Anne, I think if you tried you'd really enjoy it. Anyone who loves Jon Stewart and Bill Maher would probably like it, even though it's not really political.mrsl wrote:I'm eligible for your club too, guys! I've never sat down and watched a show, but have seen clips, and bits. The main reason I never gave it any time was Bart's mouth. It seemed like he was always either backtalking, or making fun of his father. From the looks of the father, I assume he's prime for being made fun of, but can't condone the behavior for kids to watch. Kids have bad enough attitudes as it is today, and I have a pretty good guess where a lot of it comes from, considering most pre-teens and teens love the show!
One of the things that sets The Simpsons apart from most cartoons, and the secret to their continuing popularity, is the fact that the characters are pretty well developed. Homer wants to be a good father and husband, but he's just not cut out for the role. Bart pops off to Homer constantly, but he genuinely loves his dad.
For all the dysfunction, it's a family built on loyalty and love, which isn't something you see in most sitcoms. They aren't the Cleavers, but they genuinely care about each other, even if its not always immediately apparent. It's an extremely positive message.
It's not quite as funny over the last two or three years, but if you can catch reruns, especially of seasons 3-7, I think you'd grow to enjoy them a lot. The show is one of the few truly great achievements of American television.
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