Happy Father’s Day to my dad, Paul, and all other fathers out there. To honor the day, I decided to draw one of my father’s favorite characters, Homer Simpson. Also, who better to commemorate this occasion than the classic American father? I mean, he’s been the father of three pointy-hair kids for over 26 years (and surprisingly his oldest kid is only 9).
Many people tell me that they hate the new Simpsons episodes and how the series just needs to end. However, in my opinion, there are other shows on the air of inferior quality that are far more deserving of viewers’ animosity than this American TV classic. Perhaps they only criticize because they care.
After so many years and/or seasons, the floating timeline is really the only aspect of the show that I personally find disturbing. I used to pretend that The Simpsons could actually follow a chronology if say every episode took place over the course of one day (so, 365 episodes would equal one year). Using this timeline, it is only logical that the ages of Homer, Marge, and the kids have remained consistent throughout the show’s run. But now with over 500 episodes that theory is shot.
Also, if we use the one-year theory, many of the copious appearances of political and pop culture figures become anachronistic. For example, in the course of a single year America is not going to see four presidential elections (it also makes the episode where the citizen of Springfield are excited to meet Michael Jackson way creepier).
OK, so my one-year theory doesn’t hold true, but there are additional problems with chronology throughout the series. For example, early in the show nine-year-old Bart is said to have been born in the early 80’s, but a later episode showed childless Marge and Homer meeting in the 90’s at a grunge rock show. That’s just one of numerous examples.
So, what to do? Well, to ease my neurotic mind, I now just assume that each season takes place in a different world that uses a different timeline. Basically, with each season the Simpson family starts fresh. So then in watching the current season we should assume, for example, that the Simpsons have never been to Australia and Homer never was Mr. Plow. I know this theory also has flaws, but it allows me to sleep at night. In the end though, perhaps I should just relax and remember that The Simpsons is just a show about a yellow family with one idiotic but lovable dad.
Josh Wood Jokes 
How about bringing Futurama back to Fox
on Sunday night? I cant keep track of when it’s on Comedy Central and apparently no one else can either because it is being cancelled. The Simpson is great show, but the characters in Futurama are awesome.
And can we have Mission Hill back please? I
dont need to see Family Guy 17 times a day…
While I agree that Futurama and Mission Hill are great, I don’t think bringing them to Fox would solve anything. You have to remember that Mission Hill started out on WB and was cancelled after two episodes. After another attempt about a year later it was cancelled after four additional episodes . A show about a 24 year old cartoonist living with his brother is too niche for Fox. Shows like that do much better when they are on cable and smaller channels because they have less expectations and more focused markets. It’s always a shame when good shows get cancelled, but let’s be thankful that some shows (like Futurama) are able to come back. And let’s be thankful that quality cartoons are being made (I’m looking at you Bob’s Burgers).
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