The article discusses the evolution of Homer Simpson's character in The Simpsons, from his original design and personality to the changes that occurred over the years. Initially, Homer was a more realistic and relatable character, with a heart and a sense of responsibility. However, as the show progressed, his design became more cartoonish, and his personality shifted towards being more stupid and self-obsessed.
The article attributes this change to the show's writing staff, particularly during seasons 9-12, when Mike Scully was the executive producer. The writer notes that Scully's tenure marked a significant shift in Homer's character, making him more of a punchline and less of a relatable person.
The article also mentions that Homer's voice actor, Dan Castellaneta, rejected parts of scripts that featured Homer's mean-spirited and brazen behavior. The writer argues that Homer's character suffered as a result of the show's homogenization and the loss of its original intent.
Ultimately, the article concludes that Homer's character was a victim of the show's longevity and the changing creative team, which led to a dilution of the original vision and a loss of the character's heart.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The 13th episode of the 10th season of The Simpsons is titled "Homer to the Max".
2. The episode is about a fictional TV show called "Police Cops", which is a parody of Miami Vice.
3. The main character in "Police Cops" is named Homer Simpson, which is the same name as the main character in The Simpsons.
4. Homer Simpson becomes obsessed with the show and changes his name to Max Power.
5. Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, originally designed the characters as silhouettes.
6. Homer's original design had sharper features, constantly visible eyebrows, and a sharper mouth.
7. As the show progressed, Homer's design became more cartoony and exaggerated.
8. In the early seasons of The Simpsons, Homer was portrayed as a lovable but flawed character who cared about his family and his image.
9. The show was originally designed to be a satire of the traditional family sitcom.
10. The original primary creative team of The Simpsons left the show by the sixth season.
11. Mike Scully took over as executive producer for seasons 9-12, during which time the show's writing staff expanded.
12. Max Power, a character in The Simpsons, was created during Scully's tenure.
13. Dan Castellaneta, the voice actor for Homer, began to reject parts of scripts due to Homer's mean-spirited behavior.
14. The show's writing staff lost sight of the original vision and realism of the show during Scully's tenure.
15. Writer Max Tom Cram admitted to hardly watching The Simpsons before joining the staff.
16. The show's creator, Matt Groening, had specific writing rules that were not followed by the new staff.
17. Homer's character became increasingly stupid and self-obsessed during Scully's tenure.
18. The character's personality and relatability were lost, and he became a punchline rather than a well-rounded character.
19. The show's writing staff became bloated and lost sight of the original vision, leading to a homogenization of ideas.
20. The character of Homer Simpson has had better moments, but never fully recovered from the changes made during Scully's tenure.