Sam Simon (1955–2015)

The seventh season follows the strength of the sixth, as it begins where the previous season concluded. The comedy central episodes are on point, and slightly more grounded than the previous season. The series balances a primary focus on the core family and exploring the world and side character that give the show so much vitality. No episode epitomizes this better than the classic "22 Short Films About Springfield," where an "ordinary: day featured that somehow feels completely natural. All show more of the core family have their own moments, but no character has a more significant growth than Lisa, as she becomes a vegetarian. Outside the core family, the exploration of Grandpa Simpson's past allowing him for once to play outside senile fool or bad father character. Perhaps one of the most prescient episodes in the season, "Much Apu About Nothing" focusing on immigration and anticipating attitudes that remain in the current day. The increasingly self-referential humor is taken to subversive levels in "The Day the Violence Died," Other standout episodes include "Two Bad Neighbors," "King Sized Homer," "Bart on the Road," and the strongest holiday episode "Marge Be Not Proud." show less

The fourth season of The Simpsons echoes much of the strength of the previous season, while further building on the formula that represented the golden years. The greatest advance in this season compared to previous is the greater incorporation of music, especially prominent in "A Streetcar Named Marge" and "Marge vs. the Monorail." The Treehouse of Horror episodes remain a highlight, and the retrospective explores Bart and Lisa's relationship, nearly as central as that of Marge and Homer. show more Homer begins his long litany of jobs, as he is a union boss and snow plow diver, while Marge's role is expanded as she stars in a musical and works with Homer at the nuclear plant. The season saw the first clip show in the series, but thankfully bundles it in a more substantial frame narrative. Springfield itself is developed the most in the season, as the strangeness of the town is featured especially in "Whacking Day" and "Marge vs. the Monorail." While satire and cultural commentary have been present from the beginning, religion as a frequent target becomes more prominent in "Homer the Heretic." show less

The short opening season of the Simpsons is rough, especially compared to where the show would evolve in several seasons. The animation, voices and characterization are still fluid, but the core family relationships are solid. The humor is grounded and realistic, especially compared to the excesses that would come later. The family faces financial, emotional and marital struggles, but the center of the family commitment always overcomes whatever crises the episode presents. The series show more premier is perhaps one of the strongest and best developed episodes, and holds up as one of the strongest in the series. Each family member (except Maggie) is made the focus of an episode, but Bart is clearly the center early on. Other side characters are present, but outside of Mr., Burns and Krusty, their characterization is not yet firm. Perhaps the most lasting contribution of the first season is the introduction of Sideshow Bob's rivalry with Bart and Lisa, which would lay the foundation for some of the strongest episodes in subsequent seasons. show less

The day-to-day life of a working class family.

2/4 (Indifferent)

Well that didn't age well. Early Simpsons is the era of "cawabunga" and "don't have a cow," and I think it was five or six episodes before it got a laugh out of me.

(Jul. 2021)