BBC2 - The Simpsons

Creator: Matt Groening
Producers: Al Jean, James Brooks, matt Groening and Sam Simon
Developed by James L. Brooks, Matt Groening and Sam Simon.
Voices: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer

Theme tune composed by Danny Elfman and Alf Clausen.

Released in December 1989 creating over 400 twenty minute episodes split into at least 20 series (to ...
...the most famous families in the world.


* BRIEF IDEA

I'm guessing that everyone has heard of the Simpson family and have probably watched at least one episode through out there life… but for those that have been living on mars for the passed thirty years here's a brief idea of what the little yellow family is about…

The Simpson family live at 742 Evergreen Terrace in Springfield and are portrayed ... more

Creator: Matt Groening
Producers: Al Jean, James Brooks, matt Groening and Sam Simon
Developed by James L. Brooks, Matt Groening and Sam Simon.
Voices: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer

Theme tune composed by Danny Elfman and Alf Clausen.

Released in December 1989 creating over 400 twenty minute episodes split into at least 20 series (to date), this animated series is without doubt one of the most famous families in the world.

* BRIEF IDEA

I'm guessing that everyone has heard of the Simpson family and have probably watched at least one episode through out there life… but for those that have been living on mars for the passed thirty years here's a brief idea of what the little yellow family is about…

The Simpson family live at 742 Evergreen Terrace in Springfield and are portrayed as an average American family, ( sort of), with the average American look on life, (sort of ).
The show is a simple format of animated comedy at its best, with some near controversial subjects covered in a way and some rather surprising special guests… including Elton John, Simon Cowell and Tony Blair (ex-prime minister of Britain).
The program does revolve around the Simpson family, (as you would guess from the title), focusing on their day to day lives, watching as Homer goes to work at the power plant for a rest, or as Bart constantly tries to impress his school friends with his clowning, much to the horror of Principle Skinner, (although in one episode Skinner turns out to be a bit of a fraud..?), and even Marge has her moments during the series, the usual calm composer of the massive blue haired mother of three is put to the test in some episodes.
Although the show does follow the hapless family the show wouldn't be the same with out some of the other characters involved in the long running show…but as there so many different characters involved in the show I can not mention them all here…(although some characters, especially those in the background, do tend to be almost doubles of the regulars), but here are a few who keep the show alive with their constant troubles and way of life…

* MAIN CHARACTERS:

* Homer, (voiced by Dan Castellaneta), is the head of the family with a snobbish attitude. He works at the local power plant although his idea for working is to eat doughnuts and sleep a lot.
His slightly over weight figure is the brunt of many a joke during the entire series but it has no effect on him wanting to eat less fatty food, as he simply loves to eat food and drink 'Duff' beer… usually at 'Moes', his nearby drinking hole where he joins his drinking buddies.

* Marge, (voiced by Julie Kavner), with her rather large blue hair is the highly stressed, but very maternal mother of the family, keeping the entire Simpson's family together with her strong nature.
She loves Homer, even though he is sometimes so annoying she has thoughts of leaving her, (in one or two episodes she does kick Homer from the family home).

* Bart, (voiced by Nancy Cartwright), is the eldest child and is by no means the angel of the family. He does anything he wants without thinking of the consequences, usually only minor indiscretions such as a little bit of graffiti or a 'cherry bomb' in the toilet system, but sometimes his actions do tend to lead to more severe results… such as upsetting the government of Australia..?
Bart is sometimes seen as the lovable rogue type of character, although his father Homer does tent to get a little hot under the collar with Bart's behaviour

* Lisa, (voiced by Yeardleey Smith), is the clever one in the family who really is the total opposite of Bart. She loves going to school and is a very intelligent student indeed.
She is a vegetarian and hates anything to do with harming wildlife.. Be it animals or trees… she likes to express her opinions on anything that she feels strongly enough about.

* Maggie, who never speaks, (apart form one episode when she says one word in what can be seen as a bit of a touching moment), is the baby of the family, mainly either in her mothers arms, in her cot or stumbling around the floor… although she does get herself into some scrapes with some rather unforeseen results…

* SOME OTHER CHARACTERS:

* Abraham Simpson, (voice by Dan Castellaneta) is the rather confused elderly father of Homer, and about as intelligent as him too. He was 'dumped' in a home for the elderly by his son, although he does tend to visit the family in almost every episode, much to the disappointment of Homer.

* Pattie and Selma Bouvier (voiced by Julie Kavner) are the rough sisters of Marge who hate Homer for marrying their sister, and they don't hide the fact of this either.

* Millhouse Van Houten, (voiced by Pamala Hayden) is Bart's best friend, although he is a little bit of a gullible character and is easily manipulated by Bart.

* Ned Falnders, (voiced by Harry Shearer) is deeply religious and lives next door to the Simpson family, much to the annoyance of Homer. Ned is always questioning everything that happens in case it goes against the bible and will send him and his family to hell. He does have a rather irritating habit of saying 'diddly' quite a bit.

* Moe Szyslak, (voiced by Hank Azaria) is a life long friend of Homer, growing up through school with him, he is also the owner of Moes bar where Homer spends many a happy hour.

* Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, (voiced by Hank Azaria) runs the local shop known as the kwiki mart… he is proud of the fact that his shop never closes and that he has been shot several times protecting his beloved shop. He does eventually get married and ends up having a rather large family.

* Krusty the Clown, (voice by Dan Castellaneta) is the mad haired and strange coloured funny man with his own television show, which includes a rather violent cartoon called Itchy and Scratchy.

* Otto Mann, (voiced by Harry Shearer) is the school bus driver with a rather unorthodox way of thinking, usually off his face on something or other..?

*C. Montgomery Burns, (voiced by Harry Shearer) is the towns evil old man and the owner of the Nuclear power plant where Homer Works. His age is never truly known but he is supposed to be over a hundred years of age, and a lot more…

* Waylon Smithers, (voiced by Harry Shearer) is Mr Burns personal assistant at the power plant, often showing his true feeling towards the old man.

* Barney Gumble, (voice by Dan Castellaneta) is the towns drunk, (every town needs one)… he is mainly seen in Moes bar, usually with Homer, getting drunk, and is only ever seen sober a few times.

* Nelson Muntze, (voiced by Nancy Cartwright) is the school bully who loves to laugh at everyone else's misfortune.

* Seymour Skinner, (voiced by Harry Shearer) is the principle (head teacher) at Bart's school who has the misfortune of being the brunt of many a jokes from the children, especially Bart and Nelson.

* Groundskeeper Willie, (voice by Dan Castellaneta) is the stereotype Scots man who works at the school whilst living in a shack on the school grounds. He too has a few run ins with Bart and the School bully.

* Martin Prince (voiced by Russi Taylor) is the teachers pet who enjoys nothing more than telling tales on his fellow pupils.

* Doctor Julies Hibber, (voiced by Harry Shearer) is the towns rather cheerful doctor who tends to chortle quite a bit.

Plus many, many other characters… too many to mention them all here…

* IN CONCLUSION

When the little yellow family first hit our screens the original characters look badly drawn, as if rushed from the hands of a child, although as time goes on the characters are improving, if not aging, and the story lines tend to try and keep up to date, (in animation terms anyway).
With so many characters being introduced throughout the series each episode is never short of a good punch line or two, bringing some of the most funniest characters together to create a very entertaining twenty minutes of all out funny entertainment.

It has to be the best animation series of the time and it's writers are never afraid to push the boundaries concerning current issues, which does give the odd controversial joke.
It is just none stop and brilliantly written comical mayhem, using some of the most likable cartoon characters ever to grace the small screen, even the Bart-hating 'Side show Bob' comes across as someone you'd actually take home to meet your parents…

Each episode has many little stories encased with-in, all seeming to merge together in a way only Matt Groening and his crew can do… making one silly little action snowball into a collection of hilarious scenarios… usually involving either Homer or his way would son Bart,… but all episodes involve most of the residents of Springfield… (which is meant to be in the state of Kentucky I think).

As each character does have there own personality, from the snobbish actions of Homer to the slightly irritating titter coming form Doctor Hibbert after every third words he speak…. It gives the entire show a brilliant edge
Plus, the series does manage to get away with having many 'stereotypical' characters, like the Asian shop keeper Apu and his love of his shop… or the Scotsman Groundskeeper Willie… Chief Wiggum with his piggy expression and many others which appear throughout the shows.

In all the Simpsons' happens to be one of them programs where you either like it or hate it.
It is a great comical look at what is meant to be a typical family, (although if the Simpsons' are a typical family then the world is in a worse state then anyone is letting on).
Although some episodes can be a little on the repetitive side, especially those that seem to do nothing but flash backs… re-telling stories from previous episodes, as if the writers are running low on ideas, but there are not so many of these, considering there are hundreds of them to chose from…

I personally enjoy watching this mad show and find it hilarious, giving 20 minutes of fun and laughter throughout.
I particularly enjoy the Halloween specials or the 'Tree house of Horrors, in which two or three separate episodes are shown, trying to be scary but coming across as so comical you can't help but laugh at sarcastic way the blood chilling screams are heard or the axe wielding maniac attacks.

As there are so many episodes it is almost impossible to write them all hear but each series can be bought from www.amazon.co.uk for around £15.00. 

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