The Simpsons

[888888]

There's always jokes about Lenny having a liking for Carl. And Carl being self-liking.

NO. There were not always jokes about them liking each other, or whatever it is. This is a very recent and very unfunny phenomenon that the new writers... or should I say wrongers have made up. HAHA, did you see that, I'm good, I should write for the NEW Simpsons too!

I think the Lenny Carl suggestion is hilarious

If you like it, that's fine. But tell me, how big of a Simpsons fan do you consider yourself?

[Doramius]

I'm huge. And I think it's funny too. They don't go into too deep either. In fact they have spats where they don't like each other at times. One of my favorites is the race to the mountain Cabin when Homer gets paired with Mr. Burns. Carl's comment is classic.

[Guest]

There's always jokes about Lenny having a liking for Carl. And Carl being self-liking.

NO. There were not always jokes about them liking each other, or whatever it is. This is a very recent and very unfunny phenomenon that the new writers... or should I say wrongers have made up. HAHA, did you see that, I'm good, I should write for the NEW Simpsons too!

I think the Lenny Carl suggestion is hilarious

If you like it, that's fine. But tell me, how big of a Simpsons fan do you consider yourself?

One of the biggest!

[888888]

I'm huge. And I think it's funny too. They don't go into too deep either. In fact they have spats where they don't like each other at times. One of my favorites is the race to the mountain Cabin when Homer gets paired with Mr. Burns. Carl's comment is classic.

That was a good episode from the 8th season and what was going on there was entirely different from the weirdness of recent episodes.

Anyway Dr. Gee, I don't want to convince you of anything and I am glad that you are enjoying the new Simpsons. But since you consider yourself a hardcore fan, can you explain to me what you get out of the new Simpsons and how can you handle the way the characters have been handled (their personalities are now unrecognizable do to the writers' changing them around haphazardly for jokes in the later seasons).

Also, I found a story about the great Harry Shearer who apparently agrees with me about the Simpsons decline:

One of the lead actors on The Simpsons believes the hit TV cartoon is in a slump.
While the highly acclaimed fourth series is out on DVD here this week, Harry Shearer, who voices the likes of evil Mr Burns, thinks it has tailed off since the glory days of the early '90s.

In an exclusive interview with Teletext Total Entertainment he says: "I rate the last three seasons as among the worst, so Season 4 looks very good to me now." He admits he rarely watches old episodes as they outshine the undeveloped recent offerings. He explains: "It makes me sad. They used to have whole scenes."

If Derek Smalls thinks so, then it must be true!

[CoasterCreator]

888888 your pix , oh my Otto is that you ?

[888888]

888888 your pix , oh my Otto is that you ?

Nah, I'm Steve Harris from Iron Maiden but I hang out with Auto all the time. Or is that Otto? Eh, who knows.

[Guest]

8-dont get me wrong.I like the first seasons better.I'm just happy they are still going after 14 seasons. Even if they are not as good. Some ar ebetter than nutin'

[jimmalenko]

I think the older ones are better than the newer ones.

[888888]

8-dont get me wrong.I like the first seasons better.I'm just happy they are still going after 14 seasons. Even if they are not as good. Some ar ebetter than nutin'

Ya know, Back in 2000, a friend told me that there were rumors that the Simpsons were being cancelled. At the time, I already knew that the Simpsons weren't as good as they had been but I told my friend that I would rather the show still be around and not be that good than be cancelled.

My logic was that there is no harm in having a show stay around and that it may eventually get better.

Looking back, OH HOW WRONG I WAS. They should have cancelled it then and there.

The Simpsons have soiled their legacy IMO with their last four or so seasons of nonsense. I cannot wipe my memory of Marge becoming a body builder. I cannot wipe my memory of Bart and Nelson being in a boy band. I cannot wipe my memory of Homer insulting Jimi Page. And I cannot wipe my memory of all the pointless celebrity cameos. It's as if a person has been an ******* to you for five years, he just isn't the same in your eyes anymore.

What's more, they will NEVER get better. The show is ruined, if there is a movie, it will be godawful, and that is the end. A show cannot recover from such a nose dive. That means that they once again have to retool all the characters and we as viewers have to try to forget all the unusual and uncharacteristic things the characters have done.

P.S. Al Jean is a douche for letting this happen to the show, I would rather have Mike Scully!

[Rookie64]

ok maybe someone here can help me who is the gay ( dam typos ) person in the show ( other than the obvious ) of Mr Smithers..I heard of it but I was too busy to find out

Are you referring to the upcoming episode where they'll reveal that one of the longtime characters is gay and they'll have one of the first gay marrages performed on a TV series?

If so, the cat hasn't been let out of the bag. I think they want you to think it'll be Smithers...but will end up being Patty or Selma

Anyway, I haven't seen that show since the early '90s.

It was ok, but I don't stick with many shows after so long.

I'd take South Park over the Simpsons though - just my perference.

[zzyzzx]

I like the newer shows. They are more "out there" than the older ones. I read in a tabloid that the episode where there is a gay wedding is due to be aired in January.

Perhaps we should start (or resurrect?) that as a separate thread.

[888888]

Apparently not one person feels as strongly as I do about the Simpsons' decline. Oh well...

[Doramius]

There are points I agree with. They are going a little more wide open and expanding characters widely from what they initially were in early episodes. Homer is more free thinking and doesn't run the house as the head role model. Before he was tempered and fierce and thought of as the male monster controlling the family. That sounds bad, but the writers made it very funny. They over exaggerated it's reality. They still over exaggerate reality, but they spoof any and everything related to current events of or around that season. The first seasons nobody in the town had a great knowledge of the Simpsons. Now the whole town seems to depend on the Simpsons. You're right about the contrast.

However, people say the same thing about StarWars, StarTrek, Looney Tunes, and even South Park. THe new stuff just isn't as good as the old. Some people look too deep into it, while the creators are just trying to make something fun and enjoyable. Especially in the Simpsons, who really cares. Bugs Bunny episodes were never related or followed a main story in the old days. They just made the episodes for people to enjoy them.

[zzyzzx]

Apparently not one person feels as strongly as I do about the Simpsons' decline. Oh well...

I would call it a slump. And I'd also insist that the slump is over and the episodes are good again and have been so for at least a year.

More importantly, why do we have to wait until November for new episodes?

[CoasterCreator]

ok fans here is some interesting trivia for you Simpsons

[Doramius]

I know. I hate the season crap. Just play the damn shows. If it was played in 2003, It's the 2003 season. I simplified the whole system with just an easy to figure out organization. If the actors get a vacation, then they do reruns for a shorts period of time. 22 episodes are in a season. Let's whittle it down to the year. 52 weeks in a year. That leaves 30 weeks. subtract 10 for sports programs and other special events. Leaving 20. Subtract 10 for occasional movies that run across the timeslot leaving 10. Subtract 5 for early showtime premiers of other shows. that leaves 5 for reruns of the previous season. Sounds like what they do now. Why the heck don't they just organize it this way. I could care less If the new Malcolm in the Middle season starts when the school year starts.

[zzyzzx]

The episode about gay marriage is going to be on this Sunday.... Must be ratings sweeps week..

[doppletwo]

I watched the first two seasons on DVD recently.

They did not age well. Probably because at the time those episodes were edgy, but compared to what's on TV now those seasons are not.

The last few seasons there has been a slighty decline, but it is still a great show.

[Ma_Jie]

The Simpsons is great...I can quote lines from it I've watched it so much.

Some of the newer eps aren't quite as good, but still solid.

- MJ

[Conquest10]

The first two season weren't all that great. It was trying to get its groove. But seasons 3 on are gold. They don't age well and its funny hearing the commentary on that. Especially when Lisa and Bart were arguing wether to name the new baby Ariel or Kool Moe Dee Simpson.

[zzyzzx]

I watched the first two seasons on DVD recently.

They did not age well. Probably because at the time those episodes were edgy, but compared to what's on TV now those seasons are not.

I would say the same thing about South Park. I can't even watch the first 2 seasons of either show any more! Still love both shows though.

[Faustus]

I think about season 4 or 5 is when the simpsons really hit their stride. Now don't take that to mean that nothing before then was good because there is some great stuff in there.

However the last few seasons have not been as good. when trying to put my finger on it I figured out that every outragous moment feels forced. The writing has not much life left in it.


southpark on the other hand is still going strong

[doppletwo]

Yeah the last season of South Park was the best, I think.

The Special Olympics, You got Served, Rich Stupid Slut Party and many others.

I think South Park had to step up their game, because Dave Chappelle is now the network's golden goose.

Chappelle broke a lot or their cable and Comedy Central records.

Man I love Chappelle.

"I'm going from ashy to classy. Marcy, son"

[Tool Man]

They should can the Simpsons, and bring back Futurama......

[Doramius]

Futurama is still going with new episodes. They haven't cancelled it yet. They just aren't showing it on FOX.

[Conquest10]

What new episodes?

[Doramius]

Check out their site online. It'll tell you EVERYTHING, plus more than you ever wanted to know about Futurama.

[Darth Paris]

Older episodes were great. I can't stand to watch the show anymore. It is just one excuse after another to have a celebrity on the show. It seems to be just a waste of time.

[pyrate83]

Well just watched the Simpsons episode where one of them comes out. It wasn't Milhouse, Lenny/Karl, or Flanders like everyone had been guessing. It was one of Marges sisters in fact. I was a bit surprised and apparently this episode is taking a lot of heat in the media due to the whole gay marriage thing.

[Ma_Jie]

I just saw it too...it was one of the "Gruesome Twosome" (not hard to guess which one)

- MJ