Matt Groening
The Simpsons

You can either love them madly or deeply hate them. But no one can argue that the sitcom concocted over twenty years ago by Matt Groening has become the most famous animated series in history. After twenty-four years of existence and twenty-one seasons, The Simpsons boast awards and accolades of all kinds, books, treatises, theses, as well as countless more or less successful attempts at emulation, from 'Family Guy' to 'American Dad'. The inspiration came back in 1987 when Groening had the brilliant idea to create a family unit capable of reflecting in the most ironic and sharpest way the flaws of American society. In all likelihood, good old Matt could not have imagined that what he was about to draw would become over the years a cult, a timeless masterpiece.

One of the strengths of the series (and a reasonable element of its global success) lies in the perfectly accomplished attempt to showcase not only the vices and virtues of the average American family but also of a whole community, the one we live in. Thus, five characters are created that will forever enter the legend of TV: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, each portrayed with a clearly defined character, each described with skill and precision, showcasing with almost obsessive accuracy their interests, weaknesses, and habits.

Salesmen, billionaires, clowns, sailors, bullies, gays, nerds, mafiosi. A gallery of terribly human, real caricatures that manage to exhibit all the sides of their character, from the positive to the more morbid and dark ones. In no other animated cartoon or sitcom I can recall has there ever existed such an incredible and rich amount of characters delineated with such depth worthy of the best screenwriter or novelist.

Springfield thus becomes a microcosm where the stereotypes with which we have to compromise every day are catapulted. Hence, life in this city resembles remarkably the one we wade in: the mayor, icon of politics and its most illustrious representatives, lives in rampant corruption, cheats on his wife, and is constantly embroiled in scandals for his liaisons with women of easy virtue (does it remind you of someone?). The police chief, the man who should ensure legality, is an inept, vicious cop, unable to command respect, often closing both eyes after pocketing various bribes. Or again: the reverend, a religious figure who should serve as a spiritual guide to his flock, is indifferent to his mission, tired of having to struggle every Sunday with the laxity of his congregation.

There's quite a lot of laughter but it's bitter laughter. One is faced with a irreverent show, morbidly allusive (not coincidentally, with each TV rerun, I discover details I had missed before or had not grasped). A show that uses an understandable, straightforward language, sometimes vulgar but, in its critical guise, also demanding, fully appreciable from a certain age onward. Okay, maybe some characters might be a bit vulgar and bawdy; bare butts, burps, farts, swear words do often make an appearance, and for this, some parents categorically prohibit its viewing to the little ones. But... let's be honest: why prevent your children from watching a program that is nothing more than the precise depiction of reality, when just flipping through channels randomly at any time of the day (even during protected hours) you can admire swinging behinds, Orwellian pseudo-reality shows, provocative cleavage, and all kinds of tackiness?

Just like it happened to me with Matt Groening and The Simpsons, one day, my kids will grow up with it. And those who won't like it... ''Bite my shorts!''.