Homer Simpson is the most important character on televsion now, and maybe ever. Don’t believe me? Here is why in 4 points:
1. As the patriarch of the Simpsons, he has been on TV for 20 seasons (427 episodes) and on the big screen once. This makes it the longest running prime time animated show on TV.
2. His trademark lines are completely recognizable by anyone who has ever watched TV. “Do’h” is just simply part of our culture now thanks to this show.
3. His character has developed beyond that of a cartoon character, he has now become an archetype. He is the prototypical characterization of a fat American slob who really loves his family and tries to do well, even if he can’t show it with much grace.
4. I tried to think of any one character from any other program, live action or cartoons, that has the same appeal and pervasiveness of Homer Simpson, but failed. I even did some reading in Bravo’s top 100 characters of all time. (Homer Simpson was only rated #5 in that ranking, but I disagree.) Bravo ranked Fonzy, Lucy Ricardo, Ralph Kramden, and Archie Bunker above Homer, and maybe that is a generational sign, but I don’t think that youth today would really relate to them the way they do to Homer Simpson. Homer is satire and slapstick, fool and father figure all rolled into one.
Tell me if you agree or disagree, and who you might pick to be the most important television character of all time.
1 Comment
November 28, 2008 at 2:32 am
Love ya Kotha hate that article