Do you think The Simpsons is a 90s product?

[Kyrian007]

But wasn't the whole thing with Apu that it was a very positive stereotype at the time? That was nearly 30 years ago sure, but no one is saying Homer Simpson is fat shaming or Krusty is antisemitic

I don't think Apu was ever meant to be offensive. There are a lot of Simpsons characters that are technically stereotypes of some kind or another, Chief Wiggum of small town cops, Cletus of poor, rural americans, Comic Book Guy of middle aged nerds... it's just when it's specifically ethnic stereotypes where it gets questionable. On one hand, I don't think there's anything inherently in bad taste about Apu either but then, I'm not indian. I'm german. And I could never bring myself to disliker Uter because of it. Either way, I kinda get why indian americans would get annoyed about pretty much the most recognizable representation of theirs in all of american media being a brown skinned man with a funny accent and a large family who operates a cash register.

Whether or not Apu is or was offensive really is besides a simpler point, the joke isn't even relevant anymore. Back in the 90's I could chuckle at it because I regularly visited convenience stores and gas stations operated by Indian-Americans. But Millennials just getting into the Simpsons won't even understand the reference. Because right now (at least where I live) the reference wouldn't even make sense. Those Indians working those jobs in the 90's were putting themselves or their kids through college. These days (again, at least here where I am) someone named Nahasapeemapetilon is way more likely to be your Doctor, or Chiropractor, or Dentist, or accountant, or IT guy... In the 90's the most expensive and fancy upscale restaurants in my city were steakhouses or Italian joints. Now because of the shift into A: what is popular and B: who has the professional level salaries, these days the most expensive and fancy are Mediterranean and Indian. Apu isn't just potentially offensive, to a growing part of the audience its a stereotype or reference that doesn't even make sense anymore.

 

[madwarper]

When the Simpsons was first created, it was ahead of the times.
Then, everything caught up.
And now, it's fallen well behind the times.

Or, Abe's prophecy goes [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV0wTtiJygY]; It happened to them.

 

[Harrycanyon1982]

Well it's ok to be a stoner nowadays since it's legal in some states and that show has more soul/heart/intelligence and anti-hollywood satire than Zombie Simpsons ever will be.

And who likes my analogies of comparing this show to a dying old man?

The legality or relative okayness was never an issue for me.

Which show is this?

Bojack and Bobs Burgers of course