Why is The Simpsons still on after 32 years? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 09-30-2020, 03:20 AM

I noticed that The Simpson’s is starting its 32 season. This animated series has been on for 32 years.

I find this absolutely amazing. I used to be a fan of the show way back when it was first on, but I haven’t seen an episode in literally twenty years. Back in the late 1980’s it used to be somewhat of a cultural icon.

I don’t know how the writers keep this show fresh and have so many stories to list a catalogue of over three decades. According to Google, there has been 639 episodes. Doing a rough calculation at twenty minutes an episode, it would take almost nine days nonstop to watch all the episodes from beginning until now.

Why has this show been on so long? My guess it is on early Sunday evening, and it does good enough on the ratings. How is this show syndicated? How can it be syndicated? It’s like, do you like the 1990’s show? The 2000’s show? The 2010’s show?

I said for years that the kids and the adults should age over time, maybe not a year by year, but everyone is a year older every two seasons. That would have kept me interested seeing a teenage Bart and Lisa, a young adult Bart and Lisa and now a middle aged Bart and Lisa. Year by year aging, Bart would be 40 now.

To close, how this series goes on and on and on. There has to be a stopping point with the voice actors because they are getting older, 32 years older and want to stop. And this show is on the FOX network which is notorious for canning shows if they don’t immediately perform.

Does anyone watch The Simpsons anymore? Kids? Who?

AMackII · 09-30-2020, 04:18 AM

I still watch it a little bit at some point but I think The Simpsons is more of a 1990s Show in my view

Crusinforabrusin2.5 · 09-30-2020, 08:29 AM

The show has been on the air for so long that ending it would be kind of a shock. The show has become such a staple and we've become so use to seeing it on TV, whether it is good or bad is a moot point. Fans can say the show has gone downhill and sucks now, but admit it: You'd be sad to see it go if it were to end after season 32, wouldn't you?

howilu · 09-30-2020, 09:28 AM

I have been a fan of The Simpsons since the beginning and it's still my favorite prime time show. There have been some good and bad seasons but the show hasn't gone stale. It's still a classic.

RetroGuy2000 · 09-30-2020, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

Why is The Simpsons still on after 32 years?

Because God hates us.

...I enjoyed the first eight seasons, but it's long past time that show came to an end.

Charley Knox · 09-30-2020, 12:51 PM

Just like Fraiser should have ended with season 7, the Simpson's should have let season 8 been their curtain call.

LUNCH · 09-30-2020, 01:02 PM

I've honestly never even watched 1 minute of that show. I have of course seen a few quick clips of it years ago and because of that I never wanted to watch it.

Fallon97 · 10-01-2020, 12:40 PM

I like it. And I think it's cool that it came out in the 80s and has lasted so long.

Coffeecup · 10-02-2020, 11:29 AM

I am with you LUNCH, I never seen much of the show either am surprised the show is going into the 32nd year.

LUNCH · 10-02-2020, 01:11 PM

One of the things that originally turned me off when the show first came out is the terrible animation and crude annoying voices of the cartoon characters.

icecream · 10-02-2020, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUNCH

One of the things that originally turned me off when the show first came out is the terrible animation and crude annoying voices of the cartoon characters.

I hate animated shows in general, give me live action any day.

favoriteshow · 10-03-2020, 11:21 PM

Fox during its early broadcast network years was far more edgy.

Now, less so and it's a very limited broadcast network. They have a formula: NFC rights, and presumably their profitable Fox News Channel arm, and keeping the Simpsons is more fixture than anything. A little change every year with a few new shows in their primetime around their core offering. That being said, I still prefer Fox over CBS. I pretty much realized that I could live without my CBS affiliate.

favoriteshow · 10-03-2020, 11:24 PM

I enjoyed the earlier seasons. I was originally happy that the series is included in Disney+ but actually haven't tuned into it.

dee2364 · 10-04-2020, 09:49 AM

Because the creators and viewers are too afraid of letting go. It would mean the end of an era and the sad acknowledgement that they have had their moment in the sun. I say this because I have noticed that my generation (GenX) and Boomers are terrified of ending things or leaving stuff behind (look at all the reboots, remakes, etc.). It's really sad. I was a 13 year old freshman when I first saw The Simpsons on the Tracy Ullman Show. Now I am three years away from being an AARP member. Hang it up already.

dee2364 · 10-04-2020, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley Knox

Just like Fraiser should have ended with season 7, the Simpson's should have let season 8 been their curtain call.

+1. I always regard 1-8 as the only real seasons of The Simpsons.

09-30-2020, 03:20 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Why is The Simpsons still on after 32 years? I noticed that The Simpson’s is starting its 32 season. This animated series has been on for 32 years. I find this absolutely amazing. I used to be a fan of the show way back when it was first on, but I haven’t seen an episode in literally twenty years. Back in the late 1980’s it used to be somewhat of a cultural icon. I don’t know how the writers keep this show fresh and have so many stories to list a catalogue of over three decades. According to Google, there has been 639 episodes. Doing a rough calculation at twenty minutes an episode, it would take almost nine days nonstop to watch all the episodes from beginning until now. Why has this show been on so long? My guess it is on early Sunday evening, and it does good enough on the ratings. How is this show syndicated? How can it be syndicated? It’s like, do you like the 1990’s show? The 2000’s show? The 2010’s show? I said for years that the kids and the adults should age over time, maybe not a year by year, but everyone is a year older every two seasons. That would have kept me interested seeing a teenage Bart and Lisa, a young adult Bart and Lisa and now a middle aged Bart and Lisa. Year by year aging, Bart would be 40 now. To close, how this series goes on and on and on. There has to be a stopping point with the voice actors because they are getting older, 32 years older and want to stop. And this show is on the FOX network which is notorious for canning shows if they don’t immediately perform. Does anyone watch The Simpsons anymore? Kids? Who?

09-30-2020, 04:18 AM	#2
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,231	I still watch it a little bit at some point but I think The Simpsons is more of a 1990s Show in my view

09-30-2020, 08:29 AM	#3
Crusinforabrusin2.5 Gone for now, but I'll be back Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 17, 2019 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 451	The show has been on the air for so long that ending it would be kind of a shock. The show has become such a staple and we've become so use to seeing it on TV, whether it is good or bad is a moot point. Fans can say the show has gone downhill and sucks now, but admit it: You'd be sad to see it go if it were to end after season 32, wouldn't you?

09-30-2020, 09:28 AM	#4
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,964	I have been a fan of The Simpsons since the beginning and it's still my favorite prime time show. There have been some good and bad seasons but the show hasn't gone stale. It's still a classic.

09-30-2020, 12:51 PM	#6
Charley Knox Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 09, 2019 Location: Tn Posts: 634	Just like Fraiser should have ended with season 7, the Simpson's should have let season 8 been their curtain call.

09-30-2020, 01:02 PM	#7
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	I've honestly never even watched 1 minute of that show. I have of course seen a few quick clips of it years ago and because of that I never wanted to watch it.

10-01-2020, 12:40 PM	#8
Fallon97 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2007 Location: America Posts: 1,272	I like it. And I think it's cool that it came out in the 80s and has lasted so long.

10-02-2020, 11:29 AM	#9
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,184	I am with you LUNCH, I never seen much of the show either am surprised the show is going into the 32nd year.

10-02-2020, 01:11 PM	#10
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	One of the things that originally turned me off when the show first came out is the terrible animation and crude annoying voices of the cartoon characters.

10-03-2020, 11:21 PM	#12
favoriteshow Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 08, 2018 Posts: 587	Fox during its early broadcast network years was far more edgy. Now, less so and it's a very limited broadcast network. They have a formula: NFC rights, and presumably their profitable Fox News Channel arm, and keeping the Simpsons is more fixture than anything. A little change every year with a few new shows in their primetime around their core offering. That being said, I still prefer Fox over CBS. I pretty much realized that I could live without my CBS affiliate.

10-03-2020, 11:24 PM	#13
favoriteshow Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 08, 2018 Posts: 587	I enjoyed the earlier seasons. I was originally happy that the series is included in Disney+ but actually haven't tuned into it.

10-04-2020, 09:49 AM	#14
dee2364 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 20, 2019 Posts: 643	Because the creators and viewers are too afraid of letting go. It would mean the end of an era and the sad acknowledgement that they have had their moment in the sun. I say this because I have noticed that my generation (GenX) and Boomers are terrified of ending things or leaving stuff behind (look at all the reboots, remakes, etc.). It's really sad. I was a 13 year old freshman when I first saw The Simpsons on the Tracy Ullman Show. Now I am three years away from being an AARP member. Hang it up already.