"I love it when you're not into it"- as Homer just said to Marge in The Simpsons

I don't recall this episode so can't comment, but I do love The Simpsons. A lot of the later episodes are very blah, but it so not misogynistic.

You want misogyny watch family Guy or American Dad, I honestly cannot tell if the Woman hatred is ironic or not , either way it turns my stomach. I actually liked Family Guy for the first couple of series.

I thought the point was that Homer is being pathetic. Marge is indifferent and Homer is pretending that's OK by him. Because he is pathetic. To be ridiculed.

The Simpsons has changed a lot, I assume to keep up with things like Family Guy and American Dad. - it's been going for years. If you don't have Sky and so haven't had a constant stream of new episodes over the years it's rather shocking to see some of the newer episodes Channel 4 have bought in recently. Not because it's as strong as eg Family Guy, but because you don't expect that kind of stuff in the Simpsons which is shown at 6pm.

Riakin this is is a discussion, shooting the breeze. No-one's "bothered" by it, we're discussing a cultural phenomenon.

If you're either not bright enough to participate or are not interested for another reason, no-one's forcing you to join in. But it is oafish to come on to a thread and tell people to stop discussing something that may interest them. Go and do that on the style and beauty or gardening threads and see what response you get, why don't you. It's just bloody rude, don't you know that? I saw about 20 threads yesterday where I thought FFS get a life, but I didn't feel the need to post that becasue that would be rude and actually, I had better things to do, like getting a life and discussing the stuff that interests me.

OMG... please... people if this bothers you, you need to get a life

I went out with a Texan for a year. I have yet to forgive myself. Not knocking them all but it definitely scarred me.

Agree with BR above.

Haven't the Catholic church taken them as role models or something? Dp loves the Simpsons. I often find my jaw hitting the floor at some scenes.

You're supposed to find Homer atrocious.

And Marge a doormat martyr.

That's the point of them. And it is normal, in that the writers are saying, this is the American family. Misogyny, sexism, boorishness and stupidity are completely and totally normal.

Lisa's definitely the heroine of the piece. Everyone in the Simpsons has a fatal flaw... hers is hubris, I think... but she's most often cast as the voice of reason, which of course no-one listens to because she's only supposed to be an 8yo girl.

The Marge character is simply the Martyr Mom... puts up with atrocious behaviour from the men in her life; opts for 'penniless and dependent' even though, in several episodes, she's capable of striking out and being a commercial success in her own right; either gives in to keep the peace or makes big principled stands... only to give in eventually; subsumes her own personality at all times. The list in endless... she's the perfect dire warning.

I also like that when they show the future, Bart is always a skint bum and Lisa is extremely successful. So when young he's "too cool for school" but they show the consequences of that very clearly. Meanwhile Lisa, while studious, is a real dude (playing sax with blues types, taking on corruption in the town hall, going out with the hardest boy in the school) so they don't play it as male/risk-taker = good / female = studious square = bad in a straightforward way at all.

I love Lisa

I think the pressure on Marge from her friends and community and herself to be the "perfect housewife" is acknowledged very clearly TBH and the fact that everyone takes her for granted is a message which features in a lot of the episodes.

The episode where Lisa takes on creationism in schools is absolutely brilliant. There are loads featuring Lisa that take on important issues.

The programme shows what happens in US families and relationships in immediately recognisable form. And mocks it. And anyone with a half a brain can see that (though George Bush was caught out!)

The mockery is a good thing, and far more effective than sermonising. Look how people remember the episodes and their reactions to them. And seeing how not to be stupid like Homer is a good thing, unless the population is too thick to get it.

The Simpsons and Family Guy take the piss out of the views they represent, they get extreme to show the ridiculousness of "the American 1950's attitudes", it just depends on how you view it.

Also Homer is actually devoted to Marge and it is shown on many episodes that he would be nothing without her. I think the shows that portray what would happen if Marge left highlight her importance, you have to be a regular long term viewer to 'get it'.

FGS! Homer is a prime example of the shallow end of the gene pool. Also educationally subnormal, no charm, greedy, selfish and yes, slightly mysoginistic. That's the whole point of him saying or doing all the stuff he does. To show that these things are not normal. Can't you see that?

Lisa Simpson rocks though

I often think the people who write Lois's character must hate women, or am I missing some larger point?

I don't like family guy, have only seen it a couple of times.

Used to be a big south park fan though

Family Guy is shocking, maybe its supposed to be, but its outrageously insulting and discriminatory, I don't find the funny