636 Episodes Later And “The Simpsons” Still Hit All The Right Buttons

As The Simpsons cross the finish line of topping Gunsmoke as the longest-running series in primetime television history, it’s amazing to see that after three decades this show is just as rife for controversy as any other.

While there are those that argue that The Simpsons has lost some of its luster since the show’s second season, the parallels between the two time periods couldn’t be any more alike. For example, in 1991, Bill Cosby…yes the same Bill Cosby who was just sentenced earlier this week for sexual assault at the age of 80, once claimed that Bart Simpson was a poor role model for children.  Today, political comedian Hari Kondabalu wages a war against “Apu” claiming that the popular character from The Simpsons is somehow derogatory towards people of South Asian descent. In ’92, George H.W Bush, Republican politician, would claim that American people should be more like The Waltons and less like The Simpsons. Last month, US Senator from Texas Ted Cruz claimed that the Republican party is the part of everyone from the aforementioned series with the exception of Lisa “who is for the left”. Even talent from The Simpsons, more recent examples including the likes of Harry Shearer and Hank Azaria, have come to criticize the series despite the fact that both are happy enough to cash their monster checks.

The point is…The Simpsons are still one of the most topical series in present-day television. For better or for worse, this fucking show is always in the news. Whether it’s the writers’ powers in prognostication or the online shorts ribbing our President. Or how about the fact that for the last five months, the social phenomenon that was the near 30-year-old episode “22 Short Films About Springfield” that people memed the hell out of via the now iconic “Steamed Hams” scene? Christ, every time one of the former writers posts a page from an old script, it gets headlines, and when Al Jean or Matt Groening says something regarding any current trends in Simpsons-controversy, people listen. List of countries that have banned The Simpsons on television? China, Russia, etc etc…see a trend?

Not much has changed in our country’s response to The Simpsons after 636 episodes. Today, there are supposed “fans” everywhere who claim the show should be canceled, though they are most likely from the same mouths of hell that used to say it since the show premiered. There are those that claim the “classic” era of The Simpsons, but every year at Comic-Con I see kids who are still falling in love with the show for the first time over and over again buying up the comics or merchandise like it’s going out of style.

Quite frankly, the only flaw the franchise has is in the frailty of its voice performers. Over the years, we’ve lost some greats, Marcia Wallace comes to mind as a character that left way too soon and we nearly lost Harry Shearer due to a contract dispute. While at the time Al Jean noted that replacing iconic characters like Skinner, Ned, and Smithers would be as simple as flipping a switch and getting new characters to voice them, the true fans know that never would’ve flown for those who have stuck with the show for eons and instead would probably prefer new characters entirely. But, can you imagine anyone else besides now 67-year old Julie Kavner voicing Marge if, god forbid, something happens to her? Harry Shearer is 74! The rest of the cast averages age 50 and older, and unless if we come up with some sort of potion that guarantees that everyone lives forever, you have to ask, “How many fall seasons are left for The Simpsons?” 

That said, this show doesn’t owe anybody anything.