# Will someone please put The Simpsons series out of its misery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150 "2007-01-08T15:28:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Valteron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f17d59/32.png) [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/1 "2007-01-08T15:28:46Z")
Let me preface my remarks by saying that I am one of the greatest Simpsons fans on Earth! My spouse and I are constantly quoting their funny lines and doing imitations of the funnier characyers like Patti and Selma. I swear I must watch about 5 or 10 of their reruns a week. But last night I watched a new episode, the one where the Simpsons go to Barnacle Beach where Marge spent her happiest vacations as a child, and Homer goes out on a fishing boat and gets caught in the perfect storm. PEEEEE—YOOOOO! I hate to say this about the longest-running comedy in TV history, but enough is enough. They have lost their edge, they have lost the je-ne-sais-quoi that made them such a success in the first place. The time has come to pull the plug and put them out of their misery. Everything has a beginning, a middle and an end, and the Simpsons have had it. In fact, they probably should not have undertaken the present season. Does anybody else agree? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/2 "2007-01-08T15:33:34Z")
Agreed. I’ve been collecting the DVD sets, but plan to stop at around Season 10. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/3 "2007-01-08T15:37:41Z")
While I don’t think that this season is up to the quality of the first 8 or so seasons (but then, what is), this season has been the best since the series hit double digits. Last night’s episode made me laugh quite a bit, and it had a decent story. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/4 "2007-01-08T15:40:49Z")
Agreed with the OP. It’s become embarrassing. Just stop. Watching the Simpsons on the same night as Family Guy just makes it even worse. It’s so badly outclassed, I actually feel bad watching it. It’s like watching an aging boxer get beaten by a younger stronger fighter. Again and again. Week after week. Enough. Retire, already! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/5 "2007-01-08T15:45:00Z")
[QUOTE=Valteron] Does anybody else agree? [/QUOTE] No, nobody else agrees. There’s simply no way you’ll ever find anybody willing to complain about the Simpsons on an internet message board. Wish I’d been the first post. Anyway I thought this episode was one of the better ones this season and I liked it. Even the lamer episodes are generally not really bad enough to inspire the “why won’t they end the show?” threads. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/6 "2007-01-08T15:58:28Z")
_Family Guy_ blows too-I haven’t watched it in awhile and was amazed (not shocked, takes a lot to offend me) at the raunchy humor I saw last night. Problem is the raunchy humor is the point, and more subtle wit be damned. Just an endless exhibition of frat-level gags. _Simpsons_ has just become lame, even though they have their raunchy bits too. Far too often the humor is cringe-worthy not laugh-worthy. Can’t wait til _Futurama_ comes back, but I’m sure Groening and Co. will find a way to screw that series up too… ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/7 "2007-01-08T16:04:55Z")
They will cancel the Simpsons when ratings drop to the point where it ceases to make an acceptable profit, and not a moment before. It’s an animated show, so even the loss of a major actor wouldn’t necessarily be fatal. I don’t understand why people don’t get this. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/8 "2007-01-08T16:07:32Z")
These “_The Simpsons_ has lost it” threads just aren’t as good as they used to be. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/9 "2007-01-08T16:14:03Z")
Worst…thread…ever. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/10 "2007-01-08T16:20:54Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] These “_The Simpsons_ has lost it” threads just aren’t as good as they used to be. [/QUOTE] “This is the Worst Simpsons Sucks Thread Ever” The show is tired and aging, but I still find it better than Family Guy. The Simpsons usually only have a few good episodes per season, and I mainly watch it out of habit now. As far as Family Guy, they had a decent run when it first came back but he seems to have run out of ideas very quickly. I got tired of watching it and I do not have the habit of watching it. I also eagerly await the return of Futurama, I have much hope for it as it will be on Comedy channel that will promote it and not sabotage it the way Fox did. Jim ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/11 "2007-01-08T16:24:35Z")
I’ve heard they are making a Simpsons movie. This needs to be the end of the series and it probablt should have come like seven years ago. I doubt it will be the end though. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/12 "2007-01-08T16:26:22Z")
If only there was a way to not watch _The Simpsons_ if you don’t like it. Damn those FOX network executives with their guns at our heads. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/13 "2007-01-08T16:39:10Z")
[QUOTE=pool] I’ve heard they are making a Simpsons movie. This needs to be the end of the series and it probablt should have come like seven years ago. I doubt it will be the end though. [/QUOTE] The movie’s out July 27. It won’t be the end of the show. They have a contract through next year and are probably working on those episodes now. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/14 "2007-01-08T16:50:13Z")
It wasn’t great, but there’s nothing else like it on television. The ending was the worst part, kinda heavy-handed wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/15 "2007-01-08T17:10:40Z")
[QUOTE=Raygun99] While I don’t think that this season is up to the quality of the first 8 or so seasons (but then, what is), this season has been the best since the series hit double digits. Last night’s episode made me laugh quite a bit, and it had a decent story. [/QUOTE] I wish I had a snapshot of the internets from the time of season 8. I GUARANTEE there were just as many people complaining then about the show going down hill since season 4 as there are now about it gong downhill from season 8. I still think Homer is the funniest character on TV. He never fails to crack me up, every single week. ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/16 "2007-01-08T18:12:48Z")
You know, if you don’t watch _The Simpsons_, it’s like… the show is canceled… for you. Amazing, I know, but I promise you it’s true. And that way, those of us who like the show can continue to watch it, and those of you who don’t, can not. It’s the best of both worlds. And yet, for reasons I’ve never been able to understand, some people just don’t get that. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/17 "2007-01-08T18:13:14Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] Can’t wait til _Futurama_ comes back, but I’m sure Groening and Co. will find a way to screw that series up too… [/QUOTE] Whatever does or doesn’t happen, Matt Groening helped to produce two of the funniest sitcoms ever made. He deserves nothing but praise. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/18 "2007-01-08T18:30:25Z")
[QUOTE=Amok] And that way, those of us who like the show can continue to watch it, and those of you who don’t, can not. It’s the best of both worlds. And yet, for reasons I’ve never been able to understand, some people just don’t get that. [/QUOTE] I don’t know. Wanting a bad show to go off the air (and I like The Simpsons and don’t think it’s a bad show) makes sense. As long as The Simpsons is on at 8 pm on Sunday, some other show that might be better can’t be on at that time.So, you want bad shows off the air to free up room for good ones. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/19 "2007-01-08T18:45:46Z")
[QUOTE=Amok] You know, if you don’t watch _The Simpsons_, it’s like… the show is canceled… for you. Amazing, I know, but I promise you it’s true. And that way, those of us who like the show can continue to watch it, and those of you who don’t, can not. It’s the best of both worlds. And yet, for reasons I’ve never been able to understand, some people just don’t get that. [/QUOTE] You appeasionista. No! Make him watch! He must! He must! ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150/20 "2007-01-08T19:06:08Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] I don’t know. Wanting a bad show to go off the air (and I like The Simpsons and don’t think it’s a bad show) makes sense. As long as The Simpsons is on at 8 pm on Sunday, some other show that might be better can’t be on at that time.So, you want bad shows off the air to free up room for good ones. [/QUOTE] Well, it’s certainly true that current shows must die for new shows to live. And I’d rather it be shows that I don’t like and don’t watch ending, then shows that I do. But rooting for one specific show to end on the off chance that something new that I like better will come along to replace it in its time slot seems rather quixotic. I mean, what are the odds of that? I watch three shows on Fox: _Bones_, _The Simpsons_, and _Family Guy_. That means I don’t like and don’t watch (or never bothered to watch and am indifferent towards) _American Idol_ and all other Fox reality shows, _American Dad_, _24_, _House_, _Prison Break_, _The OC_, whatever new serieses this year Fox has that haven’t been canceled yet, and any and all Fox non-animated sitcoms. If one of those shows was canceled and a new show that I really liked came along to replace it, that’d be cool. But picking one of those shows and wishing it specifically would end in the hopes that it would free up a spot for a show I would really like seems pointless to me. And unless you like every show on Fox other than _The Simpsons_ (in which case I might have to question your sanity), I don’t see the point of starting a thread wishing for it specifically to end. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-someone-please-put-the-simpsons-series-out-of-its-misery/387150.md?page=2)