The Simpsons Archive: "The Simpsons And Their World -- A Mirror Of American Life?"

The Simpsons And Their World -- A Mirror Of American Life?

By Bastian Vogl

Introduction

At first glance, The Simpsons seems to be a normal cartoon intended to be just funny, but a closer look shows that there are many hints and allusions to social problems, prejudices or just the so-called "movie-references", i.e. "Scenes, dialog, or other situations that bear a striking similarity to movies, paintings, songs, etc." [1] The Simpsons, created by Matt Groening in about 15 minutes, were broadcast for the very first time as an interstitial for the Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987, and as a series on its own on December 17, 1989.

Despite, or because of the fact that The Simpsons has, beside the fun it contains, a serious basis showing criticism and even harsh sarcasm, there are millions of fans all over the world, which can be seen, for example, by the number of sites, newsgroups and IRC channels on the Internet. For the Twentieth Century Fox, the owner of The Simpsons, the Internet turned out to be a great problem, due to the copyright being violated by the web site maintainers. Hence, they forced some of them to shut down their servers, but there are still hundreds of thousands of them existing: a query at a search engine like AltaVista [2] reports more than 200.000 matches for the term "Simpsons". The first ten seasons, the last of which was broadcast in 1998 and 1999, consist of 226 episodes [3], and newer ones are being planned - and waited for by the fans.

This essay will show that the parallels between The Simpsons and the American culture and society of the 1990s are not just pure chance, but an attempt to make clear to the audience which world it lives in.

1. The Characters as Cliches

1.1 The Simpsons Family

The most important characters in The Simpsons are, of course, the members of the family itself, which is composed of Homer, Marge, Bartholomew ("Bart"), Lisa and Margret ("Maggie") Simpson. They also have a dog called "Santa's Little Helper" and a cat named "Snowball".

1.1.1 Homer J. Simpson --- The head of the family

Homer J. Simpson, a 36-year-old Safety Technician at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, represents the typical clumsy, overweight, lazy and under-educated person ("Marge, it'll cost eighty-five hundred dollars! We only have five hundred in the bank, and that leaves... eighty-hundred we need." [4], whose favorite activities are watching T.V., eating donuts and drinking beer. His addiction to food of all kinds becomes obvious by several episodes dedicated to this habit [5] and by his weight, which is according to his driver's license [6] 240 pounds. The episode when Homer eats fugu [7], a deadly blowfish, and accidentally thinks he will die within 24 hours, figures out the consequences of excessive food consumption.

The fact that his carelessness, combined with his addiction to donuts, almost lead to a core meltdown in the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant [8] that could only be avoided by "Safety Technician" Homer guessing ("Eenie, meenie, miney, moe" [9] which button to press in order to neutralize the danger, clearly shows Homer's attitude towards life. In the following scene Homer desperately tries to recall what he learned during his training about MCAs (Maximum Credible Accidents):

 
  Homer: Okay okay, think back to your training...
         [begin flashback]
Trainer: Now, Homer, this may very well save your life one day.
         This... Homer?
  Homer: [playing with a Rubik's cube]  Yeah?
Trainer: Please pay attention.  This button here controls the
         emergency override circuit.  In the event of a meltdown, 
         push this button and only this button.
  Homer: [completing a side of the cube]  Ooh, a side!
Trainer: Simpson!
  Homer: What?
Trainer: You see which button I'm pushing?
  Homer: [not looking]  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Push the button.  Got it. [10]

Although Homer is surely not the perfect father and husband, he always remains faithful to his wife. For instance, Homer one day is introduced to his new co-worker Mindy Simmons [11], whose behavior is similar to his own. They finally have to stay two nights together in order to represent the power plant at a convention, an event that is, as Homer has to admit "the worst crisis my marriage has ever faced!" [12] However, he resists all temptations he is confronted with during these two days and finally is glad to come home to his family.

1.1.2 Marjorie Bouvier-Simpson

Marge Simpson, 34, is an easily satisfied housewife that is proud of her family and content with the life she leads, although she sometimes tries to escape from her actually boring situation, when she fights, for instance, against the superfluous monorail Springfield decides to buy from the fine Mr. Burns has to pay for illegal disposal of nuclear waste [13]. The fact that she does not succeed in avoiding its construction briefly summarizes that her attempts to play an important role in society also fail, although her reservations were justified, as the monorail almost causes a catastrophe due to a malfunction. Besides, the protest group Marge forms against the Itchy & Scratchy cartoon does not bring any permanent change, either.

However, Marge is the central part of the family, who, unlike Homer, really cares for her children, for instance by giving them advice [14] that helps them solve their problems. One example would be the "The Boy who knew too much" episode [15], where Bart plays truant and witnesses a waiter being knocked down, which the mayor's nephew is wrongly accused of. Bart, who could clear him by admitting that he skipped class, for which he himself would be punished, finally asks his mother what to do. She understands her son's problem and tells him, "Honey, you should listen to your heart, and not the voices in your head (...)." [16], which makes Bart do the right thing in the end: he tells the truth - although he receives four months detention from Principal Skinner, which is probably not very important to him anyway, as these four months are only a small time compared to the 7.25 years he was given in the entire serial [17].

This also shows the relatively big influence Marge has on her children, because her relationship to them is, compared to her husband's, deeper and more serious, probably owing to Marge being, in opposition to the "traditional American family" as it is presented on T.V. and accepted as normal by most people, much more intelligent than Homer.

1.1.3 The Children --- Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson

Bartholomew J. ("Bart"), the oldest child of the Simpsons, may be called the "Black Sheep" of the family, as the list of his pranks [18] is very long, and his appearance in the opening titles include the so-called "Chalkboard Gags" [19] showing Bart's activities that range from skateboarding in the halls [20] to removing asbestos [21]. His entertaining role that becomes obvious by the calls to Moe's Tavern [22] is no less important than his function as a child making his first experiences in life, as "Bart's adventures are always didactic." [23]

For example, Bart exchanges an IQ test at school with the one of his highly intelligent classmate [24] - and finally receives 216 points, which is the double of the average result. For this reason, he is, on recommendation of a psychiatrist, sent to a "school for the gifted, where there are no rules, no homework, nothing to stifle intellectual creativity." [25] When he hears this, Bart's "eyes open wide and he eagerly accepts" [26], although his excitement does not last long, as his new classmates realize immediately that he is certainly not almost as intelligent as them. Therefore Bart becomes an outsider, who is rejected by his former friends when he tries to join them. Soon, he cannot stand the situation anymore, and thus decides to confess everything. This episode clearly figures out, by means of the didactic boy, that cheating is not the desirable way of getting ahead in life, as the situation can easily get out of control and turn against oneself.

Lisa Simpson, 8, is an unknown genius, and therefore her role is slightly tragic. Even the way she is introduced in the opening titles, a saxophone player rebelling against all others by playing a sad blues on her own instead of a funny melody together with the rest of the school orchestra, shows Lisa's serious character. Despite her age she seems to care for the problems of the rest of the world, e.g. she fights against political corruption [27], sexist Malibu Stacey Dolls [28], or becomes depressed when she thinks about the meaning of life [29].

Also, Lisa is obviously the most intelligent person in the family, and, partly as a consequence thereof, she embodies the moral authority that is always right and can never be questioned [30]. This becomes obvious when her father gets an illegal cable connection [31] that is accepted even by Marge, the one who normally acts according to the rules. Although everyone knows that it is wrong to watch cable TV illegally, no one seems to care about the Eighth Commandment ("Thou shalt not steal."), which even Marge cannot remember when she is asked by Lisa, who decides to protest solely due to this ecclesiastical rule after her objections remained unheard. The peak of ignorance is reached when two policemen ring, which makes Homer so afraid that he accuses his wife of having bought the cable hook ("No! No, I... It wasn't me. It was my wife. My wife's idea. Yeah, yeah, ..." [32] before he notices that the two cops just want to join him and his friends watching a great sports event - on cable T.V., of course. This and the behavior of Marge show that "little sins" are generally accepted all over society, although the morally impeccable Lisa finally wins when she convinces her father to remove the illegal cable connection.

Nevertheless, Lisa is still a child, which is not at least emphasized by her desire for a pony.

Maggie, the youngest member of the family, who obviously never learns to speak, and who is never seen without her pacifier, is the least important Simpson, whose role is merely a funny one. She seems to be a genius, e.g. she spells out E=mc^2, the theory of relativity, with her toy blocks [33], and she puts out the burning curtains with the fire extinguisher [34]. However, the fact that Maggie can easily be influenced by others [35] implies a certain admonition that adults, or society in general, ought to be a good example.

In the opening titles, Maggie costs "$847.63, a figure once given as the amount of money required to raise a baby for one month in the US." [36]

1.2 Friends and Relatives of the Simpsons

1.2.1 The "Gruesome Twosome": Patty and Selma

The twins, who can hardly be distinguished by Homer [37] and the greatest part of the audience, are, as it can be noticed each time they appear, used as the typical example of the nerve-racking and terrible family relationship. The "Gruesome Twosome", as they are sometimes referred to, rarely appear alone - and therefore they are a double plague. Both, Selma with her S-shaped earrings and parted hair, and her sister with triangular earrings and pink dress, are chain smokers whose major activities seem to be comprised of making jokes on Homer, and giving such comments on him as "Yeah, Homer: let your wife have a glimpse of success for once." [38] or "When are you going to wake up and smell your husband, Marge?" [39]

Nevertheless, Selma, whose pet iguana called Jub Jub is just as sympathetic as her, shows emotions when her sister Patty comes closer to Principal Skinner: "After {he} (...) returns Patty home after another date, she allows him one kiss, as Selma watches sadly through the door peephole." [40] Besides, Selma marries an ex-movie star named Troy McClure [41], whom she gets to know at her working place, the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). After he passed the test for his driver's license, despite his incapability of reading even the top line of an eye chart, just because of Selma adoring him, they go out for dinner together. Although this date happens to be very boring, McClure's career gets a boost when some photo reporters catch the couple. The selfish star, eager to revive his fame by means of Selma, marries the latter, who afterwards finds out the truth, which surprisingly does not make her leave her husband, probably because of her love for him. However, Selma's humanity wins when Troy wants them to have a baby, as his agent says: "(...) for a role like this, you gotta pour it on. You and your, er, wife have gotta have a baby." [42] However, Selma, who meanwhile has recognized that her marriage is and always will be a pretense, rejects that thought: "A loveless marriage is one thing, we're not hurting anybody. But bringing a child into a loveless family is something I just can't do." [43]

Despite these few emotional moments, the two sisters remain an unpleasant and often enough boring couple demonstrating that society forces a superficially normal relationship on relatives in spite of probably deep antipathy or hatred.

1.2.2 Mr. Flanders, the neighbor

Ned Flanders is the always friendly neighbor whose habit of "distort{ing} every-day words by adding "diddily" to the end or middle of the word" [44], e.g. "Hellodily-odily!", "Absitively-posilutely" or "Okily-dokily" [45] is as funny as it makes especially Homer nerves. Ned's religious family is the exceeding and perfect opposite of the Simpsons, as Ned and his wife Maude are, or at least seem to be, the ideal of guiding parents for their sons Rod and Todd. For this reason, Flanders is the enemy of Homer Simpson, who is jealous of the success of his neighbor. Hence, the list of conflicts between those two characters (and between Ned and other persons, though) is very long [46].

However, Homer proves that he and Ned can, despite all odds, become friends [47], although this friendship only lasts for one very episode: When Ned Flanders invites his neighbor to a football match, for which there are no tickets left anymore, Homer becomes so importunate afterwards that the two finally switch roles, as Ned Flanders is at the end of his tether because of Homer trying to spend all his time with him. Homer himself does charity work, which he is loved for by the parish that itself turns against Flanders, who, when trying to escape from Homer by car, gets caught by the police due to speeding. Unfortunately, a church tour bus passes by with the congregation witnessing Ned Flander's arrest. On Sunday in church, the new roles become obvious: the people "greet" Flanders with "There he is, Ned Flanders! The fallen one. The evil one. Bet he's the one who wrote "Homer" all over the bathroom." [48], and Homer is praised by Reverend Lovejoy: ``Before I get started on today's sermon entitled, "What Ned Did," I'd like to congratulate Homer Simpsons {sic} on his recent charity work." [49], followed by everyone "claps{ing} politely" [50]. Nevertheless, Homer defends his new friend when the churchgoers get angry, and the mob demands: "Let's sacrifice him to our god! [everyone is silent] Come on, we did it all the time in the thirties." [51], which is not only a sarcastic reference towards religion, but also makes Homer say: "How dare you talk about Ned Flanders like that. He's a wonderful, kind, caring man (...) If everyone here were like Ned Flanders, there'd be no need for heaven: we'd already be there." [52]. Finally, everyone forgives Flanders, which shows the hypocrisy even of religious people, who can easily be influenced by a man, namely Homer, for whose opinion they would not care at all if he had not done the marginal charity work he did lovelessly, whereas Flanders was hated for a comparatively harmless insult, despite his services for the parish.

Ned Flanders is, like many of the characters in The Simpsons, left-handed [53], and he therefore decides to open "The Leftorium", a store for left-handers [54]. However, Homer's envy ("I'm just glad to see him fall flat on his butt! (...) He's usually all happy and comfortable, and surrounded by loved ones, and it makes me feel..." [55] is so great that he joyfully watches the shop going bankrupt, although he knows many people in need of things for left-handers, e.g. Mr. Burns, who would give his "(...) kingdom for a left-handed can opener!" [056] or Moe, who "curses the right-handed corkscrew he has to suffer through." Still, Homer feels pity for his neighbor, who has to sell his furniture and even his bible (the seven cent he got for it mirror the importance of religion in society), and finally does the right thing again: he calls all his left-handed friends and tells them about Ned Flander's Leftorium, which is re-opened and heavily visited the next day.

These two examples mirror the shallowness of the people, because the "friendship" in the first example was just based on a football ticket, and in the second one it was just pity, especially as Homer originally wanted to see Flanders failing. In addition to that, Homer's habit of borrowing things from his neighbor [057] despite his actual hatred for him shows how much selfishness and indolence, as Homer himself could buy the things he needs, influence our daily life without us realizing it.

1.3 Charles Montgomery Burns

Mr. Burns, whose age is either 104 or 81 [59], is the proprietor of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Without a doubt, Mr. Burns is used as a representation of capitalism, most of the time in its worst form, as it is revealed by statements like "Oh, very well, it's time for your bribe." [60] or "This calls for a celebration: let's fire some employees." [61] The power he has is illustrated by a judge in court that has to admit he does not dare cite Burns for contempt, after "Monty" (Burn's nickname) said that he could run over as many kids as he wanted to [62].

Burns, whose name is said to be "synonymous with our nation's safest and cleanest energy source" [63], nevertheless shows that nuclear power is indeed dangerous, which is proven by the safety inspector in the "Two Cars in Every Garage, Three Eyes on Every Fish" [64] episode that unveils such security violations as "Plutonium rod used as paperweight." [65] or "Gum used to seal crack in cooling tower." [66] Burn's predictable reaction is again a "typical" phenomenon of capitalism: he tries to bribe the inspector. The following scene may speak for itself:

Inspector: Mr. Burns, in twenty years, I have never seen such a shoddy,
           deplorable...
    Burns: Oh, look!  Some ... careless person has left thousands and 
           thousands of dollars just lying here on my ... coffee table.  Uh,
           Smithers, why don't we leave the room, and hopefully, when we
           return, the pile of money will be gone.
           [leaves, waits, then returns]
           Ooh.  Look Smithers, the money and a very stupid man are
           still here.
Inspector: Burns, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying
           to bribe me.
    Burns: Is there some confusion about this?
           [thrusting the money into the inspector's pockets]
           Take it!  Take it!  Take it, you poor schmo! [67]

Mr. Burns fulfills the cliche of the almighty businessman, who, symbolizing the big companies, also has to face the problem of being sued for an enormous sum of money, as it is common in the United States. When Burns hits the skateboarding Bart with his car [68], his offer of $100 indemnification is, despite Bart's minor injuries, precisely "a bump on the head and a broken toe, nothing serious" [69], quite tight-fisted. This makes Homer greedy for the $1 million he is promised by the dubious attorney Lionel Hutz, who takes Bart to the no less dubious doctor Nick Riviera. This time, the boy's diagnosis is worse, though: "Just look at the X-rays! You see that dark spot there? Whiplash. And this smudge here, that looks like my fingerprint? No, that's trauma!" [70] Another interesting fact is the exaggerated portrayal of the accident that is described by Bart as him "playing in his innocent childlike way" [71], and Burns and Smithers aiming for him with their car, whereas Mr. Burns' description is the actual opposite, as he, driving a VW bug (!) was the victim of Bart's evil play with his skateboard. When Burns, in his version of what happened, sees the unconscious boy lying on the ground, he even shouts "NOOOOOOOO!! TAKE ME!! I'M OLD!!" [72] After Burns realized that the jury's verdict will be against his presentation of the matter, he offers the Simpsons a $500.000 settlement, which is rejected by the greedy Homer, though. However, when Marge has to testify, she tells the truth, i.e. she admits that Bart is not seriously injured, which makes Burns "offer" another "settlement" of nothing which the Simpsons finally have to accept.

This episode outlines that the spectacular lawsuits between large firms and hurt persons are actually just a matter of how facts are presented to the jury, since Bart's version obviously raised enough pity, despite its bias. From a European perspective, however, Homer's greed for the $1 million compensation that are for American conditions quite moderate, though, is, not only because of Bart virtually not being injured, an exaggeration, but also due to the sheer amounts of money that seem to be common in American legal actions for damages. The Simpsons eventually ending up with nothing does not have any meaning, because it would destroy the entire atmosphere of the cartoon if the Simpsons were millionaires.

Waylon Smithers is the only friend of Burns, his boss, although the word "friend" is not completely justified, because Smithers is, as Producer David Silverman said [73], gay and likely to be in love with Burns, a situation that is called "Burns-sexual". Smither's "Burns-sexuality" seems to be proven by the Smither's Sexuality list [74] and such entries in it as "Smithers imagines a naked Burns jumping out of a cake and singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. Smithers."" [75]

1.4 Other important persons

Moe, the owner of Moe's Tavern, makes clear to the audience that alcohol and smoking are already present even among young people: "You know, if it wasn't for the junior high school next door, no one would even use the cigarette machine." [76] Moreover, he pretends to be Homer's friend, although he aims to become Marge's new husband after she and Homer have split up [77]. Besides, he cheats Homer, who has invented the Flaming Homer, by stealing the recipe for that new drink and turning it into a success which he does not let Homer participate in [78].

Otto is the driver of Bart's and Lisa's school bus, although he has no driver's license [79]. Obviously he is a very strange person, whose statements seem to lack every kind of reason that could be expected from an adult, as the following excerpt from "Bart the Daredevil" shows:

  Bart: Otto, I'm going to leap over Springfield Gorge on
        my skateboard.
  Otto: You know, Bart, as the only adult here, I feel I
        should say something?
  Bart: What?
  Otto: COOOOOOOOL!!!!! [80]

Chief Wiggum, head of the Springfield police, is known for his unconscious ignorance of the really important facts, an example of which would be the rather rhetorical question "Think you can get this car home?" [81] to the apparently drunk Barney after having arrested Homer, who is more or less sober, for having driven under the influence of alcohol. However, "Barney backs the car into Wiggum, and he falls down an incline, rolling into a hill." [82] Because of incidents like that, Wiggum is a caricature of police in general.

Diamond Quimby, the Town Mayor of Springfield, is a "typical politician", whose behavior as such [83] does not have to be commented: he took several bribes, including from Mr. Burns [84] [85], he is not faithful to his wife [86] [87] and he even pays murderers [88].

2. Media and Consumer Society

2.1 Duff Beer --- Present Everywhere

One of the most important references to our modern society in The Simpsons may be the constant presence of Duff Beer, Homer's favorite drink. The importance of alcohol to him, who certainly is the average man in this case, becomes clear by his beer quotes, such as "I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer." [89] or "Beer. Now there's a temporary solution." [90]

In "Duffless" [91] the Duff Brewery, in behalf of the entire alcohol industry, is criticized in many different ways. First of all, the omnipresence of its advertisements, for instance when Homer wants to watch TV, the first thing to appear on the screen is a simply structured and stupid Duff Beer commercial [92] that nevertheless attracts him: some feminists are protesting against sexism, when two men delivering beer shake their bottles and spray the fountain on the women, turning them into bikinis-dressed party girls. Before this, the signs the women were carrying bore messages like "We are not sex objects" or "Down with sexism" [93] - afterwards, their contents have changed to "Get me drunk" or "I'm easy!" [94] Moreover, when Homer visits the Duff Brewery, another advertisement features Kennedy and Nixon in the Presidential debate of 1960, where Kennedy "would like to take this opportunity to announce my fondness for, ah, Duff Beer." [95] Of course, everyone applauds. This is another example of how the industry uses famous people to influence the masses, and that even politicians, who ought to be honest, lie for money, since Nixon, Kennedy's opponent in this debate, hesitantly has to admit, though everyone knows he pretends, that he himself also likes Duff in order to make the audience clap for him, too [96].

Another fact being denounced is the dishonesty and the camouflage tactics of the industry: when Homer and Barney leave the brewery, they see a sign "that can periodically rotate to display more than one message. The first message on the sign warns against the perils of drinking and driving. The second message depicts two men in front of a car, with the slogan, "It's always time for Duff."" [97] Additionally, the brewery tour guide leads the group to a storeroom with beer and tells something about the different kinds of that drink: "Here we have, Duff, Duff Light, and our newest flavor, Duff Dry." However, the "camera pulls back to reveal that all three vats are fed by a common pipe." [98] This demonstrates the way companies handle truth, and that they use all possible tricks to increase their gain, especially in the United States, the country of capitalism and the free market. It also pillories that many branches of industry refuse to admit the danger of their products, particularly the alcohol and the tobacco industry, above all in the U.S. where they can easily be sued for several million dollars if their products turn out to be harmful.

2.2 Krusty the Clown

Krusty the Clown, the anchorman of the Krusty the Clown Show, is the idol of the children in Springfield, including Bart who says Krusty is his idol [99], and that he has "based my life on Krusty's teaching." [100] These statements seem to be true, since the boy's room that is shown afterwards, contains all kinds of Krusty merchandise, from a huge poster to a doll that, when pulled on its string, says "You're my best friend" and, as it is hard to imagine our life without advertising, "Buy my cereal! Wuh-huh-huh-huh!" [101]

Krusty, whose real name is Herschel Krustofsky, is the overdrawn negative example of a star, as he is completely out of touch with the rest of the world, and does not know when his show ends and real life begins, for instance even when he is accused of armed robbery [102], he cannot be serious in court where he is asked by the judge how he pleads: his first response is "I plead guilty, your honor." [103], but after his attorney whispered something in his ear, Krusty corrects his answer: "Oh, heh heh heh, not guilty, heh heh heh." [104]

Krusty's illiteracy [105] may be another sign for him being an outsider, which is emphasized by the conflict with his father [106] who wanted his son to become a rabbi like him, instead of a clown. However, Krusty is a celebrity, and therefore he behaves like one, as his airs and graces depict, e.g. he fires one of his assistants that cannot bring him the Danish pastry he wanted [107]. Besides, Krusty reveals unknowingly that show business is not a "dream factory, the birthplace of magic -- an enchantment!" [108], when he employs Bart by chance: the first thing the boy has to do for him is "to go clean out my toilet." [109] Moreover, being a star also has its disadvantages, as the clown proves when he guides Bart to the mentioned WC: "Right in here, boy: it -- ew! I don't know what I was thinking last night. This'll take you a couple hours."

Krusty is also the personification of how show business is more and more commercialized, for instance he, despite being a Jew, promotes pork products. The commercialization becomes even more obvious when Krusty holds an autograph session:

At the Monstro Mart, Krusty is signing autographs. Well, actually, he sits on a stool smoking, and Bart signs the autographs. When a little girl asks Krusty to sign her picture, he points her towards a long line of children, at the head of which Bart sits at a table writing "KRUSTY" in pencil on photos of the klown. Bart groans, and the girl calls out, "I love you, Krusty!" [111]

This description presumably generalizes the methods of how celebrities are artificially made coming "closer" to their fans in order to make money, which seems to be very easy, as the Krusty-loving girl, standing for all "blind" fans, sees without a doubt that not her idol but Bart signs the photographs. This suggests that the people actually do not care about the star himself, but want to be guided in some way, probably owing to the decrease of importance of religion that is shown in The Simpsons. Nevertheless, this replacement is only a temporary one, which is shown in "Krusty gets Busted" [112]: even before the jury has made its verdict on the accusation of Krusty having committed armed robbery, all people turn away from him, including Marge who calls him an "insane criminal genius" [113], although Krusty's innocence is proven later. Moreover, Reverend Lovejoy leads a toy burning of Krusty merchandise - a delicate subject, as it reminds one of the inquisition and the role of the church therein, which is again aiming to destroy its enemies.

Another character in the Krusty the Clown Show is Krusty's former assistant "Sideshow" Bob, who "tried to frame Krusty for robbery and is in a minimum security prison for rigging the Springfield election in his favor" [114], which parodies the rude methods dominating show business, especially because Sideshow Bob is presented as a mentally ill person that also tried to kill Selma (after having married her) and Bart on several occasions [115]. Still, Sideshow Bob's successor, Sideshow Mel, has remained faithful to Krusty, at least until today.

2.3 Violence on the Screen

It is obvious to everyone who has watched The Simpsons that the Itchy & Scratchy cartoons appearing during the Krusty the Clown Show do absolutely not contain any story, but only senseless violence of all different kinds. In addition to that, the "adventures" of the mouse (Itchy) and the cat (Scratchy), which hate each other, bear a striking similarity to Tom & Jerry, although the latter is comparatively harmless. There is no doubt about the fact that the cartoon, whose theme consists of the words "They fight! And bite! They bite and bite and fight! Fight fight fight! Bite, bite, bite! (...)" [116] is used to point out the domination of violence in the media, even in shows for children.

The importance of violence becomes evident when Marge forms a protest group against the bloody cartoon after Homer was hit by Maggie with a hammer [117] when she watched I&S (Itchy & Scratchy). After the I&S International corporation has fulfilled her demand for "Less and less violence in children's programming!" [118], none of the youngsters wants to watch that friendly programming anymore. Also, Krusty has to face an empty studio when the theme of the Itchy & Scratchy serial has changed to "They love! They share! They share and love and share! (...)" [119] and when it, as Marge says, "conveys a very nice message about sharing." [120] Yet, the children have a slightly different opinion on that, as Bart briefly states: "I think it sucks." [121]

Nonetheless, the effects of the "clean" media on the children are irrefutable, since Maggie, after having hit Homer with a hammer when Itchy & Scratchy were still brutal, behaves well and serves drinks to her father, and all other children "step outside, rub their eyes, and proceed to do wholesome childlike things" [122], such as fishing and bird-watching. These circumstances illustrate how much influence television, which is only the major representative of the media, has on children, especially when its significance concerning the recent shootings or bomb threats in American schools is publicly discussed.

Although the role of video games is not as apparent as the importance of Itchy & Scratchy, the list of their appearances [123] is quite long, despite the author saying it is "undoubtedly incomplete" [124]. Moreover, the titles of the games, like "Bonesquad", "Bloodstorm", "Escape from Death Row" or "Satan's Funhouse" indicate their contents.

Another episode dealing with the effects of the media, this time embodied by the "Daredevil" Captain Lance Murdoch, shows another aspect of its influence: not violence concerning other people is committed, but careless and harmful behavior of so-called "idols" is imitated. After "Bart the Daredevil" [125] saw Murdoch leaping over a "tank of water, filled with man-eating great white sharks, deadly electric eels, ravenous piranha, bone-crushing alligators, and perhaps most frightening of all, the king of the jungle, one ferocious lion!" [126] he begins to use his skateboard for doing similar jumps, the first of which becomes a failure, as he hits a car. Ignoring this "sign from above" and the warnings of Dr. Hibbert, who presents several victims of TV idols to Bart in the hospital, such as a boy who "broke his leg trying to fly like Superman" [127], the "junior Daredevil" jumps again - and succeeds. When Bart finally decides to "leap over Springfield Gorge on my skateboard" [128], his family is shocked. The extent of the media's influence on the boy is entirely revealed when he says to Homer, "The minute your back is turned, I'm grabbing my skateboard and heading for that gorge." [129], and it peaks in breaking the promise to his father not to jump. However, Bart can in the last minute be stopped by Homer, who, desperately trying to convince his son of the stupidity of his intention, decides that the only way to achieve his aim is to jump himself. As expected, Homer, unlucky as always, first falls into the ravine and, after having been rescued by a helicopter, falls out of the ambulance he has been brought to, into the gorge again.

This episode illustrates the responsibility both the media and its stars have for their fans and viewers by giving a negative example, since Captain Lance Murdoch's behavior completely lacks care and consciousness for the role he plays in society. For instance, he greets his audience with the words "Ladies and gentlemen, and especially little children. I'm glad you're all here to witness what may very well be my grisly death." [130], which should outline his view towards the legal protection of "especially little children". Moreover, when Bart is taken to his idol, who failed while performing his stunt and is now in hospital, Murdoch even encourages him by saying "It's always good to see young people taking an interest in danger. (...) But the fact of the matter is: Bones heal." [131]

The similarity to Krusty the Clown, who neither has "enough sense to just recognize his tremendous social influence as a celebrity," [132] is emphasized by the irrationality of Murdoch's behavior that is similar to, but far worse than Krusty's, since the Clown does not make his audience harm itself by his conduct. Still, Krusty permanently appears in The Simpsons, which may probably hint at the fact that we are, to a certain degree, already endangered by the media, although such an extreme phenomenon as Lance Murdoch is still an exception.

3. The American Way of Life

3.1 The Halloween episodes

The fact that there are special episodes at Halloween, called "The Treehouse of Horror (Terror)", underlines the importance of this event to the American people, although this holiday is only little known and slowly adopted in Europe. These particular episodes are just funny and used to parody everything, above all violence and how it is dealt with. The following disclaimer, brought to the audience by Marge, illustrates this:

Ahem. Hello, everyone. Before last year's Hallowe'en {sic} show, I warned you not to let your children watch. But you did anyway. Mm. Well, this year's episode is even worse. It's scarier, more violent, and I think they snuck in some bad language, too. So please, tuck in your children and... [sighs] Well, if you didn't listen to me last time, you're not going to now. Enjoy the show. [133]

When his father buys a talking Krusty doll for Bart [134], this doll tries to kill Homer: "I said I was going to kill you! (...) YOU! Homer Simpson!" [135] Marge has to witness the toy trying to accomplish its aim, and decides to call "the number on the Krusty doll box (1-900-DON'T-SUE)" [136]. After she has quickly told that the Krusty puppet is just about to kill her husband, she is instructed to hold the line. Finally, a technician arrives and repairs the doll by toggling the "Good-Evil-Switch" on its back. Beside the parody of several movies and serials [137], this also relates to the dangers of the media, symbolized by its merchandise, although the latter was surely not as important as the intention to make the episode funny.

Another nice story is the "modern interpretation" of The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe [138], featuring Bart as the Raven himself. After his obtrusive "Nevermore" drove the narrator of the poem (Homer, of course) crazy, the clutz, when he tries to catch the bird, causes a mess in his room ("D'ah, grf, son-of-a, d'oh!" [139] - even in the modern version of The Raven, however, Bart is "never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above { Homer's} (...) chamber door." [140] Again, the main intention was certainly to create fun, but from a European point of view it could also be interpreted as an awareness of the American people that it lacks that kind of "real culture" other countries have. This could also be the reason for the fact that hardly any European poets are mentioned in The Simpsons, whereas Poe, whose The Raven "numbers among the best-known poems in the national literature" [141], appears several times [142] [143] [144]. Moreover, the presence of a zombie-Shakespeare in another Halloween episode [145] does not show great sympathy for the Bard - who is of course not an American poet.

Homer's addiction to food is also the main subject of one of the Halloween episodes: he sells his soul to the devil, who ironically appears looking like Ned Flanders ("Ho ho, it's always the one you least suspect." [146], in order to get a donut. Finally, the devil comes to take Homer to hell, but Lisa can convince him that her father deserves a fair trial, which makes "Flanders" complain: "Oh, you Americans with your due process and fair trials. This is always so much easier in Mexico." [147] - another hint towards the slightly arrogant view the U.S. has on other countries. However, Homer can be saved, as he pledged his soul forever to Marge, which is written on the back of a wedding photo. Therefore, "Homer Simpson's soul is legally the property of Marge Simpson and not of the devil." [148]

Homer's dislike for Ned Flanders is the topic of another episode that is partly a parody of George Orwell's 1984. When Homer repairs his toaster, he accidentally travels back in time and, by killing a mosquito in the dinosaur age, changes the present. When he returns, "Flanders is the unquestioned lord and master of the world." [149] As Homer behaves inappropriately, he and his family are sent to a re-education camp for "Re-Neducation" [150], and the first thing Homer has to do is to give "some biiig smiles" [151]. However, he escapes and, by means of his toaster, travels back to the past several times to set things right again. His donut obsession makes him leave another possible present he created by altering an unimportant thing in the past: "Hmm, fabulous house, well-behaved kids, sisters-in-law dead, luxury sedan...woo hoo! I hit the jackpot. (...) Marge, dear, would you kindly pass me a donut?" [152] Unfortunately, Marge has never heard of the word "donut", which makes Homer use his toaster immediately - and, once again, shows the importance food has to him. The way he manages to change the present to its original state is typical:

In the past, Homer yells angrily, "Don't touch anything? I'll touch whatever I feel like!", smashing plants and squishing creatures left and right. In the present, his house changes rapidly among an igloo, a stone house, the original McDonald's, an underwater house, a boot, and a Bart Sphinx. (...) [153]

3.2 National Pride and the role of the U.S in the World

   T minus five seconds and counting.  When the bells ring, the
   students stream out the doors, but before they can disappear for
   good, a teacher properly concludes their education.

   Teacher: Wait a minute!  You didn't learn how World War II ended!
     Class: [pause their celebration, awaiting the answer]
   Teacher: We won!
     Class: Yay!  U-S-A!  U-S-A!  U-S-A! [154]

This dialog in Springfield Elementary School just before the holidays begin does not require any comment, as it is a very good example of how the United States sees itself in the world --- and how even the youngest generation is taught that view. Along with this goes Seymour Skinner in his role as a veteran of the Vietnam War, which is heavily criticized through him [155] in The Simpsons, although this indirectly breaks with the generally accepted role of the U.S. as the "world police". The fact that Skinner says, "They told me I'd get a big parade when I came back from Nam, but instead they spat on me." [156] also illustrates that the intervention of the U.S. in Vietnam then was and still is today heavily disputed in this country.

One episode of The Simpsons makes clear how much hypocrisy it takes to demand high moral standards, such as human rights, which the U.S. are proud of, from the rest of the world on the one hand, and on the other to threaten criminals, and even children in the country with the capital punishment. When Bart is accused of having murdered Principal Skinner [157], he dreams of sitting on the electric chair [158]. This unnatural situation is emphasized by the fact that he was placed upon a pile of telephone books, because he is too small. For all those who did not understand that this is, unlike most episodes of The Simpsons, no exaggeration and quite realistic, as even teenagers can be sentenced to death in the U.S., Mr. Burns gives a brief summary of this episode's message:

   Smithers: That Simpsons boy is looking at 180 years.
      Burns: Thank God we live in a country so hysterical over crime that a
             ten-year-old child can be tried as an adult. [159]

Another representative of national pride is Jebediah Obadiah Zachariah Jedediah Springfield, the town founder of whom every inhabitant of Springfield is proud and who is admired by everyone. This matter is gone into when Bart, in order to impress Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney (Springfield's little "streetgang"), saws off the head of Jebediah's statue in downtown Springfield [160], which causes trouble, as he, when he decides to bring back the statue's head he had taken with himself, has to face an "angry, torch-wielding mob" [161]. The opinions about the statue and the town funder himself are clear: "Just a statue? Is the Statue of Liberty just a statue? Is the Leaning Tower of Pizza [sic] just a statue?" [162], and even Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney, who suggested the deed [163], say that this was "just cloud talk" [164].

Jebediah Springfield is also presented as the incarnation of parts of the American Dream, as shown by some of his items that are kept by the Springfield Historical Society: "This is his fife, upon which he sounded the sweet note of freedom. And his hatchet, with which he hacked at the chains of oppresions {sic}." [165] This distinctly refers to the United States as the country of freedom and democracy, but also contains, as the loftiness of this patriotic statement implies, some kind of amusement about the Americans and their love for such statements as "A spring reborn in the world's oldest democracy (...)" [166] or "Our democracy must be not only the envy of the world (...)." [167] The following secret confessions of Jebediah Springfield that were discovered by Lisa make clear that the American version of American history is not necessarily what it is supposed to be, since glorious embellishments and patriotism seem to pervade it:

Know ye who read this there is more to my life than history records. Firstly, I did not tame the legendary buffalo. It was already tame, I merely shot it. Secondly, I have not always been known as Jebediah Springfield. Until 1796, I was Hans Sprungfeld, murderous pirate, and the half-wits of this town shall never learn the truth! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I write this confession so that my infamy will live on after my body has succumbed to my infectious diphtheria. [168]

Despite these revelations, nobody but Lisa wants to learn the truth about Jebediah Springfield: "Unfortunately, historical research is plagued by this sort of hoax -- the so-called confession. It's just as fake as the Howard Hughes will, the Hitler Diaries, or the Emancipation Retraction." [169]

Another interesting aspect of The Simpsons is the funny presentation of other countries - and how they are seen through American eyes. These references [170] are mainly meant to be funny, although they often hint at prejudices by giving the most stereotypical view possible. However, those who expect that Germany is borne a grudge for World War II and the Nazi era, are wrong. Still, there is an Itchy & Scratchy episode dealing with Hitler, where "the cat and mouse proceed to pummel him, Scratchy with a mallet, (...) and Itchy gives the final blow, decapitating the Fuhrer with an axe." [171] The fact that "Stars and Stripes" is played after the "victory" over the dictator, and that a "cartoon Roosevelt dances on-screen" [172], shows both the general hatred for Hitler and that World War II probably would have had a different ending if the U.S. had not intervened.

The other references concerning Germany are not very surprising: it is seen as the land of beer due to its presence in the "Little Land of Duff" [173], as the land of the "Oktoberfest" and "Lederhosen" [174], and its most prominent representative is Helmut Kohl, who gave an Alpenhorn to George Bush [175]. Other countries are described similarly: France is called "the wine country" with its "lovely chateau{x}" [176], and Albania tries to send a spy to the U.S. [177] The ignorance towards England as the roots of America is expressed through Homer saying "Pffft, English. Who needs that. I'm never going to England." [178], and Cuba, the eternal American enemy, cheats Mr. Burns for the $1 trillion he offered to buy the island [179].

3.3 Religion

The Simpsons does not criticize religion in itself, but the way it is practiced, for instance Marge has to force her family to attend church [180], and Homer listens to a football match during the sermon [181]. One Sunday, Homer summarizes his opinion: "I (...) have been having a wonderful day, and I owe it all to skipping church!" [182] However, Marge's attitude is different from her husband's: "Homer, please don't make me choose between my man and my God, because you just can't win." [183]

Reverend Timothy Lovejoy is the means to criticize the "infallible church", as The Simpsons often refer to the hypocrisy and the arrogance of its members. Beside the mainly funny scenes, e.g. when Lovejoy "burns Patty and Selma, dressed as witches, at the stake; they use the flames growing around them to light some cigarettes." [184], there are many serious remarks, brought to the audience in a funny way of course, about the role of the church in society not only in former times. As has previously been hinted at, Lovejoy leads a public burning of Krusty merchandise [185], but even God has to concede that "Reverend Lovejoy really displeases" him [186] - another comment on the situation that nothing is wrong with religion, but that its spiritual leaders made it unpopular.

The sermons of Reverend Lovejoy are always topical: just when Homer bet $50 on his favorite football team, the priest preaches about "Gambling: The Eighth Deadly Sin." [187] Nevertheless, the "Church Activities" in the same episode make that sermon look ridiculous: "BINGO - TUESDAY NIGHT" and "Monte Carlo Night - WEDNESDAY" [188].

Especially the fact that religion had to learn that science is not its subject seems to attract the producers of The Simpsons, as there are lots of references towards this topic, e.g. the "judge rules that religion must stay 500 yards away from science at all times" [189], Mr. Skinner is "tied to a stake on top of a pyre" [190] for his statement "I'm telling you people, the earth revolves around the sun!" [191], and there is a sign that says "No Praying" in the hospital [192].

The manner of scaring young people that was formerly common is still practiced in Sunday School, though. Miss Albright, the teacher, gives evidence for this by one of her statements:

Hell is a terrible place. Maggots are your sheet, worms your blanket, there's a lake of fire burning with sulfur. You'll be tormented day and night for ever and ever. As a matter of fact, if you actually saw hell, you'd be so frightened, you would die. [193]

However, the reaction of the youngest generation is a little bit different from what was expected by Miss Allbright, as Bart is amazed after the teacher promised that there were pirates in hell [194]. Moreover, after Miss Allbright declared she wanted to speak about hell that day, Bart's reaction is pure pleasure: "All right. I sat through Mercy and I sat through Forgiveness. Finally we get to the good stuff." [195]

The Simpsons also denounces the hypocrisy of both the people pretending to believe in the good ideals they are taught by the church, and the church itself claiming to be tolerant and merciful, e.g. Reverend Lovejoy is "seen in the mob after Homer, Bart, and Jebediah's statue head" [196]. In addition to that, the reaction of the parish when Ned Flanders is said to have been driving "hepped up on Goofballs" [197] is different from how Christians are supposed to behave - although Ned's wife Maude trusts in the church and calls it "a house of love and forgiveness" [198].

4. Problems in Society and Family

4.1 Unhealthy Habits and Lifestyle

Unhealthy habits is one of the major topics in The Simpsons, which could even be proven by one single person: Homer Simpson. As stated before Homer's weight is about 240 pounds (approximately 109kg). He loves food [199], especially donuts, but he would certainly eat everything that is said to be unhealthy, fat and sweet: when buying ice cream his "Mmm... Chocolate... Ooooh, double chocolate... Gasp! New flavor! Triple chocolate!" [200] expresses his amazement, and his dream about the land of chocolate [201], which, "as usual, defies description" [202], visualizes Homer's utopia. On account of that excessive food consumption, Homer has to "undergo a coronary bypass operation" [203], which would cost $40.000. However, he survives - and starts eating again. Without a doubt, this criticizes not only the behavior of those who need a surgery because of their food consumption, but also the conduct of those who simply do not care about this problem and refuse to stop eating "junk food."

Another serious topic is alcoholism. Otto, Bart's and Lisa's school bus driver, is certainly addicted to alcohol ("My name is Otto, I looove to get blotto." [204]), but the fact that Ned Flanders also attends an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting [205] ("It's been 4,000 days since my last drink. It was my first -- and last -- blackberry schnapps." [206] shows that alcoholism is already common in the American society, which is proven by the following facts:

In 1992, more than seven percent of the population ages 18 years and older -- nearly 13.8 million Americans -- had problems with drinking, including 8.1 million people who are alcoholic. [207]

About 43% of US adults -- 76 million people -- have been exposed to alcoholism in the family: they grew up with or married an alcoholic or a problem drinker or had a blood relative who was ever an alcoholic or problem drinker. [208]

Also, the AA meeting mentioned above and Homer's behavior show that the problems concerning alcoholism can only be solved if the "victim", in this case Homer, wants to accept help. As expected, Homer does not want to be "healed": he screams and jumps out of the window after Reverend Lovejoy told him: "Homer, with our help, you'll never touch a beer again." [209]

The following dialog again criticizes the church, represented by Reverend Lovejoy, and, probably more important, shows that alcoholism is a serious disease that requires, beside such a group as the Alcoholics Anonymous, to be, even in its worst form (presented by Homer, of course), accepted by society and church:

   Lovejoy: So Homer, pleas {sic} feel free to tell us
            anything. There's no judgment here.
     Homer: The other day I was so desperate for a beer I snuck
            into the football stadium and ate the dirt under the bleachers.
   Lovejoy: I cast thee out! [210]

The Simpsons vs. Smoking list [211] shows the cartoon's attitude towards this unhealthy habit. Like the presentation of Duff Beer, there is also one special brand of cigarettes to prevail in the serial: Laramie Cigarettes. The way it is advertised on TV shows, once again, that the industry uses all tricks, which is exemplified by the following commercial:

   Father: Wow, president of Laramie Cigarettes, Jack Larson!
   Larson: This year, Laramie is sponsoring the Little Miss
           Springfield Pageant. You see, government regulations 
           prohibit us from advertising on TV.
           [takes a puff on a cigarette and holds up the box]
           Ah, that sweet Carolina smoke!  But, they can't prohibit us from 
           holding a beauty pageant for little girls aged 7 to 9.
           (...)
    Girl:  [dressed as pageant winner]
           What a feeling! I'm as happy as a smoker taking that first puff in
           the morning! [212]

This bears a striking resemblance to the Duff advertisements and the way their product was presented, although this commercial by Laramie Cigarettes obviously breaks the law, which is even admitted by Larson, and therefore shows the ignorance of such companies. This is underlined by the little Girl and by the fact that young people are seen smoking in The Simpsons [213]. Moreover, Laramie formerly used the Radioactive Man, the hero of a comic mainly read by children, for their purpose, and made him announce: "Ah, these Laramie cigarettes give me the steady nerves that I need to combat evil." [214]

Although the effects of smoking on the smoker are not explicitly shown, aside from Patty and Selma coughing sometimes, the effects on other people are at least mentioned indirectly, for instance the "cigarettes making Marge (and her baby {Maggie}) cough." [215] or when, in a flashback, "Patty and Selma, smoking, have come to see Lisa," and Patty says "Isn't that cute. She's coughing." [216] This is surely dedicated to all the smokers whose ignorant and reckless behavior annoys the world around them.

4.2 Medical Care - only for the Rich?

Don't worry, Marge. America's health care system is second only to Japan, Canada, Sweden, Great Britain, well, all of Europe, but you can thank your lucky stars we don't live in Paraguay! [217]

Homer's remark before his bypass operation summarizes the situation of medical care in the United States. The facts that medical care in America is mainly available to the rich and that the greatest part of that people has no health coverage at all are outlined by the facts:

An estimated 44.3 million people in the United States, or 16.3 percent of the population, had no health insurance in 1998. [218]
About one-half (47.5 percent) of poor full-time workers did not have health insurance in 1998. [219]

The proportion of people without health insurance ranged from 8.3 percent among those in households with annual incomes of $75,000 or more, to 25.2 percent among those in households with less than $25,000 in income. [220]

Nevertheless, in The Simpsons nearly everyone can afford every operation he has to undergo, since Dr. Nick Riviera announces in his television advertisement that he will perform "any operation for $129.95!" [221] Still, Dr. Nick, as he prefers to be called, is a very dubious man, which is made clear, for instance, by his dislike for the coroner: "I'm so sick of that guy!" [222] The reasons for that attitude become apparent when Riviera prepares to perform Homer's surgery by watching one on a video tape: when the first incision is made, he starts to scream [223]. Hence, Dr. Nick Riviera can be regarded as a badly skilled doctor for those who cannot afford high-quality treatment: the poor without insurance. However, he is called the "very model of a 21st-century healer" [224] by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), but this view results from the fact that Riviera is cheap, compared to the "real" doctor, Dr. Hibbert, as the CMA says that "the physician of the future must cut corners to cut costs, {and} accede to the patient's every whim (...)." [225] Although the health care systems in Europe also have to save money, from a European perspective, the quality still is the decisive factor in medicine. The only reason that prevented Riviera from killing a member of The Simpsons' cast is certainly not that he is a good physician, but it is simply impossible that any of the characters in the cartoon, which is supposed to be funny, gets killed.

Dr. Hibbert is the exceeding opposite of Nick Riviera, as he is a caring doctor, despite or probably because of his price - a topic where he simply cannot compete with Dr. Nick, who takes $129.95 for an operation, whereas Hibbert wants $40.000 from Homer for a triple bypass. However, he is not perfect either, e.g he tells Homer that he will die within 24 hours after he has eaten a blowfish [226], which luckily turns out to be false.

When Lisa needs braces, Homer relies on the dental plan the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant provides for its employees. Still, Homer has to negotiate, after he was elected union boss, about the insurance that is denied by Mr. Burns. The attitude of Burns, again representing the greedy capitalist, shows how little he cares for his employees. They have to start a strike in order to fight for the plan, but "Burns tells Smithers to get some strikebreakers, "The ones they had in the '30's."" [227] He even shuts down the power plant after he could not end the strike, but the employees do not surrender and force Mr. Burns to negotiate again, until he eventually fulfills the demand for the dental plan.

This episode shows that the American model of insurances provided by the companies people work for is not perfect, as the industry, whose inhumane behavior is also pilloried here, may be too powerful and capable of ending a strike without any compromise, although the workers succeed in The Simpsons. Moreover, the last fact, the success of the employees, tells the industry that it simply cannot exist without people working for it, since machines cannot completely replace the human workforce, which the "robot{s}" that "turn against their employers" [228] illustrate. Nevertheless, the workers are also criticized, for they were about to give up their dental plan for a free keg of beer [229]: most of the people are simply refusing to learn that their health is more important than secondary needs, in this case alcohol.

4.3 Sexuality, Jealousy and Harassment

The marriage of Homer and Marge had to face several crises, a fact that mirrors how topical this matter is, in particular, as even one of the first episodes deals with it [230]. Marge explains her problems to the public in a radio show: "When we were dating, he was sweeter... and more romantic! (...) And forty pounds thinner, and he had hair (...) And he ate with utensils! [breaks down crying]" [231] Moreover, Marge plans to attend a marriage retreat weekend. Her reasons are obvious:

   Homer: Never thrown a party?  What about that big bash we had with all 
          the champagne and musicians and holy men and everything?
   Marge: That was our wedding!
   Homer: Oh. [232]

Still, Homer does not recognize how serious the problem is, as he tries to prevent Marge from signing up for that weekend at Catfish Lake. He decides to participate finally, but only in order to go fishing. The resume of Reverend Lovejoy, who proposed the meeting, is simple: "Marge, as a trained marriage counselor, this is the first instance where I've ever told one partner that they were 100% right. It's all his fault." [233] When Homer breaks his promise not to go fishing, he catches the big catfish everybody tries to find, and that would make him rich and famous, but he throws it back into the lake to prove Marge his love: "I gave up fame and breakfast for our marriage." [234]

Still, in another episode it is Marge who almost has an affair - and endangers her marriage [235]. When she is given a bowling ball by Homer, who thought his wife would not like it so he could use it, Marge starts to bowl just to be stubborn. However, she gets to know Jacques, a gifted bowling teacher who falls in love with her ("Marge, do you know how beautiful you look in the moonlight?" [236]), although Marge makes clear that she is married. This time it is Homer who suffers, which is illustrated by the sandwich Marge made for him:

   Lenny: Ain't you hungry Homer?
   Homer: Starving.
   Lenny: Then why aren't you eating your sandwich?
   Homer: How can I eat it?  She made it,, {sic} It's all I
          have left. [237]

Homer's behavior shows more than just the fact that his wife is probably the only thing in the world that is more important to him than eating. It shows that he does not try to save the marriage, as he passively waits what happens next, which is not at least corroborated by him saying, "Son, I don't know if I can lift my head, let alone a ball." [238] The only attempt he makes to talk to Marge is about her "peanut butter and jelly sandwiches" [239], because he does not find the right words to express his feelings. Even in The Simpsons men are said to be incapable of showing their emotions, which should also make us think about their role in society: whenever their marriage is in danger, it is Marge, the "weak sex", who finally saves it or at least tries to, whereas men are apparently inferior to women concerning social behavior and family life, as Homer's conduct in "Jacques to be Wild" [240] and in "War of the Simpsons" [241] reveals.

When Homer touches a female student in order to grab some sweets off her trousers, he is accused of having sexually harassed her [242]. The whole world begins to hate him, and the media is presented again in its worst form, as it exploits that topic and manipulates the facts. When Homer is interviewed by a T.V. magazine host (Mr. Jones), his answers containing the truth [243] are faked as follows:

   Homer: Somebody had to take the babysitter home.  Then I noticed she was
          sitting on [splice] her sweet [splice] can.  [splice] -- o I grab
          her -- [splice] sweet can.  [splice] Oh, just thinking about
          [splice] her [splice] can [splice] I just wish I had he --
          [splice] sweet [splice] sweet [splice] s-s-sweet [splice] can.
   Jones: So, Mr. Simpson: you admit you grabbed her can.  What do you have 
          to say in your defense?
   Homer: [looking lustful in a clearly-paused VCR shot]
   Jones: Mr. Simpson, your silence will only incriminate you further.
	  (...) [244]

This is astonishing, as harassment occurs every day --- and is condoned silently. Thus, even if Homer had harassed her, this never would have caused such trouble, but the fact that Homer's "victim" is a feminist, who "gave a talk on women's issues" at Lisa's school "on how (...) {they} don't have to be second-class citizens" [245], changes the situation. This shows that no one needs to endure harassment if one is only aware of his/her rights, but also criticizes exaggerated feminism, since Ashley (the babysitter Homer touched) does not even want to listen to Marge. The difficulties, however, a victim of harassment has to face are made clear by another harmful product of the media's sensationalism: ""Homer S.: Portrait of an Ass-Grabber", starring Dennis Franz" [247]:

   [on screen, Franz laughs as he drives through a line of parking meters
   while the babysitter screams]
   [a cat cleans itself in the middle of the road]

   "Ashley": No, Mr. Simpson!  A cat is a living creature.
   "Homer":  I don't care.  [runs it over]
             [crashes into some garbage bins]
   "Homer":  Now I'm going to grab me some sweet.
   "Ashley": No, Mr. Simpson, that's sexual harassment.  If you keep it
             up, I'll yell so loud the whole country will hear
   "Homer":  [laughs]
             With a man in the White house?  [laughs] Not likely!
             [laughs more] [248]

Conclusion

As the preceding illustrations prove, The Simpsons is not merely a mirror of American life, but also a mirror of society in general, which results from the fact that Europe is influenced by America, its trends - and its problems. This becomes evident by such incidents as the recent shooting that occurred in Bad Reichenhall or the threatening of teachers at various other schools in Germany, although there are many more - comparatively harmless - Americanisms in Europe: the advance of fast food, Halloween celebrations or just the sheer presence of Hollywood movies in our T.V. program. The Simpsons' most important aim certainly is to be funny, which does not prevent its creators from combining entertainment with serious discussions of topical problems, though.

Especially the behavior of the well-developed characters may force some of the viewers to think about their own habits, above all those who identify themselves with Homer Simpson. Still, The Simpsons do not only criticize the individual, but also the government and politicians, which is proven by the presentation of the "American Way of Life". The latter may rightly be called revolutionary, as it has never before in an American sitcom or cartoon been parodied like that, since The Simpsons even dares doubt the role of the U.S. in the world, which certainly is not the case in all the other comedies like Roseanne, The Cosby Show or Home Improvement, because their criticism is, apart from some infrequent and moderate remarks, restricted to the "Internal Affairs" of the United States.

Due to the huge amount of characters, events, sub-plots etc. in The Simpsons, this essay's coverage is limited to the most important ones. However, the Internet offers a huge amount of resources for those who are interested in "America's favorite family", the most important of which probably is The Simpsons Archive [249], which also provides a list with links to other related sites [250].

In spite of the rumors about The Simpsons being canceled [251] there are also discussions about a "Simpsons movie" [252], but the fact that the yellow family survived the Osaka Flu and various marriage crises, avoided a core meltdown in the SNPP, returned back to earth after having been invited (sorry, kidnaped) by aliens, managed to survive one month without Duff Beer, and was not killed in Itchy & Scratchy Land, the "violentest place on earth(TM)" [253] shows that the Simpsons are simply indestructible and likely to outlast all coming catastrophes - including a cancellation.

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Footnotes

[001] Chen, R., Movie References in The Simpsons
[002] www.altavista.com
[003] cf. Chen, R., et al., The Simpsons Archive: Episode Capsules
[004] Oakley, B., Weinstein, J., Episode 9f05 ("Marge Gets a Job"), ll. 89ff.
[005] cf. Hall, D., The Homer File, section "Homer's food obsession"
[006] cf. Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), l. 330
[007] cf. Scovell, N., Episode 7f11 ("One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish")
[008] cf. Gewirtz, H., Episode 8f04 ("Homer Defined"), ll. 456ff.
[009] Gewirtz, H., Episode 8f04 ("Homer Defined"), l. 631
[010] Gewirtz, H., Episode 8f04 ("Homer Defined"), ll. 589ff.
[011] cf. Mula, F., Episode 1f07 ("The Last Temptation of Homer")
[012] Mula, F., Episode 1f07 ("The Last Temptation of Homer"), l. 1055
[013] cf. O'Brien, C., Episode 9f10 ("Marge vs. the Monorail")
[014] cf. Hall, D., The Marge File, section "Motherly Advice"
[015] cf. Swartzwelder, J., Episode 1f19 ("The Boy who knew too much")
[016] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 1f19 ("The Boy who knew too much"), ll. 823f.
[017] cf. Sweatt, D., The Seymour File, section "Giving Bart Detention"
[018] cf. Hall, D., The Bart File, section "Pranks"
[019] cf. Blackboard Openings, www.snpp.com/guides/chalkboard.openings.html
[020] cf. Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g03 ("Homer's Odyssey"), ll. 16f.
[021] cf. Scully, M., Episode 3f10 ("Team Homer"), ll. 13f.
[022] cf. PHONE CALLS TO MOE'S, www.snpp.com/guides/moe_calls.html
[023] Steiger, G., "The Simpsons --- Just Funny or More?"
[024] cf. Vitti, J., Episode 7g02 ("Bart the Genius")
[025] cf. Vitti, J., Episode 7g02 ("Bart the Genius"), ll. 381f.
[026] Vitti, J., Episode 7g02 ("Bart the Genius"), l. 383
[027] cf. Meyer, G., Episode 8f01 ("Mr. Lisa Goes To Washington")
[028] cf. Oakley, B., Weinstein, J., Episode 1f12 ("Lisa vs. Malibu Stacey")
[029] cf. Jean, A., Reiss, M., Episode 7g06 ("Moaning Lisa")
[030] cf. Steiger, G., "The Simpsons - Just Funny or More?"
[031] cf. Pepoon, S., Episode 7f13 ("Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment")
[032] Pepoon, S., Episode 7f13 ("Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment"),
      ll. 645f.
[033] cf. Hall, D., The Maggie File, section 4.0 "IS MAGGIE A GENIUS?"
[034] cf. Hall, D., The Maggie File, section 4.0 "IS MAGGIE A GENIUS?"
[035] cf. Hall, D., The Maggie File, section 2.4 "Maggie tends to imitate her
      family members"
[036] Lombard, O., List of Inquiries and Substantive Answers (LISA), "How much 
      does Maggie cost in the opening titles?"
[037] cf. Stern, D., Episode 7f15 ("Principal Charming"), ll. 239ff.
[038] Forrester, B., Episode 2f14 ("Homer vs. Patty and Selma"), ll. 354f.
[039] Forrester, B., Episode 2f14 ("Homer vs. Patty and Selma"), l. 369
[040] Stern, D., Episode 7f15 ("Principal Charming"), ll. 413f.
[041] cf. Barth, J., Episode 3f15 ("A Fish Called Selma")
[042] Barth, J., Episode 3f15 ("A Fish Called Selma"), ll. 1379f.
[043] Barth, J., Episode 3f15 ("A Fish Called Selma"), ll. 1431ff.
[044] Eisenberg, J., The Ned Flandiddly-anders File
[045] Eisenberg, J., The Ned Flandiddly-anders File, section "Speech"
[046] cf. Eisenberg, J., The Ned Flandiddly-anders File, section "Conflicts"
[047] cf. Richardson, D., Episode 1f14 ("Homer Loves Flanders")
[048] Richardson, D., Episode 1f14 ("Homer Loves Flanders"), ll. 860ff.
[049] Richardson, D., Episode 1f14 ("Homer Loves Flanders"), ll. 871ff.
[050] Richardson, D., Episode 1f14 ("Homer Loves Flanders"), l. 874
[051] Richardson, D., Episode 1f14 ("Homer Loves Flanders"), ll. 889ff.
[052] Richardson, D., Episode 1f14 ("Homer Loves Flanders"), ll. 896ff.
[053] cf. Lombard, O., List of Inquiries and Substantive Answers (LISA), "Is 
      it just me or are several of the characters left-handed?"
[054] cf. Vitti, J., Episode 7f23 ("When Flanders Failed")
[055] Vitti, J., Episode 7f23 ("When Flanders Failed"), ll. 445ff.
[056] Vitti, J., Episode 7f23 ("When Flanders Failed"), l. 517
[057] Vitti, J., Episode 7f23 ("When Flanders Failed"), ll. 487f.
[058] cf. Eisenberg, J., The Ned Flandiddily-anders File, section "Homer
      "Borrowing" Things From Ned"
[059] cf. Lombard, O., List of Inquiries and Substantive Answers (LISA), "How 
      old is Mr. Burns?"
[060] O'Brien, C., Episode 1f02 ("Homer goes to College"), l. 459
[061] Richdale, J., Episode 1f16 ("Burn's Heir"), ll. 802f.
[062] cf. Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f10 ("Bart gets hit by a Car"), ll. 166ff.
[063] Levine, K., Isaacs, D., Episode 7f05 ("Dancin' Homer"), ll. 95f.
[064] Episode 7f01 ("Two Cars in Every Garage, Three Eyes on Every Fish"),
      ll. 89ff.
[065] Simon, S., Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f01 ("Two Cars in Every Garage,
      Three Eyes on Every Fish"), l. 105
[066] Simon, S., Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f01 ("Two Cars in Every Garage,
      Three Eyes on Every Fish"), l. 99
[067] Simon, S., Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f01 ("Two Cars in Every Garage,
      Three Eyes on Every Fish"), ll. 124ff.
[068] cf. Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f10 ("Bart Gets Hit by a Car")
[069] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f10 ("Bart Gets Hit by a Car"), ll. 79f.
[070] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f10 ("Bart Gets Hit by a Car"), ll. 141f.
[071] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f10 ("Bart Gets Hit by a Car"), l. 182
[072] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f10 ("Bart Gets Hit by a Car"), l. 202
[073] cf. Lombard, O., List of Inquiries and Substantive Answers (LISA), "Are
      Smithers and Karl gay (or bisexual)?"
[074] cf. Hall, D., Smither's Sexuality
[075] Hall, D., Smither's Sexuality
[076] Cohen, R., Episode 8f08 ("Flaming Moe's"), ll. 571f.
[077] cf. Daniels, G., Episode 1f20 ("Secrets of a Successful Marriage"), 
      ll. 743ff.
[078] cf. Cohen, R., Episode 8f08 ("Flaming Moe's")
[079] cf. Martin, J., Episode 8f21 ("The Otto Show"), l. 403
[080] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7f06 ("Bart the Daredevil"),
      ll. 206ff.
[081] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 941f.
[082] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 942ff.
[083] cf. Sweatt, D., The Quimby File, section "Corruptus in Extremis"
[084] cf. Keeler, K., Episode 2f31 ("A Star is Burns"), ll. 899ff.
[085] cf. O'Brien, C., Episode 1f02 ("Homer Goes to College"), ll. 465ff.
[086] cf. Meyer, G., Episode 8f15 ("Separate Vocations"), ll. 166ff.
[087] cf. Meyer, G., Episode 1f05 ("Bart's Inner Child"), ll. 950ff.
[088] cf. Swartzwelder, J., Episode 9f19 ("Krusty Gets Kancelled"), l. 93
[089] Hall, D., The Homer File, section "Beer Quotes" 
[090] Hall, D., The Homer File, section "Beer Quotes"
[091] cf. Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless")
[092] cf. Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 1250ff.
[093] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), "Protest signs on Duff Beer
      commercial (before soaking)" ll. 374ff.
[094] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), "Protest signs on Duff Beer
      commercial (after soaking)", ll. 387ff.
[095] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 843f.
[096] cf. Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 845f.
[097] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 902ff.
[098] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 856ff
[099] cf. Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty gets Busted"),
      l. 177
[100] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty gets Busted"), l. 178
[101] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty gets Busted"), ll. 197f.
[102] cf. Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty gets busted")
[103] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty gets Busted"), l. 260
[104] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty gets Busted"), l. 263
[105] cf. Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty gets Busted"),
      l. 308
[106] cf. Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 8f05 ("Like Father, Like Clown")
[107] cf. Swartzwelder, J., Episode 1f11 ("Bart gets Famous"), ll. 504ff.
[108] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 1f11 ("Bart gets Famous"), ll. 614f.
[109] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 1f11 ("Bart gets Famous"), ll. 615f.
[110] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 1f11 ("Bart gets Famous"), ll. 618f.
[111] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 1f11 ("Bart gets Famous"), ll. 649ff.
[112] cf. Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty gets Busted")
[113] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty gets Busted"), l. 284
[114] Rusignola, M., www.silverbox.com/krusty/krusty1.html, "Krusty and his
      Sidekicks"
[115] cf. Rusignola, M., www.silverbox.com/krusty/krusty1.html, "Krusty and
      his Sidekicks"
[116] Lombard, O., List of Inquiries and Substantive Answers (LISA), "What are
      the words to `The Itchy & Scratchy Show' theme?"
[117] cf. Apple, G., Carrington, M., Episode 7f09 ("Itchy and Scratchy and
      Marge"), ll. 49ff.
[118] Apple, G., Carrington, M., Episode 7f09 ("Itchy and Scratchy and Marge"),
      l. 157
[119] Apple, G., Carrington, M., Episode 7f09 ("Itchy and Scratchy and
      Marge"), ll. 273f.
[120] Apple, G., Carrington, M., Episode 7f09 ("Itchy and Scratchy and Marge"),
      l. 283
[121] Apple, G., Carrington, M., Episode 7f09 ("Itchy and Scratchy and Marge"),
      l. 284
[122] Apple, G., Carrington, M., Episode 7f09 ("Itchy and Scratchy and Marge"),
      ll. 296f.
[123] cf. Bowman, K., Video Games on the Simpsons
[124] Bowman, K., Video Games on the Simpsons
[125] cf. Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7f06 ("Bart the Daredevil")
[126] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7f06 ("Bart the Daredevil"),
      ll. 130ff.
[127] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7f06 ("Bart the Daredevil"), l. 184
[128] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7f06 ("Bart the Daredevil"), l. 206
[129] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7f06 ("Bart the Daredevil"), ll. 250f.
[130] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7f06 ("Bart the Daredevil"), ll. 127f.
[131] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7f06 ("Bart the Daredevil"), ll. 234ff.
[132] Steiger, G., "The Simpsons --- Just Funny or More?"
[133] Jean, A., et al., Episode 8f02 ("Treehouse of Horror II"), ll. 474ff.
[134] cf. Jean, A., et al., Episode 9f04 ("Treehouse of Horror III")
[135] Jean, A., et al., Episode 9f04 ("Treehouse of Horror III"), l. 355
[136] Jean, A., et al., Episode 9f04 ("Treehouse of Horror III"), ll. 412f.
[137] cf. Jean, A., et al., Episode 9f04 ("Treehouse of Horror III"), ll. 33ff.
[138] cf. Kogen, J., et al., Episode 7f04 ("Treehouse of Terror")
[139] Kogen, J., et al., Episode 7f04 ("Treehouse of Terror"), l. 540
[140] Poe, E. A., The Raven, ll. 103f.
[141] Encyclopedia Britannica,
      www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/8/0,5716,62058+1,00.html
[142] cf. Scully, M., Episode 1f17 ("Lisa's Rival"), ll. 184ff., l. 759
[143] cf. Levine, K., Isaacs, D., Episode 8f07 ("Saturdays of Thunder"),
      ll. 362ff.
[144] cf. Meyer, G., Episode 7f07 ("Bart vs. Thanksgiving"), l. 484
[145] cf. Jean, A., et al., Episode 9f04 ("Treehouse of Horror III"), ll. 776ff.
[146] O'Brien, C., et al., Episode 1f04 ("Treehouse of Horror IV"), l. 456
[147] O'Brien, C., et al., Episode 1f04 ("Treehouse of Horror IV"), ll. 510f.
[148] O'Brien, C., et al., Episode 1f04 ("Treehouse of Horror IV"), ll. 646ff.
[149] Danula, G., et al., Episode 2f03 ("Treehouse of Horror V"), ll. 865f.
[150] Danula, G., et al., Episode 2f03 ("Treehouse of Horror V"), l. 864
[151] Danula, G., et al., Episode 2f03 ("Treehouse of Horror V"), l. 873
[152] Danula, G., et al., Episode 2f03 ("Treehouse of Horror V"), ll. 939ff.
[153] cf. Danula, G., et al., Episode 2f03 ("Treehouse of Horror V"),
      ll. 956ff.
[154] Stern, D. M., Episode 8f24 ("Kamp Krusty"), ll. 128ff.
[155] cf. Sweatt, D., Seymour Skinner File, section "Vietnam Flashbacks"
[156] Sweatt, D., Seymour Skinner File, section "Vietnam Flashbacks"
[157] cf. Swartzwelder, J., Episode 8f03 ("Bart the Murderer")
[158] cf. Swartzwelder, J., Episode 8f03 ("Bart the Murderer"), ll. 689ff.
[159] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 8f03 ("Bart the Murderer"), ll. 724ff.
[160] cf. Jean, A., et al., Episode 7g07 ("The Telltale Head")
[161] Jean, A., et al., Episode 7g07 ("The Telltale Head"), l. 37
[162] Jean, A., et al., Episode 7g07 ("The Telltale Head"), ll. 260f.
[163] cf. Jean, A., et al., Episode 7g07 ("The Telltale Head"), ll. 184ff.
[164] Jean, A., et al., Episode 7g07 ("The Telltale Head"), l. 227
[165] Collier, J., Episode 3f13 ("Lisa the Iconoclast"), ll. 949f.
[166] Clinton, B., First Inaugural Address
[167] Clinton, B., First Inaugural Address
[168] Collier, J., Episode 3f13 ("Lisa the Iconoclast"), ll. 960ff.
[169] Collier, J., Episode 3f13 ("Lisa the Iconoclast"), ll. 1029ff.
[170] cf. Rasmussen, C., A Foreign Affair
[171] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 9f03 ("Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie"),
      ll. 541ff.
[172] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 9f03 ("Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie"), l. 546
[173] cf. Stern, D. M., Episode 9f11 ("Selma's Choice"), ll. 391ff.
[174] cf. Danula, G., et al., Episode 2f03 ("Treehouse of Horror V"),
      ll. 1058ff.
[175] cf. Keeler, K., Episode 3f09 ("Two Bad Neighbors"), ll. 889f.
[176] Meyer, G., et al., Episode 7g13 ("The Crepes of Wrath"), ll. 115f.
[177] cf. Meyer, G., et al., Episode 7g13 ("The Crepes of Wrath")
[178] Jean, A., et al., Episode 7f12 ("The Way We Was"), l. 264
[179] cf. Rasmussen, C., A Foreign Affair, section "Cuba"
[180] cf. Jean, A., et al., Episode 7g07 ("The Telltale Head"), ll. 51ff.,
      ll. 66ff.
[181] cf. Jean, A., et al., Episode 7g07 ("The Telltale Head"), ll. 103ff.
[182] Meyer, G., Episode 9f01 ("Homer the Heretic"), ll. 141f.
[183] Meyer, G., Episode 9f01 ("Homer the Heretic"), ll. 272f.
[184] Danula, G., Episode 2f03 ("Treehouse of Horror V"), ll. 566ff.
[185] cf. Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty Gets Busted"),
      ll. 295ff.
[186] Meyer, G., Episode 9f01 ("Homer the Heretic"), l. 188
[187] Jean, A., Episode 7g07 ("The Telltale Head"), ll. 103f.
[188] cf. Jean, A., Episode 7g07 ("The Telltale Head"), ll. 414ff.
[189] Sweatt, D., Religion on the Simpsons, section "Other Religions and Misc.
      References"
[190] Keeler, K., Episode 2f31 ("A Star is Burns"), l. 424
[191] Keeler, K., Episode 2f31 ("A Star is Burns"), l. 426
[192] cf. Apple, G., Carrington, M., Episode 9f09 ("Homer's Triple Bypass"),
      ll. 679f.
[193] Pepoon, S., Episode 7f13 ("Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment"),
      ll. 369ff.
[194] cf. Pepoon, S., Episode 7f13 ("Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment"),
      ll. 379ff.
[195] Pepoon, S., Episode 7f13 ("Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment"),
      ll. 365f.
[196] Sweatt, D., Reverend Lovejoy File, section "The Life and times of Rev. T.
      Lovejoy"
[197] Richardson, D., Episode 1f14 ("Homer Loves Flanders"), l. 844
[198] Richardson, D., Episode 1f14 ("Homer Loves Flanders"), l. 858
[199] cf. Hall, D., The Homer File, section "Homer's food obsession"
[200] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 7g12 ("Krusty Gets Busted"), ll. 93ff.
[201] cf. Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 8f09 ("Burns Verkaufen der {sic}
      Kraftwerk"), ll. 147ff., ll. 532f.
[202] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 8f09 ("Burns Verkaufen der {sic}
      Kraftwerk"), l. 533
[203] Apple, G., Carrington, M., Episode 9f09 ("Homer's Triple Bypass"),
      ll. 501f.
[204] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), l. 1103
[205] cf. Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 1079ff.
[206] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 1093f.
[207] National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD),
      www.ncadd.org/problems.html
[208] National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD),
      www.ncadd.org/problems.html
[209] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 1113f.
[210] Stern, D. M., Episode 9f14 ("Duffless"), ll. 1294ff.
[211] cf. Jackson, S., The Simpsons vs. Smoking
[212] Martin, J., Episode 9f02 ("Lisa the Beauty Queen"), ll. 129ff.
[213] cf. Jackson, S., The Simpsons vs. Smoking, section "Young Springfieldians
      who are seen smoking"
[214] Martin, J., Episode 7f21 ("Three Men and a Comic Book"), ll. 219f.
[215] Crittenden, J., Episode 2f10 ("Maggie Makes Three"), l. 661
[216] Martin, J., Episode 9f08 ("Lisa's First Word"), ll. 679ff.
[217] Apple, G., Episode 9f09 ("Homer's Triple Bypass"), ll. 531ff.
[218] U.S. Census Bureau, www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-189.html
[219] U.S. Census Bureau, www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-189.html
[220] U.S. Census Bureau, www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-189.html
[221] Apple, G., Episode 9f09 ("Homer's Triple Bypass"), l. 602
[222] Apple, G., Episode 9f09 ("Homer's Triple Bypass"), l. 664
[223] cf. Apple, G., Carrington, M., Episode 9f09 ("Homer's Triple Bypass"),
      ll. 776ff.
[224] Patterson, R., MD., Weijer, C., MD., D'oh! An analysis of the medical
      care provided to the family of Homer J. Simpson
[225] Patterson, R., MD., Weijer, C., MD., D'oh! An analysis of the medical
      care provided to the family of Homer J. Simpson
[226] cf. Scovell, N., Episode 7f11 ("One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish,
      Blue Fish"), l. 375
[227] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 9f15 ("Last Exit to Springfield"),
      ll. 339ff.
[228] Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 9f15 ("Last Exit to Springfield"),
      l. 356
[229] cf. Kogen, J., Wolodarsky, W., Episode 9f15 ("Last Exit to Springfield"),
      ll. 140ff.
[230] cf. Groening, M., Simon, S., Episode 7g01 ("Some Enchanted Evening")
[231] Groening, M., Simon, S., Episode 7g01 ("Some Enchanted Evening"),
      ll. 509ff.
[232] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f20 ("War of the Simpsons"), ll. 279ff.
[233] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f20 ("War of the Simpsons"), ll. 517f.
[234] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f20 ("War of the Simpsons"), l. 558
[235] cf. Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7g11 ("Jacques to be Wild")
[236] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7g11 ("Jacques to be Wild"), ll. 304f.
[237] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7g11 ("Jacques to be Wild"), ll. 492ff.
[238] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7g11 ("Jacques to be Wild"), l. 435
[239] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7g11 ("Jacques to be Wild"), ll. 472f.
[240] cf. Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7g11 ("Jacques to be Wild")
[241] cf. Swartzwelder, J., Episode 7f20 ("War of the Simpsons")
[242] cf. Daniels, G., Episode 2f06 ("Homer Bad Man")
[243] cf. Daniels, G., Episode 2f06 ("Homer Bad Man"), ll. 676ff.
[244] Daniels, G., Episode 2f06 ("Homer Bad Man"), ll. 708ff.
[245] Daniels, G., Episode 2f06 ("Homer Bad Man"), ll. 440f.
[246] cf. Daniels, G., Episode 2f06 ("Homer Bad Man"), ll. 658f.
[247] Daniels, G., Episode 2f06 ("Homer Bad Man"), ll. 780f.
[248] Daniels, G., Episode 2f06 ("Homer Bad Man"), ll. 784ff.
[249] The Simpsons Archive (SNPP), www.snpp.com
[250] The Simpsons Archive: Web Links, www.snpp.com/contacts.html
[251] cf. Lombard, O., List of Inquiries and Substantive Answers (LISA),
      "What's this I keep hearing about The Simpsons being canceled?"
[252] Paakkinen, J., The Simpsons Movie?
[253] Swartzwelder, J., Episode 2f01 ("Itchy and Scratchy Land"), l. 448

Last updated on March 25, 2000 by Jouni Paakkinen (jouni@snpp.com)