Debuting on the FOX Network in
1989, this critically acclaimed animated series
created by Matt Groening became economically very
successful, The Simpsons
helped to define the satirical edge of prime-time
television in the early 1990s and was the single
most influential program in establishing FOX as
a legitimate broadcast television network.
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The Simpsons' household consists
of five family members. The father, Homer, is
a none-too-bright safety inspector for the local
nuclear power plant. His wife Marge, recognized
by a huge blue hairdo, is often the moral center
of the program. Their oldest child is Bart, a
10-year-old and borderline juvenile delinquent.
Lisa, the middle child, is a gifted, perceptive-but-sensitive
saxophone player. Maggie is the voiceless toddler,
observing all while constantly sucking on her
pacifier.
Besides The Simpsons clan, other characters include
Moe the bartender; Mr. Burns, the owner of the
Springfield Nuclear Power Plant; and Ned Flanders,
The Simpsons' incredibly pious neighbor.
Two of the most striking characteristics
of The Simpsons
are its social criticism and its references to
other cultural forms including literature, music
and cinema.
Every episode contains at least 1 reference to
a classic film. These references can vary from
episode titles, dialogue, visual images to scenes
,sub-plots or even full episodes modeled after
a film. A popular example are The
Simpsons' Halloween episodes. Many homages
to Star Wars and
yes, even an interesting amount of references
to Indiana Jones... some unmistakable, others
debatable.
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