The Simpsons is a three-star quality show that was so groundbreaking in its time that I'm giving it another half-star. It would not be accurate to say it was the first animated family sitcom, considering shows like The Flintstones and The Jetsons, but it was the first to enter the dangerous realm of modern family sitcoms. In shows that take place in the distant future or prehistoric times, you have some license for nuance, for material that is just clever because of how it relates to the setting. But in a modern-themed sitcom, everything the viewer sees will invariably be related to in the real world, so you have to be a lot more careful.

The creators of The Simpsons were groundbreaking not only because they entered (nay, STARTED) this daring realm of modern, animated family sitcoms, but because they WEREN'T a lot more careful...they weren't careful at all. The characters are blatantly crude, violent, stupid, obnoxious, or just plain insulting. And that's just the genius of The Simpsons, because really, can you think of any live-action family sitcoms that are more realistic than that?

The Simpsons has never been afraid to say it like it is, albeit with some exaggeration. All kinds of social perceptions and interactions that were once thought to be controversial are now commonplace on television, thanks largely to this show. And through it all, the writing has miraculously maintained a strength and a depth that is seldom rivalled, through all eighteen seasons (going on nineteen!) of the longest American animated show in history. I once heard, or perhaps watched on a documentary, that the writers for The Simpsons have to essentially google-search their own episodes whenever they think of material for a new episode, to make sure they hadn't done it before and forgotten about it.

So while I will not give a full four stars to The Simpsons, because it's just not the kind of show that I personally will take time out of my schedule to watch, my hat is off to it for accomplishing a well-deserved status that most animators can only dream of.

There is very little you can say about the Simpsons that everyone doesn’t already know. It pretty much made the modern sitcom, and helped renovate my interest in television animation almost single-handedly, something which few animated shows can state. It was one of the few animated shows were I couldn’t find anyone who didn’t like it, an animation that my whole family watched and enjoyed since it started airing in the UK.

I haven’t seen some of the later seasons, since the channels I have that actually show the show are limited and have only so far barely reached season twelve; therefore I can’t speak for them. Out of all the episodes I’ve seen, they have hit the mark with me more and in a bigger way than those which fell flat. Maybe at some later date, when the drop in quality becomes more constant to me, I’ll re-review this show. However, right now, it is still one of my all time favourites shows, animated or otherwise.

Hmm, The Simpsons has been one of my favorite TV shows for the longest time! It's such a revolutionary show, being called "America's animated family" (not exact on the words though) and all, but I'll admit that the episodes from the mid-nineties have been the best. Recently the episodes are not as interesting as they were in the early seasons, but still those aren't really affecting my love for the show.

The many personalities of the hundreds of different characters just amazes me. Then add in different situations, both imaginary and funny imitations of real-life events and things like that, and you've got yourself a show! The voices weren't as good in the first couple of seasons (same for the animation), but as time went on and the seasons passed, things got better and the Simpsons has now become such a classic hit for TV lovers and animation fans alike.

It's not the perfect show, but it's pretty darn close!

I think this show and Pokemon are two of the only things on this planet that can actually outlast The Energizer Bunny. -.- It just keeps going and going. When will this show ever end? I stopped caring about The Simpsons a long time ago because it just got stale. Like everybody else here, I have a hard time deciding what kind of score to give the show. But I'll rest at three stars. A solid rating because during its early years it was actually funny and the characters remain part of pop culture despite whatever feelings I may have about the show right now.

Edit. With months to reflect on it, I've upgraded my rating to 4 stars.

I have the same problem as PC Unfunny. Do I rate this show for it's halcyon years (say 1991-97), or what it's become today? I struggled to find analogies to guide me. Are The Rolling Stones one of the great rock bands of all time? Yes. Have they had a great album since Nixon was re-elected? Nope. Do they get 4 stars? Probably...

Ok, maybe this is a better analogy. You're reviewing a movie. The first half of it is brilliant, and the second half falls on its face. Does it get 4 stars? Definitely not.

Maybe just because PC jumped one way, I'm going to play Devil's Advocate and break the other, docking half a point for the later part of the shows seemingly endless career.

In the early to mid 90's, The Simpsons was revolutionary, revelatory and totally hilarious. They virtually introduced the techniquie of machine-gun gags and editing - every show had more funny moments than some shows have in a season, and you'd barely have time to catch your breath before the next one hit. Start trying to remember classic early Simpsons lines, and you soon realise you're going to need an excercise book to keep track of them.

Now all the original writers have gone. Groening bailed out with many of the best and did 'Futurama' (which is even better, and never jumped).

Most hugely popular, high quality shows face this problem. X-Files, Seinfeld, M*A*S*H*... but each of these shows only dipped in their last couple of seasons. Simpsons, by all accounts (I stopped watching it about 4 years ago), has a dip that encompasses half its run. So, with a deep bow at the shrine of those magnificent 90's seasons, I have to just chip the top from your score, Simpsons.

If the review were for sheer importance, Simpsons would get 4 stars. Hell, take 5, 10 stars. Anyone over 25 probably takes it for granted, but if your memory doesn't stretch back to the 80's, you may not realise how this show reinvented and rejuvinated television cartoons, and even the sitcom itself.

The 'animation renaissance' began with 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' on the big screen. There were burblings in the late 80's, but the revolution really arrived on TV with The Simpsons in 89-90. In fact it first aired within weeks of 'Seinfeld' - the other show which re-wrote TV comedy rules for the 90's and beyond.

As far as TV cartoons go, a show is pre or post Simpsons. You can't get away from it.

Yes, I know this wasn't a review, but is there anybody reading this site who doesn't know what The Simpsons is about?

This was a hard one. I was thinking "should I rate The Simpsons when it was good ? " or "should I bash it in the ground because of it now ? ". I choose my first option. The Simpsons ranks among the few shows that have become so popular, it is part of american culture.

The quality of this show was going strong for well over 7 years. The humorous dialouge combined with the physical sight gags was comnbined beautifully. People also seem to forget that The Simpsons do have there touching moments. At times, they did have those classic sappy TV moments and they were well written.

Yes the quality has dipped over the years, severly. The dialouge is stupid and they are way too many sight gags. The supporting characters have become annoying and less interesting. But despite this, I can't deny those great early years. It's a classic.