HOME | DD

Description
If there is one thing coined by Simpsons fans that I find very subjective, it's the term "Jerkass Homer". With many claiming that it didn't start until season 9 or so. Honestly, I feel that Homer's always been a bit of a jerk. Even since the beginning with the Tracy Ulman shorts and the first two seasons. Sure, there are going to be those who will say that "Oh, he made sacrifices for Lisa and Maggie in seasons 3 and 6." Yes, he did make sacrifices for his daughters. But you have to remember how he acted in order to make said sacrifices like how he bought the pony or tried to advertise Barney's Bowlarama. In fact, there are a lot of pre-season 9 moments where he's acting like a jerkass which is what motivated me to make this deviation. And for the most part, all his actions in those episodes are condoned. While Homer's actions in the middle seasons are condemned. Another sign of hypocrisy. Now, I'm not condoning what Homer has done over the years. It's just that he's always been a jerkass. And I think that can be attributed to how he gets stupider each year (as outlined in the 138th Episode Spectacular). If your character is going to get more stupid, he's bound to lose some common sense and decency in the process. Another argument with why Homer is more caustic during the Scully and early Jean Eras is due to the show trying to compete with South Park and Family Guy. Honestly, I think both arguments are valid. But are not an excuse for Homer's behavior in certain episodes. And HaroldCheese made a good argument. If Itchy & Scratchy The Movie was a season 9 episode (which was also a source of inspiration for the deviation), then people would hate it. Bottom line, the concept of "Jerkass Homer" isn't unique to the middle seasons of The Simpsons and has in fact been around since the very start of the series. It's just that becoming more stupid comes with a price of losing more common sense and becoming more of a jerk.

The Simpsons © Matt Groening/20th Century Fox/Gracie Films

Description
If there is one thing coined by Simpsons fans that I find very subjective, it's the term "Jerkass Homer". With many claiming that it didn't start until season 9 or so. Honestly, I feel that Homer's always been a bit of a jerk. Even since the beginning with the Tracy Ulman shorts and the first two seasons. Sure, there are going to be those who will say that "Oh, he made sacrifices for Lisa and Maggie in seasons 3 and 6." Yes, he did make sacrifices for his daughters. But you have to remember how he acted in order to make said sacrifices like how he bought the pony or tried to advertise Barney's Bowlarama. In fact, there are a lot of pre-season 9 moments where he's acting like a jerkass which is what motivated me to make this deviation. And for the most part, all his actions in those episodes are condoned. While Homer's actions in the middle seasons are condemned. Another sign of hypocrisy. Now, I'm not condoning what Homer has done over the years. It's just that he's always been a jerkass. And I think that can be attributed to how he gets stupider each year (as outlined in the 138th Episode Spectacular). If your character is going to get more stupid, he's bound to lose some common sense and decency in the process. Another argument with why Homer is more caustic during the Scully and early Jean Eras is due to the show trying to compete with South Park and Family Guy. Honestly, I think both arguments are valid. But are not an excuse for Homer's behavior in certain episodes. And HaroldCheese made a good argument. If Itchy & Scratchy The Movie was a season 9 episode (which was also a source of inspiration for the deviation), then people would hate it. Bottom line, the concept of "Jerkass Homer" isn't unique to the middle seasons of The Simpsons and has in fact been around since the very start of the series. It's just that becoming more stupid comes with a price of losing more common sense and becoming more of a jerk.

The Simpsons © Matt Groening/20th Century Fox/Gracie Films