South Park vs. The Simpsons

Now here's one I'd like to see debated 2 good TV "sitcom" cartoons. Some guys at my work were debating it the other day and it got pretty heated. I prefer the Simpsons, but let's hear what you guys have to say.

this is your captain speaking

The Simpsons and South Park are totally different, and in my mind, you can't compare them. The Simpsons is a political satire that makes you think (Matt Groening has often said that if you're 8 years old, you think the show is funny, if you're 48 years old, you think the show is witty because you finally understand the cultural references, irony, and all the things in life that it skews), whereas South Park is just uproariously funny on a totally different level: almost childishly funny. Take these two lines for example:

"What better way to celebrate the birth of America than by blowing part of it up?" (Bart Simpson)

This is funny just because of the whole mocking tone of it, and its irony. It also shows a fair amount of ridicule of American society and its values. Whereas,

"He's come to kill you because you're Jewish, Kyle!" "Oh, fuck! Don't kill me Jesus!"

is funny just because of its outrageous nature. There's just not a whole lot of depth to it, but it's still funny.

Bottom line? The Simpsons are good to watch for something that's very witty, ironic, and a very good social commentary. South Park is good to watch for something that's just plain funny, but lacks the depth. Think about it. On the first episode of South Park, the two cultural references (David Caruso, etc.) were forced, and really not that funny. Any one of the Simpsons cultural references (especially the George Bush as the neighbor episode) seems to make perfect sense, and flow very well with the rest of the show.

And with fingers weary of typing, I resign by saying that that's just my two cents.

Pegasus ([email]) wrote:

I agree with ya on this point

level: almost childishly funny. Take these two lines for example:

There is a lot of deeper "stuff" in South Park. There's the episode where the grandfather wants to be killed. They don't take a moral stance on the issue except that you shouldn't try to make others do something that they're uncomfortable with. There's the "mutant turkeys" show where they point out that during a war, both sides can ritefully believe that they are fighting for god. The show is just loaded with deeper ideas and beliefs if you take a closer look.

davey

Has any of you seen the original Simpsons characters?? They were very different from what they are now... much like the current SP character drawings and JvF. --- See ya, Richard Hunt

"Move it povs, I'm an American!!!" Eric Cartman "My weinies won't cook!" Also E.C.

On 2 Dec 1997 22:18:12 GMT, [email] (David Burnside) ( ) posted this message in alt.tv.southpark:

<snip> I still would take the Simpsons over South Park, because South Park has not withstood the test of time and still been funny, which the Simpsons's has. Also, whenever people mature more, as was pointed out, they can go back and watch the episodes and find many things that they didn't really understand the first time. One thing better about tSouth Park is that the backgrounds are more detailed if you want to watch it on tape and find cool stuff that was missed before, you can't really do that with the simpsons.

		L8R,
		Starman

NOTE: Please send your reply to: Starman70 at hotmail.com. Replying to the given address will get your reply bounced. I do this to fight spam (avoiding spam bots by using a fake but real-looking userid).

I agree somewhat. I can't say you can compare them, they're just too different, but if you asked me what my favorite is of the two, I'd have to say the Simpsons. Comparing and liking are two different things. I love South Park, but the Simpsons will always be #1 with me.. even despite the fact that this season has sucked so far.

Agreed. But...

Yeah, but, come on. What takes more skill: to hide something in a picture or to hide it in dialogue? Obviously, the latter. I mean, anyone can look at a picture and spot something they didn't see the first time. With the dialogue, you really have to read into it.

Yes! Finally people with sense! I like South Park as much as the next, but everyone i know is caught up in it. I'm glad I'm not the only one who KNOWS that teh Simpsons are better. Its just more creative, more intelligent. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ "All I know is just the facts, where the world is nowadays/An idea is what we lack, doesn't matter anyway."-Kurt Donald Cobain; 1967-1994; R.I.P

sorry folks but as much as SP kicks ass the simpons are better

the intellectual jokes are just unreal and the fact that they've been going strong for maybe what 8 years that goes to show how incredible they are

Kurtrama wrote in article ...

but

KNOWS

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what we

of course the simpsons are better southpark is just a mutant offspring of them too bad its the simpsons last year though SouthPark Rules Dementia Sucks Lets be friends to the end -Charles Ray

You can see backround things in the Simpsons cuz i got the official Simpsons book and it says some hidden things in the backround

My friends and I enjoy both shows thouroghly and we too were discussing this pressing issue recently. After mass debate, we concluded that both shows are friggin' hilarious, but on different levels. You know, each are a different kind of funny. The Simpsons is a more mature, I guess that is the word for it, type of humor, while South Park relies on the what-would-an-8-year-old-do kind of funny.

But that is just my sixty-nine cents

EJ

Captain Sensible wrote in message ...

i think it is impossible to compare the two

the only thing they have in common is the fact that they are both cartoons

SP is funny because of all the swearing and because they're not afraid to do stuff every one else is like say dildo or crack racial jokes

Simpsons is funny for the intellectual jokes (some take a while to kick in and some you just cant understand without be fairly intellegent which i can be at times) they set a style back in the and have stuck with it this way they dont dissappoint the loyal regulars

I hope SP can learn that much from the Simpsons to try not to change to much at once and stick with the basics

Captain Sensible wrote in article ...

Well...The Simpsons deserve much credit for being on for like 8+ years or so. Right now though, I find South Park to be funnier in that laugh your ass of kind of way...as opposed to the subtle chuckle that an episode of the Simpsons provide. But still...Simpsons win due to seniority. Ask the question again after South Park has been on for like 2 or more seasons...

On Tue, 2 Dec 1997, Captain Sensible wrote:

On Tue, 2 Dec 1997 12:21:35 Dustin Yourman Wrote

Draw up any set of criteria for judging Simpsons v SP and my money would be on the Simpsons. Certainly the long track is a big head start for Homer et al but it goes far beyond that, for example the primitive styling of SP is a novelty but, IMHO, is getting old VERY fast.

I like the primative styling, perhaps because I belive that they can spend thier money on good writing versus good animation. Look at all of the issues that SP has addressed Euthansia (sp) and homosexuality with just 7 episodes. SP goes to the edge because it isn't aimed at mass appeal. Could the simpsons have kenny mumble "Are you going to lick her p***y?" ?

Dexter