An article by QCS managing editor Chris Schmaedeke, and I find he makes some good points, personally I find Simpsons stopped being funny the season after 'Maggie Shot Mr. Burns' and that was ages ago, season 8 or 9? I kept watching it regularly up until a couple years ago, I just can't seem to hold on to it. When something as simple as Family Guy and American Dad can actually hold a story together in a better and more consistent way than The Simpsons, you have to wonder, where are all the those good writers? I've never watched the Cleveland Show, but I have to admit the writing for American Dad after the first season got really solid. Either way, I'm looking forward to the 450th episode special airing tonight.
It seems like just yesterday I was discussing with some animators the fact that their 10th season was starting up. I think Simpsons have reached an untouchable level, the fact they've survived 20 years and become the pop culture icons that they are, makes them capable of doing ANYTHING on television, the writing and characters could degrade to nothing, the stories could get sooooo bad that it still wouldn't matter. It's "the Simpson", therefore it's OK, they can do whatever they want now, they deserve it.
The show can get so intolerably bad that it's actually funny. The writing and stories can become so awful to the point where that IS what makes the show funny. We can get tired of the characters or the lack of plot for every episode, but it really doesn't matter, they're The Simpsons, and whatever they do, people will like it enough to keep the show going.
Read the article:
When one of your favorite TV shows of all time is preparing to celebrate its 20th anniversary you should be thrilled and excited. Any show that can last that many years still has to make people laugh, right?
Not necessarily. I’m trying to figure out when “The Simpsons” stopped being funny.
As I watch Fox’s Sunday night “Animation Domination,” I realize “The Simpsons” are the least funny show in the lineup. All the others really outshine the once-dominant animated comedy. And with the football regular season coming to a close, people will be looking for other things to watch on a Sunday night.
Now I have been a fan of the show since the day my parents were watching the “Tracey Ullman Show” and I saw this cartoon premiere on it. I own the first 10 seasons on DVD and when I get bored I have no problem putting a season in and watching the whole thing in an afternoon.
The show used to be that good. Now not so much.
The show seems out of touch. It doesn’t have the wise-cracking split-your-side jokes it had in its early seasons.
The episode last Sunday night did have a crack about the newspaper business, but it was one of the few jokes that seemed recent and relevant. Grandpa Simpson is approached by a reporter and the reporter tells him who he is.
Grandpa replies: “You’re in the newspaper business? Something that’s going to die before I do.”
Ouch. That one hit a little close to home.
But at least it was a current-event kind of joke, which is hard to find in the episodes today. They now seem to parade guest-star voices and that is supposed to keep fans happy. It doesn’t keep this fan happy.
Most of the plots don’t even make sense anymore. You watch the first 10 minutes and think this is what the episode is going to be about and most of the time you are totally wrong and it takes a different turn. The show is only 30 minutes long. Get to the point before it’s over.
Now this Sunday, when the 20th anniversary documentary will be airing, I will check it out. There is no way I can’t but I won’t be expecting much. It may have its funny moments but the comedy will still be out of touch and irrelevant.
“The Simpsons” should call it quits after this season. It has had an amazing run but with the rising of “Family Guy” and “American Dad” it seems to not have a chance. Even “South Park,” which has been on the air for 15 years, still has better jokes and great gags.
“The Simpsons” have been good for so many years but like a lot of shows it held on for too long. Breaking the record for longest running scripted show is great but now it is time to have the Simpson family call it a career.
Chris Schmaedeke is managing editor of the Quay County Sun. Contact him at 461-1952 or by e-mail: chris_schmaedeke@link.freedom.com
[Via qcsunonline.com]
From what I've heard, the decline of the simpsons is due in part to the changes made to their writing process. Originally it was very intensive and time consuming, requiring multiple re-writes of each script. The writers were getting burned out. They also seemed much more receptive to criticism, admitting when a gag or story could have been done better.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest issue with simpsons (and family guy) is that the writers seem to lack any sense of comedic timing. A show doesn't need to be constantly funny, but it does need to constantly be entertaining. Instead of a barrage of poop jokes and non sequiturs, take some time to build a coherent story then hit us with a joke when we least expect it. If the writers show no love for the characters, don't expect the audience to either.
Great points, I agree.
ReplyDelete3 points:
ReplyDelete1st,objection: the changing plot in the middle of the episode (started with tit and ended by whattheheavenisthat) defines the show even during its early seasons, it's Good in a distinctive postmodern kind of way..the moral message... is clear: always doubt your 1st impression prima facie and it ain't over before it's over
2nd,hope: though it seemed to have been declining recently,hopefully it's just the lively dynamics of the show..a slow ball to make the hard ball more powerful, the steep descending after a remarkable ascending in a roller coaster that determines the quality of fun..
3rd: homer is probably the least dependable person on earth,yet we've been relying on him for good humor for almost 2 decades.surely he could make a mistake or two,but again,thats what he does for a living..so homerians,have faith :)