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[edit] Plots
The show's writing style draws influence from multiple ancestors. In animation the show has three ancestors. The first is the Warner Brothers cartoons for its madcap pacing, grown-up humor in cartoony packaging and pantheon of characters. The second is Rocky & Bullwinkle for its dense writing with in-jokes and oddball asides. Finally, The Flintstones pioneered the overall animated sitcom genre with skewed blue-collar realism, a fat jovial slob as protagonist and celebrity cameos.[1] From live-action programs its ancestors are socially conscious sitcoms like All in the Family and M*A*S*H, which has the sitcom as a vehicle for social commentary. The show was also inspired by sketch comedies such as Saturday Night Live and SCTV for its vast array of minor characters, parodies of public figures and mass-media products. From Late Night with David Letterman they found a tone of self-aware, self-referential metahumor.[2]
The basic premise of The Simpsons is a standard sitcom setup. It is a series about a family and their life in a typical American town. The show follows the family in their day-to-day trial and tribulations of a nuclear family. The dad belongs to the blue-collar working class, the mother is a nurturing stay-at-home wife and there are 2.3 kids, a dog and a cat.[3] The scope of The Simpsons, however, is larger than the regular sitcom. The town of Springfield is a complete universe in which they can explore all themes of modern society. Homer is deliberate working in a nuclear power plant, so that the show can make a comment on the environment.[4] Bart's and Lisa's days at Springfield Elementary School can make a statement on education. The town features a vast in-universe media landscape, which has everything from kids' television programming to local news. This is used to make a statement about the entertainment industry.[5]
The show is sometimes political with a left-wing bias.[6] There is a general fondness for progressive ideals. These kinds of beliefs are often espoused by Lisa Simpson. With that said they often make jokes from both sides of the political spectrum. Sometimes even Lisa's idealism is the object of a joke.[7] The overall philosophy of The Simpsons is nihilism. The show portrays government and big business so that they are out to screw the little guy.[8]. Thus any authority figure in the show is portrayed in a negative light. The politicians are corrupt, Reverend Lovejoy is indifferent to the people going to his church and the local police are incompetent.[9]
