RE: Simpsons ( was Kids' TV)

[Guest guest]

<<<but I agree about the Simpsons, I think it's an adult show,

but a colleague with a 12 yr old daughter said " Well, so was the Muppets -

but it worked for children too, and the same goes for the simpsons - it's

multi-layered " . >>>

Not that multi-layered that I get any of the layers. I find this show rude

condescending and I won't allow it on in my house at all. (dh knows this and

respects my wishes) and I am sure I am going to become one of those really

uncool mothers who has a rule that a certain tv programme is not allowed.. I

just think that show represents all that is bad about America (I know that they

have good things to so please don't think I am saying that they don't the show

is just far to American for me and I do not find it humorous at all )

Lonnie Phoebe & Eloisa's mama

& expecting a Christmas delivery...

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what you

start.

So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a Chocolate cake.

I feel better already.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 29/08/01 12:30:20 GMT Daylight Time,

lonniefletcher@... writes:

> I just think that show represents all that is bad about America

That is the entire point! That is what the writers set out to do. That is

why it is so funny.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 29/08/01 17:40:47 GMT Daylight Time, jennifer@...

writes:

> Though I do wonder whether young children get the point and get

> another less desirable one entirely (presumably the same one that

> Lonnie not surprisingly objects to).

Yes, which is why, as I said yesterday, it should NOT be classed as a

children's show! When it first came to the UK, it was entirely marketed at

the wrong age group. It was felt that the " star " was Bart Simpson, 10 year

old boy, therefore, it should be aimed at 10 year olds (or younger). Thing

is, as everyone knows who watches it, the star is NOT Bart, but Homer

Simpson, and really the show is aimed at people who can identify with him - a

point that was made in a Simpsons documentary I saw a while back.

That's not to say the marketing didn't work - it was very successful -

children were quite happy to go round with " Underachiever " on their t-shirts

or whatever. Back then, early 90's, before I'm ever really *watched* the

programme, I thought, as Lonnie does, " ooh this is awful, don't want to

know... " then, when I finally got round to looking at it, I realised that the

humour is 99% irony and just 1% slapstick. Obviously it's the slapstick that

the children enjoy - they hoot with laughter at Itchy and Scratchy (cat and

mouse) chain sawing one another to death - hilarious if you're a normal

average blood guts and gore obsessed 7 year old boy - but they don't realise

that the real humour of this is that it's a parody of all the horrible

disgusting *real* children's cartoons that many parents allow their children

to watch day after day. Matt Groenning (sp?), the writer of Simpsons doesn't

condone or encourage children to watch these violent cartoons, quite the

opposite IMO, but putting this parody into his own *adult* cartoon is his own

protest at their very existence, and essentially, the Simpsons as a whole is

his own protest, as an American, at everything that he hates about the

American way of life.

I don't stop my children watching The Simpsons, but it is generally on when

they are busy doing other things, or (on Sky) after they've gone to bed.

There are IMO far far worse cartoons they can watch all day every day on

" children's channels " , not to mention adverts... I've just banned

from looking at Cartoon Network (we've just had Sky Digital

re-installed) - their summer programme includes some really awful programmes

that have what I consider not very nice language for young children to copy

(and shout out very loud at the top of their voices in the supermarket

causing every other adult to turn and look at us...) He's now confined to

the safety of Nick Jr and the lovely Blue's Clues and Bob the Builder.

[Guest guest]

>In a message dated 29/08/01 12:30:20 GMT Daylight Time,

>lonniefletcher@... writes:

>

>

>> I just think that show represents all that is bad about America

>

>That is the entire point! That is what the writers set out to do. That is

>why it is so funny.

>

>

I agree.

Though I do wonder whether young children get the point and get

another less desirable one entirely (presumably the same one that

Lonnie not surprisingly objects to). At any rate our two love it -

I'd rather they watched that than the perniciously petty Tweenie

girls! (Very sad that, used to go to the panto which the people who

came up with the Tweenies did every year for 10 years)

But then, my two are doomed being the children of thirty somethings -

current favourite is Trumpton. We even took them to the cinema for a

special " Thirtysomethings and their children " programme - the Pogles

of Pogles Wood, Noggin the Nog, Mr Benn, Bagpuss, Roobarb and

Custard, Clangers etc etc.

(Though in fact, even though there's only 18 months between DH and I,

the generation gap is evident)

Speaking of blasts from the past, I've just been contacted through

the Friends Reunited website by an old friend I was rather enamoured

of - my heart skipped a beat!

--

jennifer@...

Vaudin

[Guest guest]

Same here Lonnie, it doesn't go on in our house, so the boys don't even know

about it. I do love BBC Choice though and it gets left on an awful lot in

this house. I know that the boys can watch it and there will be no adverts,

no nasty cartoons, mainly nice programs - well the boys like them and that's

the main thing, but I can't stand Bodger and Badger or the Chuckle Brothers

and have to run out of the room if they come on! But they love Tubbies,

Tweenies, Noddy, Pat and Sam, Pippin, Magic Key and a whole load of other

things. They are still only little though (4 and 2), so I don't know what

I'll be banning in 3 or 4 years time ;o))

Hannah

I just find this a totally horrible show..

I know other people love it but I don't and nothing anyone can say will make

me agree that it is a good or funny show..

Lonnie Phoebe & Eloisa's mama

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 29/08/01 21:38:53 GMT Daylight Time,

lonniefletcher@... writes:

> I just find this a totally horrible show..

> I know other people love it but I don't and nothing anyone can say will

> make me agree that it is a good or funny show..

>

More of a " South Park " fan then, are you Lonnie?

;-)

[Guest guest]

Hannah Hutton wrote:

> Same here Lonnie, it doesn't go on in our house, so the boys don't even know

> about it.

and Kitty don't watch The Simpsons (its on too late as they are in bed

before 6) but DH has a couple of the tie in books - and they love to 'read'

these. can name all the characters - even the obscure ones like Weylan

(sp?) ers. I have no strong feelings either way about the programme, but

am not going to discourage from 'reading'

http://www.foxstitch.co.uk/

[Guest guest]

<<<More of a " South Park " fan then, are you Lonnie?>>>

LOL funnily enough no.. Of " adult " cartoons I like Calvin and Hobb's.. Witty

and intelligent humour with a twist.. I don't however find South Park as

horrible as Simpson's and have been known to sit through a episode or 2 and also

I don't have the same problem with South Park as it is not shown at a time where

kids normally is up and about for watching tv...

Tv wise I am very fond of Frasier... And we actually have 3 video's with Tom

and Jerry so I am not against cartoons (and I just love the Flintstones ;o) )..

Lonnie Phoebe & Eloisa's mama

& expecting a Christmas delivery...

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what you

start.

So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a Chocolate cake.

I feel better already.

[Guest guest]

<<I've just banned

from looking at Cartoon Network >>

I must admit that Cartoon Network is banned here. Occasionally we watch

Flintstones but that is all. I don't find it suitable for my 3.5 year old or 1.5

year old.. also they would far rather watch Nick Jnr or Playhouse Disney..

Lonnie Phoebe & Eloisa's mama

& expecting a Christmas delivery...

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what you

start.

So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a Chocolate cake.

I feel better already.

[Guest guest]

> <<<More of a " South Park " fan then, are you Lonnie?>>>

I love Southpark, saddo that I am. My techie business partner has a

friend who has every single episode on his ftp site, either in

realaudio or mpeg format, so I download them and Yeshaya and I watch

them when we need cheering up. I copied some to a cd and we watched

them in Israel ) Yeshaya does an excellent impression of

Cartman )

Ruthie

[Guest guest]

I know the producer of Southpark - he went to school with dh. He is of your

religious persuasion, if that interests you, Ruthie.

J

Re: Simpsons ( was Kids' TV)

> <<<More of a " South Park " fan then, are you Lonnie?>>>

I love Southpark, saddo that I am. My techie business partner has a

friend who has every single episode on his ftp site, either in

realaudio or mpeg format, so I download them and Yeshaya and I watch

them when we need cheering up. I copied some to a cd and we watched

them in Israel ) Yeshaya does an excellent impression of

Cartman )

Ruthie