It’s hard to overstate how significantlyThe Simpsonschanged popular culture when the series was at its peak in the 1990s. With its anarchic sense of humor, instantly recognizable characters, and parody of small-town life,The Simpsonsproved to be a gateway within the development of the adult animation genre; shows likeFamily Guy, American Dad!, South Park,andKing of the Hillare the result of the template thatThe Simpsonsset. However,The Simpsonsdoesn’t quite have the same cultural cache today, asnew episodes only rarely seem to generate significant responses. Generally, the passionate feedback that new installments get is negative; the show recently attracted controversy overthe death of the character Larry Dalrymple.
It wasn’t the first time thatThe Simpsonskilled off a character, but the nature of Larry’s death was somewhat distressing for fans of the series. A regular patron of Moe’s Tavern, Larry was often seen drinking with Homer, Lenny, Carl, and Barney. Oddly, Larry’s friends barely seem to remember him in the aftermath of his passing; the disregard for the character’s legacy for the sake of jokes about Homer’s alcoholism struck many fans ofThe Simpsonsas an unusual moment. Although Larry’s death is certainly an inflection point for the series,Homer’s drinking issues have been played for laughssince the beginning ofThe Simpsons.
The Simpsons
The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.
Homer’s Drinking Is Established at the Beginning of ‘The Simpsons'
Whileanimated shows geared at general audienceslikeThe JetsonsandThe Flintstoneshad existed beforeThe Simpsons, the series was distinct in how it parodied popular sitcoms of the era.The Simpsonsblew up the concept of a “nuclear family” by featuring highly exaggerated versions of every member of the household; Bart was a volatile troublemaker whose schemes reached an absurd degree, Lisa was a committed student who poured extensive effort into her studies, and Marge was a bored housewife whose activities routinely became entirely superficial.Homer was originally depicted as a world-weary father whose only solace is drinking. After days of working a job he detests at Mr. Burns’ nuclear factory, Homer’s only source of happiness is going to Moe’s Tavern to enjoy a few drinks with his friends.
The Simpsonsgrew more grounded in its later seasons, developing a more earnest understanding of the family’s interpersonal relationships. Some of the more exaggerated aspects of the characters were grounded for the sake of more emotional moments; even when he acted selfishly, Homer proved himself capable of being a good father. However,The Simpsonsneeded to show that Homer was a flawed characterin order to avoid becoming too saccharine. Despite his inventiveness and surprising dedication to his family, Homer often gets in trouble as a result of his addiction to drinking.
While jokes about alcoholism aren’t to be taken lightly,The Simpsonsoften uses Homer’s passion for liquor to show his creativity.The classic episode “Flaming Moe’s” featured Homer creating the perfect recipe for a drink, only to have Moe steal it and try to launch a knockoff brand. It’s cited asone of the bestThe Simpsonsepisodesbecause it shows that Homer’s knowledge of alcohol is surprisingly nuanced; he’s spent so much of his life drinking that he’s come to have a refined sense of taste.
Jokes About Alcoholism Are Integral to ‘The Simpsons'
Although viewers might understandably be uncomfortable with jokesabout the realities of alcohol addiction,The Simpsonshas engaged with Homer’s drinking in several classic episodes.In the Season 4 installment “Duffless,” a drunk driving incident inspired Homer to briefly swear himself off from drinking; in classicThe Simpsonsfashion, the progress he makes to improve himself is immediately negated by the episode’s conclusion when he decides that drinking is the one thing he can’t quit. Nonetheless, the episode acknowledges that Homer was aware of his issues; in the touching final moments, Homer decides to forgo a night at Moe’s Tavern in favor of spending it with his family. This was a critical moment, as it suggested that Homer’s drinking issues could be temporarily subsided if his family was in peril; it aided in ensuring that the viewer still had reason to invest in him.
Ironically,The Simpsonshas used debates about alcohol to inspiresome of Homer’s most inventive moments.In the Season 8 episode “Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment,” Springfield’s proposed alcohol ban turns Homer into a surprising community leader who leads the city’s citizens to rally against their government. Even if Homer is defending his right to drink for purely selfish reasons, he manages to be rather articulate when discussing why the city should not be able to step over his freedoms. His final declaration of love for alcohol suggests that Homer’s passions, as destructive as they can be, are what drives him to be such an engaging character.
Alcohol Isn’t the Only Dark Topic ‘The Simpsons’ Jokes About
WhileThe Simpsonshas made a running gag of Homer’s alcoholism, it certainly hasn’t shied away from other sensitive topics during its long tenure, teaching each of its characters important lessons along the way. The show has tackled various controversial subjects, showcasing its ability to address societal issues like racism, religion, politics, mental health, addiction, and family dynamics.The Simpsonsknows only how to push boundaries, and it’s continually proven that over its historic 35-season run.
Some of its most memorable moments include episodes like “Homer’s Phobia,” which confronts Homer’s homophobia head-on, “Homer’s Enemy,” where Homer’s inadequacy drives someone to suicide, and “Bart vs. Australia,” which delves into cultural stereotypes and international relations. The show’s willingness to confront these topics head-onhas not only contributed to its longevity but has also solidified its reputation as a cultural touchstone, ofteneerily predicting real-life events and societal trends. The most recent case of this came in the form of Willy’s Chocolate Experience, an AI-generated event in Glasgow responsible for ruining the “fun and imagination” associated with Willy Wonka for hundreds of kids in attendance.
‘The Simpsons’ Isn’t Going To Change Homer
In recent years,The Simpsonshas sanded off some of its edges to address changing cultural norms; offensive stereotypes have been removed, and the show has featured some rather progressive moments of LGBT representation. However,modern episodes ofThe Simpsonscontinue to incorporate Homer’s alcoholism.The Season 34 episode “From Beer To Eternity” involved Homer attempting to turn the spokesperson of his favorite liquor supplier into Lisa’s mentor; it showed that Homer was continuously able to sink to new lows when drinking was involved.
Given all thatThe Simpsonshasestablished in its flashback episodes,there’s more than enough reason to still root for Homer.He has continuously shown that despite Abe’s failings as a parent and arguments with Marge, Homer is often able to surprise people with his compassion and sensitivity. The drinking issue, for better or worse, is integral to making him such a flawed protagonist.
