King of the Hill: Hank gets sexually assaulted by a dolphin (though not raped since he was wearing swim trunks). Fan reaction: They think it's one of the most clever and funniest episodes ever.
The Simpsons: Homer gets sexually assauted by a panda (though not raped, since he was wearing a costume with NO HOLE in the back, so there couldn't possibly be any penitration, unless we're supposed to believe it's a magic panda suit). Fan reaction: OMG KILL MIKE SCULLY ANYONE WHO THINKS THIS IS FUNNY NEEDS TO BE HANGED!!!!!1111!!!
Will someone please explain this? I love The Simpsons, but I just don't get some of the fans.
The difference? The scene in KOTH was part of an episode that was clever whereas the scene in the Simpsons was part of an episode that was just painful to watch.
You stupid fuck. Go watch The Simpsons' Season 2 and 3 DVDs and you'll know why most of us Simpsons fans despise episodes such as Homer vs. Dignity and the like.
"The Lurker" escribi� en el mensaje news:[email]...
I'm a stupid fuck? Oh, sorry if I have a different opinion from you. I didn't know it was now illegal to express different opinions from the majority on newsgroups. I happen to love the early seasons as well as later seasons. Or am I not allowed to do that? Do I have to like only one or the other? Don't think I like everything, I have noticed some bad quality episodes, but that doesn't mean I've started hating the show. I can see the shades of grey in what are considered "good" and "bad" episodes.
Ignore this pre-pubescent dip, and read the real answers. It basically boils down to a plot device being followed up on vs. dumb gag that was forgotten about.
Well, I'll try... the KING OF THE HILL scene you mention wasn't just a throwaway gag. It was the focal point of the episode, and the rest of the episode centred on the question of how a guy like Hank would react if that happened to him. (It's also based, believe it or not, on real-life incidents.) So it becomes an examination of Hank's character. And it also ties in with a parallel subplot, because when Hank tries to repress the incident and pretend it never happened, Luanne -- who is being sexually harassed at her job -- decides to follow his example and not talk about it and even blame herself for what happened. Hank has to come to terms with the fact that it doesn't help to pretend something never happened, and sometimes it really does help to open up and talk about something. And at the end the two stories are brought together as Hank picks up the guy who sexually harasses Luanne, throws him in the pool with the dolphin, rubs the dolphin's stomach to arouse him, and then sits back and watches what happens. So the episode doesn't just use the sexual-assaulting dolphin thing for a cheap laugh; it's actually taken seriously (even though it's funny).
The SIMPSONS gag, on the other hand, is just a gag. It's not based on anything real (I hope), but more importantly, it's not taken seriously. If THE SIMPSONS were trying to deal with the emotional impact of what happens to the characters (which is what it did at its best), then getting raped by a panda would be pretty damn traumatic for Homer. But it isn't; it's forgotten after the act break. It's just a tasteless throwaway gag.
King of the Hill is a different show than The Simpsons. The fans expect different things when they watch the corresponding shows. When I watch The Simpsons, I expect a certain style of humor. When I'm watching something else, I don't expect Simpson-esque humor.
For example, I love Get A Life which is one of the wackiest shows ever on television. My favorite episode involved the main character (Chris) getting radiation poisoning and gaining the ability to spell. Chris then competes in all the world's spelling bees to win a jewel encrusted dictionary.
While I think that episode is hilarious, I don't want to see Homer win a spelling bee on the Moon because of toxic waste. That's not The Simpsons, it's Get A Life. I like both shows despite being very different from each other.
King Of The Hill fans obviously want different things than Simpsons fans do.
Okay, thanks everyone (except for the person who insulted me). But I guess I am kinda stupid for asking stuff like this. Oh well, I don't think King of the Hill is all that funny anyway.