Homer Simpson Named Greatest TV Character 142
A survey by Entertainment Weekly has named Homer Simpson the greatest character created for television or film in the past 20 years. Everyone's favorite beer-swilling, donut-eating dad beat out Harry Potter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the top spot. From the article: "'People can relate to Homer because we're all secretly propelled by desires we can't admit to,' Groening was quoted as telling Entertainment Weekly. 'Homer is launching himself head-first into every single impulsive thought that occurs to him. His love of whatever ... is a joy to witness.'"
Apropos (Score:3, Funny)
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And Rachel (from Friends)... uh... actually it's been too long since I've seen that show, I don't remember any clever references to make, so I'll just say I can't believe she's on it.
DISQUALIFY HOMER NOW! (Score:5, Insightful)
He was created MORE than 20 years ago! Homer is almost 25.
Tracey Ullman aired them on Fox in 1987.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simpsons_shorts [wikipedia.org]
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funny how facts never seem to stop stuff like this
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Re:DISQUALIFY HOMER NOW! (Score:4, Interesting)
He was created MORE than 20 years ago! Homer is almost 25.
The age of the character was not a selection criteria. The list includes any fictional character who had a lasting impact in pop-culture within the last 20 years, regardless of when they were created.
The Reuters article added the phrase "created for television and film" on their own.
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Neither has had any impact on pop culture. You are mistaking being popular with impact on pop culture. Homer's impact goes even further than that. 50 years from now, people will still be saying doh!
I saw wierd stuff in that place last night (Score:5, Funny)
Weird, strange, sick, twisted, eerie, godless, evil stuff.
And I want in.
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/b/ accepts everyone...
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Ah, but since I am not Anonymous, nor am I on a raid, I have not violated rule #1.
Greatest? (Score:5, Funny)
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So going into space isn't great? travelling through dimensions? I mean, he's no inanimate carbon rod, but who is?
Besides, even Homer isn't stupid enough to get into a land war in Asia.
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If by "great" you mean "iconic", sure. And in TV land the two are probably synonymous. But back in my day, you had to conquer Asia-Minor to be considered "great".
Your day was 2300-some-odd years ago?
Dude, you're old!
Re:Greatest? (Score:5, Funny)
If by "great" you mean "iconic", sure. And in TV land the two are probably synonymous. But back in my day, you had to conquer Asia-Minor to be considered "great".
Your day was 2300-some-odd years ago?
Dude, you're old!
Indeed. Get out of his hanging gardens!
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Maybe it was great as in large or immense? Did they use it in the pejorative sense...?
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Of course he's Homer the Great [wikipedia.org], haven't you see season 6 episode 12?
woo hoo take that 60 minutes (Score:2)
woo hoo take that 60 minutes
Marge: Homer! Where are you? (Score:1)
Marge: Do you see towels? If you see towels, you're probably in the linen closet again.
Homer: Just a second...no, it's a place I've never been before.
Selma: Hmm. The shower. [laughs]
Except he was created in 1989. (Score:2)
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And the Joker was created in 1940. (Score:2)
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television or film.
Learn to read.
Re:Except he was created in 1989. (Score:5, Informative)
That's the least of their problems. Number 2 (Harry Potter) was created for a book. Number 5 (Joker) was created for comics in the 1960s. Numbers 8 (Hannibal Lecter) and 9 (Carrie Bradshaw) were originally created for books as well. So this is really the list of the top characters appearing in television or film in the last 20 years.
Actually, everyone is quoting TFA and TFS, but if you actually go to the source [ew.com], it doesn't actually use the words "created" or "TV". It's simply "The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years". They specifically refer to the "100 greatest characters in pop-culture" and state "(w)hether the fictional women, men, ogres, muppets, babies, and cartoon rockers who made our list were initially created before 1990 didn’t matter so long as they made a lasting impact in the culture after 1990."
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> So this is really the list of the top characters appearing in television or
> film in the last 20 years.
Well, sure. This is about tv and movies. Start demanding creativity and you'll have nothing.
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Others have pointed out the main flaw in your argument. Also, the Joker was in Batman #1 in 1940.
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Who cares when a character was created? The poll should be read as "the greatest character from the past 20 years who was created specifically for television/film".
This reply smells like feet. (Score:4, Funny)
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Married with Children is on syndication an awful lot... I'd expect most teenagers to be passingly familiar, but it was past its prime for years before it went off the air in 1997. The Simpsons spans the generations because it's been on the air for over a generation, and because its early and loyal fanbase have turned it into a nigh-immortal Great Wyrm of prime time television.
On the bright side, Ed O'Neill finally stopped being typecast.
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Seconded. Nothing beats Al Bundy.
The amount of epic quotes and facial expressions alone is endless.
(Sorry, I only saw the German version. So the translations may not be the exact ones you knew.)
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Those quotes are interesting to someone who is a true fan of the show, but even combined they fail to have even a fraction of the impact on pop-culture of doh!. Homer Simpson gave life to a new television network and has remained popular enough for the past 20 years to continue to create new programs that people want to watch. People bring up a lot of great examples and all good have there place from 2 to 100. We could easily argue the order of 2 to 100 as well. Homer is in a class by himself.
Everyman (Score:5, Insightful)
The reason Homer is so appealing to us is because he is Everyman, at his worst. Whenever he does something I either have done it, thought about doing it or know someone who did it.
Re:Everyman (Score:5, Insightful)
Simultaneously, at least during the golden years of the series, Homer, while not very bright, was portrayed as being a loving father who wanted to do the right by his family, even if he didn't always know how to. "And Maggie Makes Three" is the absolute perfect example of this (and is one of my favorite episodes of the series as a consequence), but there are a many others.
As such, we can related to him on multiple levels, as he exemplifies both the best and the worst of people.
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That is actually a good and interesting point. That it was once about the struggle about a far from perfect man, to do the best he can... and even when it’s usually more a catastrophe that is then averted, I can still understand (it makes sense in the story universe) why Marge loves him. :)
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Yes! Bring on the ob. Simpsons references!
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The reason Homer is so appealing to us is because he is Everyman, at his worst. Whenever he does something I either have done it, thought about doing it or know someone who did it.
So appalling to us, I hope you mean. As a fat IT guy, I bore more than a passing resemblance to Michael Moore which I did not mind but I also looked a bit like Peter Griffin which I found disturbing. I like Moore's politics but hate Peter's stupidity. If there's any Family Guy character I'd rather be called similar to, it would be Brian! Getting told I looked like Peter was the final straw and I started going to the gym. Down 51 lbs now. Now I don't look like either of 'em. Now people say I look like the sl
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That was the case, back in the 90s. Then they ran out of normal stuff for Homer to do and sent him on all sorts of wacky adventures.
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The reason Homer is so appealing to us is because he is Everyman, at his worst.
Yes exactly! I think also because although he does let his desires lead him, his love for his family conquers all.
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So your point is, that you like him, because he shows you how much of an epic failure you are? ;)
I haven’t done all that dumb stuff. I’m proud of it. And yes, that makes me better than Homer.
(Now please keep down the crab mentality. It is not right to hate people who did not fail. Any you are not entitled to a part of their success. It’s right though, to hate people who want to take and not give something back. Like for example those who want others to give them something of their success
Unfair for the rest (Score:1)
DOH! (Score:2)
Homer: Ohhhh! Why Me?
Marge: Homey, it's a great accomplishment.
Homer: Will I get donuts? mmmmmmm Donuts mmmmmmmmmm
Marge: No, but you're more entertaining than Peter Griffen.
Homer: Whoo Hoo!
I find Homer's character to be... (Score:2)
I find Homer's character to be too two dimensional... He lacks depth.
But seriously, I have mixed feelings about that choice. Let me say that I could see Homer being the tops of many notable lists; he is *a* great character. He's a little bit Everyman, and a little bit of satire of the "Everyotherman" (if I may be allowed to invent a word here... It's perfectly cromulent!)
However, It just seems a bit superficial to me to say the greatest character of TV or Film in 20 years. There are so many great chara
I don't get it. (Score:2)
I have tried to watch the Simpsons twice. It was so mind-numbingly stupid I couldn't stand to watch more then ten minutes combined. I am willing to admit that perhaps I chose the wrong ten minutes to watch, but one scene (back within the first 3 seasons) had Bart being rude in school, and the other had Homer chasing something (a doughnut??) through traffic.
IMHO Bugs Bunny had more wit and style.
What is the best episode to watch that might convince me it is worth the effort?
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Depends greatly on your taste. I happen to think "And Maggie Makes Three", which is wonderfully touching, is one of the best episodes ever aired. "Bart Be Not Proud" is also excellent for similar reasons, and shows a whole other side to Bart.
On the flipside, you have classic satirical episodes like "Marge vs The Monorail", "Homer the Great", and "Last Exit to Springfield". And then there's the utterly brilliant Treehouse of Horrors II, III, and IV (the sweet spot for the Treehouse episodes, IMHO).
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Doh! It's "Marge Be Not Proud". How sad... :)
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ok thanks. I'll give it a try.
It's Funny Because It's True (Score:2)
Never play a game you can't win, son.
What great men he will join.. (Score:2)
ummmm.... (Score:2)
OK, if it was atleast even a real fictional character played by a real actor i could swallow it,
but somehow, i am having a hard time with this one, maybe the fact that i have no duff beer to wash it down with....
Seriously, he is a cartoon, this is why i would never read entertainment weekly, they are full of crap
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"Greatest character created for television or film"
Geez, it's bad enough that people can't RTFA, but that was in the summary for heavens sake.....
Re:Harry Potter was a TV character? (Score:4, Insightful)
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Splitting hairs, particularly given the fact that there's a few differences between the book and TV versions of the character.
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Not really, as Harry Potter the film character isn't very good at all.
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He is a character in a children's book, what do you expect?
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You must be an insecure teenager. When you grow up and get kids, you may notice that some children literature is in fact very good, with far more intriguing characters than you find in the computer games you play today.
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I am plenty old enough to have kids, and have read said books to my niece. The reality is it's a kid's book and the writing reflects that. It is like the hobbit, a fine story but not a whole lot there for an adult.
The video games I play have terrible characters, and some great ones. Much like books.
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He was streaked through with redeeming qualities, yeah, but the Simpsons horse is far past dead. I don't think there are bones left to be kicked - the dust has been blown far and wide, and all that's left is a crazed shell of a creative team that shows itself to be more out of touch with every passing year.
Of course, if you want a really great TV character, look at Dr. Gregory House - the entire show succeeds on his stooped shoulders, and from I've heard the past season or so coasts on his momentum. What
Re:Yup. (Score:4, Informative)
Purely from a variety and skill point of view, I would have to nominate Arnold Rimmer from Red Dwarf. The number of different characters and personality mutations that character (and subsequently the actor) had to go through was ENORMOUS. Each and every one of them were expertly done, they were all done by the same actor, and unlike The Mighty Boosh where one actor plays multiple characters, they were all still technically Rimmer.
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British, in other words.
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Simpson is likable, depending on the circumstances.
Your qualifier is insurmountable. If Homer Simpson is the everyman then I will turn from a philathrope to a misanthrope. He is repeatedly called a madman and a criminal throughout the series. He is a liar, he is selfish, short-sighted and a violent alcoholic and he repeatedly screws over the people he should value more than his own life for the most pitiful reasons without ever learning a thing.
I have watched 20 seasons of it, every word I have said about him is factual and I've had enough of The Simpsons b
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"He is repeatedly called a madman and a criminal throughout the series. He is a liar, he is selfish, short-sighted and a violent alcoholic and he repeatedly screws over the people he should value more than his own life for the most pitiful reasons without ever learning a thing."
1) Calm down, its a cartoon. 2) You're completely ignoring the many acts of selflessness he has committed. He's saved Springfield numerous times, stood up to Mr. Burns, arguably the show's arch-villain, as many, been quite kind on more than one occasion. 3) Your reaction to suddenly decide not to watch the show after 20 years is bizarre. You're just NOW coming to grips with the negative side of Simpson?
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Lennie Briscoe. Jean-Luc Picard. Jack Bauer. Red (from Shawshank Redemption). Londo Mollari. It's not that hard to name fictional characters with more depth than Homer Simpson.
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Vir will forever have a place in my heart for this quote:
Ambassador Vir Cotto: I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price. I want to look up into your lifeless eyes and wave like this.
[waves]
Can you and your associates arrange that for me, Mr. Morden?
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Picard is really the only one of those that had any impact on Pop culture and none had Homer's impact...
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Who says they have to be likable?
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Simpsons may be dead now, but House was always a mediocre show with an excellent actor dragging the whole scene, despite the multiple clichés, the vast amounts of incongruity, the stretching of "dramatic" moments for half a season. Seriously, it was never more than watchable.
If you want to talk about good characters in drama series, Dexter is much better than House.
And of course Homer doesn't have "depth", it's a comedy, not a drama. It follows completely different rules.
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So you haven't realized yet that it is the same show over and over and over again?
Ok, that is an exaggeration, but it is just too formulaic for me.
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the fucking hoopleheads probably never even considered Al
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Newman from Seinfeld.
No one in any way involved with Seinfeld deserves so much as a dried-out piece of American cheese. That's got to be the most overrated show of all time. No sympathetic characters to speak of. And nothing particularly original. The show wasn't any more a "show about nothing" than any other sitcom on TV for the past 50 years. It was simply a place for Jerry Seinfeld to dump his stand-up humor alongside one-dimensional characters. And if you're going to have one-dimensional characters, that one dimensi
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Seinfeld is funny if you understand social convention. Not surprisingly I find that it wasn't a big hit in the software community.
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You've never worked at my company, then. We have an (American) programmer who swears up and down that he has never heard of Richard Pryor. Not that he doesn't like his humor -- he literally hadn't heard of the man.
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Nope. (Score:5, Insightful)
A fat, balding, selfish, stupid, bad-skinned, horrible-father-figure is voted as being "great". Welcome to America.
You have to realize, the reason he's great is _because_ he embodies those "fat, balding, selfish... etc. (I'm going to add irreverent to this)" qualities on so many levels.
Not only is he as lazy and ignorant as we all at least on SOME occasions have wanted to be, but he's also the embodiment of irony and self-deprecating humor in that respect too.
There's a reason why other countries that hate America still love the Simpsons and love Homer. And no it's not because they're stupid enough to think that character actually represents America (maybe Hank Hill from King of the Hill, though =P). Sure America might take many (too many? most?) of those qualities too far, especially in how stubbornly we present ourselves politically to the rest of the world. But The Simpsons, in its decades long run, is our attempt to not just revel in that attitude, but also constantly remind everyone in the world, including and _especially_ ourselves that we are nowhere near as perfect as we claim to be.
If anything, the Simpsons has been a great lesson in finding the good with the bad, a little bit of the bad in the good, and a lot of funny in everything.
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I think Homer survives because the Simpsons are frozen in time - if you witnessed live actors he'd lose touch with the age group or just seem like a retard who hasn't changed in 20 years. Instead he's still the classic middle aged dad who can keep going for many more seasons, while Harry Potter has changed from a kid to teen to adult now in the closing movies. The only reason I can think of why Buffy rates so high is Sarah Michelle Gellar, the role itself is hardly that awe-inspiring.
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Buffy rates so high because of the narrative style. That show set a role model for stories about empowered women, and simultaneously marked a high point in comedic banter that has yet to be rivaled. The character of Buffy by itself isn't inspiring, but the ensemble cast behind her was. Every supernatural show since, from Charmed to Torchwood, owes a debt to the narrative formula that was perfected with Buffy.
The real wildcard in the list, IMHO, is Edward Scissorhands. Did that movie really leave that mu
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If you think that is what Homer Simpson is about, then you are pretty dim. So, how is Alabama these days?
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My point was that out of all the intelligent, deep, and stimulating characters we have had in TV and film in this country, what gets voted as the greatest is one who brings nothing but the average person to the table. That, to me, is awfully self-centered...just like our country. We don't aspire to greatness, but merely the a comfortable, head-in-the-sand lifestyle.
For the record, I live about 20 minutes outside of DC. Forgive me if my views are cynical, but living around here will do that to you -_-;;
Re:Yup. (Score:4, Insightful)
Yeah and your counterexamples were Red Dwarf and Mighty Boosh.
You probably don't understand my point. Everyone else does.
Nobody watches Red Dwarf. It's not bad, but it's not exactly good. Mighty Boosh is just bad.
But hey that's your call. Go keep talking down widely-popular bits of culture and talk up your inconsequential and little-cared-for interests, eventually it'll make you look more worldly and sophisticated than others. Maybe. Probably not, most people have actually seen both of those shows and are well aware they're nowhere near the quality in both production and entertainment value as The Simpsons.
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Probably not, most people have actually seen both of those shows and are well aware they're nowhere near the quality in both production and entertainment value as The Simpsons.
Whoa whoa whoa. I never said the Simpsons weren't good entertainment...I simply said Homer, in my opinion, is far from being the greatest character out there.
I threw out Arnold Rimmer from Red Dwarf as an example, not as a suggestion for the top spot. Me personally, looking strictly from an intelligence, growth, and interesting point of view, I would likely choose either Dexter Morgan or Omar from The Wire.
Re:Yup. (Score:5, Funny)
You're wrong. I watch Red Dwarf. And I find The Mighty Boosh mind-blowing. QED, smeghead.
Oooh, I get it! You're just spoofing the Comic Book Store Guy, right?
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Mighty Boosh is just bad.
Cheese is a kind of meat, motherfucker.
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what gets voted as the greatest is one who brings nothing but the average person to the table
You've got it all wrong. Homer Simpson is the average man, but faster!
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Sorry but walking around naked raving about aliens is no way to go though life.
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It's pitiful that that's all I remember about that movie as well.
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Related: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_8z7zLxk1g [youtube.com]
I've just started watching Twin Peaks, but the few other Lynch works I know are excellent. Loved Mulholland Dr.
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The point of the survey was impact on Popular culture. Twin Peaks had a fairly limited run with limited appeal and limited impact..