The Exact Moment The Simpsons Lost Us

It Stopped Being The Underdog

This lack of a power imbalance throws off the show’s attempts at satire, as it no longer appears comfortable criticizing those in positions of authority and instead settles for sucking up to them.

Despite the politics of its creators, the satire of The Simpsons strived to be bipartisan, with one famous scene summarising the two American political parties Republicans and Democrats with the taglines “We’re Just Plain Evil” and “We Hate Life and Ourselves”, respectively.

This unapologetic cynicism grounded the myriad perspectives of the show’s writers. Whilst Bill Oakley and Mike Reiss may have appeared on leftist podcast Chapo Trap House, their co-writer Jon Swartzelder is a libertarian conservative, and many more of the show’s writers are liberals. Their collective disdain for authority and those in power is less rooted in a specific ideology and more in the show’s own values.

Despite Mr. Bush’s complaints, the right to have a home of one’s own, a way to can support your family, and a community around you without having to rely on one rich overlord is a pretty classic American value.

The show’s enduring popularity came from The Simpsons’ implicit position as the underdog. When Bart becomes famous in “Bart Gets Famous”, success turns to ashes in his mouth as it’s hollow and empty without family and friends around. When the family meet pop icon Michael Jackson, they’re not in awe of his fame and success. Instead, he’s a tragic, troubled figure who helps Homer out of a tight spot and becomes his friend.

When they meet Lady Gaga in a critically abhorred episode years later…

Homer Vs Dignity and its depiction of the employee and his employer as almost-instant equals isn’t the moment that derailed The Simpsons. That came earlier, and it came in an episode which unlike most of the instalments singled out as the show’s downfall, is actually pretty funny.

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