Fortunately or unfortunately, television is a central part of American culture. However, it typically remains only in the realm of entertainment.
Tuesday, the Financial Times reported “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening announced the demise of the show. Groening furiously objected to these allegations, saying the newspaper misquoted and misinterpreted him.
So it seems the show won’t be cancelled after all.
“The Simpsons” has been a favorite for 13 years and remains a favorite for all generations. Those in their 20s grew up watching, and those in their 50s spent time attempting to deter children from watching, the controversial show. Regardless of objections, the show became a favorite and, thus, warrants news coverage.
Entertainment news is typically confined to entertainment magazines or the entertainment section of the paper. “The Simpsons,” however, made the front page and even graced the airwaves of the History Channel Wednesday.
Newspaper editors decide what goes on the front page, but that decision is influenced both by level of interest and apparent level of importance. When it comes to entertainment, people care — and, thus, it sometimes goes on the front page.
“The Simpsons,” war, student loans, student government and student life all made the front page in Wednesday’s Herald. The thought of the end of the beloved cartoon upset people enough to be regarded as worthy of the front page.
The composition of the front page is an art — or maybe just a few editors sitting around a table — but getting something for everyone is one of the goals. Entertainment rarely makes the front page, but when it does, it is because people care. And if “The Simpsons” is involved, people care.
Entertainment crosses into the typically hard news realm when it will upset or excite a great number of people. The announcement of the alleged ending to “The Simpsons” did just that.
The cartoon made the news numerous times in its 13 years on the air. A recent episode depicted Rio de Janeiro as full of rats, monkeys and street crime. This upset Brazilian tourist officials, and they threatened to sue. The show’s executive producer apologized and avoided the suit. This mishap also made the news — maybe not the front page, but then again, they were not threatening an end to the show.
In 1989, when the show began, parents were outraged with both themes and language in the show. Bart’s actions were condemnable, they claimed — he was rebellious and an underachiever. Parents wouldn’t let their children watch the show and stirred a fury.
This outrage with the show also made the news. Any time a television show can cause an immediate uprising, the news media picks up on it as a controversy. Controversies are almost always covered.
The complaints of parents led to few changes in Bart’s actions, but in the opening credits, Bart no longer steals a stop sign or gets hit by a car. These actions were deemed objectionable.
Television, music, theatre and all other forms of entertainment, except for sports, rarely make the front page of newspapers. The Olympics prompted front-page coverage, and upsetting thoughts such as canceling shows occasionally make the front. When “Seinfeld” was cancelled, it made the news; when “The Simpsons'” time is up, it will make the front page again.
Morgan Felchner ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in political science.
