THE SIMPSONS COMPLETE 20TH SEASON : DOH!

In 1989 a yellow toned family appeared on our TV screens on the little seen new network known as Fox TV. Can it really be 20 years since we first got a glimpse of the Simpson family? Apparently so as Fox releases THE SIMPSONS COMPLETE 20^TH SEASON.

What began as a series of clips in the now defunct TRACY ULLMAN SHOW, little snippets created by Matt Groening, a comic strip creator who drew and wrote LIFE IN HELL, the Simpson family kept growing in popularity. The antics of brat boy Bart, his stupendously idiotic father Homer, loving mother Marge, intelligent sister Lisa and silent little sis Maggie have garnered fans across the world. So much so that THE SIMPSONS is now the longest running prime time series in history, surpassing even M*A*S*H and GUNSMOKE.

So now comes the 20^th season, certainly a groundbreaking event for any show. But even more so for one that is animated. There are, or at least prior to this series, few prime time animated series in the history of television. THE SIMPSONS opened that door for all that have followed.

So what does this season have to offer? Plenty. There are still the adventures of problem child Bart as he finds more ways to get into trouble and continues to fill the chalkboard at the beginning of nearly every episode. Homer still does some of the stupidest things seen on TV. But the series offers so much more than just what is visible on the surface.

THE SIMPSONS has always taken a look at society and mocked it. This season is no different. Perhaps one of the best send ups of society is the look they take at Apple and people who feel the need to take on every product that they distribute. Excuse me, its not Apple but Mapple. Heaven knows no one could tell what was being made fun of here.

Included is the 20^th season episode of “Treehouse Of Terror”, THE SIMPSONS annual Halloween episode. Unfortunately for me this one didn’t live up to previous seasons outings for this holiday. Sure it has a few moments, but it’s been better.

One of the things quite visible in this season is perhaps what’s made the Simpsons one of the most endearing families seen on television. While they might be different, they might be low brow and always seem a bit jaundiced, there is at its core a family. And in today’s world that’s kind of rare.

Single parent families abound on television. But the Simpsons have remained a two parent, three child, one dog family. And while they argue, get in trouble, yell at one another, trick parents and more, they still love one another deeper than many families seen on TV.

An episode where Bart trades places with a rich look-alike results in Bart missing his family. The one where Lisa loses a crossword contest only to find her father Homer bet against her, later discovering that he spent part of the money to offer her a meaningful apology shows he really cares in his own way. And the episode where Homer and Marge remember when they were younger and almost parted ways, only to end with them kissing shows that while there life is anything but easy, they still have that love between them.

Sure there are controversial moments, pokes and jabs at staid institutions and religion and more. But at the core of this show is that family identity filled with love for one another. And the jabs it takes at normal society are much less blatant than some shows. Who would have thought that one day other animated shows would be more outrageous than this one?

There have been two gripes from fans about this box set. The first is that it is taken out of order with several more years (I think 6) not released yet to DVD. I think the reason might be because of the major event that this is, 20 years on TV. It’s also the first time they’ve appeared (with the exception of their feature film) on blu-ray.

The other is that this set offers almost zero extra features. Included is a clip/ad for a documentary by Morgan Spurlock about the series and menus for each disc drawn by Matt Groening. That’s it. For me that’s enough. I rarely have time to watch every single extra feature. But for die hard fans, their foaming at the mouth over this slight.

Still, what we do get is the entire 20^th season in crystal clear format ready to be watched at any time. We get one of the funniest shows ever created. And we get something that remains as topical today as it was when it began. Wouldn’t it be nice if every TV show could say the same? For me this set is a great piece of entertainment for a nice price. So sit back, watch the clouds part and slowly glide into the town of Springfield as the Simpsons race home to start the show.