The Simpsons celebrates a milestone never met by any animated series ever. December 17th 2008 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Simpson’s own weekly series, now in its staggering 20th season.
In reality The Simpsons hit 20 last year since its first incarnation was in 30 second shorts on the Tracey Ullman Show between segments, but this day is the 20th Anniversary of the very first episode of the Simpsons show ever on Television.
In case you have been living under a big giant rock, Wikipedia calls it:
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of the middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its titular family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield, and lampoons many aspects of the human condition including American culture, society, and television.
Of all the ups and downs of the series, it has reached an untouchable status. They would have to quit on their own terms to want to bring this show to a close.
Homer has pursued pretty much every profession known to man (despite his incredible inability to deserve them) and has met more celebrities than Perez Hilton.
But of the entire series, the one character that never fails to amuse me is the Comic Book Guy. Nameless (Jeff Albertson actually), and the animated avatar of every elitist comic book geek you have ever known offers up some of the best lines in the series. Obviously I am biased to the character being a comic book collector myself. In the various comic shops I have frequented throughout my hobby, I have met this man incarnate at least five times.
So in tribute to the Simpsons, The Movie Blog tips its virtual hat to the show that has found a soft spot for just about everyone, and I see no end in sight.
Can you name your favourite character or favourite episode??
Favorite Episode: the Tomacco one
Favorite Character: Ralphie … so many great lines!
“It feels like burning”
“Me flunk english, that’s unpossible”
Yes, Comic Book Guy is the best character.
A very very close second is Sideshow Bob. I cant believe he was not in the movie. Anyone know why?
Oh, so many. It’s a tough choice between Comic Book Guy & Professor Frink. He may not have as much screentime as he used to, but every second is enjoyable.
One episode that sticks out in my mind is when the Isotopes win the penant? and Homer & gang go on a drunken party through the town, ending in the men’s shower at the deserted High School. When they wake up, the town is destroyed and they blame the kids and start a curfew. The kids revolt and eventually the seniors take over.
Grandpa: Yay! We took back the night!
The Conan O’Brien years were the best, IMHO. The surest way way to tell (aside from the credits) is not by the continued-to-be-refined crudeness of the characters but by the larger black pupils that are a little wonky.
That said, there’s almost too many favorite lines over the course of 19 seasons. That show has given me nothing but pure joy for almost 20 years of my adult life and asked nothing in return — except to shell out my hard earned cash to buy the DVD sets and see one movie in the theatres. Frankly, Fox would be wise to create an all-Simpsons cable channel, airing uncut episodes from start to finish or theming them based on the season of the year. How frakin’ great would it be as one approached Halloween to watch all the Treehouse of Terrors?? The could supplement with all the features on the DVDs. Guaranteed eyeballs.
A couple lines I love and use regularly:
“I’m no super genius. Or are I?” – Homer
“My eyes! The goggles do nothing!” – Rainer Wolfecastle as Radioactive Man
Grandpa:
“So long, milkshakes!”
good old Krusty:
“Hey, I don’t need your charity, titters. Now, say hello to my girlfriend, Charity Titters.”
from the ‘Funzo’ episode:
(Lisa writes “I will not do math in class” on the blackboard as a
punishment)
Bart: Lisa in trouble? The ironing is delicious.
Lisa: The word is irony!
Bart: All’s I know is I’m getting straight A’s, and that ain’t not bad.
and, of course, trusty Smithers:
“I think women and sea men don’t mix.”
I don’t know what I’ll do when the stop making new episodes of The Simpsons. It’ll be a sad day and I know it’s coming.
The one where Homer gains 60 lbs to work from home and wears a Mumu.
I’m gonna have to say Rev. Lovejoy is underrated
Flanders: Is God testing me?
Lovejoy: Oh… short answer: yes with an “if”, long answer no….. with a “but”.
or
Lovejoy: Wait a minute, this sounds like rock and/or roll.
The film festival episode:
Marge: My name is Marge Simpson and I have a suggestion.
Crowd: Mumur, mumur, mumur.
Random Person: Marge is gonna say something.
You can’t do it justice by reading it but it is my favourite funny moment ever in the series.
That is amazing that they are still coming up with good gags!!
Homer’s Enemy was my favorite, I watched the show religiously from seasons 7-12 and caught up on the rest through reruns and let me tell ya, this would stands head and shoulders above anything else I’ve ever seen on that show, just barely, lol
Lionel Hutz is my favorite character and Marge in Chains is my favorite episode.
Lionel Hutz: Well, he’s kind of had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace “accidentally” with “repeatedly,” and replace “dog” with “son.”
“This isn’t a very happy birthday for Rex Banner”.
Beer Baron FTW! Great, great episode. So many great lines.
Also, the episode where they go to New York to get Homer’s car.
Favorite character? I’d have to go with Grimie..at least as a secondary character. It’s a hard decision.
The show right now is just awful..its almost unwatchable. I agree on that mypod post earlier..that episode and the one where Homer becomes a bounty hunter this year were just pathetic. I can’t remember laughing even once.
Frank Grimes! There’s a character I thought was brilliant. A whole episode about a real guy breaking down the fourth wall and reacting to Homer’s stupidity. As far as I can remember, that was the last ultimately great episode.
Favorite episodes:
1. The one where Sideshow Bob escapes from prison and the Simpsons have to go in the witness protection program as the Thompsons.
FBI guy to Homer: Ok, when I say hi Mr. Thompson, you say something something…
Homer whispers to the other FBI guy beside him: I think he’s talking to you…
2. An old episode where Krusty gets cancelled and replaced by another show (with a puppet) and he does a comeback show with guests like Bette Midler and SIDESHOW LUKE PERRY!!!
hopefully they start putting out more seasons like season 19, its not as good as it was in its prime but its much better than the crap seasons theyve had lately (14-18)
favorite episode: too many, but seasons 3-8 are pure gold
favorite characters: lionel hutz & chief wiggum
favorite quote: too many good ones, but here’s one “…Did we lose a war? That’s not America! That’s not even Mexico…” – Homer
I love that when it opened there were so many complaints about bad family values, and later Homer and Marge are often shown as having great family values
My favorite Simpsons episode? “Homer Badman.”
“Marge, you know how bashful I am. I can’t even say titmouse without giggling like a schoolgirl.”
This series seriously needs to be cancelled already. They’re not even running on fumes anymore. That mypod episode made me want to smash my television.
For me, my favorite has t be Mr. Burns. He never fails to crack me up. As for my favorite episode, I say it has to be A Fish Called Slema, just for the musical Stop The Planet Of The Apes, I Wanna Get Off! Planet of the Apes is one of my favorite movies and I love how that is presented.
“I hate every ape I see from Chimpan-A to Chimpan-Z!”
^That had to have been the best Homer moment, showing what kind of father he is. Great moment.
I still enjoy the show, even the new episodes. Even if it doesn’t make me laugh, the story is usually good I find.
Springfield gorge moment is classic.
I heard Matt Groening said that Comic Book Guy’s name was supposed to have been Louis Lane. How awesome would that have been?
God, you’re asking the impossible. Just one episode? Man, I’m going to need awhile, but anything season eight and before is always good, and I’m partial to anything with Krabappel, Sideshow Bob, Chalmers, and Mr. Burns. There’s one scene with Burns that always puts me into hysterics.
“Look at that pig. Stuffing his face with donuts on my time! That’s right, keep eating…Little do you know you’re drawing ever closer to the poison donut! [cackles evilly, then stops abruptly] There is a poison one, isn’t there Smithers?”
“Err…no, sir. I discussed this with our lawyers and they consider it murder.”
“DAMN THEIR OILY HIDES!”
I agree with Jay E too. ‘Do it for her’ is one of my favorite moments because even though Homer can be such a screw-up, in spite of everything, he’s still a great dad and he loves his kids. There is no question about that and I really think that’s what makes the Simpsons such a strong series.
“You only move twice”
The Hank Scorpio character is my favorite guest character of the series, he is a genuine guy to Homer and yet totally evil at the same time. And Homer was disappointed for receiving the Denver Broncos yet a few years later they won the Super Bowl. My, how times change.
Favorite “quote” is never spoken, but it is when Homer changes the sign in his office from “Don’t forget, your here forever” to “Do it for her” using pictures of Maggie.
Maggie’s first (unheard) word of “Daddy” was also a tearjerker.
Treehouse of Horror 3
I love the episode that apu gets fired from the kwik-e-mart and sings the who needs the kwik-e-mart song.I DOOOO
Krusty the Clown and Sideshow Bob, by far!
22 Short Films About Springfield. That single episode is packed so full of pop culture references and Simpsons inside jokes.
Thanks for the post…20 years my god!! I was a little older than Bart/Lisa’s age when I started watching!
As much as I’m not a fan of where the show has gone in recent years, I have to say that when it was at its peak it was the BEST thing on television.
I don’t think I could ever pinpoint a favourite episode but I suppose from around season 4-8 they were at their very best.
Favourite characters are tough too!!
Skinner’s one of my favs. And a more obscure one would be Hans Moleman I suppose.
I would say long may it continue but how many years can it have left???
Hey…I’m a guy like me!!
Hans Moleman and the Film Festival episode! :D
BURNS: “Are you saying Boo or Boo-urns?”
CROWD: “BOOOO!!!!”
HANS MOLEMAN: “I was saying Boo-urns…”