Reviews - Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of the Simpsons Changed Television-And America-Forever

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

79 reviews for:

Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of the Simpsons Changed Television-And America-Forever

Alan Siegel

4.05 AVERAGE

blsteenson's review against another edition

3.0

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

trabsolutely's review against another edition

4.0

funny informative reflective fast-paced

kidsquid's review

3.5

funny informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

there's a lot of interesting stories and context for the episodes we all remember and love. You get a good sense of the writers, where they came from, and what impact they've had in various ways. how merchandise exploded in popularity, the cartoon copycats, the shifting of attitudes etc.

it's written by a fan, and that shows with the lack of depth. everything is described as very surface level, with no personal connection. It's an outsider desperately trying to seem like an insider. he does a good job, but it still feels a little empty and long for the content.

He also doesn't seem to be a fan of anything that happened after the movie in 2007. There's no discussion of the post-golden age, except that it was hard to watch legally, and then it came to Disney plus so people are watching it again. I'd like to investigate the fall off, if it's exaggerated, if the culture changed, if it's bounced back in quality or something to acknowledge that it's still running.

it might also be interesting to have more personal opinion, as a Simpsons expert, it would add a little flavour to impart favourite episodes and quotes.

it's good.

patkohn's review against another edition

5.0

funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

crescentin's review against another edition

3.5

funny informative fast-paced

This was enjoyable but not very in depth. It felt more like an origin story/history with some context thrown in. It did make me want to rewatch the Simpsons.

ithinktfiam's review against another edition

4.0

A nice look at the early days of making The Simpson and why it was what it was. A bit too long a read for the content, but enjoyable. The one big thing is the generation of the writer means he thinks the show invented subversive cartoons. He clearly didn't grown up with Warner Brothers and Hannah-Barbera Sunday mornings. What a maroon! :) Bugs and team, as well as the great shows from HB, were kids shows for clever kids and parents. The Simpsons turned it around to focus on the adults, but those shows paved the way.