They make the rest of us look good

On Sunday, Fox TV airs the 200th episode of "The Simpsons," a notable achievement for any television show, much less one with no real people.

With Episode 168 last season, the show became the longest- running animated show ever, passing "The Flintstones." Born in 1990, it is in its ninth season.

This, then, is our tribute to the longevity and creativity of "The Simpsons," the show you love or you hate, but you can't ignore.

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Homer is our
favorite Simpson

By Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin

Homer rules! More than half of the 111 ballots we received in our "Eat My Shorts!" poll marking the 200th episode of "The Simpsons" were for the fat, lazy, stupid, greedy, slothful, mean-spirited, clueless, balding, cranky, sentimental, dopey, beer-swilling, doughnut-inhaling, butt-crack-revealing head of the Simpson household.

Obviously, people look into Homer's mustard-yellow, wandering-eyed face -- and see themselves.

Here are some rationales from our readers on Homer's appeal:

"He's always drunk."

"His interests (beer and TV) and job (nuclear technician) are similar to mine."

"He makes the rest of us look good."

"He's the ultimate stereotypical male."

"He understands the categorical imperative."

"His appetite for massive amounts of alcohol and food, and his ability to love his family despite harsh and difficult situations life throws at him."

"That dummy is two years older than me."

"He's like our chief steward at UPW."

"He has the innocence of a child but the body of a baboon."

"He is both moronic and brilliant at once. He is the best of us, he is the worst of us. The inconsistencies of his character make him both human and hilarious."

"D'oh!"

In a distant second place, with 24 votes, is Bart, the pineapple-headed fruit of Homer's loins. Bart's skills at skating through the bottom end of the class curve while also becoming pop-culture hero are legendary. We'd reprint some rationale here, but virtually all the responses noted that Bart is "cool." Role-model material.

Tune in The 200th episode, "Trash of the Titans," airs at 7 p.m. Sunday on KHON/Fox. In it, Homer runs for trash commissioner. Steve Martin, Bono and U2 guest star.

Tied for third place, with 14 votes, are the intelligent, talented, frustrated Lisa Simpson and Apu, the cheerful capitalist immigrant who runs the Kwik-e-Mart.

"She's the most responsible."

"Can't go into 7-Eleven without picturing him behind the counter."

"She states the obvious, yet ridiculous truths about her family, her town and her world while at the same time remaining an integral part of the overall comedy."

"Because he is red."

"She can out-wit and out-quip Bart and Homer."

"I love his foreign accent. (I can do a pretty good Apu.)"

Groundskeeper Willie also scored well:

"He's got that wonderful Scottish accent, and such PASSION!! Everything is so IMPORTANT to him."

"Though he reeks of an ethnic stereotype, he is absolutely lovable in his macho heroism even while being the groundskeeper at Bart's elementary school."

"He talks to his shovel."

Marge Simpson, she of the towering blue hair and occasional hot flashes, scored a single vote, down there with lackey Smithers, befuddled bureaucrat Seymour Skinner, cackling harridans Selma & Patty, miserable dog Santa's Little Helper, the ponderous Comic Store Guy, and dead jazzman Bleeding Gums Murphy.

Favorite episodes were all over the map, and tended to focus on characters rather than plot. "How to choose from 200? All are great" lamented one reader. In general, though, the Halloween specials were popular.

While it seemed like replies were weighted toward 13-year-olds, the ages of the respondents ranged from 5 to 92. Adding them all up, the average age of the Simpsons fan turned out to be 24-1/4 years old.

Then there are the people who don't like "The Simpsons" at all:

"The show does not give good standards and good behavior to children."

"I don't believe in censorship but I would remove the Simpsons from print and TV so that children could not see it and I am considering canceling delivery of the newspaper!"

"I HATE THE SIMPSONS SHOW. GET IT OFF THE AIR. THEY STINK."

And then there was a lone vote for a favorite non-Simpsons character for Star-Bulletin columnist Charley Memminger. Homer, watch out. Charley says "D'oh!"

Simpsons images © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.