I’d like to use this as a springboard for a new postsomething that’s been on my mind for a bit but I couldn’t think of a good way to bring it up (I’m running out of ideas). This isn’t just about The Simpsons but rather the larger question of how long a franchise (books, TV, comics movies, etc) should last.
It’s my personal opinion that the first few seasons of The Simpsons were genius. And they still hold up today. I love the idea of a cartoon that’s for kids and adults, especially a sarcastic one that teaches a little bit about life as it really is: the “man” isn’t to be trusted, adults aren’t perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. IF ONLY most children’s programming offered that todayrather they’re stuffed with bullshit confidence-building “you’re special for being you” nonsense that makes you want to choke on a pacifier.
(And I know kids need that stuff as well, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be for adults too. Sponge Bob does it really well.)
I stopped watching The Simpsons after season 8. It was still funnier than most shows at the time, but I felt that the episodes were missing heart. At that point I was hoping it would end with dignity rather than get worse while FOX milked it for 10 more years. Now instead of saying “I loved that show”, that statement has to be qualified with “I loved that show but they ran it too long.”
And, to many of us, that does ruin it a bit.
But I admit to being art snob. I don’t think it’s shameful for any one of us to admit it. When it comes to franchises we look at them throw the eyes of the art. Money and marketing aside, if the product starts to suck then we’d stop the product. And that’s the reason we’re artists and not corporations: we’re looking out for integrity, a word that doesn’t mean much when compared to the word ” profit “.
If we aren’t fighting “the good fight” then no one will. It’s got to be you and me that speak upnot the suits.
People were horrified when Calvin and Hobbes ended. To this day, Watterson’s work is the best comic I’ve ever read. And when I heard that he was stopping, I was horrified too. And I would have given anything to see it keep going. But now that I’m 15 years older I think that Watterson was smart and bold to end it when he did. Forever I can say, “I love Calvin and Hobbes” and end my statement there. It ended at its absolute peak and it remains there.
It goes against Marketing 101 but here’s what I wish companies (Marvel and DC included) would understand: you don’t have to give people what they claim to want. Leaving someone entertained but wishing for morethat can be a good thing. People are short term thinkers and don’t always know what’s best for them. If feels good to have more Simpsons at first, but looking back I think we can all admit that we don’t watch it like we used to.
For example, I’d be thrilled if Watterson returned to the scene with more Calvin and Hobbes. And the idiot in me would run out and buy it immediately! And the publisher would make a ton of money on books, licensing and movies. And a lot of people would be a little richer. And at the end of the day the profits would tell the corporation that their business plan was a successdespite the fact that Calvin and Hobbes (while better than most strips) might not have been as good this time.
But in their eyes, it was all success. In a lot of reader’s eyes, it was all success. But in the eyes of the true fannot so much. And what’s the monetary value of that hole in your heart? It can’t be qualified of course. And that’s why companies don’t usually care.
But on the plus side, a lot of artists do. The thing we have in our corner is that we’re crazy and unpredictable (as far as corporations are concerned). So I say this: don’t hide your crazy. Don’t be afraid to fight back when Marvel, DC, Activision, Square, or whoever looks at your work and says “change it to this”. Sure, once in a while a great editor will point something out that improves the product.
But sometimes it’s just to satisfy this strange concept they have of what will make them more profit.
In the end, you might have to surrender to them in order to keep your joband that’s okay. You might lose because they don’t see YOU and being equal to THEM (because they have the money). But I like to think that they’re willing to take a little noise from the “crazy” guy who’s actually looking at the product as “art” and not as ” profit “
even if it’s a little “squeak” before they stomp you like a cupcake.
Huge franchises like The Simpsons are bound to come along, be great, get worse, and finally die putridand often times there’s nothing you and I could have done. But with the smaller gigs where you have more control, I say take advantage if you can because (believe me) they know you’re a little crazy. Don’t be intimidated out of using the small power that you have.