Camera Obscura (part 1) -- Woo Hoo!! Simpsons!!

I've spent the week teaching an acting class for students aged 9 to 14 this week at the local arts center, The Rose Center. It's been great fun, but has slowed the writing here this week. And it has been a bit odd having the children of people who are my friends and peers -- how the heck can people work and stuff and still have time for kids and family? It is a mystery which I cannot solve.

But all the kids are very smart, very articulate, unafraid of a challenge and eager to learn. So yes, very inspiring for me and still strange for me to be The Old Guy.

One common touchstone for everyone in the class has been the animated comedy show, "The Simpsons," and we all agree that we must go see the new movie of the Simpson gang opening today. The show has also been a source of much education about comedy and irony and sheer joy and laughter. And man, there are a LOT of characters in The Simpsons: (click to embiggen)



Some fine Simpsons quotes:

Nelson: Shoplifting is a victimless crime. Like punching someone in the dark."

Troy McClure: Hi. I’m Troy McClure. You may remember me from such self-help tapes as “Smoke Yourself Thin” and “Get Some Confidence, Stupid!”

Ralph: Me fail English? That’s unpossible.

Lisa: Dad, why is the world such a cesspool of corruption?

Homer: (sighs, sets Lisa on his knee) All right, what makes you say that?

Lisa: Well, in Sunday School, we learned that stealing is a sin.

Homer: Well, duh!

Lisa: But everybody does it! I mean, we're stealing cable as we speak.

Homer: Well...let me put it this way: when you had breakfast this morning, did you pay for it?

Lisa: No.

Homer: And did you pay for those clothes you're wearing?

Lisa: No, I didn't.

Homer: Well, run for the hills, Ma Barker! Before I call the Feds!

Lisa: Dad, I think that's pretty spurious.

Homer: Thanks, honey!

Many more here, and a show-by-show quote list here.

Cinematical has a great review:

"...you'll probably ...want to thank Matt Groening and his clan for reminding you just how much fun it was growing up with The Simpsons. Just how many laughs you've had at the expense of Homer and his goofy pals. Because as much as you might or might not want to admit it, this animated family has changed our world. And our lives. D'oh!"

More movie news later today, once the final class is done.