Was the Simpsons considered especially obscene when its first season aired? Were people like 'omg this show is disgusting' or was it more innovative because it was an animated sitcom?

The Simpsons was a 90s show.  The first episode aired on December 17, 1989.

Off to the 90s you go ...

The Simpsons was a 90s show.  The first episode aired on December 17, 1989.

Off to the 90s you go ...


And that first episode was actually a Christmas special, I remember. The first "regular" episode aired January 1990.

I was too young to watch the debut or even remember, but I did watch starting about 1992 or 1993.

And that first episode was actually a Christmas special, I remember. The first "regular" episode aired January 1990.


And this was after The Tracey Ullman Show.

President George H. W. Bush certainly was no fan of the Simpsons.


From 1992:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrsoRgcyH9w

(sorry crap quality)

Simpsons trivia:  The song 'Do the Bartman' reached #1 in the UK before the show even aired in the UK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKC7Oz6ZrRU

The Simpsons was a 90s show.  The first episode aired on December 17, 1989.

Off to the 90s you go ...


Last time I checked 1989 was still the 80s :P

President George H. W. Bush certainly was no fan of the Simpsons.


From 1992:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrsoRgcyH9w

(sorry crap quality)


Yeah, this video sums it up pretty well. I think Bart Simpsons' name was mentioned more times during the 1992 Republican Convention than Dan Quayle's.

Even though I'm too young to remember it first hand, The Simpsons was most certainly controversial in the early 90's (not so sure about 1989). In fact, alot of the early Bart merchendise (particularly the "Underachiever and proud of it" shirt) had already been banned in schools by late 1990. In the fall of that year, when Fox moved the show to Thursday nights to compete head-to-head against The Cosby Show, the "Bill vs. Bart" showdown was treated by most in the media as a battle of good (Cosby) against bad (Simpsons).

Personally, I think it was The Simpsons more subversive humor (in it's sarcastic mocking of American institutions like school, church and government) that really got the "Culture Warriors" all fired up.

Yeah, this video sums it up pretty well. I think Bart Simpsons' name was mentioned more times during the 1992 Republican Convention than Dan Quayle's.

Even though I'm too young to remember it first hand, The Simpsons was most certainly controversial in the early 90's (not so sure about 1989). In fact, alot of the early Bart merchendise (particularly the "Underachiever and proud of it" shirt) had already been banned in schools by late 1990. In the fall of that year, when Fox moved the show to Thursday nights to compete head-to-head against The Cosby Show, the "Bill vs. Bart" showdown was treated by most in the media as a battle of good (Cosby) against bad (Simpsons).

Personally, I think it was The Simpsons more subversive humor (in it's sarcastic mocking of American institutions like school, church and government) that really got the "Culture Warriors" all fired up.


Yes, I don't think it was controversial for the same reasons as South Park which is truly a disgusting show.  ;D More because it was anti-authoritarian and anti-establishment.

Beavis and Butt-head was kind of in between. It was crude and at times gross but compared South Park and Family Guy it's actually pretty innocent in my opinion.

Simpsons trivia:  The song 'Do the Bartman' reached #1 in the UK before the show even aired in the UK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKC7Oz6ZrRU


I love this video.  ;D

Here is a clip on the banning of simpsons shirts in 1990. I remember in the 90s many parents and teachers found the simpsons very vulgar and they thought that even teenagers (13-15) shouldn't be allowed to watch it. I had some friends that were not allowed to watch the simpsons when we were young back then.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_yewJb8ht4

I don't remember The Simpsons being controversial but I do remember it being 'hip' when it first arrived on UK shores.

Personally, I think George Bush Snr made it more 'hip' than it had any right to be by saying that families should be more like The Waltons and less like The Simpsons.

If a politician hates it, chances are the public love it.  ;D

A friend once told me that he saw Nirvana in concert in Omaha about a year before Kurt Cobain did, and in between songs Kurt asked the crowd, "Any of you heard of a place in Lincoln called Duffy's?" The crowd cheered.

"That's the first place where we saw The Simpsons."

;)

William Bennett (Drug Czar, Reagan's EdSec,ultra right-winger) said he wanted to sit down and have a talk with that little "spikehead" kid.

Matt Groening said, Bart Simpson is a cartoon.  I don't what YOU'VE been smoking!
;D

George Bush Senior said "Families should act more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons."  ::)  ::)

George Bush Senior said "Families should act more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons."  ::)  ::)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrsoRgcyH9w

;)

George Bush Senior said "Families should act more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons."  ::)  ::)


how do The Waltons act?

how do The Waltons act?


The Waltons:

http://fashionhighclass.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/fashion-style-punk.jpg


:D

Howard have you heard of the 70s TV show "The Waltons". It ran for 8 or 9 years. Late 1930s early 1940 in Virginia. Ring a bell?
These are the TV Waltons.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/08/10/article-2024234-0D5EBFC200000578-233_468x669.jpg

My favorite character was Granpa.

The Waltons:

http://fashionhighclass.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/fashion-style-punk.jpg


:D

Howard have you heard of the 70s TV show "The Waltons". It ran for 8 or 9 years. Late 1930s early 1940 in Virginia. Ring a bell?
These are the TV Waltons.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/08/10/article-2024234-0D5EBFC200000578-233_468x669.jpg

My favorite character was Granpa.


Yes I've heard of The Waltons, just never saw the show.

Yes I've heard of The Waltons, just never saw the show.


qpmRcP8S7Bo

George Bush Senior said "Families should act more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons."  ::)  ::)


The Simpsons were a married nuclear family with a stay-a-home mom and a career dad and they went to church every Sunday.  What's more...

THEY'RE A CARTOON, WHAT R U F**KING HIGH?
:D

The Simpsons were a married nuclear family with a stay-a-home mom and a career dad and they went to church every Sunday.  What's more...

THEY'RE A CARTOON, WHAT R U F**KING HIGH?
:D


I didn't say that.  George Bush Senior said that.  ::) That's how out of touch with reality he was. ::)

I didn't say that.  George Bush Senior said that.  ::) That's how out of touch with reality he was. ::)


I think Max's comment was meant for Mr. Bush, not you.  :)

qpmRcP8S7Bo


I wasn't born during that era.

I wasn't born during that era.


I just adored "The Waltons", until John Boy left. It wasn't the same after that.