my life who are not Simpsons fans, and while I respect their opinions, they are oh so wrong.
How can you not laugh when Bart claims, "Remember, you can always find East by staring directly at the sun."
Or that one time when Lisa apologized to Homer by saying, "I still believe in protecting animal's rights, but that still doesn't excuse what I did. I'm sorry for wrecking your barbecue, dad." To which Homer replied, "That's okay, honey. I used to believe in things too."
Inspirational? No. Words to live one's life by? Probably not.
The funniest television sitcom to ever run across my TV screen? Absolutely.
I will give Family Guy and South Park their credit. Those shows are funny. But even they both admit that they draw a huge amount of inspiration from The Simpsons. You know those random jokes and gags that are so prevalent in Family Guy? Seth McFarlane openly admits to getting the basic idea of that concept from "The Simpsons." And "South Park," well, "South Park" dedicated an entire episode to "The Simpsons," titled "Simpsons Already Did It," which basically stated that "The Simpsons" had already used up all of the 'good' ideas for animated comedies.
Basically, "The Simpsons" are great. I grew up on that show as much as, if not more so, than anything Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network had to offer me as a kid. "The Simpsons" has some of the most fantastic and culturally relevant gags out there, and they always succeed in making fun of the world in an incredibly clever way.
And then there is Ralph Wiggum.
"My cat's breath smells like cat food."
Oh Ralph Wiggum, how I love thee.
I don't care that the show has dropped in quality over the past few years. In fact, it deeply saddens me. But not only is that quote funny, those first 10 seasons or so provided enough humor to fill a brain's worth of brain cells. In fact, that pretty much describes my brain.
I have run into quite a few people in my life who are not Simpsons fans, and while I respect their opinions, they are oh so wrong.
How can you not laugh when Bart claims, "Remember, you can always find East by staring directly at the sun."
Or that one time when Lisa apologized to Homer by saying, "I still believe in protecting animal's rights, but that still doesn't excuse what I did. I'm sorry for wrecking your barbecue, dad." To which Homer replied, "That's okay, honey. I used to believe in things too."
Inspirational? No. Words to live one's life by? Probably not.
The funniest television sitcom to ever run across my TV screen? Absolutely.
I will give Family Guy and South Park their credit. Those shows are funny. But even they both admit that they draw a huge amount of inspiration from The Simpsons. You know those random jokes and gags that are so prevalent in Family Guy? Seth McFarlane openly admits to getting the basic idea of that concept from "The Simpsons." And "South Park," well, "South Park" dedicated an entire episode to "The Simpsons," titled "Simpsons Already Did It," which basically stated that "The Simpsons" had already used up all of the 'good' ideas for animated comedies.
Basically, "The Simpsons" are great. I grew up on that show as much as, if not more so, than anything Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network had to offer me as a kid. "The Simpsons" has some of the most fantastic and culturally relevant gags out there, and they always succeed in making fun of the world in an incredibly clever way.
And then there is Ralph Wiggum.
"My cat's breath smells like cat food."
Oh Ralph Wiggum, how I love thee.
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