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The Simpsons Are Coming, Confirmed Confirmed

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Ben24x7

Ben24x7

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That depends on the success of the theme/sets. If the series is successful then we'll probably be seeing whole houses and playsets. You probably didn't read the whole post because it explains so.

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PeabodySam

PeabodySam

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In a strange way The Simpsons fit quite well for LEGO minifigures, says Carsten Nielsen.

Yes, an alcoholic in a realistic modern setting is definitely something that has always been that's appropriate for LEGO products.

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Cirevam

Cirevam

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The only way the two "fit" is because the default skin color for minifigs and Simpsons people is yellow.

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le717

le717

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In a strange way The Simpsons fit quite well for LEGO minifigures, says Carsten Nielsen.

Yes, an alcoholic in a realistic modern setting is definitely something that has always been that's appropriate for LEGO products.

 

That's the argument I was going to take in my disapproval of this line, in addition to promoting laziness, impolite actions, crude humor, and swearing.

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Car CrazeXVI

Car CrazeXVI

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...So let me get this straight, the Cuusoo project gets deleted for "not following the Guidelines", yet a line of The Simpsons themed LEGO sets has been confirmed anyway?

 

Go figure.

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Zed

Zed

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Yet another licensed theme...

 

Oh well, this might at least be better than the licensed themes we've seen over the past few years.

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Cirevam

Cirevam

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Okay, I'll give you two that much. Those bricks will be very useful, but the rest isn't even worth our time. I can't complain about more teal.

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STUDZ

STUDZ

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...So let me get this straight, the Cuusoo project gets deleted for "not following the Guidelines", yet a line of The Simpsons themed LEGO sets has been confirmed anyway?

 

Go figure.

POLITICS!

The target audience for The Simpsons are teenagers and adults, but there are also many children who know them, says product manager at Top Toy, Carsten Nielsen, to Børsen.

*Ahem*

 

[LARGE RANT IMMINENT]

Gee I wonder WHY. We've got such a messed up society where parents don't give a flying DAMN what their "kids" watch. And then there's the ever-present "cartoon" element of shows like South Park, Family Guy, The Simpsons, etc. It makes these shows more appealing to kids by default. Note the "BY DEFAULT". Mind you, the networks and such make it clear that "Viewer discretion is advised" for these programs, but REALLY. It isn't the government, not really society (And most CERTAINLY not Canada) to blame here, but the parents who allow this kind of slop to be viewed by children.

 

Now, I'm not saying The Simpsons is ENTIRELY crap. Kinda like eating a quarter and taking a dump later. Matt Greoning was a great writer/cartoonist (*Refers to "Life is Hell", the comic Greoning used to do in the 80s), and it was aimed at older audiences. But those were NEWSPAPER FUNNIES.

 

The Simpsons was the first to successfully cross the line to a primetime cartoon for adults (The Critic was good, but didn't gain NEARLY as large a following as the show in question). The Simpsons started on a Late-night talk show as shorts before commercial break. It was fun, fresh, and didn't cross any lines like it does now (and shortly after it appeared primetime). The Simpsons created a cult, so to speak. One that is so integrated into North American society that it's now mainstream. Now, I'm not saying "BLAH BLAH BLAH THE SIMPSONS IS LITERALLY SATAN AND NO ONE SHOULD WATCHIT RAWWWWRRRRR". Go and watch whatever the hell you want, as long as you're at the recommended age. Greaoning had quite a few good ideas for his show, and the jokes were great... AT FIRST.

 

You see, writers will run out of ideas after a show runs too long. Chuck Lorre's sitcoms (Two and A Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, to name a few) are a prime example. Lorre's shows were great for the first couple seasons, and then there was a gradual decrease in writing quality (and an increase in crude humor). Two and A Half Men is the best example of this. The first few seasons were pretty suggestive, but the show was still enjoyable. After Charlie Sheen left ("WINNING!"), the show lost lots of its appeal (if not all), and instead of having a really raunchy joke every now and then, they were busting out innuendos and sex jokes at every single opportunity they got. Almost like they were TRYING to outdo Charlie (Both the character and actor). Personally, the show was now PAINFUL to watch. And The Big Bang Theory is starting to go down the same path.

 

But back to the point. The Simpsons had to get more crude in order to still get laughs. As the writers have less ideas, they make more sexual jokes. The Simpsons got a lot of fame. And along with that fame comes the inevitable controversy. The Simpsons is by no means a show for children. No excuses. No negotiations. 'Nuff said. It was never meant to be a children's show, and never will be. But kids watch it anyway. The Simpsons' one saving grave would be that it isn't as crude as most adult cartoons out there (Which gives Matt Greoning more respect than Seth MacFarlane, in my books). Greoning's work was more on smart gags and a satirical view of the modern world, rather than cheap jokes and sexual innuendos. Unfortunately, the demand on American (and I daresay most) television networks is more pop culture references, more crude jokes, more dumbing down. The Simpsons started an industry: Adult Cartoons. It got a cult following, merch, games, competing shows trying to ride on its coattails, the whole nine yards.

 

And now there is a LEGO theme for it. I could see this happening in the mid-90s, and it would likely be a better suit for LEGO back then (with more simplistic elements and color pallets), but LEGO wasn't into licencing in those days. Don't blame them. Regardless, The Simpsons is NOT a suit for a Child-oriented toy company, at ANY age, in ANY place, in ANY era. It's Not In LEGO's Corporate DNA. It's like Apple selling off its Operating Systems to third-party hardware manufacturers (WHICH ALREADY HAPPENED. And it didn't end well for them, either).

 

We can say all we want about LEGO's direction with themes nowadays, from the choice of licensed themes to BIONICLE ending to more simplified LEGO sets to all sorts of media for the Cash Cows of the year. The guys at The LEGO Group need to eat, too. A company grows and needs more money, so they cut corners. They change rules. And Ole Kirk Kristansen isn't around to say diddly-squat now. Regardless of the choices LEGO has made for their products, it was always fitting for a toy company. There's no arguing about that.

 

UNTIL NOW. This unholy disgrace crosses so many lines on so many levels that I'm sitting here almost convinced that this is another bulls*** ruse (To which I would pull a fitting "Homer-Bart strangling" to whomever came up with this "joke"). But it was jamesster who posted this here, and he usually posts nothing but facts. And it all adds up, too. This will end badly for LEGO's bottom line. I'm glad they're only doing a bit of a trial run, even if these things will go for crazy prices on the aftermarket. Whatever. Test the waters, get bitten by a damn shark. Learn to not wade those waters in the first place. Don't do it again.

 

If this whole thing gets the green light for mass commercial production, and more than one wave, Almost every consumer group will suffer. That much I can tell you.

 

TL;DR:

 

 3080895-7908154306-tumbl.jpg

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Zed

Zed

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The only picture that would fit my reaction would be Papa Brickolini's angry face in LI2, but I can't take a screenshot of that or find a picture of the face right now.

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PeabodySam

PeabodySam

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The only picture that would fit my reaction would be Papa Brickolini's angry face in LI2, but I can't take a screenshot of that or find a picture of the face right now.

Fortunately, years ago, I took a screenshot for just such an occasion:

 

angry-papa.jpg

 

And wonderfully written rant, McStudz.  It perfectly sums up my feelings towards both the younger demographic of The Simpsons and the declining quality of the show over the years.  Saying that The Simpsons is an ideal LEGO product because it's a show that kids enjoy is like saying that South Park or Call of Duty would be ideal LEGO licenses as well.  Yes, kids watch South Park and play Call of Duty, but that doesn't say anything about their appropriateness as a potential LEGO product, because those kids aren't the target audience.  Kids aren't the target audience of The Simpsons, either.  And I know LEGO has licensed PG-13 films such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings, but those are all a completely different genre from The Simpsons - they are all "fantasy/historical action adventures", which has always been something that translates well to LEGO products.

 

Some things are just better off being left to the MOCers, in my opinion.  Want to make MOCs based on this show?  Go right ahead!  But LEGO licensing it, and seeing these products take up toystore shelf space... ah, well, listen to me, a crummy old-fashioned LEGO fan.

 

Sounds like the future of LEGO Simpsons depends on the success of the first wave.  As much as I hate to admit it, that younger demographic does probably overlap considerably with LEGO's demographic, meaning these sets probably will be successful, allowing LEGO to milk this license for years to come...

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