As much as The Simpsons has worn out its welcome, I feel that since the switch to HD, the show has gotten a little more watchable to me. Not seasons 2-8 levels of great, but certainly a lot better than when Mike Scully was running things.
I was one of those "the show sucks now" types for a while, but I have to admit, a show that runs on as long as this series did, it's not going to be consistent quality. I do look towards the first 10 seasons with a wistful eye, and love the older episodes when I see them on the so called "Every Simpsons Ever" (they play a certain cluster of them over and over, so much for "Every Ever"), but I respect that the writers are trying, and every so often, there will be a good episode. But I've been with them so long, I just couldn't think of quitting the show, even when the episodes were lousy (especially the Sudds McDuff episode that came out like 20 years too late).
I admit, I didn't like Gene as much as the other kids as his love of toilet humor can get a little excessive, but he eventually grew on me once the writers showcased his other talents, such as his love of musicals. His musical mashup of Die Hard and Working Girl was especially impressive.
I actually liked the toilet humor he was obsessed with because that's exactly how that kind of kid acts. I'm glad they tempered it with just overall weird kidness. It's like someone made a
better and more realistic version of Bobby Hill. Somehow, in any other show, he'd be treated as either the kid the bullies love to beat on, the one friend nobody likes, or even an older Ralph Wiggum. The writers, being the writers of this show, really get the nuance of being the weird kid, and give him a circle of friends so he never comes off as the kid you'd feel sorry for. I especially like how he even
looks like the comedian that voices him. I'd say if I
have to chose a favorite child, it's him, but Louise and Tina are not very far off behind.
Actually, on that note, I noticed something special about this show. While the adults have to deal with bullies (obviously Jimmy Pesto), the kids don't usually have to deal with them. In most of these shows they have that one jerk kid that picks on everybody. Not that there isn't that rival of Louise's that pops up from time to time, but no one really threatens the Belcher children, at least at their own age level. Maybe they know they'd incur Louise's wrath? Zeke could have easily been written as a knockoff of Nelson Muntz or Gian, but rather is their strange, folksy friend of a friend. Come to think of it, aside from Logan (who's more of a rival) the only bullies in the show I remember are the ones that were harassing Darryl. And really, I think this gives a more richness and personal level to the kid's relationships with other kids. They're often more adult than Bob and Jimmy get.
The proof-of-concept pilot also showed that Tina was meant to be a boy named
Daniel (after his VA Dan Mintz), but the writers thought it would be better to have two daughters instead. Daniel did make a cameo in one of the comics, as you might be aware of.
Besides not having them kill patrons for meat, the best choice they made was making Daniel into Tina. Sure, they could have had a nerdy boy character and the show would have been fine. Turning him into a girl and making her awkward instead of just nerdy gave the show pop and gave us the show's breakout character. I'm sure Daniel pining after a girl would have been well done judging by the writers, but it wouldn't have the zing of the Tina/J Jr. arcs. I'd say my favorite character trait of hers is her odd ability to not understand humor, but always trying to contribute to feel like a member of the group. Even around her own family, she's kinda awkward. And I really think that's a great dynamic. Gene and Louise are very bold personalities, Tina's contrasting not shy enough to be shy, but too hesitant to be fully out there makes the three characters work, off each other or as a group.\
But darned if I can't say if I had to pick favorites, Teddy would be one of mine. And a lot of that has to do with the great back and forth between Jon and Larry. If you have the first season DVD (the only one available for retail purchase), it has some recorded out takes of characters going on extended riffs and Ad libs. One was an extended take of Bob and Teddy get into a very heated argument until Bob shouts "GET OUT OF MY RESTAURANT YOU FAT ^&%^!!" with Teddy shouting back "IT'S A GLANDULAR PROBLEM!!" And that would come off as mean spirited, glad it didn't make it to the final cut, but you listen very carefully, and they're trying their darndest not to crack up. There's just something about the dynamic between those two. Not that the weird personality quirks they give Teddy aren't hilarious on their own. Love how he mentions that he can't sleep at night unless he dresses up as Santa, and never goes into why.
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