Media in The Simpsons

Media is a recurring theme of satire in ''[[The Simpsons]]'', an American [[animated sitcom]] created by [[Matt Groening]] for the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]]. The show is known for its [[satire]] of American [[popular culture]] and especially television culture, but has since its inception covered all types of media such as [[animation]], [[journalism]], [[commercials]], [[comic books]], [[movies]], [[internet]], and [[music]]. The series centers on a family and their life in a typical American town but the town of [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]] acts as a complete universe. The town features a vast array of media channels—from kids' television programming to local news, which enables the producers to make jokes about themselves and the entertainment industry.{{DISPLAYTITLE:Media in ''The Simpsons''}}Most of ''The Simpsons'' media satire focuses on television. This is mainly done through three characters: [[Krusty the Clown]], [[Sideshow Bob]], and until 1998 [[Troy McClure]]. ''[[The Itchy & Scratchy Show]]'' is a [[Story within a story|show within a show]], used as a satire of animation and in some cases ''The Simpsons'' itself. Topics include censorship, plagiarism, unoriginal writing, live-action [[clip show]]s and documentaries. [[Kent Brockman]], Springfield's principal [[news presenter]] illustrates the glibness, amplification, and [[sensationalism]] of [[broadcast journalism]]. His [[Tabloid journalism|tabloidization]] methods include making people look [[Trial by media|guilty without trial]], and invasion of [[privacy]] by setting up camp outside people's homes.

== Background ==

''The Simpsons'' is known for its satire of [[American popular culture]] and especially television culture.<ref>{{harvnb|Booker|2006 |p=48}}</ref> It uses the standard setup of a [[situation comedy]], or sitcom, as its premise and centers on a family and their life in a typical American town.{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=28}} However, its animated nature gives the setting an unusually large scope. The town of Springfield acts as a complete universe in which characters can explore the issues faced by modern society. The town has a vast array of media channels—from [[children's television series]] to [[local news]], which enables the producers to make jokes about themselves and the [[entertainment industry]].{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=388}} On the radio, the citizens of Springfield have fictional radio stations such as KBBL-AM, KBBL-FM, KUDD, WKOMA, KJAZZ, KFSL, and WOMB.'''<ref>{{harvnb|Moran|2009 |p=13}}</ref>'''

Using ''The Simpsons'' as an example of [[Media literacy]] education, Jonathan Gray discusses the role that television, and specifically television parody, might play in teaching the techniques and rhetoric of television to audiences.<ref>Jonathan Gray reveals his insights in a 2005 article called Television Teaching: Parody, The Simpsons, and Media Literacy Education.</ref>

Several characters have a role in this satire. [[Krusty the Clown]] is a hard-living entertainment veteran,<ref name="MSGtW" /> who has his own show: ''The Krusty the Klown Show'', which is aimed towards a children's audience and has many followers, including [[Bart Simpson]].<ref name="KGK">{{cite episode |title=Krusty Gets Kancelled |episode-link=Krusty Gets Kancelled |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Silverman, David |network=Fox |airdate=1993-05-13 |season=04 |number=22}}</ref> He is sometimes depicted as a jaded, burned out has-been, who has been down and out several times and remains addicted to gambling, cigarettes, alcohol, [[Oxycodone|Percodan]], [[Pepto-Bismol]], and [[alprazolam|Xanax]].<ref name="MSGtW">{{cite episode |title=Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington |episode-link=Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Kramer, Lance |network=Fox |airdate=2003-03-09 |season=14 |number=14}}</ref> He instantly becomes [[depression (mood)|depressed]] as soon as the cameras stop rolling;<ref name="HtC">{{cite episode |title=Homie the Clown |episode-link=Homie the Clown |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Silverman, David |network=Fox |airdate=1995-02-12 |season=06 |number=15}}</ref> In his book ''[[Planet Simpson|Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation]]'', author [[Chris Turner (author)|Chris Turner]] describes Krusty as "the wizened veteran, the total pro" who lives the celebrity life but is miserable and needs his celebrity status.{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=392–394}} Krusty has been described as "the consummate showman who can't bear the possibility of not being on the air and not entertaining people".<ref>{{cite video |people=Oakley, Bill |date=2002 |title=Commentary for "[[Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> His television shows are of mixed quality and all of his merchandise is of low quality, to the point of being potentially dangerous.{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=127-128}}

While Krusty represents [[low culture]], [[Sideshow Bob]] represents [[high culture]].{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=129-131}} He began his career as the non-speaking sidekick on [[Krusty the Clown]]'s television show.<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Telltale Head |episode-link=The Telltale Head |series=The Simpsons |credits=[[Al Jean|Jean, Al]]; [[Mike Reiss|Reiss, Mike]]; [[Matt Groening|Groening, Matt]]; [[Sam Simon|Simon, Sam]]; [[Rich Moore|Moore, Rich]] |network=Fox |airdate=1990-02-25 |season=1 |number=8}}</ref> Frustrated by his early role as the target of "Krusty's cheap gags", Bob frames Krusty and takes over the show. He changes the content of that show to present readings of classic literature and segments examining the emotional lives of pre-teens. He believes that by exposing the kids to high culture he will improve their lives.<ref name="p12"/> Arnold writes that "Bob's own conscience and morality are clearly unaffected by the high culture he represents." He also tries to "manipulate the tastes of the masses" by becoming a criminal mastermind.<ref name="p12">{{harvnb|Arnold|2003 |pp=12–13}}</ref> In the book ''[[Leaving Springfield]]'', David L. G. Arnold comments that Bart is a product of a "mass-culture upbringing" and thus is Bob's enemy.<ref>{{harvnb|Arnold|2003 |pp=2–3}}</ref> Turner writes that Bob is built into a highbrow snob and conservative [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] so that the writers can continually hit him with a rake and bring him down.{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=129-131}}

[[Troy McClure]] is a stereotypical [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]] has-been.<ref name=fcs>{{cite video |people=Weinstein, Josh; Bill Oakley, David Silverman, Jeff Goldblum |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[A Fish Called Selma]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> He was a star in the early 1970s, but his career went downhill due to rumors of a [[paraphilia]] involving [[fish]]. In most of his appearances in the show, he hosts short video clips that other characters watch on television or in a public place. He often presents educational videos<ref>{{cite episode |title=Lisa the Vegetarian |episode-link=Lisa the Vegetarian |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Cohen, David; Kirkland, Mark; Mirkin, David |network=Fox |airdate=1995-10-15 |season=7 |number=133}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=Lisa the Simpson |episode-link=Lisa the Simpson |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Goldreyer, Ned; Dietter, Susie; Oakley, Bill; Weinstein, Josh |network=Fox |airdate=1998-03-08 |season=9 |number=195}}</ref> and [[infomercial]]s.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Marge in Chains |episode-link=Marge in Chains |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Oakley, Bill; Weinstein, Josh; Jean, Al; Reiss, Mike; Reardon, Jim |network=Fox |airdate=1993-05-06 |season=4 |number=80}}</ref> Turner argues that "the smarmy Hollywood type...has been done to death, but Hartman's version breathed new life into it with each appearance. McClure has become the [[apotheosis]] of the stereotype, a gut-achingly funny reinterpretation whose trademark introduction...has become a shorthand way to describe any grossly artificial media figure."{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=405-406}} In addition to his in-story appearances, McClure appears as host of "[[The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular]]" and "[[The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase]]".<ref name="TheSimpsons">{{cite episode |title=The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular |episode-link=The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Vitti, John; Silverman, David; Oakley, Bill; Weinstein, Josh |network=Fox |airdate=1995-12-03 |season=7 |number=138}}</ref>

===Network notes=== Back when ''The Simpsons'' was developed as a half hour show, co-creator [[James L. Brooks]] negotiated an unusual provision in the contract with the Fox network that prevented Fox from interfering with the show's content. He was able to do that, because Fox back then was a minor fledgling network.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=568&IssueNum=32 |title=3rd Degree: Harry Shearer |publisher=Los Angeles: City Beat |date=January 15, 2004 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |author=Kuipers, Dean |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717015139/http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=568&IssueNum=32 |archive-date=July 17, 2006}}</ref> Former showrunner [[Bill Oakley]] considered working on the show to be similar to working in a bubble due to the lack of interference from the Fox network's executives, as is commonplace on other shows.<ref>{{cite video |people=Oakley, Bill; Josh Weinstein |date=2006 |title=Easter egg commentary for "[[Lisa the Simpson]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> This allowed them to produce any episodes they wanted, as showrunner [[Josh Weinstein]] commented: "The great thing about ''The Simpsons'' is that we pretty much were able to get away with everything, so there weren't any episodes we really wanted to do that we couldn't do. Even the crazy high-concept ones like '[[Two Bad Neighbors]]' and '[[Homer's Enemy]]' we managed to put on the air because honestly there were no network execs there to stop us."<ref name="NoHomers1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nohomers.net/showthread.php?t=51876&page=2 |title=Ask Bill & Josh |publisher=NoHomers.net |date=November 2, 2005 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |author1=Oakley, Bill |author2=Josh Weinstein }}</ref>

Network notes were parodied at the beginning of the episode "[[Day of the Jackanapes]]". Krusty is shown being pestered by network executives who comment on every choice he makes. He announces his departure of ''The Krusty the Klown Show'' after the executives give him notes during filming of a sketch. At the end of the episode, Mr. Teeny is uncertain of where he should throw the plastic explosives that Bart wore. When he sees the two executives discussing in a room, he throws it onto them. Instead of dying of the explosion however, the pieces of the executives reconstitute into what Jean describes as a "super-executive". These sequences were inspired by Jean's dissatisfaction with some network executives, who he felt took control over a television series he was working on before he returned to ''The Simpsons'' in 1999. "I had just worked on a show on another network [...] we had a show where there were a lot of notes from executives", Jean said of the inspiration for the scenes.<ref>{{cite video |people=Jean, Al |date=2009 |title=Commentary for "[[Day of the Jackanapes]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> In "[[The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]" ''The Simpsons'' writers mocks the notion of network executives forcing ideas onto a show. The interaction between the writers and the network executives in the episode underscore the differences between them. The writers understand the show's inner workings, but the network executives' approach improvements to the show from a business point-of-view. They try to incorporate what they see as a rebellious character into a failing television show with the comment "This is popular with the kids", but the viewers later reject the character.<ref>{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |pp=145–147}}</ref>

The Fox network itself is often the target of jokes. In "[[Missionary: Impossible]]" the episode cuts away from the main story near the end to a telethon, populated by [[Bender (Futurama)|Bender]] (from ''[[Futurama]]''), Thurgood Stubbs (from ''[[The PJs]]''), [[Hank Hill]] (from ''[[King of the Hill]]''), [[Luke Perry]] (Dylan in ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]''), [[David Duchovny]] and [[Gillian Anderson]] ([[Fox Mulder|Mulder]] and [[Dana Scully|Scully]] from ''[[The X-Files]]''), and the owner of the Fox network [[Rupert Murdoch]]. The host, [[Betty White]], tells the viewers "So if you don't want to see crude, lowbrow programming disappear from the airwaves ... please call now".<ref>{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |p=163}}</ref> In "[[The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase]]," Troy McClure explains that the Fox network had approached the producers of ''The Simpsons'' to create "thirty-five new shows to fill a few holes in their programming line-up". He then shows the viewers a weekly programming schedule consisting of only ''The Simpsons'', ''The X-files'', and ''[[Melrose Place]]'' surrounded by question marks.<ref>{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |p=154}}</ref> Matt Groening notes in an interview that ''The Simpsons'' is in a unique place, and when former producers/writers move to different networks, they are told that "We would never have ''The Simpsons'' on our network".<ref name="alberti141" /> On this issue Robert Sloane concludes in ''[[Leaving Springfield]]'' that "In sum, the show seems to defy certain industry practices."<ref name="alberti141">{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |pp=141–142}}</ref>

==Television==

===Unoriginal writing=== The episode "[[The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase]]" was a satire over unoriginal, poor television writing and references and parodies many TV shows. The episode features three [[spin-off (television)|spin-off]] ideas for ''The Simpsons'' show, which also functions as a critique of spin-offs in general.<ref name="Alberti155">{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |pp=155–156}}</ref> [[Troy McClure]] introduces the three spin-offs as a host of the episode, something he had previously done in the episode "[[The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular]]".<ref name="TheSimpsons" /> Creator [[Matt Groening]] was uneasy about the idea, feeling that it could be mistranslated as actually poor sitcom writing. He also did not like the idea of breaking the [[fourth wall]] and the concept of saying that the Simpsons were just actors in a television show.<ref name="GroeningSpinoff">{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Eighth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The three segments were: * ''Chief Wiggum, P.I.'' is a parody of police-dramas, such as ''[[Miami Vice]]'', ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]'' and ''[[Starsky & Hutch]]''. [[Principal Skinner|Seymour Skinner]] emulates Don Johnson from ''Miami Vice'' in order to look scruffier.<ref name="Alberti155"/> * ''The Love-matic Grampa'' is a parody of fantasy sitcoms such as ''[[Mister Ed]]'', ''[[I Dream of Jeannie]]'' and ''[[Bewitched]]''<ref name="BBCSpinoff"/> as well as having similarities to ''[[My Mother the Car]]''.<ref name="GroeningSpinoff"/> The segment demanded a different approach to directing than a usual ''The Simpsons'' episode. Director [[Neil Affleck]] had to emulate a [[three-camera setup]], as is normally used in sitcoms.<ref name="KeelerSpinoff">{{cite video |people=Keeler, Ken |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Eighth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> * ''The Simpson Family Smile-Time Variety Hour'' is a parody of the 1960s and 1970s live variety shows. Mainly it is a parody of ''[[The Brady Bunch Hour]]'', a short-lived spin-off of the 1970s sitcom ''[[The Brady Bunch]]''. The replacement of Lisa in the third segment with another girl reflects the recasting of [[Jan Brady]] in the ''Brady Bunch Hour'' when [[Eve Plumb]] refused to participate.<ref name="Alberti156">{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |pp=156–157}}</ref> The Simpson family is made to look like ''[[The Partridge Family]]''.<ref name="BBCSpinoff">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season8/page24.shtml |title=The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase |publisher=BBC |date=September 2005 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last1=Martyn |first1=Warren |author-link1=Gary Russell |last2 = Wood |first2=Adrian |author-link2=Gareth Roberts (writer)}}</ref> Also, the segment holds numerous references to ''[[Laugh-In]]'',<ref name="Alberti158">{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |pp=158–159}}</ref> ''[[The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour]]'',<ref name="YeardleySpinoff">{{cite video |people=Smith, Yeardley |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Eighth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> and ''[[The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour]]''.<ref name="Alberti158"/>

Catchphrase-based humor was mocked in the episode "[[Bart Gets Famous]]".{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=60-61}} The writers chose the phrase "I didn't do it" because they wanted a "lousy" phrase "to point out how really crummy things can become really popular".<ref>{{cite video |people=Mirkin, David |date=2004 |title=Commentary for "[[Bart Gets Famous]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> It was also an intentional call back to the first season episode "[[Krusty Gets Busted]]" where it was a catchphrase of [[Krusty the Clown]].<ref>{{cite video |people=Silverman, David |date=2004 |title=Commentary for "[[Bart Gets Famous]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> When people in the episode eventually got tired of the catchphrase "I didn't do it", Lisa tells Bart that now "you can go back to just being you, instead of a one-dimensional character with a silly catchphrase". The episode ends with a self-referential scene in which several characters say their catchphrases, including the Simpsons, [[Ned Flanders]], [[Nelson Muntz]], [[Mr. Burns]] and [[Barney Gumble]].{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=60-61}}

The episode "[[Behind the Laughter]]" was a parody of the music documentary series ''[[Behind the Music]]'', which was popular during the episode's production.<ref name="ScullyBehind">{{cite video |people=Scully, Mike |date=2008 |title=Commentary for "[[Behind the Laughter]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> It tells the fictional history of the [[Simpson family]] and how they got into show business; from their weak beginnings to their exceptional prosperity. A television show, a recording contract, a lot of awards, and countless wealth follow [[Homer Simpson|Homer]]'s inadequate video "[[television pilot|pilot]]".<ref name="ignBehind">{{cite web |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/899/899503p1.html |title=The Simpsons Flashback: "Behind the Laughter" Review |work=[[IGN]] |date=August 18, 2008 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |author=Canning, Robert}}</ref> It took the writers a long time to conceptualize the show, as they were unsure whether to make Homer a filmmaker or make the characters unaware they were being filmed.<ref name="MeyerBehind">{{cite video |people=Meyer, George |date=2008 |title=Commentary for "[[Behind the Laughter]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The writers had particular fun writing over the top, melodramatic lines "tortured metaphors," many of which were penned by producer [[David Mirkin]].<ref name="MeyerBehind" /><ref name="SelmanBehind" /> Part of the imitating of ''Behind the Music'' was using the "corny, stock [[Interstitial program|interstitial]] footage to amp up the drama of the situation".<ref name="SelmanBehind">{{cite video |people=Selman, Matt |date=2008 |title=Commentary for "[[Behind the Laughter]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

In the clip show "[[The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular]]", the entire setup of [[Troy McClure]] presenting the episode is a parody of the practice by live-action series to produce clip shows in general. The parody was done by celebrating a completely random milestone and by making exaggerated use of the conventions of traditional highlight shows, such as a grand introduction and relentlessly showbizzy host.<ref name="Knox">{{harvnb|Knox|2006 |pp=72–81}}</ref><ref name=ott79>{{harvnb|Ott|2007 |p=79}}</ref> Considered a spoof of television clip shows, the episode is seen drawing attention to prevailing televisual conventions and reminds viewers that ''The Simpsons'' itself participates actively in that same cultural legacy.<ref name=ott78>{{harvnb|Ott|2007 |p=78}}</ref> Simone Knox referred to it in her article ''Reading the Ungraspable Double-Codedness of "The Simpsons"'' as not simply a clip show, "but a ‘clip show’ that looks at the series with a sense of hyper-self-consciousness about its own textuality".<ref name=Knox/> Since "[[Gump Roast]]", there have not been any more clip shows. The show now instead produces episodes with three adaptations of existing stories for each act, called "trilogy episodes", rendering a clip show unnecessary.<ref name="Jean">{{cite video |people=Jean, Al |date=2010 |title=Commentary for "[[Gump Roast]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

===Self reflectivity=== {{Quote box |style=background:#c6dbf7;width:28em;max-width:40%; |quote=We wanted to do an episode where the thinking was "What if a real life, normal person had to enter Homer's universe and deal with him?" I know this episode is controversial and divisive, but I just love it. It really feels like what would happen if a real, somewhat humorless human had to deal with Homer. There was some talk [on NoHomers.net] about the ending—we just did that because (a) it’s really funny and shocking, (2) we like the lesson of "sometimes, you just can't win"—the whole Frank Grimes episode is a study in frustration and hence Homer has the last laugh and (3) we wanted to show that in real life, being Homer Simpson could be really dangerous and life threatening, as Frank Grimes sadly learned.<ref name="NoHomers1" /> |source=— Josh Weinstein on "[[Homer's Enemy]]" in an interview. }}

One of the goals of showrunners [[Bill Oakley]] and [[Josh Weinstein]] was to create several episodes in each season which would "push the envelope conceptually".<ref name="WeinsteinEnemy">{{cite video |people=Weinstein, Josh |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[Homer's Enemy]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Eighth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The idea for the episode "[[Homer's Enemy]]" was first conceived by Oakley who thought that Homer should have an enemy. The thought evolved into the concept of a "real world" co-worker who would either love or hate Homer. The writers chose the latter as they thought it would have funnier results.<ref name="WeinsteinEnemy"/> The result was the character of Grimes, a man who had to work hard all his life with nothing to show for it, and is dismayed and embittered by Homer's success and comfort in spite of his inherent laziness and ignorance.<ref name="WeinsteinEnemy"/>

"Homer's Enemy" explores the comic possibilities of a realistic character with a strong [[work ethic]] placed alongside Homer in a work environment. In an essay for the book ''Leaving Springfield'', Robert Sloane describes the episode as "an incisive consideration of ''The Simpsons'''s world. Although ''The Simpsons'' is known for its self-reflectivity, the show had never looked at (or critiqued) itself as directly as it does in ["Homer's Enemy"]."<ref>{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |p=149}}</ref> In the episode, Homer is portrayed as an everyman and the embodiment of the American spirit; however, in some scenes his negative characteristics and silliness are prominently highlighted.<ref name="WeinsteinEnemy"/>{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=99-106}} By the close of the episode, Grimes, a hard working and persevering "real American hero,"{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=99-106}} is relegated to the role of antagonist; it is intended that the viewer be pleased that Homer has emerged victorious.{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=99-106}}

The episode "[[Behind the Laughter]]" is also largely self-referential. A series of T-shirts are shown sporting a number of Bart Simpson catchphrases: "You bet your sweet bippy, man." "Life begins at conception, man."<ref name="ignBehind" /> These are parodies of both officially licensed and bootleg ''Simpsons''-themed T-shirts in the early days of the series, [[Bartmania|usually revolving around Bart]].<ref name="ignBehind" /> The famous scene of Homer plummeting off the jagged cliffs after trying to jump Springfield Gorge on Bart's skateboard from the season two episode "[[Bart the Daredevil]]" is shown, however, "Behind the Laughter" shows us the "unfunny aftermath" of Homer going through physical rehabilitation and becoming addicted to pain pills.<ref name="ignBehind" /><ref name="KirklandBehind">{{cite video |people=Kirkland, Mark |date=2008 |title=Commentary for "[[Behind the Laughter]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The episode states the series turned to "gimmicky premises and nonsensical plots" as ratings dipped, and uses a clip from the season nine episode "[[The Principal and the Pauper]]" to get that point across: a highly controversial episode that many fans and critics panned.<ref name="ignBehind" />

"[[The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]" mainly deals with themes commonly known as "[[jumping the shark]]," instances that usually occur when a failing show adds a new character or twist to boost ratings. Before production of season eight began, Fox executives suggested the staff to add a new character to the show, who would live with the Simpsons on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]." The Simpsons: The Complete Eighth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cagle.msnbc.com/hogan/interviews/silverman.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204034422/http://cagle.msnbc.com/hogan/interviews/silverman.asp |title=Family Matters — The David Silverman Interview |work=[[MSNBC]] |author=Heintjes, Tom |archive-date=February 4, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2011}}</ref> The staff, amused with the idea, decided to write this episode as a commentary on what it was like to work on a television show that had been on the air for several years. Parallel to Poochie being introduced on Itchy & Scratchy, they inserted the one-time character Roy, with no explanation as to who he was, or why he was there, as a reference to the executive's proposal.<ref>{{cite video |people=Smith, Yeardley |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]." The Simpsons: The Complete Eighth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Usually, this is a technique used in shows that involves children who have grown up. This was the case in "Oliver" in ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' or "Luke" on ''[[Growing Pains]]''.<ref>{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |p=144}}</ref> The episode was intended to be a commentary on what it was like to work on a television show that had been on the air for a long time but was nearing its end. It was intended to show that ''The Simpsons'' could still be good after eight seasons, even though it no longer had the "shock value" it did in the early years.<ref name=CohenPoochie>{{cite video |people=Cohen, David S. |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]." The Simpsons: The Complete Eighth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> ''The Simpsons'' would, in a later episode "[[The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase]]," mock the addition of [[The Great Gazoo]] into some of the final episodes of ''[[The Flintstones]]'' by stating that, in future episodes, Homer would meet a green space alien named Ozmodiar that only he can see.<ref>{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |p=160}}</ref>

===Commercialism=== Television advertisements are also parodied. As an example there is a song and visual sequence in the episode "[[The Last Temptation of Krust]]" that was modeled after [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] commercials.<ref>{{cite video |people=Scully, Mike |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[The Last Temptation of Krust]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The sequence is a parody of a commercial for a sport utility vehicle, and [[Hank Williams Jr.]] sings a song about the fictional "Canyonero" accompanied by [[Country music|country guitar music]] and whip cracks.{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=254}} The song "Canyonero" closely resembles the theme to the 1960s television series ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season9/page15.shtml |title=The Last Temptation of Krust |publisher=BBC |date=September 2005 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last1=Martyn |first1=Warren |author-link1=Gary Russell |last2 = Wood |first2=Adrian |author-link2=Gareth Roberts (writer)}}</ref> The first verse of the song is: "Can you name the car with a four-wheel drive / Smells like a steak and seats thirty-five? / Canyonero! / Canyonero!"{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=254}} Turner wrote positively of the Canyonero spoof piece in ''Planet Simpson'', calling it "a brilliant parody of an SUV ad".{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=254}} In an article in the journal ''[[Environmental Politics]]'' Steve Vanderheiden commented that the Canyonero reflected an "anti-SUV" stance by ''The Simpsons''.<ref name="vanderheiden">{{harvnb|Vanderheiden|2006 |pp=23–40}}</ref> In an article in the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' about SUV owners, Vicki Haddock wrote "SUV owners have become something of a punch line, succinctly captured in a "Simpsons" parody touting the apocryphal Canyonero [...]"<ref>{{cite news |last=Haddock |first=Vicki |title=SUV owners have a champion on the Web; Road to acceptance for vilified vehicle owners is long, bumpy and winding |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |page=E1 |date=March 12, 2006 }}</ref>

In his book ''Watching with The Simpsons: Television, Parody, and Intertextuality'', Jonathan Gray analyses a scene from the episode "[[Girly Edition]]" in which it is announced that ''Kidz News'' has been replaced by the children's cartoon ''The Mattel and Mars Bar Quick Energy Chocobot Hour'' (a reference to the Mattel toys and the [[Mars (chocolate bar)|Mars]] chocolate bar). He says this mocks "how many children's programs have become little more than the ad to the merchandise".<ref name="gray">{{harvnb|Gray|2006|pp=84, 136}}</ref> Gray also writes that ''The Simpsons'' "illustrates how the ad as genre has itself already invaded many, if not all, genres. Ads and marketing do not limit themselves to the space between programs; rather, they are themselves textual invaders, and part of ''The Simpsons''{{'}} parodic attack on ads involves revealing their hiding places in other texts."<ref name="gray"/>

==Animation== {{main|The Itchy & Scratchy Show}}

''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'' is a [[Story within a story|show within a show]] that appears occasionally in episodes of ''The Simpsons''. They typically appear in the form of 15-60 second cartoons that are filled with over-the-top violence, usually initiated by Itchy the mouse against Scratchy the cat; Itchy is almost always the victor.{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=33-34}} The show is usually a parody of traditional cartoons or takeoffs on famous films, but the plot and content are always violent. The most direct and obvious example is ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'', an animated series which was also about a constant battle between a cat and a mouse, with the mouse usually victorious.<ref>{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt |date=2004 |title=Commentary for "[[Itchy & Scratchy & Marge]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Fourth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Itchy and Scratchy cartoons are often added when a show needs expanding or when there is an issue that the writers wish to satirize.<ref>{{cite video |people=Scully, Mike |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[Girly Edition]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref><ref name="JeanItchy" /> In some cases, notably in "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show", the writers use Itchy & Scratchy as a way to comment on ''The Simpsons''.<ref name="TISPS">{{cite video |people=Cohen, David S.; Matt Groening, Steven Dean Moore, Alex Rocco, Yeardley Smith, Josh Weinstein |date=2005 |title=Commentary for "[[The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

Several episodes that centered on Itchy and Scratchy dealt with [[censorship]] issues. In the episode "[[Itchy & Scratchy & Marge]]", Marge successfully forms a protest group that forces network to take ''Itchy and Scratchy'' off the air, citing the cartoon violence unsuitable for children.{{sfn|Richmond & Coffman|1997 |p=43}} The episode was partially inspired by [[Terry Rakolta]], who protested the Fox network over the show ''[[Married... with Children]]''.<ref name="JeanItchy">{{cite video |people=Jean, Al |date=2002 |title=Commentary for "[[Itchy & Scratchy & Marge]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> When ''Itchy and Scratchy'' are cancelled, the kids of Springfield resort to playing in a wholesome manner.<ref name="ReardonItchy">{{cite video |people=Reardon, Jim |date=2002 |title=Commentary for "[[Itchy & Scratchy & Marge]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The montage was a satirical point by saying the opposite of what the writers believed.<ref>{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt |date=2002 |title=Commentary for "[[Itchy & Scratchy & Marge]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> For the episode, which handles a large issue, the writers tried not to have a point of view and looked at both sides, despite what the writers personally felt.<ref name="ReissItchy">{{cite video |people=Reiss, Mike |date=2002 |title=Commentary for "[[Itchy & Scratchy & Marge]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The episode "[[Itchy & Scratchy Land]]" was written as a response to new, more stringent censorship laws that had been put in place. As a result, the Fox network tried to stop the writers from including ''Itchy & Scratchy'' cartoons in episodes. In response, the writers created this episode, which they decided would be as violent as possible. The network threatened that if the episode was produced, they would cut the ''Itchy & Scratchy'' parts out themselves, but relented when showrunner [[David Mirkin]] threatened to tell the media.<ref>{{cite video |people=Mirkin, David |date=2005 |title=Commentary for "[[Itchy & Scratchy Land]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Mirkin further tried to put "as much blood and guts" into the episode "[[Treehouse of Horror V]]" as he could. He had received several complaints by the [[United States Congress]] about the amount of violence on the show and he did not like their attempt to censor it. The episode was later described as "the most [...] disturbing Halloween show ever" by Mirkin.<ref>{{cite video |people=Mirkin, David |date=2005 |title=Commentary for "[[Treehouse of Horror V]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The episode begins with Marge warning that the episode that is about to air has so much guts and violence that Congress will not let them show it. The three main segments are linked with Groundskeeper Willie being killed in all three of them. The first segment has Homer attempting to kill the rest of the family, the second segment has Homer killing anything and everything in the prehistoric past, and the final segment revolves around Springfield Elementary eating children. To top it off, the Simpsons do a song and dance number, with their insides turned inside out, over the closing credits.

''The Itchy & Scratchy Show''-related episode "[[The Day the Violence Died]]" functioned as a vehicle for jokes about animation and plagiarism.<ref name="WeinsteinViolence">{{cite video |people=Weinstein, Josh |date=2005 |title=Commentary for "[[The Day the Violence Died]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> In the episode, the owner of the Itchy and Scratchy characters is accused of fraud, when the original authorship of the characters comes into question.<ref>{{harvnb|Chow|2003 |p=111}}</ref> When the owner pleads his case in court, he mentions that several animated television series and characters were plagiarized from other series and characters: "Animation is built on plagiarism! If it weren't for someone plagiarizing ''[[The Honeymooners]]'', we wouldn't have ''[[The Flintstones]]''. If someone hadn't ripped off [[Sergeant Bilko]], there'd be no ''[[Top Cat]]''!. [[Huckleberry Hound]], [[Chief Wiggum]], [[Yogi Bear]]? [[Andy Griffith]], [[Edward G. Robinson]], [[Art Carney]]!"{{sfn|Richmond & Coffman|1997 |pp=199-200}}

==Journalism== The character [[Kent Brockman]] functions as ''The Simpsons''{{'}}s main character for news parodies.<ref name="watching98">{{harvnb|Gray|2006 |p=98}}</ref> He was based on [[Los Angeles]] anchormen [[Hal Fishman]] and [[Jerry Dunphy]],<ref name=defined>{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt; Al Jean |date=2003 |title=Commentary for "[[Homer Defined]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> and modeled after anchorman [[Ted Koppel]].<ref>{{cite video |people=Bird, Brad; Wallace Wolodarsky |title=Commentary for "[[Krusty Gets Busted]]". The Simpsons: The Complete First Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Another influence on the character was ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Ted Baxter]], played by [[Ted Knight]].<ref name="woo5">{{harvnb|Woo|2004 |p=5}}</ref> His role on ''The Simpsons'' is to host the news as the fictional television channel, Channel 6's anchorman.<ref name="woo5" /> In addition to the news, he also hosts the programs ''Eye on Springfield'' and ''Smartline''.<ref name="watching98" /> Brockman is joined by [[Scott Christian]] and [[Arnie Pye]] on the Channel 6 news team. Originally, Scott Christian was the anchor and Brockman was the field reporter, but the show shifted focus to Brockman.<ref>{{cite video |people=Kogen, Jay |date=2001 |title=Commentary for "[[Krusty Gets Busted]]". The Simpsons: The Complete First Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Arnie Pye is a helicopter-based [[Traffic reporting|traffic reporter]] that sometimes helps with field reports other than traffic.<ref>{{harvnb|Woo|2004 |pp=8}}</ref>

In most of his appearances, Brockman seems more interested in [[infotainment|entertaining the viewers]] than informing them of real news.<ref name="watching98" /> In "[[Homer Loves Flanders]]" Brockman calls the [[United States Army]] a "kill-bot factory" in a news broadcast. Mirkin said this was a joke the staff "particularly loved to do" because it pointed out how negative and mean-spirited news broadcasts can be, and how they are seemingly "always trying to scare everybody" by creating panic and depression.<ref>{{cite video |people=Mirkin, David |date=2004 |title=Commentary for "[[Homer Loves Flanders]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Turner said that "in Brockman's journalism, we see some of the modern news media's ugliest biases", of which he says are glibness,{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=400}} amplification, and sensationalism.{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=402}} [[MSN]] called Brockman one of the worst TV news anchors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tv.msn.com/tv/bestworstnewscasters-2/ |title=The Best & Worst TV News Anchors |publisher=[[MSN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422204515/http://tv.msn.com/tv/bestworstnewscasters-2/ |archive-date=April 22, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last=Semel |first=Paul}}</ref>

A real-life journalist named Reid, who Gray interviewed for his book, states that the episode "[[Girly Edition]]" mirrors well how some journalists actually work. She said the episode shows "the ludicrous nature of, you know, what we do in a lot of things. The kids news with Bart and Lisa: I mean, you see them do really stupid stories about the news, and 'news you can use,' and 'how to get rid of your sheets when you wet them.' I mean, people really ''do'' stories like that."<ref name="gray"/> Steven Keslowitz writes in his book ''The World According to the Simpsons'' that the episode showcases the fact that "the viewing of attractive newscasters and the use of persuasive tones of voice often do have an impact on the minds of many intelligent members of American society."<ref name="Keslowitz">{{harvnb|Keslowitz|2006 |p=134}}</ref> With that said, the episode parodies the relationship between hard and intelligent journalism championed by Lisa and the "Up Close and Personal" style preferred by Bart.

Similar to the show's parody of the Fox network, ''The Simpsons'' also makes jokes about [[Fox News]]. Near the beginning of the episode "[[The Fool Monty]]", a Fox News helicopter can be seen, with the slogan "Fox News: Not [[Racism|Racist]], But #1 With Racists". [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]], host of the Fox News show ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'', aired the clip during the show's "Pinheads and Patriots" segment, saying "Continuing to bite the hand that feeds part of it, Fox broadcasting once again allows its cartoon characters to run wild." After the clip aired, he said "Pinheads? I believe so."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-oreilly-calls-simpsons-mocking-48437 |title=Bill O'Reilly Calls Out 'The Simpsons' for Mocking Fox News |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=November 23, 2010 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |author=Powers, Lindsay}}</ref> In response, the producers added a brief scene at the beginning of the [[The Simpsons opening sequence|opening sequence]] of the [[How Munched is That Birdie in the Window?|following episode]] with a helicopter that bears the slogan "Fox News: Unsuitable for Viewers Under 75." According to showrunner [[Al Jean]], the producers of the show were pleased that they had annoyed O'Reilly, and that they had never received a warning from Fox about making jokes about the network. He added, "Both ends of it benefit the ultimate [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corp.]] agenda,” Jean said. “We’re happy to have a little feud with Bill O’Reilly. That’s a very entertaining thing for us."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/arts/television/01simpsons.html |title=Friendly Enemies on Fox: 'Simpsons' and O'Reilly |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 30, 2010 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |author=Itzkoff, Dave}}</ref>

Other journalistic media are satirized as well. "[[Homer Badman]]" is a [[satire]] of shows like ''[[Hard Copy]]''.<ref>{{cite video |people=Daniels, Greg |date=2005 |title=Commentary for "[[Homer Badman]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> [[David Mirkin]], the [[show runner]] at the time, felt very strongly about the "[[Tabloid television|tabloidization]] of the media" and has said that the episode is as current today as it was at the time and things have since gotten worse.<ref name="MirkinBadman">{{cite video |people=Mirkin, David |date=2005 |title=Commentary for "[[Homer Badman]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Several gags in the episode are based on what real life shows like ''Hard Copy'' would do, such as making people look to be guilty without a trial as well as a complete invasion of privacy by setting up camp outside people's homes.<ref name="MirkinBadman"/> The talk show "Ben" reflects the writers' feeling that anyone could host a talk show because all they need is a microphone and an audience.<ref name="MirkinBadman"/> This leads to Homer using [[Public Access Television|public access TV]] to try to clear his name. The character Birch Barlow, who hosts a conservative radio talk show in Springfield,{{sfn|Richmond & Coffman|1997 |p=153}} is a take-off of American talk show host and political commentator [[Rush Limbaugh]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season6/page5.shtml |title=Sideshow Bob Roberts |access-date=October 29, 2011 |last1=Martyn |first1=Warren |author-link1=Gary Russell |last2 = Wood |first2=Adrian |author-link2=Gareth Roberts (writer) |year=2000 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

{{anchor|The Springfield Shopper}} Springfield has its own local newspaper, ''The Springfield Shopper''. The newspaper is often isolated from mainstream media, so the characters do not seem to know of other ones.<ref>{{harvnb|Moran|2009 |p=12}}</ref> Dave Shutton is a reporter for ''The Springfield Shopper''. He became less used since the episode "[[Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish]]" and has been reduced to [[cameo appearance]]s and appearances in crowd scenes.<ref>{{cite video |people=Reiss, Mike |date=2002 |title=Commentary for "[[Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Other newspapers are seldom mentioned on the show. In his book ''Watching with The Simpsons: Television, Parody, and Intertextuality'', Jonathan Gray discusses a scene from "[[Homer Defined]]" that shows Homer reading a ''[[USA Today]]'' with the cover story: "America's Favorite Pencil – #2 is #1".<ref name="gray"/> Lisa sees this title and criticizes the newspaper as a "flimsy hodge-podge of high-brass factoids and [[Larry King]]", to which Homer responds that it is "the only paper in America that's not afraid to tell the truth: that everything is just fine."<ref name="gray"/><ref>{{cite news |date=June 2, 2003 |title=1 brush with fame for USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-02-06-usatoday_x.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725233449/https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-02-06-usatoday_x.htm |archive-date=July 25, 2008 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> In the book, Gray says this scene is used by the show's producers to criticize "how often the news is wholly toothless, sacrificing journalism for sales, and leaving us not with important public information, but with America's Favorite Pencil".<ref name="gray2">{{harvnb|Gray|2006 |p=101}}</ref>

==Internet== Four months after the airing of a first episode "[[Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire]]", the newsgroup [[alt.tv.simpsons]] was created by Gary D. Duzan during the third week of March 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snpp.com/guides/lisa-1.html#1.1 |title=alt.tv.simpsons Basic History |access-date=October 29, 2011 |author1=Hocking, Tammy |author2=Matt Rose |date=January 26, 2011 |publisher=[[The Simpsons Archive]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214141221/http://snpp.com/guides/lisa-1.html#1.1 |archive-date=February 14, 2009 }}</ref> It was created before there was a [[World Wide Web]], which emerged in 1993, so those earliest discussions were held on text-only platforms.<ref name="tossell">{{cite news |last=Tossell |first=Ivor |title=Worst. Column. Ever. |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070726.wgtweb27/BNStory/ |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=August 2, 2007 |access-date=October 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116075927/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070726.wgtweb27/BNStory/ |archive-date=January 16, 2009 }}</ref> According to Turner, the newsgroup was among the most trafficked newsgroups of the early 1990s.{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=39}} The comments of alt.tv.simpsons have been quoted or cited in the writings of mass media commentators. This has led to situations in which relations between writers and viewers have become strained.{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=290}} In 1994, ''Simpsons'' creator Matt Groening acknowledged he and the other showrunners have been reading the newsgroup and in frustration said, "Sometimes I feel like knocking their electronic noggins together".{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=290}} Showrunner [[Bill Oakley]] used to respond to select ''Simpsons'' fans through e-mail in a friendly manner,<ref name="salon">{{cite news|title=Worst episode ever |work=[[Salon.com]] |url=http://archive.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2000/01/24/simpsons/ |last=Weinman |first=Jaime J. |date=January 24, 2000 |access-date=October 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226063311/http://archive.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2000/01/24/simpsons/ |archive-date=February 26, 2009 }}</ref> but by 1996 claimed "[t]here are people who take it seriously to the point of absurdity".<ref name="timeout">{{cite news |title=Family Fortunes |work=[[Time Out (company)|Time Out]] |last=Davies |first=Laura Lee |date=September 25, 1996 }}</ref>

[[File:Alt.nerd.obsessive.png|thumb|right|The writers often use the character [[Comic Book Guy]] to satirize and respond to the alt.tv.simpsons community. In this scene he is logging on to alt.nerd.obsessive, a parody of alt.tv.simpsons.]] The writers sometimes make jokes at the newsgroup's expense. Within the series, the character Comic Book Guy is often used to represent a stereotypical inhabitant of alt.tv.simpsons.<ref name="tossell"/> The first such instance occurred in the seventh season episode "[[Radioactive Man (The Simpsons episode)|Radioactive Man]]", in which Comic Book Guy is logging on to his favorite newsgroup alt.nerd.obsessive.{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=282}} Comic Book Guy's oft-repeated catchphrase, "Worst episode ever", first appeared on alt.tv.simpsons in an episode review<ref name="Worst Episode Ever">{{cite web |title=I&STM |url=http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.simpsons/msg/44d7c1808394313f?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22worst+episode+ever |last=Donald |first=John R. |work=alt.tv.simpsons |publisher=Google Groups |date=November 4, 1992 |access-date=October 29, 2011}}</ref> and writer [[David X. Cohen|David S. Cohen]] decided to use this fan response to lampoon the passion and the fickleness of the fans.<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Baker |title=Futurama Is Back! Grab a Can of Slurm and Settle In |magazine=[[WIRED]] |date=November 27, 2007 |access-date=October 29, 2011 |url=https://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/15-12/ff_futurama?currentPage=2 }}</ref> In the chapter "Who Wants Candy" in the book ''[[Leaving Springfield]]'', Robert Sloane finds alt.tv.simpsons an example of an "active audience ... who struggle to make their own meaning out of the show". He mentions that in this context, the fans nitpick the show to an extreme and allow no room for error, where the writers believe that nitpicking leads to an under appreciation of the show's qualities.<ref name="fans"/> Turner writes in the book ''[[Planet Simpson]]'' that ''The Simpsons'' appeared tailor-made for a newsgroup in the early 1990s because it includes minor details that reward attentive viewing and can be easily scrutinized.{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=285}} The episode "[[The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]" deals with the viewer backlash and obsession with internal consistency. When the character [[Comic Book Guy]] saw that the television show ''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'' added a new character, called Poochie, he immediately goes on the internet and writes "Worst episode ever" on a message board; a commentary on how the active audience nit picks the episode. The writers respond by using the voice of Bart:<ref name="fans">{{harvnb|Sloane|2003 |pp=147–148}}</ref>

{{cquote|Bart: Hey, I know it wasn't great, but what right do you have to complain?<br>Comic Book Guy: As a loyal viewer, I feel they owe me.<br>Bart: What? They're giving you thousands of hours of entertainment for free. What could they possibly owe you? I mean, if anything, you owe them!<br>Comic Book Guy: Worst episode ever.}}

In 2011, the producers let the users of the Internet vote over what direction ''The Simpsons'' should take. In the [[The Simpsons (season 22)|twenty-second season]] finale "[[The Ned-Liest Catch]]", the characters [[Ned Flanders]] and [[Edna Krabappel]] started dating. The episode ends with [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] and [[Marge Simpson]] giving the viewers a link to the official ''The Simpsons'' website, TheSimpsons.com, and encouraging them to go on the website and vote over the summer of 2011 on whether Ned and Edna should stay together.<ref name="nedna" /> Showrunner [[Al Jean]] said in an interview that the writers decided it would not be interesting for them to do another episode where a relationship ended, and they thought it would be interesting "to see what people think, [...] the Internet certainly has a lot of opinion on the show, might as well have them have their say."<ref name="Fienberg"/> When asked why the writers thought Ned and Edna were the right characters for a cliffhanger like this, Jean said that "In life, unusual things happen. People couple together in ways you would not expect, and he's single and she's single. We thought it would be funny, the fact that they both have these connections to the Simpsons but they never really met or if they have met it was minimal."<ref name=Fienberg>{{cite news |last=Fienberg |first=Daniel |title=Watch: Al Jean talks Season 23 of 'The Simpsons' |url=http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/the-fien-print/posts/watch-al-jean-talks-season-23-of-the-simpsons |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929205118/http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/the-fien-print/posts/watch-al-jean-talks-season-23-of-the-simpsons |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 29, 2011 |work=[[HitFix]] |access-date=October 29, 2011}}</ref> The result of the poll was revealed in the [[The Simpsons (season 23)|season 23]] premiere "[[The Falcon and the D'ohman]]".<ref name="nedna">{{cite web |title='Simpsons' Fans Play Cupid For New Springfield Couple 'Nedna' |url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/simpsons-fans-play-cupid-for-new-springfield-couple-nedna_article_48292 |work=[[Access Hollywood]] |date=May 20, 2011 |access-date=October 29, 2011}}</ref> According to Jean, the poll was "very strong in one direction".<ref name="Fienberg"/> He assured in an interview before the result was presented that the poll was authentic and the writers would not undo the viewers' decision, and added that "What our fans have joined together, let no writer tear asunder."<ref name="Fienberg" />

"[[I Am Furious (Yellow)]]" references the [[dot-com bubble]], a [[speculative bubble]] covering roughly 1995–2000. In their article "15 ''Simpsons'' Moments That Perfectly Captured Their Eras", ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' wrote: "By April 2002, the dot-com bubble of the late '90s had been popped for a couple of years, taking with it myriad Internet start-ups. A sobering soul-searching settled in their place, which ''The Simpsons'' captured in this episode about Bart creating a popular Internet cartoon called ''Angry Dad''. Touring the laid-back start-up that hosts the cartoons, Lisa asks head honcho Todd Linux about their business model. 'How many shares of stock will it take to end this conversation?' he retorts. Lisa asks for two million, which Linux grabs from a paper-towel dispenser. When Bart and Lisa return later, the company has gone bust, and Linux is stealing copper wire out of the walls."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.avclub.com/15-simpsons-moments-that-perfectly-captured-their-eras-1798211882 |title=Inventory: 15 Simpsons Moments That Perfectly Captured Their Eras |newspaper=The A.V. Club |date=July 23, 2007 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last=Koski |first=Genevieve |author2=Josh Modell |author3=Noel Murray |author4=Sean O'Neal |author5=Kyle Ryan |author6=Scott Tobias }}</ref> The episode was also partly based on some of ''The Simpsons'' staff members' experience with making internet cartoons, such as ''[[Queer Duck]]'' and ''[[Hard Drinkin' Lincoln]]'', both of which were created by former showrunner [[Mike Reiss]].<ref>{{cite video |people=Reiss, Mike |date=2010 |title=Commentary for "[[I Am Furious (Yellow)]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> In his article "Best Indicator Ever: The Simpsons Foreclosure", Jonathan Hoenig of ''[[SmartMoney]]'' wrote that the [[The Simpsons (season 20)|twentieth season]] episode "[[No Loan Again, Naturally]]", an episode in which the Simpsons are foreclosed from their house, could have indicated that "the worst of the housing crisis" at the time the article was written, was over. Hoenig based this theory on the fact that shortly after "I Am Furious (Yellow)", which satirizes the dot-com bubble, aired, the dotcom stocks "began a massive rebound from bear-market lows".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smartmoney.com/Investing/Economy/Best-Indicator-Ever-The-Simpsons-Foreclosure/ |title=Best Indicator Ever: The Simpsons Foreclosure |publisher=[[SmartMoney]] |date=March 13, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |author=Hoenig, Jonathan}}</ref>

In the episode "[[The Computer Wore Menace Shoes]]", Homer buys a computer and creates his own website to spread fake news. He defends his action towards Bart by stating "Real news is ''great'', son, but I'm getting a thousand hits an hour with Grade A bull plop".<ref name="watching98" /> In his review of ''The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season'', DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson wrote that he enjoyed the episode's take on "Internet idiocy". He wrote, "Some parts of it feel dated, but the web features even more ill-informed opinions today than it did nine years ago, so much of it remains timeless and on target."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasontwelve.shtml |title=The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season (2000) |publisher=DVD Movie Guide |date=September 2, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last=Jacobson |first=Colin}}</ref>

==Films== [[Rainier Wolfcastle]] is an action hero star and a close parody of actor/bodybuilder/politician [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]].<ref name=star>{{cite video |people=Jean, Al |date=2005 |title=Commentary for "[[A Star Is Burns]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The writers invented Wolfcastle as the action hero McBain for the episode "[[Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?]]" and the ''McBain'' films were meant to satirize clichés of [[action film|action movies]].<ref>{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt; Jeff Martin, Al Jean, Mike Reiss |title=Commentary for "[[Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> In the episode "[[The Boy Who Knew Too Much (The Simpsons)|The Boy Who Knew Too Much]]", [[Bart Simpson]] tells Wolfcastle that his "last movie really sucked" with [[Chief Wiggum]] adding "Magic Ticket, my ass, McBain!", alluding to Schwarzenegger's film ''[[Last Action Hero]]'', which was panned by critics.<ref>{{cite video |people=Mirkin, David |date=2004 |title=Commentary for "[[The Boy Who Knew Too Much (The Simpsons)|The Boy Who Knew Too Much]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Wolfcastle owns a restaurant named Planet Springfield, a parody of [[Planet Hollywood]], which Schwarzenegger co-owned with other celebrities.<ref>{{cite video |people=Weinstein, Josh |date=2006 |title=Commentary for "[[My Sister, My Sitter]]". The Simpsons: The Complete Eighth Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The episode "[[Radioactive Man (The Simpsons episode)|Radioactive Man]]" sees the film version of the comic book series ''[[The Simpsons Comics#Radioactive Man|Radioactive Man]]'' set up production in [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]] with Wolfcastle starring as the title role.{{sfn|Richmond & Coffman|1997 |p=182}} [[Radioactive Man (The Simpsons)|Radioactive Man]] is a fictional superhero within ''The Simpsons'', who works as a parody of comic books and superheroes in general.<ref name="Mackey">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8991894 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015144348/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8991894 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |title=Retro Revival Retrospective: The Simpsons Part 6 |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |work=Retro Gaming Blog |date=May 31, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last=Mackey |first=Bob }}</ref> The authors of the book ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'', [[Gary Russell]] and [[Gareth Roberts (writer)|Gareth Roberts]],<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://doctorwho.org.nz/archive/tsv51/garyrussell.html|title=Gary Russell: From Peladon to Placebos|author=Preddle, Jon|date=June 1997|magazine=Time Space Visualiser|issue=51|access-date=20 August 2020|publisher=The New Zealand Doctor Who Fan Club|quote=I've just done my first non-fiction book, Oh No It's A Completely Unofficial Simpsons Guide for Virgin, co-authored with Gareth Roberts which has, to be frank, been more of a nightmare than it needed to be [the book was published as I Can't Believe It's An Unofficial Simpsons Guide, with Gary and Gareth writing under the pseudonyms Warren Martyn & Adrian Wood].}}</ref> called the episode a "wonderful pastiche" on the [[Burton/Schumacher Batman film series|Tim Burton Batman films]], and several scenes in the episode reference the ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' television series from the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season7/page2.shtml |title=Radioactive Man |publisher=BBC |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last1=Martyn |first1=Warren |author-link1=Gary Russell |last2 = Wood |first2=Adrian |author-link2=Gareth Roberts (writer) |date=September 2005}}</ref>

In the later episode "[[Homer the Whopper]]", writers [[Seth Rogen]] and [[Evan Goldberg]] wanted to show how Hollywood generally ruins [[superhero film]]s. He said that "the whole joke is that Homer is cast to play a guy who's an everyman and they try to make him into this physically fit guy."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/doh-seth-rogen-writes-simpsons-episode-wbna33027622 |title=D'oh! Seth Rogen writes a 'Simpsons' episode |publisher=[[Today.com]] |date=September 28, 2009 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=September 21, 2011}}</ref> Rogen also noted that the plot mirrors the situation he was in while working on the film ''[[The Green Hornet (2011 film)|The Green Hornet]]'', when he had to lose weight and do physical training for his role.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2009-09-23-rogen-simpsons_N.htm |title=Rogen gets a dream gig: 'Simpsons' writer, voice |work=[[USA Today]] |date=September 23, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |author=Keveney, Bill}}</ref> [[Showrunner]] [[Al Jean]] commented that the writers tried not to repeat the comic book film theme from the "Radioactive Man" episode. Instead they decided to parody the fact that almost every comic book has been turned into a film. Jean commented that that scene in the episode in which the studio executives "are trying to think up an idea that hasn't been done really is what they are doing these days [in real life]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsarama.com/tv/090926-simpson-al-jean.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928213717/http://www.newsarama.com/tv/090926-simpson-al-jean.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 28, 2009 |title=Animated Shorts: Al Jean & The Simpsons 21 Years Later |work=[[Newsarama]] |date=September 26, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last=Fritz |first=Steve}}</ref>

In the season eleven episode "[[E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)]]", The Simpsons go to a screening of ''The Poke of Zorro'', which is largely a parody of the [[Zorro]] film ''[[The Mask of Zorro]]'' (1998). Jonathan Gray wrote in ''Watching with The Simpsons: Television, Parody, and Intertextuality'' that ''The Poke of Zorro'' "ridicules the outlandishness of [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] blockbuster fare," especially its "blatant historical inaccuracies" which sees the film feature Zorro, [[King Arthur]], [[the Three Musketeers]], [[the Scarlet Pimpernel]], "the [[Man in the Iron Mask]] and [[ninja]]s in nineteenth century [[Mexico]]".<ref name="grayTomacco">{{harvnb|Gray|2006 |p=2}}</ref> The [[Buzz Cola]] advertisement shown before ''The Poke of Zorro'' is a parody of the opening [[Invasion of Normandy|Normandy invasion]] sequence from the film ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' (1998).<ref name="grayTomacco"/><ref name="ultTomacco">{{cite book |title=Simpsons World The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1–20 |publisher=[[HarperCollins|Harper Collins Publishers]] |year=2010 |editor=Bates, James W. |editor2=Gimple, Scott M. |editor3=McCann, Jesse L.|editor4= Richmond, Ray |editor5=Seghers, Christine |isbn=978-0-00-738815-8 |edition=1st |pages=530–531|title-link=Simpsons World The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1–20 }}</ref> Gray writes that it "scorns the proclivity of ads to use any gimmick to grab attention, regardless of the ethics: as an indignant Lisa asks incredulously, 'Do they really think cheapening the memory of our veterans will sell soda?'"<ref name="grayTomacco"/>

==Music== Michael Dunne analyzed the episode "[[All Singing, All Dancing]]" in his book ''American Film Musical Themes and Forms'', and gave examples from it while explaining that singing and dancing performances are generally not seen as acceptable in the television medium.<ref name="dunne">{{harvnb|Dunne|2004 |pp=177–179}}</ref> He notes that Homer calls singing "fruity" and "the lowest form of communication" during the episode.<ref name="dunne" /> However, Dunne also notes the fact that Homer himself sings "his objection that musicals are fake and phony".<ref name="dunne" /> Dunne describes the [[frame narrative]] as establishing Marge as "..more favorably disposed toward musicals than the males in her house".<ref name="dunne" /> Dunne concluded that "musicals come out on top in this episode, but the victory is marginal at best."<ref name="dunne" /> Of the episode itself, Dunne wrote that "..the parodies contained in the show demonstrate that its creators are familiar enough with various forms of musical performance to echo them and confident enough that their viewers will catch the references."<ref name="dunne" />

In the episode "[[The Springfield Connection]]", Homer and Marge went to an outdoor performance by the Springfield Pops orchestra. The orchestra plays the theme to the ''[[Star Wars]]'' films, and Homer mistakenly believes that the theme's composer [[John Williams]] is dead, complaining: "Laser effects, mirrored balls—John Williams must be rolling around in his grave!".<ref name="alberti29">{{Harvnb|Koenigsberger|2003 |pp=29–30}}</ref> Kurt M. Koenigsberger analyzes Homer's comments in his piece: "Commodity Culture and Its Discontents: Mr. Bennett, Bart Simpson, and the Rhetoric of Modernism" published in the compilation work ''[[Leaving Springfield|Leaving Springfield: The Simpsons and the Possibility of Oppositional Culture]]'' edited by John Alberti.<ref name="alberti29"/> Koenigsberger comments: "The joke in this opening scene involves a confusion of high and popular artistic production: Marge treats the Springfield Pops as 'culture' and expects that the usually boorish Homer will need to be drawn into the spectacle."<ref name="alberti29" /> However, Koenigsberger notes that Homer actually regards ''Star Wars'' as a "classic", implying that a "classic" work must have a musical composer that is deceased, and be devoid of light-shows or glitter balls.<ref name="alberti29" /> Koenigsberger uses this example to discuss Homer's application of "a strategy characteristic of literary modernism".<ref name="alberti29" />

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography== {{portal|The Simpsons}} {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |editor-last=Alberti |editor-first=John |year=2003 |title=Leaving Springfield: The Simpsons and the Possibility of Oppositional Culture |location=Detroit |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |isbn=0-8143-2849-0 |title-link=Leaving Springfield }} **{{harvc |last=Arnold |first=David L. G. |year=2003 |pages=1–28 |c="Use a Pen, Sideshow Bob": ''The Simpsons'' and the Threat of High Culture |in=Alberti}} **{{harvc |last=Koenigsberger |first=Kurt M. |year=2003 |pages=29–62 |c=Commodity Culture and Its Discontents: Mr. Bennett, Bart Simpson. and the Rhetoric of Modernism |in=Alberti}} **{{harvc |last=Chow |first=Valerie Weilunn |year=2003 |pages=107–136 |c=Homer Erectus: Homer Simpson As Everyman ... and Every Woman |in=Alberti}} **{{harvc |last=Sloane |first=Robert |year=2003 |pages=137–171 |c=Who Wants Candy? Disenchantment in ''The Simpsons'' |in=Alberti }} *{{cite book |last=Booker |first=M. Keith |title=Drawn to television: prime-time animation from the Flintstones to Family guy |url=https://archive.org/details/drawntotelevisio0000book |url-access=registration |year=2006 |publisher=Praeger Publishers |isbn=0-275-99019-2 }} *{{cite book |last=Dunne |first=Michael |title=American Film Musical Themes and Forms |publisher=McFarland & Company |year=2004 |isbn=0-7864-1877-X }} *{{cite book |last=Gray |first=Jonathan |title=Watching with The Simpsons: Television, Parody, and Intertextuality |year=2006 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-415-36202-3 }} *{{cite book |last=Groening |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Groening |editor1-first=Ray |editor1-last=Richmond |editor1-link=Ray Richmond |editor2-first=Antonia |editor2-last=Coffman |title=The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family |edition=1st |year=1997 |location=New York |publisher=[[HarperPerennial]] |lccn=98141857 |ol=433519M |oclc=37796735 |isbn=978-0-06-095252-5 |ref={{harvid|Richmond & Coffman|1997}}|title-link=The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family }} *{{cite book |last=Keslowitz |first=Steven |title=The World According to the Simpsons: What Our Favorite TV Family Says about Life, Love, and the Pursuit of the Perfect Donut |year=2006 |publisher=Sourcebooks |isbn=978-1-4022-0655-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/worldaccordingto0000kesl }} *{{cite book |last=Ott |title=The Small Screen: How Television Equips Us to Live in the Information Age |first=Brian L. |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-4051-6154-1 }} *{{cite book |last=Turner |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Turner (author) |title=Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation |others=Foreword by [[Douglas Coupland]]. |edition=1st |year=2004 |location=Toronto |publisher=[[Random House Canada]] |oclc=55682258 |isbn=978-0-679-31318-2|title-link=Planet Simpson }}

'''Journals''' *{{cite journal |last=Knox |first=Simone |title=Reading the Ungraspable Double-Codedness of "The Simpsons" |journal=Journal of Popular Film and Television |volume=34 |issue=2 |pages=73–81 |publisher=[[Heldref Publications]] |year=2006 |issn=0195-6051 |doi=10.3200/JPFT.34.2.73-81 |s2cid=192104303 }} *{{citation |last=Moran |first=Fran |title=Popular Democracy and Citizen Engagement: Lessons from Springfield |publisher=[[New Jersey City University]] |location=Jersey City, New Jersey, US |url=http://faculty.njcu.edu/fmoran/morannpsa2009.pdf |year=2009 |access-date=October 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415092119/http://faculty.njcu.edu/fmoran/morannpsa2009.pdf |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }} *{{cite journal |last=Vanderheiden |first=Steve |title=Assessing the case against the SUV |journal=Environmental Politics |volume=15 |issue=1 |date=February 2006 |doi=10.1080/09644010500418688 |page=23 |bibcode=2006EnvPo..15...23V |s2cid=55846686 }} *{{citation |last=Woo |first=Stephanie |title=The Scoop on ''The Simpsons'': Journalism in U.S. Television's Longest Running Prime-Time Animated Series |date=December 2004 |url=https://www.ijpc.org/uploads/files/IJPC%20Student%20Journal%20Stephanie%20Woo.pdf |access-date=September 21, 2011 |publisher=University of Southern California }} {{refend}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Media In The Simpsons}} [[Category:The Simpsons]] [[Category:Fictional newspapers|Simpsons]] [[Category:Fictional television stations|Simpsons]] [[Category:Fictional companies|Simpsons]]