I have a book that is a very in depth guide to the first 6 seasons of the show. I'll pull that out now.
I was THE Simpsons fan, once upon a time. I found few to top me when I was at my height, and I know all the words to most of the songs. How about a rendition of "See My Vest"?? No? Moving on.
I had an interesting relationship with The Simpsons when I was younger. My mother detested my watching the show. But it was never officially off limits as my dad put his foot down over it. I was properly forbidden from watching Animaniacs and The Flintstones, mind you.
I never really understood the problem with me watching it. And I see now what the problem was. The things she was worried about me being influenced by, I didn't notice at all. The show was funny on a completely different level when I was little. As I got older, the old laughs go pushed aside for the jokes that I had to grow into. My mom never understood this. One particular example has always stuck with me when I make this point.
Take Treehouse of Horror IV. This included Bart Simpson's Dracula. When I was little, a line from this particular episode, became simply the funniest thing I had ever heard... I walked around for weeks afterwards, bursting into fits of laughter at the slightest memory of it. The line? "Super fun happy slide!" (with additional arm movements a la Homer Simpson).
Although I still find this entertaining when I see it, I no longer nearly urinate myself over just the thought of it. The jokes that didn't even tickle my funny radar before now make much more sense and are probably the ones my mom was worried about corrupting me.
I think it needs to be said, though. The show really "Jumped the Shark", as it were, some time around the 10th season. The Hallowe'en specials still remain a yearly attraction, though.
So are any of the episodes particularly special to me? Of course.
The first "real" Episode, Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, is wonderful. The family gets Santa's Little Helper! This one was always particularly great for me as I grew up with greyhounds, and how often do you see them in the media other than in greyhound bus commercials? (It needs to be said that I didn't grow up in an area where there was dog racing so that makes a big difference, of course) The fact that my favourite family had my breed of dog was a special thing for, especially being the child that I was.... dog obsessed.
The second one, Bart the Genius, will forever be a classic. Bart calls Homer a Kwyjibo, cheats his way into a school for genius children and then dyes himself green? Hilarity all around.
Then you get Moaning Lisa, where Lisa meets Bleeding Gums Murphy. He was probably one of my favourite characters throughout the entire series, even though he was usually just a cameo in the background. Lisa was the Simpson I related to the most. Not necessarily my favourite in the family, but the one most like me. Overachieving book worm who loved animals? You got it. The one thing she had on me was musical talent.
Anyway, I could keep prattling on about my favourites, but those three are all just from the first season, so that says something. There are tons of greats.... Homer being on the company baseball team, with all the pro-players they bribed to come and "work"... the power plant being bought out by Germans... or perhaps one of history's best, where Milhouse and Bart buy an all syrup super-squishee and spend the entire night on a sugar bender, with Bart waking up as a member of the Junior Campers. "Mmm, floor pie"............
He is just so wonderfully pure.
