The Simpsonshas been a staple of televisionfor 35 years now, and with each passing decade, fans have debated which era of the long-running animated sitcom is the best — from its beginning to the present day. Many point to the series' “golden age”, which extends from the very first episode (a Christmas-themed story of misfortune and redemption) through the end of the 1990s, as the bestThe Simpsonshas ever been. It’s hard to argue with this logic, given how many standout episodes were produced during this period.
And yet, according to the show’s longest-serving staff member, Al Jean — who has worked onThe Simpsonsfrom the very beginning, first as a writer and then as a producer — the heyday of the series wasn’t always wine and roses for those working behind the scenes. Jeanreminisced withThe Guardianabout one particular episode he and other staffers feared would ultimately lead to the series' cancelation:
Having been there during the ‘golden era,’ I’ll just say it didn’t feel like that at the time… There’s a show from season three that I think of all the time: ‘Homer at the Bat.’ We had two script reads; that was the second, and it was dead silent. It was the worst read ever. Mike Reiss [Jean’s co-showrunner] and I looked at each other like: we’re going to get fired.
Jean also states that fan backlash was very much present during the “golden era” as well:
Early on, we’re already making fun of ourselves for being a hit. We had a joke about Simpsons T-shirts in season two. Some people talk about how ‘Lisa got too wordy and brainy’ — that happens in the Christmas show [when she eloquently rebuffs her aunt’s insults of Homer]. So I guess we jumped the shark in act three of the very first episode!
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Another former writer, John Vitti — who was involved in such classic episodes as “Mr. Plow,” “Cape Feare,” and “Lisa’s Substitute” — echoed Jean’s sentiments, stating that the complaint that the show isn’t as good as it used to be is something he’s been hearing since season two. But he also acknowledges fans' concerns over the gradual exaggeration and simplification of certain characters, a phenomenon known as “Flanderisation.”
Over the years, Christian people have turned on Ned Flanders, where they feel like he’s a parody. It is true that he got to be more of a Christian — but that wasn’t the intent. The original intent is well expressed in the [1989] Christmas episode — that he’s a nice guy. He thinks he’s Homer’s pal. He’s very happy with his own life … And it’s good that Flanders never knows he drives Homer crazy or enjoys it, because that’s an easy thing for a comedy writer to do. [But] with the quest for harder laughs, there’s too much of ‘The Simpsons’ for that never to have happened.
And it was actually a revelation, but when Homer started to get meaner, our fans — including some of the internet guys, who you might not associate with being incredibly character-driven — those viewers don’t hate Homer, they hate you. It’s an important lesson to remember as a writer.
Many fans consider the current iteration ofThe Simpsons, led by showrunner Matt Selman, as a return to form for the series. Still, others insist the “golden age,” with its nostalgic hand-drawn animation and sharp-witted satire of the American family, is the best. Wherever you stand, it’s clear thatThe Simpsonsis an institution with years and years worth of laughs available to viewers.
The Simpsons
