Cartoons aren't just for the kids
Animated hits The Simpsons and Family Guy remain TV staples while redefining family
By Stephanie Yu
September 17, 2004

Not too long ago, the TV version of the perfect American nuclear family functioned under the premise of support, understanding and an unconditional love that defied every obstacle. Few could go wrong with a manly head of the house, an efficient wife and a couple of bright eyed children.

Shows like The Cosby Show, Full House and Family Ties reflected the American standard. Each family had their share of minor dysfunctions but still possessed an ultimate American wholesomeness that made these shows success stories of the 1980s. Then, all of a sudden, the viewing public grew increasingly tired of perfection. We began to crave a world undefined by table manners and the Olsen twins making googly eyes at the camera.

Enter America's favorite TV family of the present day: an overweight middle-aged husband with limited intelligence, a levelheaded wife and a couple of disillusioned children.

The year 1989 gave us the Ninja Turtles, Milli Vanilli and Cindy Crawford's House of Style. While these pop culture icons have faded into the ever colorful world of 80s retro, one of 1989's standards has stood the test of time: The Simpsons. Suddenly, America found solace not in the wise words of Dr. Huxtable or the cheekiness of Michael J. Fox, but in the crude misadventures of Homer Simpson.

This sparked a phenomenon of cartoons made for adult viewers. At the coming of middle school, most abandon the saccharine comfort of childhood cartoons, which are usually substituted with the WB lineup of more "mature" shows. But The Simpsons provided a new option and opened the floodgates for the golden age of animation for grown-ups. Shows of varying levels of maturity popped up all over the airwaves: South Park, Futurama, King of the Hill, Daria and Family Guy made their way into the hearts of millions.

While every show housed different characters and plot lines, they all embraced the theme of a family that's not quite so perfect. For example, Stewie, the baby from Family Guy, constantly plots to murder his own mother -- a far cry from plots of The Cosby Show and Full House.

What is the magic behind these shows? How can a bunch of lowly cartoon characters that spring the basest of slapstick humor capture the hearts of people around the world?

"It's incredibly stupid, half the jokes aren't even based on intelligence. The Simpsons have a lot of political jokes, while Family Guy has more slapstick humor but it appeals because it's a nice break from reality," said freshman Zabecca Brinson.

Though crude humor is the main factor of all these shows, there is also an overtone of wit and brilliance. "These shows exaggerate reality, like, a dog talking or a baby that's a super genius. The creators are willing to stretch the limits, throw in unexpected punch lines, to make the show funny," said freshman Pavan Dalal.

Since The Simpsons, many shows have adapted the "putting the fun in dysfunctional" formula. Family Guy revolves around family man Peter Griffin, the lovably oafish character brilliantly adapted from Matt Groening's Homer Simpson character. His wife Lois, in the Fred/Wilma Flintstone tradition, is an attractive red head inexplicably enamored with Peter's lazy, couch potato figure.

The Griffins have three children: Meg, the typical moody teenage girl; Chris, the dimwitted (voiced by Seth Green); and Stewie, the baby genius. But Family Guy's take on the family includes another addition: a talking dog named Brian, equal parts wit and booze. Family Guy, often hailed as the new generation of Simpsonian television, has become the latest buzz of a comedic revolution.

The show aired only three seasons on Fox before it was cancelled due to poor ratings and controversial humor. However, as a result of amazing DVD sales, Family Guy has been set to re-air in Spring 2005 with a full season of new episodes.

You don't have to go far to find someone with a Family Guy DVD set. College students everywhere have joined the show's huge following, enjoying what freshman Steffi Cerato calls "Seth MacFarlane's ability to write a witty satire on the traditional American family unit." MacFarlane has made caricatures of the typical nuclear family and created a world where the hypothetical takes on a whole new meaning.

With the coming of adult-oriented cartoons at the beginning of the 90s, the American audience's comedic tastes have evolved. Thanks to shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy we'll be able to enjoy cartoon humor which sprang from the Saturday morning cartoons of our youth, until we reach television-filled days of retirement.