Ralphland

“Don’t worry Marge. America’s health care system is second only to Japan… Canada, Sweden, Great Britain… well, all of Europe. But you can thank your lucky stars we don’t live in Paraguay!”

-Homer Simpson

On December 17, 1989 television history was made when “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” premiered on the fledgling FOX television network. I remember that day fondly because I had read all about this show that dared to introduce animation back to prime time and had decided that, for better or worse, I planned to be there from the beginning to see what all of the fuss was about.

I had previously seen the snippets that appeared during the “Tracey Ullman Show” and wasn’t too impressed, though there wasn’t much impressive on FOX at that time. (And believe me when I say that I watched pretty much anything that aired on FOX back then.) I suppose I didn’t know what to expect and really didn’t expect much. I certainly didn’t think that I would still be watching the show (or even writing about it) twenty years later.

What my sister and I saw that night would instantly make an impression on us and the world would never seem quite the same again. “The Simpsons” was funny and most of all, REAL. There was Homer, suffering through a school recital, eager to leave. (Who among us can say they’ve never had to do that?) We meet Homer’s sisters-in-law, who prove to be as much of a pain in the neck as real in-laws. And Grandpa? Well he’s as senile (and boring) as real life family members of a certain age can be. Despite it all (and despite the laughs) we find out by the end of the half hour that this family, despite its faults, loves each other very much, just like in real life.

What a difference 20 years can make! Back then, “The Simpsons” was written off as just a fad; now it has become an evergreen institution. Can you believe that there are college students who have never lived in a world without Homer Simpson? The show’s longevity alone is an achievement; that it is still hilariously funny is even more astounding.

So today we honor “The Simpsons” for beating the odds and finding its way into our hearts. I recall getting depressed around season seven, when I pondered living in a world without new episodes of “The Simpsons”. I assumed by that point that the show was past the midway point for a successful run and that we would soon see the end of our favorite family. I am happy to say that I was totally wrong.

On the off chance that anyone associated with the show sees this, I would like to say ‘Thank You’. Your work has given me so many laughs and so many fond memories. I can no longer imagine a world without “The Simpsons” and that’s a good thing….

Simpsons Forever!!

“Have the Rolling Stones killed!”

“Coveralls that don’t quite cover all!”

“Marge! It takes two to lie. One to lie and one to listen.”

“You don’t win friends with salad.”

“I was saying Boo-urns!”

“And scuff up the topless dancin’ runway? Naw! You’d better bring ‘em back where from you got ‘em!”

“Your teef hurt? Your teef hurt? I’ll show you what you can do with your freaking teef!”

“Can’t sleep- clown will eat me!”