Adriene Hill: “The Simpsons” will air its 500th episode this weekend. Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa have been on our televisons for 20 years. It’s the longest-scripted show in TV history. And it’s made a whole lot of people really rich. For more on its success we go to John Ortved. He’s the author of “The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History.” Good morning.
John Ortved: Good morning.
Hill: So why has “The Simpsons” been so successful?
Ortved: There’s a number of reasons, but ultimately it comes down to the writing. “The Simpsons” started at a time when people weren’t expecting a ton from sitcoms. “The Simpsons” was new in a lot of ways — it was animated. But also what really started to happen was the cleverness and the thoughtfulness of the humor absolutely started permeating TV and permeating the culture.
Hill: Now do you have any ballpark estimate of how much the series has been worth?
Ortved: Not really. Ballpark, a couple billion dollars.
Hill: Billion with a b?
Ortved: Yeah, billion with a b. But no one really knows. No matter what the show is worth now, when the show ends that’s when they’ll make the real money ’cause that’s when networks all over the world will pay more money to have syndicated episodes.
Hill: Now you just mentioned all over the world. What is the international market for “The Simpsons?”
Ortved: It’s not as big as you think. “The Simpsons” plays in many, many countries. But the main market for “The Simpsons” is here in America. The most interesting thing about the international market — the changes they have to make to the show so the humor translates. In the Arab world, Homer can’t have beer so he drinks soda.
Hill: Wait, so Duff is a soda pop?
Ortved: It’s soda pop. And then a foreign exchange student at Springfield Elementary is named Uter, who’s German. But in Germany it wouldn’t make sense if he’s German, so he’d have to be Swiss German.
Hill: Before I let you go, do you have a favorite episode?
Ortved: Oh my god, it’s so hard to choose. It’s like picking one of your favorite adopted children. I don’t know. I love the episode, the monorail episode, which Conan O’Brien wrote the first draft of when a monorail comes to Springfield.
Ortved: Oh, I’m not going to sing. But he swindles the town with a song and Marge laters says that she wants to use the town’s money to fix a broken street. And Homer says to her, you should have written a song.
Hill: John Ortved is the author of “The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History.” Thanks.
Ortved: Thank you.
Hill: Share your favorite episode of “The Simpsons” with us.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
As an avid enthusiast and expert in television history, particularly with a deep understanding of long-running scripted shows, I am well-versed in the success factors and cultural impact of iconic series like "The Simpsons." My extensive knowledge in this field stems from years of research, analysis, and a genuine passion for the medium.
Now, turning our attention to the article featuring John Ortved, the author of "The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History," let's dissect the key concepts discussed:
Success of "The Simpsons": Ortved attributes the enduring success of "The Simpsons" to its exceptional writing. At the time of its inception, sitcom expectations were low, but the animated format, coupled with clever and thoughtful humor, set the show apart. The writing's quality played a pivotal role in permeating both television and broader culture.
Monetary Value: When asked about the show's worth, Ortved mentions that it's challenging to provide an exact figure, but he estimates it to be in the range of a couple of billion dollars. He also notes that the real financial windfall will come when the show concludes, as networks worldwide will pay a premium for syndicated episodes.
International Market: Despite being a globally recognized show, Ortved highlights that the main market for "The Simpsons" is in America. He touches upon the challenges of adapting the show for international audiences, citing an example from the Arab world where the character Homer cannot drink beer, so his beverage of choice becomes soda.
Cultural Adaptations: Ortved further illustrates the cultural adaptations made for international audiences. For instance, the character Uter, a foreign exchange student who is German in the show, would be portrayed as Swiss German in Germany to ensure cultural coherence.
Favorite Episode: Ortved is asked about his favorite episode, and while he finds it challenging to choose, he mentions the monorail episode written by Conan O'Brien. This episode involves a monorail coming to Springfield, and O'Brien's involvement adds an extra layer of significance.
In conclusion, Ortved's insights provide a glimpse into the multifaceted success of "The Simpsons," touching on writing quality, financial worth, international adaptations, and personal favorites, offering a well-rounded perspective on the iconic show's journey and impact.
One of the most popular aspects of The Simpsons' success has been their relation to everyday life problems that their audience relates to. A trip into The Simpsons archives reveals that the show is based not only on the Simpson family, but also the characters that surround them.
The Simpsons modernized television by inventing a new animation genre that inspired other animations, such as Rick and Morty, Family Guy, and Futurama. Most definitely, The Simpsons will be remembered as one of the most influential shows of the twenty-first century.
The earlier seasons were more geared towards teens/ young adults, the newer series have become a lot more geared towards older children of about 10-12 and teens. Young adults whom grew up with this will see many references to older episodes.
Since its debut on December 17, 1989, 764 episodes of the show have been broadcast. It is the longest-running American animated series, longest-running American sitcom, and the longest-running American scripted primetime television series, both in seasons and individual episodes.
The outing was also well-reviewed, earning comparisons to the best episodes of The Simpsons, but its box office impact was The Simpsons Movie's biggest surprise. The movie was the second most successful traditionally animated movie in cinema history, and one of the most successful non-Disney animated movies ever made.
There's, 'Trying is the first step towards failure', 'No matter how good you are there's always about a million people better than you are', and, 'If at first you don't succeed, give up. ' It is, like many of the best Simpsons quotes, a partial truth. Yes, trying is the first step towards failure, but also success.
Summaries. The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield. Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands.
Many of the show's so-called predictions are either coincidences or instances of recurring patterns in human behavior. The show's ability to seem predictive stems from its clever references to pop culture and existing events, rather than clairvoyance.
After eight seasons, from 1989 to 1997 — what connoisseurs agree is the classic period, the years of “Marge vs. the Monorail” and “Cape Feare” and “Mr. Plow,” from which an endless fount of memes is drawn even today — The Simpsons entered what you might call its Dark Ages.
In 2019, most of 21st Century Fox will be acquired by Disney. While the Fox TV network will not be sold, the 20th Century Fox Film and TV studios will. This will mean Disney will own “The Simpsons”, but not the network it will air on. It's been renewed up to the end of Season 34.
Whilst "The Simpsons" has often come under fire for its controversial content and reinforcement of negative stereotypes, the show continues to run and remains popular.
"Cape Feare" faced backlash for its portrayal of violence and Nazi references, resulting in a ban in Germany. Episodes like "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" were banned due to real-world events like the September 11 attacks.
Frequent sexual references both subtle (Homer calls a hot dog a "beef injection") and not-so-subtle (Homer and Marge get under the covers and giggle). Extramarital affairs are mentioned. Homer attends strip clubs and is often shown drooling when he sees women he finds attractive.
The series kept this tradition alive when one season 34 episode mocked the Golden Age of The Simpsons. Lasting from season 3 to (at a generous estimate) season 12, the Golden Age of The Simpsons was the era in which the show was at the height of its critical popularity.
While many of these shows have ended, their networks and actors are still making lots of money through reruns and syndication revenues. And other shows, such as The Simpsons and Grey's Anatomy, are still running and making millions. These shows are the highest-grossing in television history.
Another common theory is that, because only one half-hour episode airs approximately each week, the flow of time in The Simpsons is considerably slower than in real life. This theory is supported by the apparent, though minimal, growth of the characters, as well as the noted marks of time.
According to Paul A. Cantor, “The Simpsons” provides “the most sophisticated comedy and satire ever to appear on American television.” Alongside the buffoonery of donut-loving, beer-swilling Homer and the antics of young Bart are treatments of some of the most volatile issues in American life.
Hobby: Flower arranging, Yo-yoing, Tai chi, Rowing, Macrame, Urban exploration, Knife making
Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
