• Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

The Simpsons.

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

The Simpsons One of the most popular sitcoms to date has got to be The Simpsons. It was first aired in 1991 with all of its characters being yellow (besides Asians and some celebrities). The original intent of this was to trick viewers into believing that the tint of their TV was off so they would attempt to adjust it to no avail. People soon realised this and saw the funny side of it, which helped the Simpsons' infamous career as a sitcom. A sitcom is a situation comedy. It centres on a family and usually has the same setting each week. Sitcoms have been around since the 1950s and have always been popular. They are normally 20-30 minutes and are showed when everyone has come home from work or school (6 o'clock onwards), so people can watch it as a family. Each episode starts off with an orientation to the situation, which leads to a complication that threatens the status quo. ...read more.

Middle

In the episode 'Simpson roasting over an open fire' the orientation starts with Marge writing her letter and we realise that it is Christmas in Springfield which should be a classic example of any family's relationship. The complication then arises when Homer doesn't get his Christmas bonus and Marge uses up the 'money in the jar' getting rid of Bart's tattoo, so Homer has no money to buy Christmas presents for anyone. This is soon solved when Homer brings back the dog he bet on at the racetrack and everyone loves the dog or 'Santa's little helper'. Everyone classically loves everyone else in the evaluation of their relationship and then everything returns to normal. The episode does also have the classic 'Christmas miracle' that usually leads to a "happily ever after" despite what Bart has to say about it. Homer fits the role of stereotypical dad quite well as he goes to great lengths to make everyone happy for Christmas with almost no thought for his pride or dignity. ...read more.

Conclusion

For example, she is the only family member that is vegetarian. And lastly, I guess that Maggie was all the stereotypical baby she could be, as she did nothing but get carried around and stay quite. As a whole, the Simpsons are stereotyped like any other family in the same situation would be in another sitcom, except they go about solving their problems differently. It really is a classic situation and even though the ending result is stereotypical, although not exactly predictable (i.e. the dog), the Simpsons make the whole thing enjoyable to watch. The Simpsons are highly stereotyped as 'family in need of help and get Christmas miracle at the last minute' and the ending is pure evidence of this, although nothing like a miracle would ever normally happen. Despite all the stereotypical ending, Matt Groening still managed to add his own touch in the form of Bart chiming in wise cracks after every line of the carol, which would limit the Simpson's stereotypicalism (is that a word?) ever so slightly, even though it happens a lot through the entire episode. (More to come) Victor Stout 10P ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Television section.

Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

or


Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related AS and A Level Television essays

  1. The Simpsons Coursework"Bart gets an F" Introduction: ...

    argue that the Simpsons don't care about each other, which is the reason for them not greeting one another, and that they come home hurriedly solely to watch TV. During the whole opening sequence, there are three gags. The first one is the "Chalkboard gag" where Bart writes about the silly things he shouldn't do.

  2. Discussing The simpsons.

    On the other hand Homer Simpson is very loved by the adult viewers as he should be the backbone of the family but he is like a forth child. I say this because he swears, drinks, careless. The Simpsons are also a success because the family are always fighting but somehow in the end they are reunited again.

  1. GCSE English Coursework "The simpsons" EN3 ...

    In this episode believe it or not Homer was trying to be normal as he was invited to Mr. Burn's party. Homer clearly wanted to make an good impression on Mr. Burns but like always this was not possible as Marge ended up getting drunk, Maggie was left in the

  2. English Media Coursework: Comparing the Opening Sequence of Two Films - 'Clueless' and Pleasantville'

    Then there is close-up of the television, a zoom-in on the Pleasantville calendar and a close-up on the family photograph, now with David and Jennifer in it instead of the original Bud and Mary-Sue, all to emphasise that there is no escape - they are stranded there.

  1. Evaluate the extent to which The Simpsons follow the conventions of a typical sitcom.

    Although I'm sure she tries to be, from what we see, Marge is anything but the perfect mother. When Marge does finally notice that Maggie is nowhere to be seen she looks about and seems worried. Luckily Maggie comes out of hiding in the brown paper bag she was put

  2. The History of Sitcoms

    Sitcom Comparison - The Simpsons, My Family and The Royle Family WHO/SETTING: Each of these three sitcoms features five main characters, all members of conventional families. Each family consists of a married couple and 2/3 children (the national average). The 3 sitcoms being compared all share these basic similarities, but their backgrounds and lifestyles are different.

  1. Comparison between the sitcom 'Friends' and the play of 'Neville's Island'.

    Ross is quite nerdy, and (most of the time) sticks to the rule book. Rachael Green - (Jennifer Aniston), Rachael comes across as an IT/ Daddy's girl. She dither's a lot, and is meant to be with Ross, even though they have drifted apart many times. Monica Geller Bing - (Courtney c*x Arquette)

  2. How do the Simpsons set about achieving their purposes?

    Even when insulted by a person's actions or by the local shoplifters: Nelson and co. Mr Burns, the town's residential millionaire is the stereotypical millionaire, clasping his expensive port with his claw like hands with a smug grin on his face snuggled nicely in his cavernous mansion, when not attempting to steal puppies and turn them into fur coats.

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work