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What'sHappening I N T H E U S A ?

BY LAWRENCE GABLE VOL 17, NO 4 DECEMBER 2009

n December 17, 1989 a new She cooks and cares for her family, family appeared on television. and she is the family’s heart and con- The special Christmas pro- science. However, Marge is not just gramO featured parents and three chil- cheery and loving. Sometimes she dren who had bright yellow skin, and gets frustrated and angry as she keeps they quickly became one of America’s her family together. Her activities most popular families. Twenty years outside the home make her a more later “” has become the modern woman than used to appear longest-running prime time show in in family sitcoms. TV history. The older two children also When the show began, FOX play complex roles. In earlier sitcoms was a young network. It was trying to The the son usually caused problems and establish itself, so it took a chance on a the daughter was sweet and simple. show that criticized American society. TheSimpsons lacks respect for rules and show was a sharp contrast to earlier situation people in authority. However, he express- comedies that showed an unrealistic, ideal Make es enough regrets and little-boy insecurities American family. The first episode of to make him lovable. Lisa represents a “The Simpsons” came on January 14, 1990. History thoroughly modern character. She is a Clearly the risk paid off, since the show now appears smart and strong girl who plays the saxophone and fights in 45 languages for people in 120 countries. for human rights. Unfortunately, this makes her a social Quickly the show drew praise and criticism. outcast with insecurities of her own. Little Maggie just In 1990 it won an Emmy Award for “Outstanding sucks on her pacifier all the time. Animated Program.” At the same time some schools Many things have led to the show’s success. were banning T-shirts that showed Bart Simpson and One is that viewers can relate to the family because the said “Underachiever and Proud of It, Man.” In 1992 members have weaknesses. Another is that advertisers President Bush said that the American family should always have supported the show because it attracts be “less like the Simpsons.” many teenaged viewers. Finally, viewers appreciate the The show’s creator, , based the humorous criticisms of American society, from couch characters loosely on his own family. His father’s name potatoes to fast food, religion, politicians, health care was Homer and his mother’s was Marge. He also had and TV violence. two sisters named Lisa and Maggie. He did not use his “The Simpsons” has received many awards brother’s real name, but chose the name Bart because the and honors. In 1999 Time Magazine named it the letters can be rearranged to spell “brat.” The show’s pro- best television series of the 20th century. In 2000 the ducer has said that the characters represent “the normal received a star in the sidewalk on American family in all its beauty and horror.” the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Homer’s cry “D’oh!” As the typical father, is the entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2001, and in head of the family. He has a job at the local nuclear 2009 the U.S. Postal Service issued stamps that showed power plant, but he lacks intelligence, skills and cul- the family members. The show has won a total of 25 ture. Unlike early TV fathers, he never knows best for television excellence. how to do things. The most important things for him Soon “The Simpsons” will show its 500th are simple pleasures like TV, beer and doughnuts. episode. Through the years adults and young people Although he has many faults, he loves his wife and kids have enjoyed the show, even if for different reasons. and they love him. Although every episode brings new problems, the family In many ways Marge plays the role of the typi- sticks together. In the end the animated family with cal 1950s stay-at-home mother. She always wears a yellow faces may present a more realistic view of fami- dress, a pearl necklace and a ridiculous beehive hairdo. lies than earlier shows ever did. What'sHappening I N T H E U S A ?

BY LAWRENCE GABLE VOL 17, NO 4 DECEMBER 2009

n December 1989 a new wears a dress, pearls and a beehive family appeared on tele- hairdo. She cooks and cares for vision. The Christmas her family, and she is the family’s Iprogram featured a family heart and conscience. However, with bright yellow skin. “The Marge is not just cheery and lov- Simpsons” quickly became pop- ing. Sometimes she gets frustrated ular, and 20 years later it has as she keeps her family together. become the longest-running Unlike women in old sitcoms, she prime time show in TV history. has activities outside the home. When the show began, Bart and Lisa also play FOX was a young network. It The roles different from those in took a chance on a show that criti- earlier sitcoms. The son usually cized American society. The show Simpsons caused problems and the daughter was different from earlier situation was sweet and simple. Bart lacks comedies that showed an ideal Make respect for rules and adults. How- American family. The first episode ever, he expresses enough little-boy of “The Simpsons” came in January History insecurities to make him lovable. 1990. Clearly the risk paid off, since the show Lisa is a modern character. She is smart, plays the now appears in 45 languages for people in 120 saxophone and fights for human rights. Unfortun- countries. ately, this makes it hard for her to have friends. Quickly the show drew praise and Many things have led to the show’s suc- criticism. In 1990 it won an Emmy Award for cess. One is that viewers can relate to people “Outstanding Animated Program.” At the same who have weaknesses. Another is that advertis- time some schools were banning Bart Simpson ers always have supported the show because it T-shirts. In 1992 President Bush said that the attracts many teenaged viewers. Finally, viewers American family should be “less like the enjoy the funny criticisms of American society, Simpsons.” from fast food to religion and TV violence. The show’s creator based the characters “The Simpsons” has received many on his own family. His father’s name was Homer awards and honors. Time Magazine named it the and his mother’s was Marge. He also had two best television series of the 20th century. The sisters named Lisa and Maggie. He did not use Simpsons received a star in the sidewalk on the his brother’s real name, but chose the name Bart Hollywood Walk of Fame. Homer’s cry “D’oh!” because those four letters also spell “brat.” entered the dictionary in 2001, and in 2009 the As the typical father, Homer Simpson is U.S. Postal Service put the family on stamps. the head of the family. He has a job, but he lacks Soon “The Simpsons” will show its 500th intelligence and culture. Unlike early TV fathers, episode. Through the years adults and young he never knows best how to do things. The most people have enjoyed the show, even if for differ- important things for him are TV, beer and dough- ent reasons. Although every episode brings new nuts. Although he has many faults, he loves his problems, the family sticks together. In the end wife and kids and they love him. the animated family with yellow faces may pre- In many ways Marge plays the role of the sent a more realistic view of families than earlier typical 1950s stay-at-home mother. She always shows ever did. THE SIMPSONS Background Information

“The Simpsons” was the first FOX program to reach Topics for Discussion and Writing the Top 10 in ratings. It was the first series with car- Pre-reading: toon characters to be on during prime time since “The • Tell why you think the “The Simpsons” has been a Flintstones” in the early 1960s. TV historians credit popular TV series. the show as being the program that established FOX as Comprehension: a network. • Describe the ideal American family that many older Before “The Simpsons” appeared in its Christmas spe- series showed. cial in 1989, the family had been appearing in shorts Beyond the Text: since April 1987 on a FOX variety program called • Compare how the Simpsons interact as a family to some “The Show.” other family you see on TV. Each episode contains about 24,000 individual draw- • What advantage is there that the characters have stayed ings and takes at least six months to produce. The the same age? movie that appeared in 2008 took four years to make. • Rank the Simpsons (excluding Maggie) in the order that you like them and explain your reasons for your Springfield is a common name for towns in the U.S. first and last choices. Twenty-eight states have a Springfield, and Wisconsin has five. It is the name of the capital of Illinois, and Vocabulary (*advanced article only) also the name of the town in the old radio and televi- Article-specific: prime time; network; situation comedy; sion series “Father Knows Best.” animated; brat; beehive; insecurities; outcast* In 1994 Ms. Magazine recognized as a High-use:to feature*; to establish*; contrast*; episode; feminist role model. The magazine called her “animat- criticism; to ban; to base on; to lack; culture; ed and liberated.” complex*; authority*; to issue* The series has had many celebrities supply voices, Sources most often for their own characters in an episode. The Guardian appeared on the show, as did the for- (London) October 24, 2009 mer British Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, no Plain Dealer (Cleveland) October 18, 2009 current or former U. S. president ever has accepted an Calgary Herald October 8, 2009 invitation. Boston Herald June 17, 2009 “Gunsmoke” used to be the longest-running series in Museum of Broadcast Communications www.museum.tv prime time. CA Curricular Standards (4–12) A global positioning system has contracted to use English-Language Arts Homer Simpson’s voice as one of the voices that gives directions. Homer says things like “Take the third Reading 1.0 Vocabulary Development right. We might find an ice cream truck!” Upon arrival 2.0 Comprehension (Informational Materials) at the destination he cries, “Whoo-hoo! You have Writing 1.0 Writing Strategies reached your destination, and you can hold your head 2.0 Writing Applications up high because you are a genius!” ELD—Intermediate and Advanced In 1999 a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania, Reading Vocabulary Development /Comprehension Joseph Pitts, blamed Homer Simpson for contributing Writing Strategies and Applications to the decline of fatherhood in America. Listening and Speaking History-Social Science In one episode Homer goes on a hunger strike to pre- 11.5; 11.8; 11.11 vent the local baseball team, the Springfield Isotopes, from moving to Albuquerque. When the real minor league team in Albuquerque, NM, changed its name in 2002, two-thirds of the 120,000 fans voted to change it to the “Isotopes.” © 2009 Lawrence Gable www.whpubs.com