One could argue the Simpsons follows the progression of the '90s through its different eras...

Late 1989-Middle 1991: The first two, very primitive seasons of OFF, in the "primitive '90s" period. Culture in that period was characterized by the remaining '80s holdovers, like soft rock and hair metal, super-cheesy old school hip-hop and old school, pre-gangsta hip-hop culture being popular, and campy neon colors and "squiggles and triangles", along with alt rock almost at the level of late 1991-mid 1994 in terms of production, though with less fame.
Late 1991-Middle 1994: The "classic", highly thoughtful Simpsons following the classic, highly thoughtful early '90s of grunge, Seinfeld, downbeat alt rock, smooth New Jack Swing/R&B pop, classic mix of golden age and gangsta rap, and the exciting beginnings of various musical trends that would come to fruition in the mid-late '90s. Also the inarguable peak of the first adult animation craze, in terms of productivity and overall marketability, with Beavis and Butthead, The Critic, Duckman was around 1994. The era of an extremely creative and productive '90s feel.
Late 1994-Middle 1998: An updated, more "modern" and new school, but still very '90s, still very thoughtful, still very '90s  The Simpsons. Though OFF peaked creatively c. 1993, it peaked in popularity around 1995 with "Who Shot Mr. Burns?." In pop culture, this was the time of early '90s trends coming to fruition: the prog rock/alt metal revival, more upbeat alt pop, female singer-songwriters, gangsta rap, independent film crossovers, girl group R&B. Towards the end, it started to go out a little bit, though Season 9 (1997-1998) was mixed, with many episodes that could fit in with the 1996ish period and others that seemed stupider and more cartoonish. OFF also started to be made slightly irrelevant in 1997-1998 with SP, Daria, and KOTH premiering. 1997-1998 was similar pop culturally, still being basically mid-'90s but with embryonic late '90s elements like Hanson, top 40 techno and country, etc.
Late 1998-Middle 2001: OFF steadily worsened and was made irrelevant during this period of cartoonish violence, SP and Family Guy stealing away its younger fanbase, and lost popularity towards the end of it as the "'90s" were turning over to be totally "new school", albeit still the '90s. OFF tried to be stupider during this late '90s period but went through a major quality decline, even if still quite popular. Even if  OFF improved starting in late 2003 with the mid-'00s, it lost so much of its fanbase as to have the rise in quality not appreciated.

I agree. The Simpsons is really one of the few constants of the '90s (and unfortunately, also of the '00s), but it really changed as it went on.

Also, the fact that the Simpsons existed as a short in 1987 shows how 1987 was where the first "Nineties" things originated.  For instance I see the FOX network as a very '90s thing.

Also, the fact that the Simpsons existed as a short in 1987 shows how 1987 was where the first "Nineties" things originated.  For instance I see the FOX network as a very '90s thing.


Yeah, great point. Alot of other "'90s" things first emerged around 1987, like The Pixies' Surfer Rosa, old school hip-hop, the "club" music scene, Sonic Youth's first more accessible CDs, Phish, Suzanne Vega (the foundation of the '90s singer-songwriters), Document (R.E.M's first more '90sish CD), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Married...with Children. In some ways, I see 1997 as also being where the first 2000ish things originated, like SP. Belle and Sebastian, etc. Even though 1987 arguably had more '90sish things than 1997 had '00sish things that really continued through the '00s.

The 80s definitely stayed around much longer (over-stayed) than the 90s...why? I guess 80s culture was more durable and racous than the relatively 'low profile' 90s. If the 80s were an outfit, they would be loud, garish and pretentious; the 90s, by contrast, were comparatively low key, going with the flow...That's the same reason the 60s and 70s are so well remembered compared to say the 50s. They had real identities.

The 80s definitely stayed around much longer (over-stayed) than the 90s...why? I guess 80s culture was more durable and racous than the relatively 'low profile' 90s. If the 80s were an outfit, they would be loud, garish and pretentious; the 90s, by contrast, were comparatively low key, going with the flow...That's the same reason the 60s and 70s are so well remembered compared to say the 50s. They had real identities.




I think the period of '80s-like things extended from 1977 at the earliest to 1992 at the latest, though late 1979 to mid 1991 was the '80s influenced period and the "real" '80s was like 1982 to mid-1989. The period of '90s-like things is like 1987 (maybe 1986 at the very earliest) to 2002. The '90s influenced or substantially partially '90s period was about 1989 to 2001. The "real" '90s was late 1991 to 2000. The '90s definitely had a real identity, but it was more multifaceted than the '80s or '00s.

I think the period of '80s-like things extended from 1977 at the earliest to 1992 at the latest, though late 1979 to mid 1991 was the '80s influenced period and the "real" '80s was like 1982 to mid-1989. The period of '90s-like things is like 1987 (maybe 1986 at the very earliest) to 2002. The '90s influenced or substantially partially '90s period was about 1989 to 2001. The "real" '90s was late 1991 to 2000. The '90s definitely had a real identity, but it was more multifaceted than the '80s or '00s.


As DD said, the 90s could be less 'pigeonholed' than the 80s. While you could say the 80s were all about bad fashion, rubix cubes and cheesy computer music, one couldn't really 'iconify' the 90s into a series of pop-cultural icons. the Smashing Pumpkins were as 90s as Duran Duran were 80s, but Duran Duran screams 80s, while the Pumpkins moan about the 90s.

As DD said, the 90s could be less 'pigeonholed' than the 80s. While you could say the 80s were all about bad fashion, rubix cubes and cheesy computer music, one couldn't really 'iconify' the 90s into a series of pop-cultural icons. the Smashing Pumpkins were as 90s as Duran Duran were 80s, but Duran Duran screams 80s, while the Pumpkins moan about the 90s.


IMO, walking around with a Pumpkins t-shirt or Billy Corgan baldhead (along with flannel) is a clue you think that 2003 never happened...not that that's a bad thing.

Billy Corgan...had one failed album and he's still causing trouble.  ;D