Should the Simpsons end?

Cafe Society
21

I’ve pretended that the show hasn’t existed for about a decade.

The Simpsons was my #1 favorite show of the 90s. Seasons 1-8 were some of the best TV ever created (ESPECIALLY seasons 4-6), and then Matt left to make Futurama, which was also some great TV, and the people left behind ruined the show, and it never recovered. The movie blew too.

The main reason, IMO, that the show got so bad is because the powers that be (cough Mike Scully) took the show in a new direction, a very BAD direction - Homer became JERKASS Homer, a guy who cares about nobody but himself (a Peter Griffin lite) which was taken to the extreme limit in that episode with the perfect bowling game, and who needs to find a new job every week. Bart went from being the show’s smartass kid/co-star, to being the Boo-boo to Homer’s Yogi Bear, and an actual VOICE OF REASON to him when Homer tried to start up new schemes (the grease episode comes to mind). Marge…she was ruined the most. She can’t even open her mouth without making me want to cringe (“I make 2 practice dinners every night, because at 6:30 WE GO LIVE!”). Lisa…well, she was always a character with a cause, but that’s pretty much the sole purpose she exists now. Even Maggie can be annoying whenever they use her.

What’s even worse is the new attitude towards celebrity guests. While in the golden age, celebrities usually would play a fictional guest character, sometimes playing it so well that you didn’t even realize it was them until the credits. When celebs DID appear as themself, they had a good reason for being there. Now, almost every celebrity plays themself, and are in Springfield for NO REASON AT ALL except to be on the show. What’s even worse, the writers realize that their current audience are idiots, so they have to EXPLAIN on the show who they are (“David Bryne! Composer, producer, Talking Head…”). Marc Mcgwire was the all time low in guest voices.

Now, as for plot. They’re even recycling plotlines, and they have maybe 5 original ideas per season. What’s really missing is the actual FUNNY humor. Take ANY episode from season 5 and it has enough crazy (but not unrealistic) humor in the show that even a weak plot will still make a strong episode. I don’t know the best way to describe it, but over the last 10 seasons or show, it just simply hasn’t been funny. Maybe it’s funny to people in the generation after mine, and maybe I’m just too old to appreciate it (there must be staff writers who are younger than me now). But no, the show just blows, and I think the only reason it keeps getting renewed is because there’s enough of an idiot audience out there to keep it profitable for FOX.

Disclaimer - this is coming from someone who eventually watched all of the episodes up through season 16. Most, but not all, episodes past season 16 I have not seen, but I’ve still kept up, at least somewhat, on what’s been happening with the show since then. So no, I’m by no means an expert on what the last 5 seasons have been line.

22

I haven’t watched The Simpsons in years and those newer ones that I did catch weren’t so hot. However, I would NOT like to see the show canceled, at least not until it becomes physically impossible for the cast to do the voices. The main reason for my saying that is because The Simpsons has become so iconic, so ingrained in American society, that I really can’t imagine a world without The Simpsons. Even though I haven’t watched it in forever I still know it’s there and that makes me feel…I guess…secure, or something.

23

This is how I feel. Unless cancelling The Simpsons means more resources put into Futurama.

24

Some people take TV way too seriously.

It’s just a show. It happens to be one of my favorites, but still, it’s just a show. I don’t know that people will still be watching in 20 years. Probably will, but how about 50? Probably not.

The option I would’ve voted for was “No, so long as it’s profitable.”

25

It’s been in a seriously honest-to-god decent run lately.

26

Haven’t watched new episodes in quite a while, probably three or four years, so I wouldn’t mind if it ended with a real bang. But I don’t really care that it continues. Presumably it has the ratings for it.

27

Also, I think the death of Phil Hartman played a big part in the decline of quality. I have a feeling he had a lot more going on behind the scenes than just voicing characters, and his loss really affected the production staff. Damn you Andy Dick!

28

I completely agree with this. I gave up on the show in the early 2000s and stopped watching new episodes for a few years. But when I started watching again, I figured out that it had become pretty good, actually. It’s different from what it was in the 90s, that’s for sure, but definitely worthwhile. The main problem now is that the writers have tackled so many different issues, and some repeatedly (marital difficulties is a good example of this) that it’s very difficult for them to be original.

29

Hmmm…a bit of a quandary. I don’t actually watch The Simpsons anymore, and haven’t in years. Therefore, I really shouldn’t have a say in if it gets canceled or not.

But by definition, the people who would be the best judge of it’s value are the ones who watch it quite a bit. And you’d assume that, if they choose to watch it all the time, they’d want it to stay on the air. Otherwise, they wouldn’t watch it at all…in which case, they don’t have any business in deciding if they should cancel it or not…

I guess what I come away with is a) the only people/fans who’d have a legitimate reason to want to cancel it are the ones who always watch it, but still hate it, and b) time for Ran to go to bed. I sleep now.

30

It’s not nearly as good as it once in the prime years. But, it is still better than it was a few years ago. I am glad it is still on the air. As long as the actors are willing to keep with it, I don’t mind the show being on tv.

31

Do what I did. Check out the last 5 episodes on Hulu and vote. Foe me it was 1 decent and 4 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

32

Jeebus, people, it’s a cartoon. Lighten up. The Simpsons & SNL are an interchangeable SDMB meme now - “They were great x years ago” “I quit watching in xxxx” “rehashing old eps/skits”. The singular house has watched and enjoyed both since the first episode, & we are looking forward to many more years of entertainment. Yeah, there are occasional clunkers, but we’ll be right there for the next new episode or rerun.

33

Yes, they should quit.

It was really a satire of the early 90’s(90-95) or so. I don’t think it vibes with current culture.

34

I think I’ve read that Groening considers these seasons among his favorites- he thinks the show is still incredibly fresh and relevant. I don’t understand that. The show is far beyond its prime. I don’t know anyone who still watches it. The show just isn’t funny anymore.

35

My kids love it… so its funny… when they were little we wouldn’t let them watch… now they just crack up and think its hillarious. Recently i guess Lisa sang that godawful “Tik Tok” song by that Kesha girl? My daughter is still laughing… Perhaps a younger audience just moves right on in… I’m comfortable with the idea that you can outgrow a show and a newer younger group can still enjoy it.

36

It’s one of the few shows that both my 11-year-old daughter and I like. My partner, too, and her parents, and younger nieces and nephews. That makes it very handy for when you all want to chill out and watch TV. Family Guy definitely doesn’t have that characteristic!

I find it hard to keep track of which season I’m watching (I’m sure there’s some order to the way Sky1 shows them, but it’s not immediately obvious - they show four episodes in a row and I’m sure they’re all from different years), but I’m fairly sure some of them are the most recent season; the only really weak episodes are the very early ones.

37

I’m a bit torn, actually. If I had been asked the same question in say, 2003, then I probably would have been all for a definite ending. Now, like some have pointed out, it seems like the show has gone on long enough that it might as well continue. That said, even when I watch good, new Simpsons episodes I still find myself a bit disappointed because it isn’t the Simpsons of the 90’s. Classic Simpsons episodes have so much heart and soul beside the clever jokes.

I will try to give the latest season an honest chance.

38

It’s just not very funny anymore. I watched it tonight (for the first time in months) and I hardly laughed at all.

39

I did.

And, I was saying “Boo-urns.”