Posted on 11/12/2006 5:49:57 PM PST by Recovering_Democrat
I was disappointed in The Simpsons tonight; last week the Halloween special took what I considered a good natured shot at the Iraq policy, and though I don't agree with the viewpoint expressed, it didn't get under my skin.
But this week, when the U.S. Army was shown to be going after youngsters and ignoramuses to be essentially cannon fodder, I started to get a bit perturbed.
Homer gets suckered into joining the Army, and tells his daughter he's going to fight to "keep oil from going over $100 a barrel" or something like that. Homer, too dumb for even the "front line infantry" and his band of misfits outwit their fellow soldiers in war games, and escape to Springfield. At one point, Homer almost gets caught and warns his buddies to flee--telling them that the U.S. Army will stack them naked and have a hillbilly girlfriend point and laugh at them...at which point one of his hillbilly troops produces a pic just like the Abu Ghraib photo and presents it as his Christmas Card from last year. (a slight chuckle there)
Anyway, the general in charge of the war games decides to INVADE and OCCUPY Springfield, and refuses to admit any mistake or to leave Springfield. Finally, he is tricked into being drunk and when he passes out he is held by the "local insurgency" at the point of a gun and made to sign terms of Surrender...complete with a mini-lecture by Lisa Simpson on how "occupying forces" cannot win.
Frankly, I am proud of our efforts as a nation and it makes me sick how so many have thumbed their nose at it.
I agree. I was very disappointed in this episode this week.
They went for every cheap joke. Their writers must have been on strike replaced by ABC's writers, because there wasn't a single clever thing in this episode.
Even the predator drone part ended up like a Warner Brother's cartoon (dynamite in the closet, that's all folks? Come ON! Talk about been there done that!!!).
Every US soldier was either stupid or gay and every commander a stupid, secretly gay person.
It was a very bad attempt and the Simps should be ashamed of it.(this time simps means sympathizers, apparently)
The Simpsons haven't been consistently funny for 8 years. I used to be an addict, now I don't even bother to watch any more.
That's why my bags are packed to go 'over there'. So jerks can be jerks. In the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
And so I can call Bravo Sierra, when they do.
It's all good. It's the rough discourse of free men governing themselves.
/johnny
If you're going to continue to watch, then you shouldn't complain.
After commenting on this to a brother-in-law, he replied, "You know, more people are like the Simpsons than like you!".
That was a most sobering thought, but then, what would you expect of a guy who grew up watching a 50's & 60's family sitcom starring Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Bill Gray, and Lauren Chapin and modeled his family after their TV family.
The worst part was when the recruiters say "even the stupidest kids in the stupidest town see past us", essentially doing a John Kerry and calling people who do join not smart.
Arrgh I am so pissed at the show.
When Homer was thinking he said " Dont you get it they need us(the mentally stupid) to make them(the army) look good)
We should boycott Fox.
I saw it and thought the same thing. I guess they are trying to get the left to want to go see their new movie.
And just one day after 'Veterans Day'...
Worst episode ever... And probably the last simpsons I shall ever watch.
I'm glad I missed it. I haven't watched the Simpsons since that awful episode (I think Spring 2004) when they showed Clinton nobily in a military tribunal prison and the Simpsons escape to France because the United States is such an awful fascist dictatorship, or whatever. I used to LOVE the show. The Golden Age of the Simpsons, Seasons 3-6, are like core parts of my identity (those were my high school years).
Now, The Simpsons are an abomination. The day after Veteran's Day, what were they thinking?!?
Nope last weeks Halloween special was definately the election surprise, with there alien invasion and hearts and minds crap.
The next time a lib complains about that "right-wing" Fox
network, point out to them that it's the same one that
runs Simpsons and Family Guy.
There were a couple digs at liberals--the commander-with-a-
hangover prefers to have a boat horn blasted in his face
to hearing Liberal Lisa rant at him--but much more
anti-Bush, anti-war, etc.
"Worst. Episode. Ever."
I knew there would be a thread on this. Within the first couple of minutes (the first recruiter scene), Mr. Cat and I were looking at each other with raised eyebrows. It wasn't funny, tonight, just insulting.
I disagree. I can't complain about the content of a show I normally enjoy? Look, I know what you're trying to say, but it misses the point of my post and my concern.
I still carry on conversations with my liberal friends and family members, even though what they say is reprehensible to me; my experience tonight is analagous to such relationships. I'm not for "shutting down" the show simply because of a couple of errant, idiotic shows. I am for exploring ways to address such a mindset that creates them.
You mock the troops, you go on The List.
The Simpsons
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