300 actual reasons to love the Simpsons

"David" wrote in message news:[email]...

Thanks for the memories! I laughed out loud again, something that the Simpsons has rarely been able to induce in me anymore, for the last few years.

All those excerpts are funny because of the writing. What has happened to the writing? Has Groening skimped on writers, because he had to pay the voice talent? Most jokes are now corny, stale and juvenile. The humor used to be incredibly witty, working on multilevels.

I believe that we continue to love the show, only because of our attachment to the many wonderful characters who we've come to love.

In addition to the list given here.. there were also some great lines from various women in power positions, such as corporate executives, (the woman who wanted the Tomacco) and the Asian real estate broker. (Stay off the West Side!)

Another favorite quote:

"Game shows aren't about cruelty, they're about greed and wonderful prizes like poorly-built catamarans."

best regards, RA

On Sun, 20 Apr 2003 22:36:29 -0400, "RA" wrote:

Well I still like it because it still makes me laugh as much as or more than anything else on television. Of course it isn't as good as it used to be but writers and producers change so the show couldn't help but change in quality. They still manage to find the best writers though. Really I think people who criticize it now sit down in front of the television ready to hate it instead of leaving themselves open to enjoying it.

["David"; Mon, 21 Apr 2003 02:40:46 GMT]

Well, it's probably better to say that SOME -- many even most, but who knows? -- people do. Of course, even at its best, someone will always be too critical.

It's also possible that some people are easily amused and are unable to see much of a difference between the hilarious ground breaking humor the Simpsons once gave us.. and the stale lame jokes that are common on the show today.

It's possible that some people never even understood the multi-layered depth of some of the classic lines from previous years.

"ooooh .. look at the pretty colors. I love the Simpsons."

regards, RA

On Tue, 22 Apr 2003 21:10:33 -0400, "RA" wrote:

I haven't seen anyone say there's no difference between the Simpsons now and then, and with all the writer and producer and even animator turnover expecting it to be like it used to be is crazy.

And maybe some people are too darn full of themselves and would be happier in a museum studying Homer's crappy modern art

"come on, if we hurry we can still catch the end of heroin chic"

Let's make one thing clear Princess.. A few of us were discussing the writing on the show. We had made no critisizm of anyone here. 2 of you chose to come in and critisize us personally for our views. I responded with a rationale for why you might be unable to guage the quality level of the show and you are now whining like a little pussy; "Boo hoo.. he's picking on me!"

Looks like you can dish it out.. but can't take it, you little fairy.

regards, RA

On Tue, 22 Apr 2003 22:40:03 -0400, "RA" wrote:

Princess? You seem a little too over-sensitive to be referring to someone else that way. You're also bringing into question your earlier assertion of having the ability to recognize humor.

And I'm not even going to comment on the rest because frankly I have no idea what you're exploding about.

["RA"; Wed, 23 Apr 2003 02:40:03 GMT]

Are you referring to me here? If so, I don't see why, since I said that I agreed that SOME people do just watch the show to criticize it. Unless you are saying that you yourself are one of these people, you've no reason to take offense.

You were responding to MY critisizm of the show.

Using your cowardly logic, I could say:

"Some people are so lacking balls that they use every nitpicking excuse they can dream up to avoid taking responsibility for their actions."

You have no reason to take offense at these remarks, if they don't apply to you.

regards, RA

["RA"; Thu, 24 Apr 2003 16:38:13 GMT]

Incorrect. If you reconstruct the thread, you'll see that I was directly replying to David, who said: "Really I think people who criticize [the series] now sit down in front of the television ready to hate it instead of leaving themselves open to enjoying it."

In reply, I said: "Well, it's probably better to say that SOME -- many even most, but who knows? -- people do. Of course, even at its best, someone will always be too critical."

If anything, I was actually DEFENDING you by saying that not all criticizers of the series are off-base. Why take offense?

"RA" wrote in news:OWlpa.112$[email]:

I like Homer! He's sooooo tight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"RA" wrote in message news:...

Or perhaps it hasn't occurred to you that the audience driving the show today wasn't born 25 years ago, or even 15 years ago and can't do much comparison shopping. The core audience of the Simpsons changes, and the writing changes along with it. What the writers today are going after is the 8-15 YO crowd, who is their core audience, after all. Sure, some adults till watch it, but mostly it's a preteen/teen show at heart, and they're not what you'd call deep thinkers.

My kids are second generation Simpsonians (I made that word up, I think) and I like it that way. They watch it daily on reruns, so they've seen the earliest shows all the way up to 'modern times' and they still love the new shows. They like it when characters like N'Synch and Weird Al are on. Me, I think it's unnecessary to pay big bucks for voices, but than again, I'm *way* over the projected audience age range.

Thanks for the laughs.

MC

On 23 Apr 2003 10:41:01 -0700, [email] (chiam margalit) wrote:

I don't think that's true. They're still aiming for the 18-49 year olds and hitting their target quite well. And I'm sure they have much of the same audience they had years ago.

Absolutely, the Simpsons became a phenomena not because of the kids who like it.. but because of the 18-49 crowd.

It was never aimed mainly at 8 to 15 year olds.. not even the first year, before Homer became the star and Bart was the main character. It would have aired on Saturday mornings, if that were true.

regards, RA

If the show was originally aimed at 8-15 year olds, the writers never would have written clever political/religious/society based humor, and they wouldn't refer to things out of a 8-15 year old's range, such as Stanley Kubrick films. I enjoyed the show when I was 8 because it was funny to me, but also I responded on an unconscious level to the characterizations. I enjoy the same episodes even more today because I can get all the references. I doubt that a kid who is 8 today will look back on today's episodes when he is 18 and find a new dimension of wit. There's nothing there.

As for someone else's claim that the show is funnier than anything else on today, I don't think so. The show had descended into total stupidity compared not only to its former self, but to other, better shows. I would rather watch Bernie Mac, which is actually funny IMO, than a current episode of The Simpsons.

But a current ep of The Simpsons definitely beats Mr. Personality or some other shit show that Fox is pooping out these days.

I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three. - Elayne Boosler

Remove "bination" to reply.

I criticize it cause it broke faith with the viewers, and broke the guidelines Groening set down originally that /grounded/ the show. The plots are much, much looser, the characterization changes to fit the jokes rather than the humour coming out of the characters, and wacky guest stars pop in every episode.

Then this is the best Fox series.

My God, that's pathetic.

No, there's Futurama. Oh, wait, cancelled. How about Andy Richter? Still in cancellation limbo. Firefly? Cancelled.

You got me; I can't think of a single scripted Fox show I want to watch, aside from the Futurama episodes they need to burn off. Okay, and 24. But that's really it.

"Andrew Ryan Chang" wrote in message news:b86r9h$17d$[email]...

The only good show on Fox is Malcolm in the Middle, which is better than the newer Simpsons episodes.

Bernie Mac's the best Fox show IMO.

I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three. - Elayne Boosler

Remove "bination" to reply.

I think some of the best just moved on, having proved their talent at that job level. David X (S) Cohen went on to produce Futurama along with Groening, Conan O'Brien to his own talk show, ...

And they also hired Mike Scully (who himself has moved on to the Pitts, IIRC) and Ian Maxtone-Graham, two I hold responsible for the wholesale degradation of the writing.

On Sun, 20 Apr 2003 22:36:29 -0400, "RA" wrote:

(snip)

Groening, by his own admission, now has very little to do with the day-to-day running of the show.

Hehe, excellent, now I REALLY have to go to bed,

Liam

"David" wrote in message news:[email]...

My 2 favorite Bart blackboard lines:

• "The President did it" is no excuse.

• My email address is not butt.butt

[email] (David) wrote in message news:...

Is that the one featuring Sherman whats-his-name from "The Critic"? I heard Groening had his name removed from that episode in protest. I thought it had some decent gags in spite of Fox whoring out the Simpsons for their promo. I got a kick out of the exchange between Bart and Sherman at the very end:

     Sherman: "If you ever want to drop by my show sometime..."
     Bart [interrupting]: "Nah, we won't be doing that."

Good thread, by the way. Thanks for posting the 300 reasons!

ff

[email] (David) wrote in message news:...

Those Republicans. Always using examples from TV fantasy land. Unless George Sr. was referring to the OJ Simpsons.

Ahead of John Steed and Emma Peele? Or #6? Or those supermarionation characters like Captain Scarlet and Atlanta Shore?

The Dan Quayle mantra.

snip

That's a Clown College.

Sponge Bob is not a contraceptive.

And the van always broke down or got a flat tire in front of the Vampire's house, too!

It's like being in a coma! I just saw that show last night on Fox 25 in Boston.

This is one of my favorite scenes. This and Jasper on the Quimby jury: "Good, tonight on TV the dog from Frasier is going to ride the dolphin from Seaquest."

Larry Flynt is right! You guys stink!

And he sits in an innertube in a pond, with no clothes on, drinking a giant Foster's. Ay, mate!

Space