'The Simpsons' Might Convince Me To Watch An NFL Game

I think of my time watching the NFL the same way I think of my time in the Catholic faith. For a while, it was something I did on the weekends because the rest of my family was doing it. Sometimes, I would enjoy it, and lots of times, I wouldn’t. My break from the Church and the NFL came around the same time, my senior year of high school. While I haven’t practiced my former faith since that time, I’ve had to watch plenty of football games.

Avoiding the Catholic Church is easier than avoiding the NFL! Friends I would never expect to be fans not only watch but play fantasy football. Super Bowl parties are thrown with the same amount of gusto my friends bring to Oscar and Tony’s parties. It’s wild, and I want nothing to do with it. I fell off NFL fandom due to a general lack of interest, their awful treatment of Black players solidified that decision. Now, the folks at the NFL have found a way to reel me back in (and I know they’ve been desperate to).

Another thing I did during the weekend growing up was watch The Simpsons. I did it on weekdays, too. Once, when an asthma attack almost killed me (23 years ago this month), I had a respirator pulled out of my throat after almost 24 hours in and my first words were “Isn’t The Simpsons on?” (I was correct by the way) I’m a huge fan and unlike my faith, my love of The Simpsons has never wavered, no matter what people may say about this season or that season.

I love The Simpsons! For a long time, the easiest way to get my fix was through the show or a video game (there are plenty). It’s been a different ball game ever since FOX was purchased by Disney. Seeing dollar signs, the company has produced Simpsons shorts out the wazoo. Now, they are bringing the loveable yellow family to the NFL.

Sports have been trying to snag younger viewers and using animations during games has been a tried and true tactic. Nickelodeon has broadcast football games called by Spongebob and Patrick and featuring animated sequences. The NHL has aired fully animated games that look more like Wii Sports. Never far from social relevance, The Simpsons will now bring their signature style and wit to a game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys.

This is not the first attempt at “Simpsons-izing” a game, but it will be the first to include Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith lending their signature voices. Last year’s strike kept that from happening. Homer will represent the Cowboys, Bart will represent the Bengals, and Marge and Lisa will conduct interviews. We’ll even get Simpsons versions of Stephen A Smith and the Manning Brothers.

I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t enticing. The Simpsons voice actors are not long for this world, so I’m open to enjoying any version of them I can get for as long as I can. Still, my distaste for the NFL is strong, and for good reason! Maybe I can just watch the vignettes after the game is through.