The Simpsons: When did it start going wrong for you?

IgnatiusJRiley

The Simpsons: When did it start going wrong for you?

For me it was the episode where Homer and Bart drive a truck of a guy who has just died in a stake-eating competition.

It was just so ordinary. There was none of the Simpsons class about it. Ever since then, hearing about a new Simpsons episode has failed to excite me.

celticfc

Originally posted by IgnatiusJRiley
For me it was the episode where Homer and Bart drive a truck of a guy who has just died in a stake-eating competition.

It was just so ordinary. There was none of the Simpsons class about it. Ever since then, hearing about a new Simpsons episode has failed to excite me.

For me it was long before that.

The older the episodes of the Simpsons the better IMO.

BuffyBot

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=93991&highlight=simpsons

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50044&highlight=simpsons

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19555&highlight=simpsons

and so on...

IgnatiusJRiley

Originally posted by BuffyBot

and so on...

those posts deal with the fact that it has gone downhill. I was just wondering WHEN others noticed it just wasn't as good as it used to be.:rolleyes:

BuffyBot

Originally posted by IgnatiusJRiley
those posts deal with the fact that it has gone downhill. I was just wondering WHEN others noticed it just wasn't as good as it used to be.:rolleyes:

...and it will just turn into the same discussion, as those posts with "original" slants on it did as well....

smiaras

This post has been deleted.

Creamy Goodness

when homer started to use american humour is when it went downhill he use to be witty and funny but now i don't even bother to tune into the simpsons

loyatemu

"Who shot Mr Burns"

Pt 1 (end of season 6) was excellent and all of Season 6 had been excellent
Pt 2 (Start of season 7) not so good and Season 7 was then fairly patchy.

Really started going downhill in season 8. Don't watch it all anymore but seaons 2-6 are absolute genius, its a shame they've let it drag on for so long.

eggshapedfred

The Simpsons: When did it start going wrong for you?

when sky started showing it all the f ucking time. christmas, bank holidays, twice nightly during the week, and on the weekend.....

quank

i started not liking it prob around a year or two ago, or whatever, i dont count
anyway
i think its coz they got new writers maybe? well anyway, the simpsons just make no sense now, and homers voice is "breaking" or something, coz he doesnt sound like his old self , and it seemed when the episodes became more... (kinda wierd) shinier.... like, the animation was so vibrant or something...
i miss those old classic episodes....

remember when bart got the jar of pennies while homer is asleep
and then homer awakes
and he chases bart throughout the house
*sniff*
good ol' days.....
SIGH
and now they have to end futurama, the next best thing next to malcolm in the middle

It went wrong when they dumbed it down. They spew out episode after episode of mindless crap that basically relies on gimmicky personalities and incredibly obvious jokes - as opposed to clever story lines, backed up by a solidly funny and witty script. You look at the older simpsons, and you'll find a new joke etc basically every time you see it. You look at a new simpsons and you cringe for 25 minutes.


For me it was around the time of the episode where they went to New York to get homers car back that it started going downhill.

sceptre

Originally posted by quank
remember when bart got the jar of pennies while homer is asleep
and then homer awakes
and he chases bart throughout the house
*sniff*
good ol' days.....

Ah, the takeoff of Indiana Jones. Classic stuff.

Dustaz

jesus lads, the Simpsons was never exactly The West Wing in terms of scripts and plots. Its a really funny show and while its becoming a little tired after such a long time, it remains consistently funny and one of the only forms of satire on american tv.

I've found that the only people who find the new simpsons funny, are stupid people...no offence or anthing, I'm sure everyone else has experienced some moron trying to tell them about how funny the latest simpsons was

smuckers

What Groening should do is do Halloween specials and Christmas specials and one off's not another bloody season it really is flogging a dead horse, a good ep of Simpsons is a thing of the past now.

segadreamcast

To elaborate on what utility is saying and putting it in my own, less offensive way:

I find that people who like the new simpsons tend to just generally like trashy, less mature, generic comedy.

I read an (incredibly well written and researched - anyone have a link?) article once, which I wholeheartedly agree with, which said that the quality of the simpsons degraded when they changed homer from a fumbling oaf into an obnoxious loudmouth. It kept using the Frank Grimes episode as the perfect example, which is probably the first episode where I cringed and thought 'wtf'.

I also have to contribute it to the phasing out of the real Bart. No more skateboarding, catchphrases, Bad Boy attitude, squishies... instead he's essentially some sort of 'cool-cum-geek' dennis the menace character these days.

sceptre

Originally posted by NoelRock
I read an (incredibly well written and researched - anyone have a link?) article once

Link (as posted by Pigman here)

This article may also be worth a read, given the thread title

segadreamcast

Must bookmark that one this time. Good job sceptre *raises a toast of Lidl Orange Juice*

segadreamcast

That other article (thestar.com) you linked to has parts I agree with, and parts I don't...

"It has been an "on" year for The Simpsons,"

B*ll*cks. That's the most ill-informed simpsons statement I've read in a long time. I won't even be watching the new episode tonight - and it's a mid term sunday, not as if I have much else to be doing(!)

So, in fact, is the whole 14th season. "Barting Over" — which deploys gags and pop-culture references (Ornette Coleman, Arthur Miller, Michael Jackson's infamous baby-dangling escapade, pro-skater Tony Hawk, Blink 182, Samurai Jack and Bart's old Butterfinger commercials all figure briefly in tonight's plot) at a furious rate on par with The Simpsons' acknowledged, mid-'90s peak — continues a creative resurgence in the show that has been apparent since Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello and Lenny "Don't you have a crotch to stuff?" Kravitz allowed themselves to be mercilessly ridiculed in the season premiere.

Both of those episodes made me cringe exceedingly. Homer and his guitar moves, blatantly displayed his newfound obnoxious, arrogant self and continued to gnaw away at the lovable oaf that we all once identified with.

"Weekend At Burnsies," the almost cripplingly funny episode where Homer developed a chronic appetite for medicinal marijuana.

I only saw this episode a few days ago after purposely missing it the first time around. I don't know why, but it just felt like this entire episode was produced for shock effect. Infact, I'd almost say it depicted a Simpsons script writing crew which was as desperate to be cool as the once-lampooned Bill Cosby.

However, the writers favourite moments of the Simpsons overall seem to mirror mine too... and that's about all I can say really.

Oswald Osbourne

That Star article sucks in general but the thing that caught my eye in particular is when the author says

...and the Run Lola Run parody "Trilogy Of Error" ...

No it's not!

The point of 'Run Lola Run' is to show that if a tiny change happens at the start of a chain of events (eg leaving home 1 minute earlier or later than you planned) that it can have dramatic and unimagined effects on followed events.

'Simpsons Trilogy of errors' is just simply three different peoples activities during of a particular day told one after with the occasonal interation between the three to tie them all together ala Pulp Fiction.

So other than being three stories set in the same time told back to back they really have nothing in common. Damn I hate lazy journalism!

sceptre

Originally posted by Oswald Osbourne
'Simpsons Trilogy of errors' is just simply three different peoples activities during of a particular day told one after with the occasonal interation between the three to tie them all together ala Pulp Fiction.

Aye. The only reference to Lola Rennt at all that I can think of is the part where Lisa starts to run and the running music from the movie comes on in the background. Other than that it's Pulp Fiction..

SantaHoe

IMO the simpsons has always been a bit hit-n'-miss... yes - the earlier seasons had stinkers too.
The one where Lisa was too sad to play dodge-ball? Only just barely saved by Homer and Barts boxing game...
Not to mention the numerous singing episodes and 25 minutes of rehashed-footage-a-go-go.

One more recent episode I thought was brilliant was where Homer had a resurfaced traumatic childhood memory where he finds a dead body... non-stop screaming... in the shower, driving to work, in bed.... brilliant

"Worst episode ever" goes to:
The one where Maud Flanders gets killed... think it was written by some guest-writer muppet or something.

In fairness they have to change the comedy formula a little bit... otherwise we'd be able to anticipate every situation... or is that what's already happened - they haven't changed it enough - and everyone's bored of the same old?

"Aah the mysteries of life..."
-Homer Simpson

Cork

Check out:

http://www.jumptheshark.com/

Some very good info on :The Simpsons: When did it start going wrong for you?

PiE

Originally posted by SantaHoe
One more recent episode I thought was brilliant was where Homer had a resurfaced traumatic childhood memory where he finds a dead body... non-stop screaming... in the shower, driving to work, in bed.... brilliant

That's my most hated episode ever and sums up just about everything I hate about the "new" Homer

Originally posted by SantaHoe
One more recent episode I thought was brilliant was where Homer had a resurfaced traumatic childhood memory where he finds a dead body... non-stop screaming... in the shower, driving to work, in bed.... brilliant

Ah I despise that episode....I remember hearing a moron talking about how funny he thought that was - "It was gas, you know the way homer screams...".


ugh

Nike_Dude

For me it was the episode where bart milhouse ralph and nelson became a boyband. Pure rubbish! after that episode ive never got excited about a new episode

SantaHoe

Originally posted by utility_
Ah I despise that episode....I remember hearing a moron talking about how funny he thought that was - "It was gas, you know the way homer screams...".

ugh

Well Jesus, I'm sorry if a cartoon isn't fulfilling your highly intellectual and sophisticated sense of humour.
Personally I laughed my ass off at that scene, and if that makes me a moron in your books then you must be a lonely guy.
Jokes like that can be appreciated on more levels than one (did you think that scene was more slapstick or surreal?), if it doesn't hit your funny bone, unlucky... but elitism in comedy appreciation? Now I've seen everything.

ando

It went wrong when Homer's voice was changed. He speaks slower and more clumsy now then he used to, terrible. I also hate it when I hear 'The simpsons are off to quatamallia/france/australia/japan' or they happen to meet a celebrity

The actual cartoon drawings are not as good either as they used to be either. I look forward to Futurama a lot more than any new simpsons episode, I think most of the simpsons team from the good aul days are working now in Futurama ?? not sure bout that but you do see the classic simpsons humour poping up every now and then

nick_riviera

Things started going downhill as Homer turned into an unlikeable jerk with no redeeming qualities.Also,the increasingly pointless celebrity appearances (Mel Gibson,N'Sync,Stephen Hawking).In the older seasons the celebrities were never the focus of the episode and were all the funnier for it(eg;Aerosmith and the Red Hot Chili Peppers).To get to the point,I started really noticing the decline about the time of the Baldwin/Basinger/Howard episode.

segadreamcast

Originally posted by Cork
Check out:

http://www.jumptheshark.com/

Some very good info on :The Simpsons: When did it start going wrong for you?

Yeah but that article is too fricking long ... the only thing that site is good for is reading up on relatively unknown shows when there are only about 20 comments.

Ryo Hazuki

When did it start going wrong for you?

It has not, yet. Still one of the funniest things on TV.

I find that people who like the new simpsons tend to just generally like trashy, less mature, generic comedy.

I love the simpsons, Jackass and Above all Fraiser.
Nice mix there....

AngelofFire

i thought the new episode with moe and maggie on sunday on sky one was one of the funniest ive ever seen. the simpsons is just as good as it ever was imo.

segadreamcast

"i thought the new episode with moe and maggie on sunday on sky one was one of the funniest ive ever seen. the simpsons is just as good as it ever was imo."

Sigh. Look at anything from 92-97...blows that episode out of the water with ease.

plastic membrane

I could go into a long post about how bad the simpsons is now, its kinda been my pet peeve for a while now, but the episode where they go to japan and get caught up in a game show is one of the laziest examples of comedy writing ive ever seen. and thats the blueprint they've been using ever since. it should have ended years ago.

carbonkid

i used to watch simpsons religiously but dont think ive seen any of the new epoisdes in the past few months...just got bored...and too swept up into familyguy i think :rolleyes:

smuckers

Saw a Simpsons ep last week with Marge getting implants shockingly poor stuff.

celticfc

Tonights episode on Sky One @ 6pm has to up there with the worst.
It's the one where homer joins a crowd of guys who go anywhere where a ribwich is on sale.

Sangre

Originally posted by nick_riviera
.To get to the point,I started really noticing the decline about the time of the Baldwin/Basinger/Howard episode.

Let me state for the record I think Simpsons is poor now.

But that episode, having seen it several times, is probably the best recent one, and is up there, seriously. I can give you loads of quotes why.
This is actually werid because yesterday I was just saying to my friend that was one of the only good recentish ones.

"Ron, you've done it again"
*Happy days' theme tune*

Bubba

I don't have a clue what all you lasds r on about, the simpsons is still as class as ever!!

The Brigadier

Originally posted by celticfc
Tonights episode on Sky One @ 6pm has to up there with the worst.
It's the one where homer joins a crowd of guys who go anywhere where a ribwich is on sale.

mmmm...ribwich....arghgrghgrhr....

joseph brand

@ Ryo Hazuki

I love the simpsons, Jackass and Above all Fraiser.

Funny man, 'Fraiser', sarcasm????

Frasier is tripe.

@ando

hate it when I hear 'The simpsons are off to quatamallia/france/australia/japan' or they happen to meet a celebrity

You hit the 'preverbial' nail on the head there.

what about the episode in Brazil, eeeeewwwww, AWFUL!!!

Pepe LeFrits

I love Frasier.

spooiirt!!

to be honest, the simpsons never really had a moment whenit started going downhill. i still love the show, even if there are less good jokes.

tvremote

when bart got emancipated was when it signified the end up until then i cud bare it that episode signified a change a total lack of comedy humour and charm that simpsons episodes need.
thet truth be told the simpsons is two character show. it depends on homer and ralf, if we wer to ask for the most memorable simpsons moments which undoubtly channel four will do a poll four they will clearly de seen as the strongest,

Stark

Frasier is class, although it too went downhill (after niles and daphne got married).

koneko

As much as I am a nerd, I cringe when they put in references to the web and Ebay. Usually they're not even funny, it just comes across as a desperate last attempt to be "cool".

The episode where Homer and Marge are arrested for murdering the old lady, or the one where Homer and Bart get busted for "grifting" are particularly bad. They try to make the end post-modern and poke fun at itself, TV (Fox in particular) and society but it just doesn't pull it off, it just makes them look worse. Lazy writing. Few funny moments in some new eps, but overall you're left with a bad taste in your mouth. Like bad chocolate. You so WANT to love it but you feel a bit sick afterwards.

spudulike

I still think the Simpsons are great. They have set such a high standard over the years that i think it's often hard for them to maintain their own standards. I have to say though, even the 'poor' episodes are still brill and better than anything else on the box.

Stark

All the characters speak in a sacharine sweet sickening way these days. "Hi, we're the simpsons, and do we have a wacky episode for you!".

The good old days were when it didn't look like they were trying to make Homer funny, he just happened to be funny. That's good comic writing. It was like "hold on, the writers are focusing and focusing on Bart, but we keep laughing at Homer". Then the writers cashed in on it, and it was "They're focusing and focusing on Homer, and we're laughing at nobody". 3rd rock from the sun is a good example of where it didn't go wrong, Harry kept the focus as the "funny man", and Dick delivered the laughs.

krattapopov

rumour has it that the new series - 15, is bringing it back to were it started, also there is going to be around 3 films made, and possibly up to series 20!!

so still lots to go, i hope it does get better

Stark

Hopefully, it started **** as well though. Remember season 1 when bart was supposed to be funny?

spudulike

They should put their efforts into Futurama aswell - that show is great and has great potential aswell.