Heaving a sigh that makes even the Comic Book Guy seem cheerful, I am forced to admit what's been clear for quite a while now: It's time for The Simpsons to call it quits.
What was once TV's funniest and most intelligent show has completed its slow slide into a crass, unfunny embarrassment, with each new episode only tarnishing its once golden image. There was a time when I would have been all gloyven at the prospect of an episode featuring Professor Frink, but when I learned about the premise of Sunday's show, my first thought was, "How are they going to ruin this character, too?"
The episode turned out to be a tepid rip-off of a gem from the sixth season in which we flash forward to Lisa's wedding in the year 2010. A device that originally showcased the writers' creativity serves, ten years later, only to emphasize its decay. I'm sure that I was not alone in wishing that they had devoted the entire half-hour to "Vice President Cletus." (They should really consider doing a Cletus and Brandine spin-off, especially since their real-life versions have a reality series beginning in less than a month.)
I guess Harvard ain't what it used to be. Like the august university that still supplies many Simpsons writers, the show is both complacent and condescending; so content in being an institution that it lacks the capacity to show that it still deserves to be.
It's hard to pinpoint when the show began its decline, but I turned in my alt.nerd.obsessive credentials as soon as I stopped religiously taping every episode in the late 90s. To my mind, the last truly outstanding Simpsons episode was "Behind the Laughter," which aired in May, 2000. There have been plenty of decent episodes since, but a new Simpsons aesthetic was slowly taking over.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - visualsimplicity
I always thought the Simpsons began its fall when Futurama was created (if I'm correct, most of the original writers of the Simpsons started writing for Futurama). Futurama was brilliant, but for some reason it never caught on. When Futurama was cancelled, I was hoping the writers of Futurama would head back to the Simpsons and revive it, but apparently that didn't happen. Sad. I haven't watched Simpsons regularly in years.
2 - jadester
i hope they're crapolarising The Simpsons as revenge for Fox cancelling Futurama back in the day...
3 - Chris Beaumont
SImpsons really has been going downhill for the past number of years. I too think it is time for it to go away.
Also, Fox didn't do Futurama any favors. SUnday at 7, great slot, prime time to be preempted by football. ANd somehow KotH remains.....
4 - Matt Paprocki
That was one hell of a well written review. Great job.
I still laugh at the Simpsons, even if it's nowhere near what it was. This weeks was mildly amusing (Professor Fink hangining himself), but definitely just a rehash of one of my favorite episodes.
I haven't really noticed the violence increases though.
5 - Al Barger
The Simpsons are still operating somewhere near their creative peak. Your active criticism here was really only of one episode, the Frink piece. It seems a bit unreasonable to want to kill a show spanning three decades because of ONE somewhat marginal episode.
The Simpsons real problem is simply familiarity. It's going to be nearly impossible to seriously shock or surprise us at this point. What? The Simpsons put out a brilliant satire for the ages again this week?
6 - Eric Berlin
Al - I agree with you. I watched The Simpson's this week -- my first non-repeat viewing in years. I thought it was brilliant, subversive, and funny as hell. I would love to see a whole new series of The Simpsons with Bart and Lisa in college.
7 - Pete Blackwell
Al, It looks like you didn't read too carefully. I clearly say that I have had a problem with the Simpsons for several years now so my complaint is obviously not based on one episode. Once upon a time, every show was great. Now we're lucky if there's one or two a season. I'm specifically commenting on last Sunday's show because, well, it was just on last Sunday.
8 - Maurice
I still watch them every week and am willing to forgive a few weak episodes.
Long live Homer J Simpson!
9 - Mat
Used to be every episode was dead funny. Then it go to where one in every few was not funny. Then the ratio went to 3 funny episodes to 1 unfunny one. Right around the Behind the Laughter episode I was clocking it at 1:1. Last time I cared you got one funny episode out of about every three. The last few seasons I got pretty sloppy with watching them, and I haven't seen a single one of the most current season. But I keep watching my dvds of the first four seasons over and over again.
10 - ZMethos
I haven't enjoyed this season (in fact, I've missed many episodes because I've ceased to care), and I didn't enjoy last season or the season before it much, either. "The Simpsons" is just not funny anymore; it's getting stale. They need to change some of the basic relationships between the main characters to get fresh again--maybe the kids should start growing up.
11 - Homer J Fong
Heh, the new episode this post refers to is actually the best of the current Season. Pretty much every other episode has sucked.
12 - ClubhouseCancer
I too thought this week's "future" episode was crap. Not as poor as the one a few weeks ago in which Bart rapped (the one ubiquitous pop-culture subject that the show has never really effectively skewered is hip-hop, despite several attempts over the years).
I myself believe that the show has declined, as it has relied far too often in the past three or four years one plot engine: Homer does soemthing stupid. As the reviewer succintly points out, it is less funny if Homer's got no dignity.
I share his fears that it will get worse, not better, but I don't completely rule out a rebirth. If they never make another good episode, however, it's still possibly the best thing that's ever been on TV. And no matter how bad it gets, I will still be sad when we all have to say "smell you later."
13 - Aaman
The New York Times writers seem to have been thinking along the lines of the poster, asking the question "Will the Simpsons Ever Age?"
14 - dantheman
The show is indeed circling the drain, although I too am praying for some sort of rise in quality. But with only 4 Seasons untill the show hits its landmark 20 Seasons and rumours of a Simpsons movie becoming more and more credible, it should be noted that Matt said that the movie will be done after the show ends, then I am not holding my breath.
15 - Shark
I'm with you Pete Blackwell; IMO, the show has been jumping the shark for at least a season or two -- and I'd rather see it die a quick death with dignity -- rather than to linger on as an unfunny shadow of its former self.
Pull the feeding tube and hand me that early rerun!
16 - jadester
it's merely "quite good" now, as opposed to "great". Admittedly, i'm talking about British terrestrial TV, which is still several seasons behind Sky, i believe (though thanks to the evils of P2P filesharing, i have seen one or two of the more current episodes)
And, at least to myself, being a big fan, it's noticeable that the episodes seem to rely more and more on being "controversial" simply for the sake of it, rather than to actually provide intelligent humour.
Perhaps it's a case of them having to succumb more to the lowest common denominator - as the popularity of The Simpsons rises (is it still rising? i'm guessing here, natch) they have to be more careful not to "turn off" those who don't want to have to think to get their laughs.
And i do think Family Guy had the balance better pegged. Can't wait to see the new series (hopefully it hasn't been butchered) - unfortunately, not having sky or cable TV, I inevitably WILL have to wait.
17 - Ronald C McKito
Well the simpsons will come to and end, but before it has 366 episodes, as it is Matt's goal to have a show for everyday of the year including leap year. Not to mention they are currentyl filming Simpsons the movie, and we all know what happens usually after that to a show.
18 - Trent
Live From Springfield: The Simpsons Musical Guests
Over the years television’s The Simpsons has featured numerous musical guests who contributed their voices and either played the role of themselves or as fictional characters. Music has always been a huge element of the show, be it in the form of musical guests or a hit CD (remember “The Simpsons Sing the Blues”) or as one of the show’s ever-common musical numbers (“See my vest, made from real gorilla chest…”)
Some notable musical guests that have made appearances over the show’s 17 year existence include 50 Cent, Paul Anka, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Johnny Cash, Blink-182, NSYNC, Linda Ronstadt, The Who, James Taylor, Britney Spears, Phish, Tom Petty, The Ramones, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson among others. Though entertaining at times, some claim the show’s use of celebrity guests takes away from the shows original intention on focusing on humour that is more realistic and character-driven.
“The Simpsons no longer marks the elevation of the sitcom formula to its highest form,” wrote columnist Chris Suellentrop in a 2003 article titled “Who turned America's best TV show into a cartoon?”
“These days it’s closer to ‘It's Garry Shandling's Show’"a very good, self-conscious parody of a sitcom (and itself),” he added.
Even Simpson’s writer Mike Reiss let his feelings be known about the shows direction when he admitted to the New York Times a few years ago that “much of the humanity has leached out of the show over the years. … It hurts to watch it, even if I helped do it.”
All arguments aside about the shows quality and celebrity guest parade, the Simpsons has featured some highly memorable musical artists. The first being Aerosmith’s guest appearance in season three in the “Flaming Moe” episode where the band performed at Moe’s tavern and were eventually crushed from a falling Homer who was parodying the Phantom of the Opera in the ceiling rafters.
Another humorous guest appearance was when former Police frontman Sting takes part in the “Sending Our Love Down the Well” benefit. With the help of Krusty, Sting writes the “We Are the World” parody and gets involved in the actual rescue of Bart.
Darrell Jones of the Simpsons Archive revealed a few of his favourite musical guests in a recent e-mail. “I liked Sting in Season 3. “Best musical performances, for my money, include Aerosmith in Season 3, Cypress Hill with the London Symphony Orchestra in Season 7, and U2 in Season 9.”
Many credit the U2 and the Lollapalooza episodes as the greatest episodes featuring musical guests. Each have become classics that still offer, even years after there initial debut, hilarious laughs for viewers.
“My favourite musical guests - well definitely my favourite guest had to be Bono and the Edge (of U2) when Homer was the waste manager,” said Simpsons super fan Rob Gettman from Australia. “The episode was epic and who wouldn’t like seeing Homer get beat to ‘Pride in the name of love’.”
Regardless of preference, the show’s ability to remain a vital element of pop culture and a source of satirical social commentary can never be questioned. And it’s these qualities that still entice musicians and celebrities too appear on the show. Heavy metal legends Metallica are going to be the latest prominent guests to appear on the show when they make their debut in an episode slated to air in the spring 2006. The band was in the studio this past September to record their voices for the upcoming episode.
Now that the show has been renewed for a twentieth season and a movie possibly expected by the summer of 2008, The Simpsons will for surly continue to feature celebrity guests, which pleases fans, that despite the criticims, are happy the show will continue to be a part of their lives for a little bit longer.
“The Simpsons have lasted so long because the writers have allowed for the show to progress especially with its characters,” explained fan Rob Gettman. “For example, with Lisa she is no longer the brainy nerd she always was and now she is involved with mischief in certain situations.”
“Most of the musical guests have been memorable,” Gettman said. “Everyone has there preferred characters and whoever’s been the funniest guest is debatable but each of them signify not only a time period of the Simpson television show, but an era in real life as well.”
Trent McMartin
19 - Wayne Foster
This info is subjective to personal opinoin. If people stop watching a show then they miss watching episodes that would likely been just the kind of stuff they liike in a show. The less people who watch the less the ratings. Not every episode is gonna be liked by every one. If you give up on a show because you don't like what you see it's not surprising if the quality drops or the show gets canceled. Not every show can maintain the same quality for the whole time of it's running. Plus not everyone like the same thing. If they did this show and many many others probably wouldn't have come into existanse anyway. Every one is entitled to their own opionion and that is mine. I have not liked ever episone but there has never been A show that I can recall where I liked all I saw.
Quote: Bart Simpson "Lisa is a nut. She has a rubber butt. Every time she turns around it goes putt putt." From the musical episode 'The President Wore Pearls'
20 - Steve
"I haven't enjoyed this season (in fact, I've missed many episodes because I've ceased to care), and I didn't enjoy last season or the season before it much, either. "The Simpsons" is just not funny anymore; it's getting stale. They need to change some of the basic relationships between the main characters to get fresh again--maybe the kids should start growing up."
I'm with you there, I stopped watching the show like 5 years years ago for many of the reasons you have listed. I think it's time we saw Bart and Lisa in their teen years and Maggie actually talking. Let me expand on a few things here as to how ridiculous it is that everyone has been the same age since the show began.
Homer and Marge graduted high school in 1974, Lisa was born during the 1984 summer games and Bart is supposed to be 2 years older right. So that would mean he was born in 1981 or 1982 and Maggie was born in 1989 or 1990. That would mean that Homer and Marge are in their Early 50's, Bart is 25, Lisa is 23 and Maggie is about 17. That is if they stayed consistent with the timeline of the first few seasons.
We all saw episodes where you'd see flashes of them in high school or Lisa in College. I say let's see the dynamics change with Bart in his Jr year and Lisa in her Freshman year of high school. How Marge and Homer react with the boys Lisa would be dating or Bart learning how to drive(legally). Maggie contributing dialog and she how she adapts to life of going to school and dealing teachers and classmates.
That's just a small sample of what direction could be used to revive a dying franchise that's dying a stale and painful death. Reading Mr. Groening's comments, he unfortunately has no plans to do so citing "Bart and Lisa will remain forever youthful" and "Too many shows died off when the characters became too old for show continue on".
They're is an old saying of how you have to move forward to stay on top, and the show is moving nowhere with characters staying in their present positions. They need to move ahead with character progression of ages and stages of life. The Simpsons are stale and need new life and I can't think of better way to get it.
21 - Bill
I'm with you dogg, this show is stagnant and on borrowed time. Mr.Groening...do us all a favor and either allow the characters to start aging and freshen the show up or just pull the plug and let it go. Your choice...
22 - Norm
After watching the Simpsons movie.. I feel the same way, and it's confirmed how I felt for some time. I've stopped watching the simpsons. It's been two weeks and oddly enough.. I don't miss it.
23 - me
die simpsons
24 - look
the simpsons started to go down ever since season 11 with it losing it smart imagination since then there have been some great episodes but not as many and recantly have gone flat and unfunny. I thunk they shoild fast foward it 15 years so we can see bart age 25 lisa 23 and maggie 17 so we can see how they are different and put in now and again more heart warming episodes
25 - look
the simpsons started to go down ever since season 11 with it losing it smart imagination since then there have been some great episodes but not as many and recantly have gone flat and unfunny. I think they should fast foward it 15 years so we can see homer and marge 54 bart age 25 lisa 23 and maggie 17 so we can see how they are different beeing older and put in now and again more heart warming episodes