Losing My Religion: This season of "The Simpsons"

[vince]

Watching last night's episode made me realize that "The Simpsons" have lost it, and they may never get it back! Besides the reasons that have been discussed on this site before, I noticed that TIME is a factor. They have often commented that the show has been forced to cut time for more commercials, and last night's "Side-show Bob" proved that you need those couple of extra minutes to provide a nice, well-rounded show. Instead of critisizing the show, I just felt bad. The show is my generations 'Beatles' and watching it try to do it's typical 'pre-plot' story, and then, try to produce a nice, heathy 'Side-show Bob' episode, was just painful for me. I'm not even sure if I will buy this season on DVD, or whatever the format is by the time it comes out.:(

[charlie W]

I've felt this way about the show since Season 9 and stopped buying the DVD sets after that season. It has run its course. I always watch the Halloween and Sideshow Bob's shows but they rarely make me laugh out loud.

[Chip TRG]

The sad part is that the TV show has suffered VERY badly as of the last few seasons. What makes it worse is that the movie showed that the writers still have it, as the movie was funny as hell, IMHO.

I agree that maybe it's time it just quietly came to an end.

[lv70smusic]

I haven't seen this week's episode yet as I am traveling, but none of this season's episodes have even made me chuckle mildly. If the show continues with this level of mediocrity, I'll probably stop watching before long...something I never thought I'd do. Like South Park, I've always felt there were at least a few good episodes per season that made The Simpsons worth watching regularly, but my mind is changing fast.

[vince]

I agree that Seasons 10-15 had, at least ONE decent episode. It's funny, after this new one, they showed the episode where Kent Brockman cursed, and it confirmed my belief about the need for time. It felt like the episode ended too soon.

[Yankee8156]

I agree that the series is rapidly deteriorating, and it really is sad. I think in a way, the show has become too preachy....the way they tackle some current issues isn't nearly as subtle as the way they did in the show's heyday. I'm not a fan of Family Guy at all and it seems like The Simpsons are becoming too similar to the Family Guy style of just a random mention of some current event that they expect to incite laughter just at the very thought of hearing about it.

[Claudio Dirani]

Well, we're not in the current season here, but last season's had some of its moments. Like the one Homer takes sleeping pills and ends up in "bed with John and Yoko". Quite funny.

[Jefhart]

I've always been a huge Simpsons fan (see Avatar), have watched every episode.........until now.:(

The show has definitely deteriorated quite a bit over the past 6 or 7 seasons, but it was always worth watching, to me anyway. I watched the first few episodes this season, and have just plain quit. I no longer have any desire to watch. Never thought this would happen, but this show has obviously been on too long. Time to wrap it up.

I agree the movie was excellent, must've been one big last gasp.

Jeff

[Claudio Dirani]

I've always been a huge Simpsons fan (see Avatar), have watched every episode.........until now.:(

The show has definitely deteriorated quite a bit over the past 6 or 7 seasons, but it was always worth watching, to me anyway. I watched the first few episodes this season, and have just plain quit. I no longer have any desire to watch. Never thought this would happen, but this show has obviously been on too long. Time to wrap it up.

I agree the movie was excellent, must've been one big last gasp.

Jeff

Loved the movie, too. But...please, just to clear this up (as I didn't watch any of the new season), what are the main flaws of the current ones?

[Yankee8156]

Loved the movie, too. But...please, just to clear this up (as I didn't watch any of the new season), what are the main flaws of the current ones?

I don't want to speak for the original poster, but in my opinion, the flaws of the most recent season(s) of The Simpsons include:

-It's too political now. It can be argued that it's always been slightly political, but it was always done so much more cleverly. Now it's just too obvious and it feels like the writers have their own agenda.

-The characters have become caricatures of themselves. Homer was always dumb, but now he's borderline brain dead. Lisa was always a know-it-all, now she's obnoxious.

-Each episode feels so disjointed. This is probably because of the time concerns noted in previous posts. Now it feels like once the story is set up, it's ending. Not to mention the fact that it seems like the opening minutes of the episodes, which always were somewhat unrelated to the actual story, extends too long.

-And it just seems so far-fetched now. Yeah, it's always been far-fetched, but you get the feeling that if Homer Simpson sat down in 1997 and watched a 2007 episode, not even he would believe it.

-Too many guests!!!! The Simpsons have always had guest stars, but every freakin' episode has one or more guests, and they're not even funny or cleverly added to the plot. It has just become something else they can add to the commercial for the next week's episode. If you look back to previous seasons and see how they incorporated guest stars, and then compare it to now, you'll think that they've started to hire the most incompetent writers around.

I've always loved The Simpsons, and still watch it, and still think it's better than a lot of stuff on TV, but it's not the best show on TV like it used to be (or maybe second best, given that Seinfeld aired for the a good part of The Simpsons' run).

[vince]

Well, like i said, in the commentaries for the season 10 DVD, they were talking about how the network has forced them to make shorter episodes to make room for more commercials. I know i'm giving them an excuse, but it does hinder any plot that COULD be decent. PLUS, the beautiful art-work of these newer episodes is just another distraction from the shoddy stories. so, in the end, I'm having a dilemma with my 'fan-boy' love of the show. I know I make excuses for the show, and i used to think that THEY, like Zappa or The Residents, tried NOT to backtrack, moved away from elements of the show that were stolen by FG and SP, but, alas, I'm finding it harder and harder to excuse them.

[Claudio Dirani]

Thanks!

I think reducing the episodes' lenght is very dangerous to the future of the series. Making Homer look too dumb is a bit "dumb" in my opinion. I've always found him clever - to his personality, of course.

[Claudio Dirani]

. PLUS, the beautiful art-work of these newer episodes is just another distraction from the shoddy stories. so, in the end, I'm having a dilemma with my 'fan-boy' love of the show. I know I make excuses for the show, and i used to think that THEY, like Zappa or The Residents, tried NOT to backtrack, moved away from elements of the show that were stolen by FG and SP, but, alas, I'm finding it harder and harder to excuse them.


Yeah, like some mastering stuff, they look too bright! :D

[Claudio Dirani]

Honestly, what bugs me the most are the direct quotes about sex. I'm very very far from being a Ned Flanders' type, but as my kid loves watching the show, I think that writing "opened sex lines" is a bit annoying. Just imo.

[vince]

Yeah, like some mastering stuff, they look too bright! :D

And, I try to explain to people, when they went to Italy, MAN!, they had those buildings DOWN! Crowds, boats, sporting-events; they went ALL-OUT of those drawings, but, what's it all worth, when they had no story to care about?

[Claudio Dirani]

And, I try to explain to people, when they went to Italy, MAN!, they had those buildings DOWN! Crowds, boats, sporting-events; they went ALL-OUT of those drawings, but, what's it all worth, when they had no story to care about?

:righton:

[tommy-thewho]

I loved the movie this past summer and last night's Sideshow Bob was a good one (always love Sideshow Bob) but overall it hasn't been great for long time although I still try to watch it.

[vince]

I loved the movie this past summer and last night's Sideshow Bob was a good one (always love Sideshow Bob) but overall it hasn't been great for long time although I still try to watch it.

But, do you agree that it felt a little 'rushed'?

[Dudley Morris]

I agree the movie was excellent, must've been one big last gasp.It also brought back several writers who haven't been involved with the show in years. The newer writers are probably younger, less experienced sorts who grew up with the Simposons and Family Guy, and can't really think outside the box, avoid the cliches and easy outs, or get into the characters enough to keep the scirpts fresh. C'est la vie. At least they haven't completely lost control of the characters yet, as Seinfeld did.

[RDK]

Imagine if the Beatles put out over 300 albums. I'll bet even they would have gotten a bit stale by the end...

[Claudio Dirani]

Another one of the recent episodes I loved was the "24" one, with Kief Sutherland as special guest. That was really great.

[StephenGR12]

Imagine if the Beatles put out over 300 albums. I'll bet even they would have gotten a bit stale by the end...

Lame excuse. Quit already. I stayed and stayed but finally quit watching maybe two seasons ago.

[prognastycator]

After season 9 it has been hit or miss for me. Some outstanding episodes surrounded by fluff. Now the outstanding episodes are too rare. I think there was only one I considered great last season. They should either go to a one hour episode format (with maybe 8 or 9 a season) or just fold, because I am not laughing at these episodes and it looks like I am not alone. :(

[Captain Groovy]

I can't imagine ever stop watching this show. They are generally not as good as the old ones (one of the funniest c-level characters, Gil the salesman, got his own episode and it was a disaster - worst show they ever had) - but there have been some good episodes this year and last.

I have the new one waiting for me on Tivo back home, but now I'm concerned.

The movie comes out on DVD on Christmas - and I absolutely loved it. So I can respin that through the holidays at least!

Jeff

[Claudio Dirani]

I can't imagine ever stop watching this show. They are generally not as good as the old ones (one of the funniest c-level characters, Gil the salesman, got his own episode and it was a disaster - worst show they ever had) - but there have been some good episodes this year and last.

I have the new one waiting for me on Tivo back home, but now I'm concerned.

The movie comes out on DVD on Christmas - and I absolutely loved it. So I can respin that through the holidays at least!

Jeff


Exactly my thoughts! I can't wait to grab this DVD!
I loved the bit in the end when Homer gets back for a cold popcorn "left in the front row"...:laugh: