When did the Simpsons stop being good?

Dirty Dingus McGee · 06-11-2014 2:34pm

KungPao wrote: »

Just thinking of the "Illegal cable TV" episode makes me laugh. All the lads in Homer's watching The Bought to Knock the Other Guy Out!

Fabulous episode.

Drederick Tatum was hilarious in it.

I would also like to dedicate this fight to his manager

KungPao · 06-11-2014 2:38pm

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

I would also like to dedicate this fight to his manager

You can't do dat!

06-11-2014 2:38pm

Burky126 wrote: »

You have to take people's version of quality with a grain of salt when it comes to the arguement of when The Simpsons 'went bad.' Some people say it was when Conan left (Which is bull****,the guy wrote four episodes and contributed some jokes to others) or Season 9 which is the obvious culprit for The 'Armin' incident. Ultimately,what killed the show for many was the death of Homer Simpson's character,as he became more 'jerky' and less relatable which goes to show you the testament of his writing.

Many people pinpoint a change in his character season 8 and onwards.The Leader episode especially in which he shows these traits and which he repeats the line 'jerk ass'.

Over time,characters change in any narrative which is normal.However in the case of The Simpsons,it's a bonafide mutation which has gradually consumed the residents of Springfield as if a meltdown occured at the Nuclear Power Plant.Coupled with the stronger writers leaving and new writers who are inexperienced and who have to cope with the deadlines and Fox executives interfering with the show more and more and you get a more diluted product as a result.

Interesting you mention that. There was a forum thread that featured a former Simpsons animator who worked in the show from seasons 4-6 who mentioned how interference from both FOX and Matt Groening himself made the show less and less cartoony and more into an 'animated sitcom' which browned off a lot of animators.

One such example that he mentioned was how the animators got notes that Homer was no longer allowed to have his mouth open extremely wide. This news was received negatively by the animators and as a result, come the time when everyone signed Matt Groening's birthday card that year,they all drew pictures of Homer with his mouth open wide with sarcastic comments.

There's no set point but season 8 showed some weaknesses, season 9 had some really bad episodes and symptoms and by season 10 it was pretty much beyond help.

KungPao · 06-11-2014 2:44pm

Actually, thinking of Drederick Tatum...

Another big problem with the Simpsons was the way they stopped doing hilarious parodies (and clever guest appearances)* of celebrities and just got the actual celeb to voice themselves...in an utterly boring way with the voice acting phoned in.

*Dustin Hoffman as Lisa's teacher / Michael Jackson as "Michael Jackson" / Steve Martin as the Garbage commissioner...with his finger on the button / James Woods as a parody of himself etc.

I mean Tony Blair? Ricky Gervais? Give me strength.

Burky126 · 06-11-2014 2:48pm

Deleted User wrote: »

There's no set point but season 8 showed some weaknesses, season 9 had some really bad episodes and symptoms and by season 10 it was pretty much beyond help.

Just remember,season 8 ended with that Spin-off Showcase that showed a preview of 'season 9'.In hindsight,it seems like it was an early cry for help.

valoren · 06-11-2014 3:14pm

Burky126 wrote: »

Just remember,season 8 ended with that Spin-off Showcase that showed a preview of 'season 9'.In hindsight,it seems like it was an early cry for help.

to the tune of "We didn't start the fire"

Ullman shorts, Christmas show, Marge's fling, Homer's bro
Bart in well, Flanders fails, whacking snakes, monorail
Mr. Plow, Homer space, Sideshow Bob steps on rakes
Lisa's future, Selma's hubby, Marge not proud, Homer chubby
Homer worries Bart is gay, Poochie, U2, NRA
Hippies, Vegas, and Japan, octuplets, Bart's boy band
Marge murmers, Maude croaks, Lisa Buddhist, Homer tokes
Maggie blows Burns away, what else do I have to say?
They'll never stop the Simpsons
Have no fears, we've got stories for years
Like, Marge becomes a robot
Maybe Moe gets a cell phone
Has Bart ever owned a bear?
Or how 'bout a crazy wedding?
Where something happens, and do-do-do-do-do
Sorry for the clip show
Have no fears, we've got stories for years

Burky126 · 06-11-2014 3:32pm

For anyone who hasn't watched the simpsons in years,this is basically how it is now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSDZCbCT-kI

Squeedily Spooch · 06-11-2014 3:33pm

KungPao wrote: »

Actually, thinking of Drederick Tatum...

Another big problem with the Simpsons was the way they stopped doing hilarious parodies (and clever guest appearances)* of celebrities and just got the actual celeb to voice themselves...in an utterly boring way with the voice acting phoned in.

*Dustin Hoffman as Lisa's teacher / Michael Jackson as "Michael Jackson" / Steve Martin as the Garbage commissioner...with his finger on the button / James Woods as a parody of himself etc.

I mean Tony Blair? Ricky Gervais? Give me strength.

The Gervais episode is genuinely the worst 20 odd minutes of TV I've ever seen, it was appalling.

06-11-2014 3:34pm

KungPao wrote: »

Actually, thinking of Drederick Tatum...

Another big problem with the Simpsons was the way they stopped doing hilarious parodies (and clever guest appearances)* of celebrities and just got the actual celeb to voice themselves...in an utterly boring way with the voice acting phoned in.

*Dustin Hoffman as Lisa's teacher / Michael Jackson as "Michael Jackson" / Steve Martin as the Garbage commissioner...with his finger on the button / James Woods as a parody of himself etc.

I mean Tony Blair? Ricky Gervais? Give me strength.

At least with Ricky Gervais they "tried" to do it properly. Now most of the guests have to be introduced with exposition. Even the episode with Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin was on the other day, season 10 I think, and pretty much the first dialogue with them involved was Homer saying their names. Don't start me about the Lady Gaga episode.

Squeedily Spooch · 06-11-2014 3:38pm

Seasons 4 and 5 are the two most consistently great seasons of a television show ever, there's not one bad episode in the lot of them, even the ones that aren't great by the rest of the seasons standards are leagues ahead of anything in the last ten years.

Generic Dreadhead · 06-11-2014 3:41pm

[

Jesus that plot

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 06-11-2014 3:46pm

Oscartheboxer wrote: »

Don't forget Mcbain.

Having Schwarzenegger in the film was unforgivable.

cloud493 · 06-11-2014 4:06pm

To be fair, the episode where they go to London is absolutely appalling all over, not just with the celebrity cameos.

Turtyturd · 06-11-2014 4:12pm

cloud493 wrote: »

To be fair, the episode where they go to London is absolutely appalling all over, not just with the celebrity cameos.

A lot of the recurring ones like 'The Simpsons are going to...' and Sideshow Bob episodes have long since run out of original ideas and are stale.

The tree house of horror ones are the same but not to the same extent Imo because they fit in to the joke to joke style of the show now.

cloud493 · 06-11-2014 4:20pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzLoCotf8v8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T2dHHK1u9o

Kevo · 06-11-2014 4:21pm

Dolphin episode.

KungPao · 06-11-2014 4:58pm

Deleted User wrote: »

At least with Ricky Gervais they "tried" to do it properly. Now most of the guests have to be introduced with exposition. Even the episode with Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin was on the other day, season 10 I think, and pretty much the first dialogue with them involved was Homer saying their names. Don't start me about the Lady Gaga episode.

True. But it was a bad idea from the start. I'm a fan of some Gervais stuff, but I'm not sure his sense of humour works with the Simpsons. It was just a bad episode either way.

Remember the Mel Gibson one? Homer said "That's Mel Gibson" about three times in a row.

06-11-2014 5:07pm

cloud493 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzLoCotf8v8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T2dHHK1u9o

Dead wrong.

Hank Scorpio · 06-11-2014 5:19pm

The original seasons created scenarios which were somewhat believable and within the realms of possibility. That's what made the show gold in my opinion. The later seasons got so bad I feel a little angry inside when there on the TV and just have to switch channel. The stuff that goes on isn't believable anymore and every show seems to have one of those annoying lawyer type characters, or some celebrity. I find it hard to believe anyone who watched the original episodes continues to watch these days. Simpson memories should be things like the stonecutters, grimey, sideshow bob, shelbyville etc, not some super sensationalist bs involving outside characters who have the charm of a dog turd. Even the main characters you don't care about anymore. Every old episode had brilliant one liners like the clip below, it truly was genius.

wendell borton · 06-11-2014 5:22pm

“Oh, the network slogan is true, ‘Watch FOX and be damned for all eternity’.” – Ned Flanders

Riddle101 · 06-11-2014 6:06pm

I'd say 2000 is when it started slipping, but post 2002 is when it went down hill.

elfy4eva · 06-11-2014 6:20pm

season 10, 11 and 12 are where I feel it gradually begins to slip into slapstick humor. Still some watchable episodes in those seasons but the majority are unmemorable.

Vincent Vega · 06-11-2014 6:59pm

AndonHandon wrote: »

Did the main writers move to Futurama? That is a show that has far more wit than the Simpsons.

Not too sure they moved moved, but it's an interesting idea, and it goes along quite well with many people's naming season 9/10 as the point it decreased.

Futurama as a project began in 1996 and first aired in early 99, so through 97/98 (simpsons season 9) on you'd imagine a lot of the team focus would have been on getting Futurama up and running.

You can notice the gradual decrease in quality in season 9 and season 10 lacks the consistency of previous seasons.

Kerplunk124 · 06-11-2014 7:01pm

I have Season 1 to Season 10 on DvD and it's fairly easy to see that season 9 is when it starts to become ****.
Season 3 - 8 were its best. Season 5 and 6ish its peak

caustic 1 · 06-11-2014 7:35pm

Hate The Simpsons, I mean really really hate them.

blow69 · 06-11-2014 8:05pm

It's funny.

A few years ago if mentioning my favourite TV shows I would say "The Simpsons, the first half". And now it's the first third..

Keef2125 · 06-11-2014 8:07pm

It started getting bad as soon as they started having celebrities in the episode just for the sake of it. And when the type humour changed from witty to just plain stupid

Thargor · 06-11-2014 8:38pm

The Apple/iPod ep I saw the other day was unbelievable, just a completely different show.

BetterThanThou · 06-11-2014 9:07pm

Really think this is just a case of nostalgia goggles, or simply different generations having conflicting views. I'm 17, I've been a massive fan of The Simpsons for as long as I can remember. I'm damn near sure I've watched every episode, probably multiple times at this point. But personally, I enjoy the newer episodes and I think The Simpsons as good as it's ever been. It's probably a bit "cleaner" and "politically correct" than it used to be, but The Simpsons was hardly an "edgy" show to begin with, so the small bit of controversial comedy that would occasionally show up is hardly something to miss. Although, it has been running for something like 24/25 seasons, without changing that much, any show that runs for that long is bound to become boring to all but the absolute biggest fans. However, it still has a great fanbase, I don't see why The Simpsons should be cancelled, not in the foreseeable future anyway.

banquo · 06-11-2014 9:15pm

valoren wrote: »

Season 4 is arguably the greatest season of television ever. Every episode is a classic, even the clip show.

I Wiki'd Season 4 on seeing this post and, yes, it contains so many amazing episodes that it's hard to believe they were all in just one season.

Starscream25 · 06-11-2014 9:18pm

Everything after the hank Scorpio episode paled in comparison, never reached those heights again

Arne_Saknussem · 06-11-2014 9:21pm

BetterThanThou wrote: »

Really think this is just a case of nostalgia goggles, or simply different generations having conflicting views. I'm 17, I've been a massive fan of The Simpsons for as long as I can remember. I'm damn near sure I've watched every episode, probably multiple times at this point. But personally, I enjoy the newer episodes and I think The Simpsons as good as it's ever been. It's probably a bit "cleaner" and "politically correct" than it used to be, but The Simpsons was hardly an "edgy" show to begin with, so the small bit of controversial comedy that would occasionally show up is hardly something to miss. Although, it has been running for something like 24/25 seasons, without changing that much, any show that runs for that long is bound to become boring to all but the absolute biggest fans. However, it still has a great fanbase, I don't see why The Simpsons should be cancelled, not in the foreseeable future anyway.

It's a completely different show to what it used to be. For the first 5-6 years of it's run it was the cleverest funniest thing on television, way ahead of it's time and leagues ahead of the competition.

Towards the end of the 90s it began to rehash jokes it has used before and it really stood out, as the quality had been so good up on until then. A couple of years later in totally went down hill lazily repeating itself and throwing in "celebrity" guests in place of any actual original ideas. And became unwatchable.

It's become what it used to take the piss out of when it was at it's best.

wendell borton · 06-11-2014 9:29pm

Deleted User wrote: »

It's all summed up here: http://deadhomersociety.com/zombiesimpsons/
The main site has a quote of the day as well which is good. They also pick apart the new episodes.

The "It's been getting better" mantra has been around for a good 6 or 7 years and still isn't true. It's a shallow, humourless, out-of-touch show now.

Really good analysis, well worth the read.

Burky126 · 06-11-2014 10:44pm

BetterThanThou wrote: »

The Simpsons was hardly an "edgy" show to begin with

It's easy to look back and compare the show with the likes of South Park and Family Guy now and just wistfully assume how innocent it all was but it almost certainly was an edgy show to begin with. The amount of hidden jokes and gags that were barely passable pre-watershed in the early 90's was quite edgy to a lot of the audience at the time. Especially those who up until that point were only familiar with the idea that cartoons were for children and not adults. It helps aswell that MAD magazine was a huge influence in the shows anti-authority stance which was a major player in laying down the counter culture movement in the Sixties.

The Simpsons gave a lot of people not just this gateway into pop culture with adult themes but also remained this hybrid creation of a wholesome,family sitcom.

HerrScheisse · 06-11-2014 11:39pm

When Apu worked a 96 hour shift and thought he was a Hummingbird. Cut to the CCTV with a strange little Indian fellow buzzing around the shop at high speed humming whilst flapping his arms.

The Simpsons died when that kind of unspeakable, obscure unexplainable humour stopped.

Even cutting to the CCTV to show how he behaved was goddamn genius!

chrissb8 · 07-11-2014 12:31am

Up until the Japan episode. After that it went to hell. Sometimes I sit there and think am I laughing out of nostalgia at the old jokes. But then a joke on an old episode that I completely forgot until then or don't even remember at all comes up and has me in stitches. The recent example being Homer's "love" letter to Marge from a brewery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGH0IgJ-7LE

LoganRice · 07-11-2014 12:37am

since the dawn of time, aka, 2010s

Riddle101 · 07-11-2014 1:19am

HerrScheisse wrote: »

When Apu worked a 96 hour shift and thought he was a Hummingbird. Cut to the CCTV with a strange little Indian fellow buzzing around the shop at high speed humming whilst flapping his arms.

The Simpsons died when that kind of unspeakable, obscure unexplainable humour stopped.

Even cutting to the CCTV to show how he behaved was goddamn genius!

Homer with the camera in his hat, and Apu asks him if there is a bee in it. Homer freaks out and smashes it on the ground and runs away.

A another similar incident was when Marge became addicted to gambling and was out of the house for along time. Lisa comes running into Homer's bedroom and ask about the Boogeyman. Homer freaks out again and goes running into Bart and says "I think there maybe a boogeyman or boogeymen in the house. Then Marge finally comes home to find Homer(with a shotgun), Lisa and Bart hiding behind a turned over couch.

Cosmicfox · 07-11-2014 1:56am

I loved that brewery bit, had forgotten all about it til just there.

I'm being generous but I think it was still good til about 2005 and still occasionally has it's moments.

Squeedily Spooch · 07-11-2014 3:08am

BetterThanThou wrote: »

Really think this is just a case of nostalgia goggles, or simply different generations having conflicting views. I'm 17, I've been a massive fan of The Simpsons for as long as I can remember. I'm damn near sure I've watched every episode, probably multiple times at this point. But personally, I enjoy the newer episodes and I think The Simpsons as good as it's ever been. It's probably a bit "cleaner" and "politically correct" than it used to be, but The Simpsons was hardly an "edgy" show to begin with, so the small bit of controversial comedy that would occasionally show up is hardly something to miss. Although, it has been running for something like 24/25 seasons, without changing that much, any show that runs for that long is bound to become boring to all but the absolute biggest fans. However, it still has a great fanbase, I don't see why The Simpsons should be cancelled, not in the foreseeable future anyway.

It's changed a ridiculous amount, to say otherwise is silly. The overwhelming consensus among anyone I know who has been watching it since the beginning (longer than you've been alive) is that it's a shadow of it's former self. I can still watch an episode from the early seasons and laugh, some of the newer ones from the alst five years or so I wouldn't even giggle at, it's just not as funny anymore. It's also trying too hard to be funny when it was so effortless in the old episodes.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 07-11-2014 4:06am

I was trying to figure out the worst ever Simpsons moment and I suddenly realised that nothing could sink below the Ke$ha intro they once had.

rawn · 07-11-2014 8:13am

HerrScheisse wrote: »

When Apu worked a 96 hour shift and thought he was a Hummingbird. Cut to the CCTV with a strange little Indian fellow buzzing around the shop at high speed humming whilst flapping his arms.

The Simpsons died when that kind of unspeakable, obscure unexplainable humour stopped.

Even cutting to the CCTV to show how he behaved was goddamn genius!

I love that part!! EeeeeEEeeeeeEeeee

cloud493 · 07-11-2014 8:22am

No no. Worst bits of the simpsons is anything in london, and the whole lady gaga episode.

Rawr · 07-11-2014 8:29am

For me it has felt like a lot of the more recent episodes are ok, but mostly 'meh'...very very 'meh'. Which is ironic because the Simpsons is where I got that word/disinterested-noise from.

I've sensed an attempt to return to the comedy of the earlier seasons, but regardless of writing the over delivery of the show is far too polished, sterile, and....meh.

I'll often spot a joke that know was probably meant to be funny in a classic Simpson way; which ends up ultimately defeated by bad timing, flat voice acting and soulless HD animation.

My primary grip with the Simpsons however, is and always has been Celeb Cameos.

Back in the day, this wasn't such a bad thing and was often quite clever and funny whenever used. However a clear comparison between old vs new cameo has to be the appearances of: Mike Sciosia.

In Season 3's 'Homer at the Bat' Sciosia was hired in with other pro softball players as ringers for the Nuclear Plant's team. The whole episode was full of cameos, and yet it managed to keep the story focused on Homer, fully explained the presence of all the cameos and even gave them hilarious fates, such as Sciosia's radiation sickness, and of course Ken Griffy's grotesquly swollen jaw.

Sciosia reappears in Season 22's "MoneyBart". He just suddenly pops up out of the ether onto a rollercoaster car behind Bart and Marge for no good reason what-so-ever. He drops some irrelevant lines to Bart (some form of advice..really don't care or remember) and waves off the reference to his previous appearance. And then he's gone. No 'comedy', no value, just a worthless name drop for the sake of it.

That is my main beef with later cameos in the Simpsons. Worthless name-dropping for the pure sake of having the cameo there, very often at the expense of the episode. You can imagine what I think of the Lady Gaga episode.....jebus...

Honestly, it really feels like it's time to give it a rest. Espeically after watching what has been coming out this season. Lackluster and very very tired...

cloud493 · 07-11-2014 8:52am

I looked at the episode summaries for season 25 on wikipedia, and nearly every episode has a 'celebrity' cameo, some more than one. Theres no need for it.

Saipanne · 07-11-2014 8:56am

Not one good episode in the 21st century.

Also, it's been bad way longer than its been good. It's legacy is ruined.

WesternZulu · 07-11-2014 9:13am

The humour in the earlier ones was far more subtle and far better than the 'wacky' humour that they pass off now.

One of my favourite episodes is the Bleeding Gums Murphy:

“But then I spent all my money on my fifteen-hundred-dollar a day habit

. . . . I’d like another Faberge egg, please.” – Bleed Gums Murphy

“Sir, don’t you think you've had enough?” – Faberge Salesman

“I’ll tell you when I've had enough!” – Bleeding Gums Murphy

Heisenberg1 · 07-11-2014 9:16am

Franticfrank wrote: »

Without a shadow of a doubt, it was when Phil Hartman died. Without Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure is went on a quick downward spiral.

"Apu, Mrs. Simpson claims that she *forgot* that bottle of... delicious... bourbon. Brownest of the brown liquors... so tempting.
[holds the bottle to his ear]

What's that? You want me to drink you? But I'm in the middle of a trial!"
[puts it down]

So the last episode with Lionel Hutz in my opinion, where he was an estate agent. Bad enough as that was, everything afterwards was a whole lot worse.

In fact I'm not even wearing a tie at all.

jebuz · 07-11-2014 9:17am

The "Tomacco" episode, it had its moments but was clinging on for dear life and I knew it was starting to head in the wrong direction. Lucky for me I had already settled down with my favourite episode, the one with the Movementarians - na na na na na na na na Leader! I have the boxsets from the early seasons which peaked IMO around season 7/8. Since they don't really show the old ones on the telly anymore, there's nothing better than sitting down with a cold one and throwing on an episode for old times sake.

Heisenberg1 · 07-11-2014 9:18am

For me season 8 and 9 the Simpson's were at there peak after that I didn't bother.

When did the Simpsons stop being good?

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