I know why I stopped Watching The Simpsons

[RandyS]

I got nothing, except that Bart should be 32 years old by now as well...

It probably won't be too long before a flashback episode that shows Marge and Homer meeting on Facebook...

--Justin

What was it Matt Groening and the writers said? The show has a "flexibile reality", or something along those lines.

 

[tomalak301]

Wow, is it STILL fashionable to bash "The Simpsons"? Easy solution, haters--just don't WATCH it. It'll ease your pain.

When was the last time I bashed The Simpsons? I only watched it last night because three actors from my favorite series were going to be on, and I don't think you read my last paragraph.

 

[Danny99]

I think what all of the FOX cartoons have forgotten is that a lesson is needed to be taught at the end of an episode.

Some of the best Simpsons and Family Guy were when they had a zany adventure, but the characters learned something.

Nowadays, those two, along with the Cleveland Show and American Dad think they can survive of being incredibly irreverent. It's comedy, but as Ralph Wiggum put it: "It's funny, but not ha, ha funny."

 

[Amaris]

I just watched it on Hulu. It felt like a very poor opening season episode, and that's a shame because I love the Simpsons. On the other hand, after watching Family Guy's opening season episode right after, Family Guy's was a lot more fun and engaging. I enjoyed it all the way through. The Simpsons episode I felt like stopping about 1/4 the way through.

 

[RandyS]

I also just saw the Hulu showing, and the episode was one of the more medicore for me. I didn't care for the band that Lisa hung around with, whoever the hell they were. I hated the rap music they played, and even spoke in.

Also, this episode was a rip-off of one they made a few years back, when the family sends Homer to some rock and roll fantasy camp after he bad-mouths the family. In this one, marge sends Lisa to these rapper guys after she bemoans being the middle child.

Too bad the Krusty story wasn't the focus of the episode. Oh well, there's always next week.

 

[Too Much Fun]

I watched a few minutes of this. It was awful. Remember when "The Simpsons" used to do a musical number and it was a beautifully animated awesome spectacle with clever lyrics and hilarious jokes? Like We put the "Spring" in Springfield, the monorail song, the Planet of the Apes musical, and Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart? Along with everything else, the music is also a shell of what it once was. The songs in this were just so flat and weak.

I used to think it was just the writing that had gone down, but the voice acting is really poor now too. Technically, the animation is better, but it looks too slick. I found the hand drawn look more charming. I want this show dead. I know Al Jean likes the job security, but hasn't everybody made enough money by now?

I watch this show for like 5 minutes maybe three times a year (okay, I watched the curling episode because I heard it was old school, but it wasn't very good either) and I still hate it. I just hope they end it after they reach the 25 year mark. Hit that final milestone and then put an end to this debacle. Seasons 3-8 put this crap to shame.

 

[Rett Mikhal]

The show has lost its context.

A classic episode of the Simpsons will have a story that goes somewhere, with jokes that are fast and smart. A classic episode can be quoted years later and still be funny.

A modern episode of the Simpsons puts the characters in stupid situations or with a stupid guest star that will quickly be forgotten about (like bands and sports stars), and then expects the audience to eat it up. Look, they're doing things! Things!

It's complete gibberish now. Classic moments like:

Marge: "At least I know Bart is wearing clean underwear..." (Zoom in from the air to the Simpson house, into Bart's room, onto his bed where a pair of underwear sits.)
Music: "DUN. DUN. DUUUUUUNNNNNN......"

Have been replaced with:

Bart: "Wow, you're Tony Hawk!"

Bart: "Wow, you're N'Sync!"

Bart: "Wow, you're Roger Clemens!"

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

It looks like I'm the only person on earth who actually enjoyed the episode! And, without exaggeration, it's probably the 12th episode I've watched in my life. The show has just never grabbed me for one reason or another.

So I was turning the TV on, it happened to be on this episode and Bret and Jemaine from Flight of the Conchords (one of my favourite shows ever!) were on. I was hooked right away.

Now the Krusty stuff, yeah, I zoned out for that, but Bret and Jemaine were awesome. Of the 12 episodes I've seen, it was probably my favourite!

 

[Amaris]

The show has lost its context.

A classic episode of the Simpsons will have a story that goes somewhere, with jokes that are fast and smart. A classic episode can be quoted years later and still be funny.

A modern episode of the Simpsons puts the characters in stupid situations or with a stupid guest star that will quickly be forgotten about (like bands and sports stars), and then expects the audience to eat it up. Look, they're doing things! Things!

It's complete gibberish now. Classic moments like:

Marge: "At least I know Bart is wearing clean underwear..." (Zoom in from the air to the Simpson house, into Bart's room, onto his bed where a pair of underwear sits.)
Music: "DUN. DUN. DUUUUUUNNNNNN......"

Have been replaced with:

Bart: "Wow, you're Tony Hawk!"

Bart: "Wow, you're N'Sync!"

Bart: "Wow, you're Roger Clemens!"

Agreed. I did have a glimmer of hope when in the last season episode "Rednecks and Broomsticks", Homer calls out "Oh, why do all my actions have consequences!?", which made me gut laugh for the first time since Season 12. Then, of course, that fizzled out.

 

[Argus Skyhawk]

And, without exaggeration, it's probably the 12th episode I've watched in my life. The show has just never grabbed me for one reason or another.

If most of the previous 11 episodes were from the past decade, that doesn't surprise me at all. If most of them were from the 90's, then, different strokes I guess.

 

[bigdaddy]

I find the last 2-3 seasons (post-movie) have been an improvement over most of the mid-decade seasons, with some episodes having a bit more humanity and hearkening back to the feel of the earlier seasons.

I agree, there are times in which it feels like it's good old self, and others where it should just die. I liked one episode from last season I think, that dealt with Lisa being picked on (I know, but still) and Bart had a separate story and so did Marge and Homer. It felt like a real sitcom with three good, heartfelt stories.

 

[Amaris]

I like the old days where the show would start out on one subject and less than 5 minutes in, be about something else completely. It does that from time to time now, but it's rare.

One of my favorite episodes has to be "Marge in Chains". It's just so quotable and so wonderful and fun. It is very unlikely to find any latter episode even approaching that level again.

[Marge walking through the aisle at the Kwik-E-Mart as the words of Lisa, Bart and Homer pass through her head]:

"Mom we need more O.J.!
Flintstones Chewable Morphine!
But I'll miss Sheriff Lobo!
O.J.! Morphine! Lobo!"


[Chief Wiggum calling into Marge after she's being arrested for shoplifting]:

Alright! Come out with your hands up, two cups of coffee, an air freshener with the word "Capricorn", and something with coconut on it."


Anyone can correct me if I missed something. It's been about 5 years since I last watched that episode. I can quote that, but I can't seem to recall any quotes from last night's episode that stand out. None.

 

[Tulin]

Why is Astroboy standing in Ten Forward?

 

[Amaris]

Why is Astroboy standing in Ten Forward?

He's not in Ten Forward. It's a clip from the movie.

 

[Mr Light]

I liked the season premiere. Substantial Conchords appearance, very very brief Glee cameo, and I found the song incredibly catchy! It was stuck in my head for the past couple days.

 

[siskokid888]

Even at their worst, The Simpsons are still better than 98% of everything else on.

This, definetly. After 20 some years, its not what it was, but I am still guaranteed two or three good laughs while watching an ep. There is no other show I can say that about.

 

[Too Much Fun]

Anyone can correct me if I missed something. It's been about 5 years since I last watched that episode. I can quote that, but I can't seem to recall any quotes from last night's episode that stand out. None.

Nice choice! That's one of my all time favourite underrated episodes. It also features Phil Hartman's finest performance as Lionel Hutz.

Lionel Hutz: "Now don't you worry, Mrs. Simpson, I... uh-oh. We've drawn Judge Snyder."
Marge: "Is that bad?"
Lionel Hutz: "Well, he's had it in for me ever since I kinda ran over his dog."
Marge: "You did?"
Lionel Hutz: "Well, replace the word "kinda" with the word "repeatedly," and the word "dog" with "son"."

There's also the bit with him forgetting and having to be reminded of the meaning of the words "lawyer" and "judge" (in the middle of a trial!) and in the middle of that same trial, needing an alcoholic intervention.

I seriously get more laughs when people online post quotes from old Simpsons episodes in threads than I ever could watching the actual show. I tire of this "even though it sucks, it's still better than 98% of what's on TV" argument. I should appreciate something that sucks, just because it sucks less than other things that suck?

 

[Corran Horn]

I usually enjoy it, but I had no idea who the two guys were supposed to be or why they were supposed to be funny (I don't watch their show) so I didn't 'get' that part. The Krusty stuff was amusing.

 

[Tulin]

Why is Astroboy standing in Ten Forward?

He's not in Ten Forward. It's a clip from the movie.

Yeah.

I got that.

I was just making a joke because every time I catch that av out of the corner of my eye I think it is Ten Forward.

 

[Amaris]

Anyone can correct me if I missed something. It's been about 5 years since I last watched that episode. I can quote that, but I can't seem to recall any quotes from last night's episode that stand out. None.

Nice choice! That's one of my all time favourite underrated episodes. It also features Phil Hartman's finest performance as Lionel Hutz.

Lionel Hutz: "Now don't you worry, Mrs. Simpson, I... uh-oh. We've drawn Judge Snyder."
Marge: "Is that bad?"
Lionel Hutz: "Well, he's had it in for me ever since I kinda ran over his dog."
Marge: "You did?"
Lionel Hutz: "Well, replace the word "kinda" with the word "repeatedly," and the word "dog" with "son"."

There's also the bit with him forgetting and having to be reminded of the meaning of the words "lawyer" and "judge" (in the middle of a trial!) and in the middle of that same trial, needing an alcoholic intervention.

I seriously get more laughs when people online post quotes from old Simpsons episodes in threads than I ever could watching the actual show. I tire of this "even though it sucks, it's still better than 98% of what's on TV" argument. I should appreciate something that sucks, just because it sucks less than other things that suck?

Hutz: "That's why you're the Judge and I'm the... law talkin' guy."
Snyder: "Lawyer."
Hutz: "Yeah."

Yeah.

I got that.

I was just making a joke because every time I catch that av out of the corner of my eye I think it is Ten Forward.

Ah, okay. Yeah, it does look like Ten Forward's behind him. It almost gives me an idea...