When people create a television show or a movie and hope that people would love it. Some creators aim for awards and all, but only the fact that people would actually watch it and think that it was good is something that is already can be proud of. However, when a television series hits more than expected, now that is surely something to be proud of.
Who would’ve thought that a simple animated sitcom would actually become so loved that it is now part of history books? Started in 1989, the Simpsons is created by Matt Groening and it has become the longest-running American sitcom in the history of television. The Simpsons family of Bart, Marge, Maggie, Homer, and Lisa still continues to break records in the world of television. Despite the controversy they are currently facing, they still manage to make it through.
Simpson Makes Television History
With the airing of their 636th episode, The Simpsons managed to hit television history by becoming the longest-running scripted series on primetime passing the television show Gunsmoke. With its 29th season, in that the specific episode, Homer actually mentioned that they are about to surpass Gunsmoke. According to comedy writer Mike Reiss, the show is so loved by many because if basically focuses on two major things, and that is family and folly.
The Simpsons were just a started fill on the Tracey Ullman Show back in the day, which lasted for like a minute every single time. Since then, people are getting into it more and more. People could simply relate to it in almost every aspect, people find an unusual connection to this animated sitcom because it is about family, and family consists of all ages who deal with different situations over the years such as marriage, school, work, and more. They show simply points out a lot of things that no other shows could. It helps people learn to laugh at their own problems which is actually a huge help to them in a certain way, it just makes them bearable.
Another thing is that they make parodies, which definitely catches everyone’s attention. Their videos take up a notch every single time that people consider it is as if it is actually their comfort food. Fox Network admitted that no one expected The Simpsons to go this far that they even managed to pass CBS’ western drama classic “Gunsmoke” back in 1955 to 1975.
In an interview with its creator Matt Groening, he mentioned that he never expected the Simpsons to last this long, it was just an experiment and it turned out way more than they expected. When asked when did he realize that things are getting special with his animated sitcom, Groening simply said that it would be like the classic Warner Bros. Looney Tunes but a much more relatable sitcom.
When asked how much longer does the Simpsons will be on the air, Groening simply said that end is not near for the show, at least not in his perspective. He also mentioned that after all these years, the Simpsons need their own theme park, not just some rides here and there. He would’ve loved to have a 600-foot tall statue of Homer wherein people could go up and have dinner located in Homer’s head statue.
Racism Controversy
Over the years, not every show is perfect and not every show also reaches a milestone. Despite the success of the longest-running animated sitcom of today, the Simpsons are too far from being perfect. In fact, they are currently facing a controversy because of their character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon who is known to be a racist caricature. In one of their most recent episode called “No Good Read Goes Unpunished”, wherein Lisa Simpson basically meant how they have been on the air for so long and it is only now that these things are improper.
Groening even said that he is indeed very proud of the show and people simply love to be offended nowadays. It is not something new, the controversy has been on for years and people just keep on bringing it up. The show wouldn’t have lasted this long if it is not so loved by its fans, despite the controversy. The controversies are only made by those who take things offensively even if it is for pure entertainment purposes.