The Simpsons is an American institution. But its status as an occasionally sharp yet ultimately safe sitcom that's still going after 33 years on the air undercuts its revolutionary origins. The early years of the animated series didn't just impact Hollywood, they changed popular culture. It was a show that altered the way we talked around the watercooler, in school hallways, and on the campaign trail, by bridging generations with its comedic sensibility and prescient cultural commentary.
In Stupid TV, Be More Funny, writer Alan Siegel reveals how the first decade of the show laid the groundwork for the series' true influence. He explores how the show's rise from 1990 to 1998 intertwined with the supposedly ascendent post-Cold War America, turning Fox into the juggernaut we know today, simultaneously shaking its head at America's culture wars while finding itself in the middle of them. By packing the book with anecdotes from icons like Conan O’Brien and Yeardley Smith, Siegel also provides readers with an unparalleled look inside the making of the show.
Stupid TV, Be More Funny by Alan Siegel will be published June 10, 2025. Grand Central Publishing provided an early galley for review.
As a day one Simpsons fan here (right from the shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show), I am always down for checking out things that discuss this iconic televion show. This one hits the bullseye. Siegel takes the reader from the original concepts into those very first writers' rooms, offering insights on how the show came to be.
I remember the rise in licensed materials during that first season and the reshuffling of the schedule to place the show in direct competition with The Cosby Show (the current top show on TV) during the second. Seeing these events from the viewpoint of the creative staff was enlightening.
This was a refreshing viewpoint when examining The Simpsons. Recommended for folks who like to learn more about the behind-the-scenes history of shows.
1 comment:
Excellent review, Martin. I have to tell you, when I saw this title in my blog feed I thought "What a dumb title for a book" but the moment I clicked on the link to here and saw the Simpsons cover, I laughed out loud--I could just hear Homer grumbling that! My gosh I can't believe the show has been on the air this long, I watched the original Tracy Ullman shorts too but probably haven't seen a new episode since 2016. Unreal.
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