The Simpsons is an animated American comedy created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a parody of the Middle American lifestyle, as well as American culture, society, and television; epitomized by this family, who lives in a fictional town of Springfield.MAIN CHARACTERS
The Simpson family consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Homer, the father, works as a safety inspector at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant— a position that is in opposition to his careless personality. He is married to Marge Simpson, a stereotypical American housewife and mother. They have three children: Bart, a ten-year-old troublemaker; Lisa, a precocious eight-year-old activist; and Maggie, a baby who rarely speaks, but communicates by sucking on a pacifier. The family has a dog, Santa's Little Helper, and a cat, Snowball II. Both pets have had starring roles in several episodes. In spite of the passing of the years, such as holidays or birthdays, the Simpsons do not physically age and still appear identical to how they did at the end of the 1980s.
The show includes an array of quirky characters: co-workers, teachers, family friends, and local celebrities. The creators originally intended many of these characters as one-time jokers or for fulfilling of functions in the town. However, a number of them have gained expanded roles and subsequently starred in their own episodes.
HUMOR
The characters use catchphrases, and most of them have at least one each. Notable expressions include Homer's grunt "D'oh!", Mr. Burns' "Excellent..." and Nelson Muntz's "Ha-ha!". Some of Bart's catchphrases, such as "¡Ay, caramba!", "Don't have a cow, man!" and "Eat my shorts!" appeared on t-shirts in the show's early days. However, Bart rarely used the latter two phrases until after they became popular through the merchandising. Bart achieves fame on the “Krusty the Clown Show” for saying "I didn't do it." The use of many of these catchphrases has declined in recent seasons.
The show's humor also turns on cultural references, so the viewers from all generations can enjoy the show. Such references, for example, come from movies, television, music, literature, science, and history. Whenever possible, the animators also put jokes into the show's background, in signs, newspapers, and elsewhere. The audience may often not notice the visual jokes in a single viewing. Some are so fleeting that they become apparent only by pausing a video recording of the show.
OPENING SEQUENCE
The Simpsons' opening sequence is one of the show's most memorable hallmarks. Most episodes open with the camera zooming through the show's title towards the town of Springfield. The camera then follows the members of the family on their way home. When they arrive to their house, the Simpsons settle down on their couch to watch television. The opening was created by David Silverman. The series' distinctive song was composed by the musician Danny Elfman in 1989.
One of the most distinctive aspects of the opening is that several segments are changed from episode to episode. Bart always writes something different on the school board, Lisa plays a different solo on her saxophone, and a different visual gag accompanies the family as they enter their living room to sit on the couch.
The Simpsons is the longest-running American comedy and the longest-running American animated program. The Homer's grunt "D'oh!" has been adopted into the English lexicon, while The Simpsons has been cited as an influence on many adult-oriented animated comedies.
Since its debut on December 17, 1989, the show has aired 404 episodes over 19 seasons. As of March 20, 2006, it was renewed for a 19th season due to be aired in 2007–2008, premiering on September 23, 2007. The season 18 finale, aired on May 20, is the 400th episode, and 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons franchise. The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length film, was released worldwide on July 26 and July 27, 2007.
The Simpson family consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Homer, the father, works as a safety inspector at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant— a position that is in opposition to his careless personality. He is married to Marge Simpson, a stereotypical American housewife and mother. They have three children: Bart, a ten-year-old troublemaker; Lisa, a precocious eight-year-old activist; and Maggie, a baby who rarely speaks, but communicates by sucking on a pacifier. The family has a dog, Santa's Little Helper, and a cat, Snowball II. Both pets have had starring roles in several episodes. In spite of the passing of the years, such as holidays or birthdays, the Simpsons do not physically age and still appear identical to how they did at the end of the 1980s.
The show includes an array of quirky characters: co-workers, teachers, family friends, and local celebrities. The creators originally intended many of these characters as one-time jokers or for fulfilling of functions in the town. However, a number of them have gained expanded roles and subsequently starred in their own episodes.
HUMOR
The characters use catchphrases, and most of them have at least one each. Notable expressions include Homer's grunt "D'oh!", Mr. Burns' "Excellent..." and Nelson Muntz's "Ha-ha!". Some of Bart's catchphrases, such as "¡Ay, caramba!", "Don't have a cow, man!" and "Eat my shorts!" appeared on t-shirts in the show's early days. However, Bart rarely used the latter two phrases until after they became popular through the merchandising. Bart achieves fame on the “Krusty the Clown Show” for saying "I didn't do it." The use of many of these catchphrases has declined in recent seasons.
The show's humor also turns on cultural references, so the viewers from all generations can enjoy the show. Such references, for example, come from movies, television, music, literature, science, and history. Whenever possible, the animators also put jokes into the show's background, in signs, newspapers, and elsewhere. The audience may often not notice the visual jokes in a single viewing. Some are so fleeting that they become apparent only by pausing a video recording of the show.
OPENING SEQUENCE
The Simpsons' opening sequence is one of the show's most memorable hallmarks. Most episodes open with the camera zooming through the show's title towards the town of Springfield. The camera then follows the members of the family on their way home. When they arrive to their house, the Simpsons settle down on their couch to watch television. The opening was created by David Silverman. The series' distinctive song was composed by the musician Danny Elfman in 1989.
One of the most distinctive aspects of the opening is that several segments are changed from episode to episode. Bart always writes something different on the school board, Lisa plays a different solo on her saxophone, and a different visual gag accompanies the family as they enter their living room to sit on the couch.
The Simpsons is the longest-running American comedy and the longest-running American animated program. The Homer's grunt "D'oh!" has been adopted into the English lexicon, while The Simpsons has been cited as an influence on many adult-oriented animated comedies.
Since its debut on December 17, 1989, the show has aired 404 episodes over 19 seasons. As of March 20, 2006, it was renewed for a 19th season due to be aired in 2007–2008, premiering on September 23, 2007. The season 18 finale, aired on May 20, is the 400th episode, and 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons franchise. The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length film, was released worldwide on July 26 and July 27, 2007.
