The Simpsons

Tarrie, Lori, Mallory, Penny, Libby, June

Origin• American animated television series

created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company

• The characters are named after his own family members

• first debuted on television in ‘The Tracey Ullman Show’ on April 19, 1987

• Half–hour prime time show premiered on December 17, 1989, titled as ‘Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire’

• the show has broadcast 480 episodes and the twenty-second season started airing on September 26, 2010

• The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length film, was released in theaters worldwide in 2007, and grossed US$527 million worldwide

Setting

• takes place in the fictional American town, Springfield

• the most common city name in America

• geography and surroundings are flexible

Theme • satirical parody of a working-class American

lifestyle

• Springfield acts as a complete universe

• explore the issues of modern society ex: environment, education, entertainment

industry

• appreciation for liberal ideals

• portray authority figures in negative light

• government and large corporations are callous entities that take advantage of common workers

Homer Jay Simpson• Identity: A big oaf of a father• Characteristics: crude, incompetent, clumsy,

lazy, ignorant, but essentially decent man and fiercely devoted to his family

• Age: 36-39 • Occupation: Safety Inspector at Springfield

Nuclear Power Plant• Hobbies: Watching TV, drinking beer,

eating... • Catchphrases: D'oh!(annoyed grunt),

Mmm...(tempted by something, mostly food), Woohoo!(exciting hail)

Marge Simpson• Identity: Nagging housewife and mother• Characteristics: nagging, well-meaning

and extremely patient, stereotypical television mother, and webbed toes

• Age: 34• Occupation: Housewife/homemaker• Hobbies: Knitting, looming• Catchphrases: Hmm…….

Bartholomew Jo-Jo Simpson (Bart)• Identity: the troublemaker of the

Simpsons• Characteristics: mischievousness,

rebelliousness and disrespect for authority• Age: 10 • Catchphrases: Aye Carumba, I didn't do it!,

and Don’t have a cow, man! Eat my shorts• Hobbies: Causing trouble (eg making prank

calls to Moes Tavern), Watching TV, skateboarding.

Lisa Marie Simpson

• Identity: the smart middle child, the moral center of the show

• Characteristics: intelligent(IQ159), witty, self-righteous, spiritual to peaceful way

• Age: 8• Hobbies: Playing saxophone, advanced

studies.• Fears: Getting anything below an A in

school• Catchphrases: "If anyone wants me I'll be

in my room."

Margaret Simpson (Maggie)

• Identity: baby escapee• Characteristics: keep sucking her

pacifier, watching and copying TV • Age: 1• First word: "Daddy"• Catchphrases: Sucking her pacifier • High Intelligence for a baby: she can

spell EMCSQU (E=MC²) on her blocks, write her name on an Etch-a-sketch, and drive a car

Abraham “Grampa” Simpson

• Identity: father of Homer• Characteristics: complaining, finds

fault with everything and tells go-nowhere stories

• Age: Over 80• Occupation: Retired• Residence: Springfield Retirement

Castle

Ned Flanders

• Identity: Homer's "perfect" neighbour, regular church-goer

• Age: 60• Occupation: Owner of "The

Leftorium" at Springfield Mall• Catchphrases: "Hidilly-ho!" and

"Okilly-dokilly". • Best friends: God, Homer (for a

while).• Enemies: Homer (most of the

time)

Opening Credits

Achievements & Awards• the greatest television show of the 1990s• 1998 Time magazine named The Simpsons the century's best television series, and Bart

Simpson was included in the list of the century's 100 most influential people, the only fictional character on the list.

• 2000 awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame• 2001 100 Greatest Kids’ TV Shows & Homer the top of 100 Greatest TV Characters• 2005 100Greatest Cartoons• 2007 the longest-running American primetime, scripted television series &TIME's 100

Best TV Shows of All Time • 2008 Empire The Greatest TV Show of All Time• 2009 recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's longest running sitcom• 27 Primetime Emmy Awards, 27 Annie Awards, and a Peabody Award

Big Foot

Big Foot• One of the mysterious folklore in the U.S.• Description

a. Hairy, ape-like creature

b. 6-10 feet(200-300 cm)

c. 500pounds(230kg)

•North America

Patterson Gimlin film(1967)

•October 20, 1967•Bluff Creek, California• Roger Patterson & Robert Gimlin •Hoax?

Jacob’s Photos(2007)•Date: September 16, 2007

•Location: Northwest Pennsylvania

•Camera: Bushnell trail camera (automatic) placed by R. Jacobs. (for deers)

The craze of Big Foot•The movie, Harry and the Hendersons (1987)• Hoax

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/30758-best-evidence-bigfoot-gait-video.htm

Recreational vehicle (RV)

http://image.trucktrend.com/f/8311526/163_0608_17z+RV_toy_haulers+Featherlite_7943_SportUtility_Recreational_Vehicle_interior.jpg

Plastic problem

* American’s credit card debt had reached 962 billion.

* The average U.S. college graduate begins his or her post-college days with more than $2,000 in credit card debt.

Discussion1. What do you think of Big Foot? Is it real or

just a folklore?

2. Do you want to have a RV?