“The Simpsons” Season 13 (2001-02, Fox), episodes 1-12 — Matt Groening’s “The Simpsons” (7 p.m. Sunday, Fox) has been the funniest show on TV for every one of its 13 seasons (and yes, that’s including the years it competed with “Seinfeld”). But the show has evolved substantially. When it started, it focused on the title family. In the mid-‘90s, the lovable buffoon Homer became the breakout character, as the writers discovered he could symbolize either the post-modern American Moron or the unlucky Average Joe, depending on the goals of the episode. More recently, the show has become an unapologetic social and political satire, with the Simpson family (mostly Homer) as the lens through which the viewer experiences the story.
The humor works on three distinct levels. Pure silliness: a member of REM attempts to use a urinal but can’t because Lenny is staring at him. Witty dialogue: Marge tells Homer not to bring sugar back into Springfield because it will corrupt the community again; the bad guy says “Don’t listen to her, Homer.” Homer says, “Hmmm, they both make good points.” And of course, pop culture satire that makes the audience feel smart for catching it: Marge’s sister describes “Sex and the City” as a show where four women go around acting like gay men.
But ultimately, what keeps the show at the top of the comedy heap is its heart. With the possible exceptions of odd-duck Lisa and ambiguous Maggie, none of the Simpsons could be described as admirable human beings. Yet almost every episode reminds us that they are a loving family who sticks together, something that might surprise non-viewers whose opinion of the show comes solely from the commercials. A+
— John Hansen, “Go back to the drawing board to find TV’s best comedies,” NDSU Spectrum, March 8, 2002