American as Apple Pie

Who ever would have thought that when the Simpsons premiered in 1989 that it would grow into an iconic, American brand? As evidenced by their Super Bowl crossover commercial with Coca-Cola (est. 1886), the Simpsons has now solidified itself into an classic American institution. No other single product established in the last 25 years can claim the influence that the Simpsons can. As if they needed my stamp of approval, Homer Simpson and family can join a list of illustrious (and time tested) brands.

Ford (est. 1903)

McDonald's (est. 1940)

The Wall Street Journal (est. 1889)

Budweiser (est. 1876)
Saturday Night Live (est. 1975)
Disney (est. 1923)
Nike (est. 1964)
Chevrolet (est. 1911)
Rolling Stone (est. 1967)
Macy's (est. 1858)
Harley Davidson (est. 1903)

The thing that links all of these organizations together is that they are more than just the product that they put out. They each represent a lifestyle, an attitude. Devotees of any of the above are subject, for better or worse, to certain assumptions and personality profile bullet points. There are certainly other brands, both American and otherwise, that represent the same point. Each one of these giants are more than the sum of their profits, more than the sum of their parts.

The Simpsons are sure to go down in history as more than a successful cartoon. They are a critique of American culture. Like All in the Family before them, the Simpsons is unafraid of exploring and poking fun at all aspects of society, from the controversial to the mundane. They are marketing gold--anything bearing their images sells and is automatically collectible. And on almost any occasion, the Simpsons are able to be used as a source for quotation, and more often than not, said quotes are completely applicable and appropriate. They have accomplished all of this by being reasonably subversive and without catering or pandering to anyone.

Despite the fact that most TV shows grow stale and most products are replaced by something faster and sleeker, the Simpsons continues to put out an entertaining show and their licensed merchandise is still enjoyable and, for the most part, creative. Each Sunday night, fall through spring, the Simpsons can be counted on to provide truly funny satire and a little bit of finger pointing at all of us. Not too shabby for a show that had Bill Cosby worried about Bart becoming a role model for little boys and that former President Bush tried to use to represent the decline of the American family. When it all comes down to it HW Bush will go down as a one term president who rode Regan's coattails into office, and Cosby, who despite breaking down racial barriers with the Cosby Show, may be more remembered for other people's impressions of him. But the Simpsons will always be known, at the very least, for putting "Doh!" into the dictionary and, at the very most, for epitomizing the best and worst in American culture, and for forcing us to come to grips with the contradictions of our society. As Homer so eloquently put it, "I see the light...it burns!"