July 23, 2007

• Ahhhhh, Simpsons week continues for me. Here is one of my all time favorite scenes, which is funny as hell. Perhaps I find it so funny because I relate to it so much. Its Homer playing cards.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYRhn2nyihc

  In the scene right after this that is not on this clip, Homer is telling the story to his family and he says a line in which I use all the time when I play cards: "As usual I was winning and not knowing it.....". See, I have a habit of doing a lot of stupid shit when I play cards and literally have had countless Homer moments in which I think I lose a hand and upon further review of my wonderfully honest friends, I have actually won the hand. Shit, Dave and Jt can tell you tons of times in which the exact same situation has happened to me with Dave and Jt being disgusted at losing to a guy who didn't even know he won the hand.

  I have realized something though, for as long as I have been writing this blog, I honestly don't think I have written much about the Simpsons and I know for a fact that I have never dedicated an entire post to the show. Well, today is that day. See, as you probably know by now, I have what some consider an unhealthy obsession with the show. Sure, I've got all of the dvds, many of the toys and other memorabilia, but I also have probably about 10 Simpsons shirts about 6 pairs of Simpsons boxers and even Milhouse pajama pants. Hell, I even have an x-ray of Homer's head (thank you very much, Scooty!) I never set out to be one of those people that collects everything, you know, like a Star Trek geek that collects all of that shit. But, I see these things and they just say or do the funniest shit that I have to have them. Other people are moved by certain bands or other celebs, I just happen to be moved by the Simpsons. No matter how upset or sad I am, I can always count on the Simpsons to make me laugh and take my mind off of things for at least a little bit. When my mom was sick and dying in the hospital, I can remember watching the Simpsons in the waiting room and just having a chance to laugh and get my mind off of the living hell that my life had become. On those rare days that I'm sick and have to miss a day of work, if I'm able to I park myself in front of the tv and have a Simpsons marathon until I pass out. When I'm lost driving down a lonely, dark road at night, I can press dashboard Homer to help make light of the situation. I know this all sounds creepy and weird, but just think about the things that help you cope with a bad situation. Some people use alcohol, others use their spouses, some people beat the shit out of things. I watch the Simpsons. And because there have been over 400 episodes of the show, I can use it to relate to just about anything. And unlike the Cubs, they don't inflict this sick, twisted form of misery on me.

  The show really transcends tv and generations. Honestly, its so damn rare to find somebody of our generation that does not like the show or at least seen a few episodes that they find funny. All of  my friends love the show Friends (although I never got into it) so that is probably the show that most represents my group of Friends. But, Friends has always been a show that has appeal to pretty much only white Generation X-ers. Nothing wrong with that, I'm just using it as an example.  The Simpsons on the other hand, it transcends age, race, gender, money, political parties and religion. I used to work with a guy who was well into his 60s who love the show and then there is my 9 year old niece who loves it as well. When Jt went to Australia, I asked him what they thought of American pop culture and he said they loved the Simpsons. Want proof? Just go to YouTube and type in the Simpsons and you would get clips in several different languages. It is an art form whose influence can be felt in many places. One can almost make the argument that they are the Beatles of sitcoms. I'm not saying its the greatest show of all time, but it certainly belongs in any discussion among greatest shows. Now I know that the past 3 or 4 years it has not been at its best, in fact, there have been more than a few crappy episodes in that time frame. But, when you look at it collectively, it truly is an amazing show.

  I don't mean to go overboard with this, but I have waited 18 years for this movie and I want to give it its due. Now I hope like hell the movie doesn't suck.

  • 10:56 pm
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