Well, this is a sign of the end. Tons of stupid "what logos" posts here and no serious discussions because the episodes aren't that good. To quote Krusty, "uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggggggghhhhhhhh."
I'll come back in a few weeks to see if things have changed. I know you will miss my intelligent, yet sexy, yet gentle, yet sexy presence, but you just have to deal with it.
Remove "moc" to reply.
When toy shopping, look for the Joe Mantegna Seal Of Safety. It's your only guarantee that the toy has been deemed safe by Joe Mantegna.
The problem here isn't the Simpsons fans, it's the trolls from the game show newsgroup who decided to start posting their crap on the Simpsons newsgroup.
Wrong. Discussion on this group has declined about 300% the past year.
Did they all go to Yahoo groups? Wrong again. I can't think of a worse forum to discuss "immediate" issues. Going to Yahoo groups means splintering, picking the right litle niche for "you."
And, that's what's really wrong here. The Simpsons are no longer "immediate." They are a sorry counterfeit of what once was, and even newbie fans can see it.
Ed, Edd 'n" Eddy is a better cartoon than the current Simpsons. WAY better. In less than 5 seasons, the Simpsons have gone from being a top rated, hip "show" to a second rate cartoon. Put the current Simpsons on Cartoon Network, and the Powerpuff Girls beat them. Badly.
Donut...I just need to ask you, "Do you even WATCH the new shows from the past few years?" Did you just give up years ago and assume that all the eps are going to be bad...or do you actually watch the new shows on a regular basis and just don't like them? In the past "5 seasons" there has been some great episodes...Episodes that, in their own right, could be considered equal/even superior to anything from the earlier run of The Simpsons. Yeh, I remember awhile a back that you posted about how you, and other admirers of the classic Simspons, think that the writers are dropping the ball..i.e. Homer's change in character. But, man, this is (just) entertainment. So, why not try to see through whatever is bothering you and get a laugh. BTW, "The Simpsons", in 2003, is just so huge right now everywhere in the world...They could easily make another 5 seasons and still be top rated...So, as far as your comment "this group has declined about 300% the past year"; it must be an issue with this Google group. There is no decline in popularity with the show. There is also MANY and I mean MANY other Simpsons forums/message boards on the World Wide Web.
Maybe he/she/it doesn't like the overall direction of the show. Despite being a bit funnier than the Scully Era, the show is still lacking in the endearing charcters department. But you're right, it's just entertainment, but if you have to force yourself to like it, then it's probably is not too good to begin with.
So what? N'Sync was a huge hit everywhere in the world in 2001. Eminem, in 2002...
You're confusing 'popularity' with 'blind worship'.
The show of now is only popular because of its good name and habitual fanbase, ONLY. Had this style of the show been the show in 1990, with all the useless guest stars and such, OFF would've been cancelled in two seasons, or less. There would've been no eight seasons of getting to know the 'humanistic' charcters and laughing WITH them, too.
In contrast, the show of today has the "Hey, it's the Simpsons, they're cool! We'll watch the show no matter what!" syndrome. The writers know this, and that's why the is becoming weirder and more pointlessly filled with guest stars every season. I'm still half-expecting them to produce an episode where Lisa isn't Homer's real daughter and her father is (insert cool-at-the moment guest star here) who had a one-night fling with Marge at a college eight years ago.
Geez, man..answer the question..."enough of them" equals what? If you are watching shows here and there, then there is a good chance that you have missed alot of the good ones.
Well, I'll tell you what..you give me 3 Simpsons episodes you think are good from the older time period you like; I'll watch them and I'll post back here. I'll name 3 newer eps for you to watch that I think are good that you can watch. Obviously, we can't compare one joke to another...I don't understand this whole "classic Simpsons" thing...I mean I like the old ones...I would like to get at the root as to why people think the old eps are superior and the newer ones inferior. Deal?
The 'old vs. new' isn't about comedy if you think about it, it's how relateable the characters are to the viewer. If you ONLY watch the show for the silliest of gags, then stop reading right now, as this doesn't pertain to you...
What "I" like about the older episodes (seasons 1-7) is how you can feel for the characters AND find their foibles funny. Watching an older episode is like looking into an animated seguway of a fictional family's life, thus the viewer relates the show and finds the jokes funnier because you can relate to the situation, not because the jokes, themselves are funnier. This feeling is called Empathy.
The newer episodes takes this subtle charm and flushes it down the toilet and in an effort to please a new audience of teens and preteens, the Simpsons of now tries to mimick the unsublte LOUDNESS of S. Park and the horrid Family Guy just to look fresh and 'kewl'.. Half the time I'm expecting the charcters (not just Homer) to turn to the audience and scream "Hey, I'm making a joke! LAUGH!". Plus the writers make the characters act like they're strung out on a bottle of No-Doz and the show can't have a moment of quiet time for the characters to act even remotely human anymore. Sure, you can have better jokes, but if I think the plot and the charcters are uninteresting, then it's not funny, no matter how hard they try and watching the given episode five times in some desperate attempt to find something funny doesn't help, either.
<sigh>
Unfortunetly, the Simpsons is as the Simpsons does and this 'style' of writing just doesn't happen. It's a business and the bottom line is to make the buck. The bullshit excuses from the writers of running out of ideas and the ass kissing fanbase who keeps supporting the show just drags the show through the same silly, surreal rut it's been in since the end of Season 8.
I appreciate your detailed response... And I DO understand what you are saying... But the thing is; the old Simpsons are gone. The newer Simpsons, despite Homer's evolved silliness, etc., can be very entertaining. For example, the newer ep where they base a TV character on Homer and then make him stupid is just freiken hilarious. How could you watch that and not find that funny? When I watch an episode like that, I don't care about "what the Simpsons used to be", I am not interested in the the politics going on behind the show, what trend the writers are allegedly copying, etc. It's just funny...period. (I honestly find no similarities to South Park in the newer Simpsons.) I don't understand how someone, (who is a fan of comedy in general), wouldn't find some of these newer episodes entertaining. So what that the show may have had more depth and allowed the viewer to "feel" for the characters. The newer Simpsons have a charm all their own. As time goes by, especially after the series is discontinued, these "newer" eps will become older and have a novel appeal just as the older ones do.
The "Old" Simpsons humor CAN come back if the writers get their heads together and allow it. Remember, things don't just 'happen'...
I bet 99% of the reason you like the new Homer is you grew to like him from the show's relateable years. If that Homer you describe was the first time you seen his character, you probably woudn't like him as much (if at all).
By not laughing, and thinking what the heck happened to my favorite show. Oh, well, there's always Futurama....DAMNIT!!!!
Well, to use the cliched analogy about a resteraunt being compared to the show, imagine going to Taco Bell and then suddenly going there and finding the employees wearing bibs selling crawfish and when you ask why the place has changed the manager says: "The Sign says TACO BELL! So, what are you complaining about?".
IMO, Homer became a watered-down Eric Cartman ripoff for Broadcast TV, minus the swears around 1998, which is about the same time S.P. was a big hit. Fortunetly, the Jean administration cut back on Homer, which is great, IMO.
I'll say it again--If the characters aren't interesting, or if the plot doesn't drive the characters in semi-realistic situations/ways , I will not care about the jokes. It's like the (insert nicest looking flower here) growing out of a poorly fertlized soil. Instead of a beautiful flower, you'll have a limp weed, but then again some flower lovers will say it's the best flower ever simply because it's a flower..
I've talked to some old-timers who watched the first Star Trek back when it was orginally on and they still think the third season sucked. The Passage of time doesn't make the episodes better--more often than not, the person with an opinion just cares less.
Yes, I "get" what they were before...because I've seen all the old Simpsons...of course alot of them are great...this is not the point. You don't "get" what the show has evolved into to. Your short response is only reflecting your unwillingness to even attempt at watching these newer eps. You apparently haven't seen enough of the newer ones to have a valid argument. Any given episode can have a different writer and producer...so your random samplings are not exposing you enough to what has been produced. What is "futile" about watching 3 episodes? (my challenge for you to watch 3 new episodes.) People keep posting about how great the "old Simpsons" were and how the "new Simpsons" suck...Well, I strongly disagree, and this is the reason I am continuing this argument. The responses from the "old Simpsons" fans about why those shows were so great/and the news one bad have only been vague...and I wanted to challenge that.
Watch a comedy show for "funny"...as opposed to watching a comedy show for?... Why can't someone be entertained by the newer eps AND " 'get' the character development of the earlier seasons" ? Why does it have to be one or the other/all or nothing? What makes you think that there are people who fall into the mindset of liking just the early shows and a diferent mindset for the newer ones...why can't they like AND "get" both?
If this is all a matter of taste...I fully understand. If this is about respect and inclusion...then WTF?
It was both 'character' AND 'funny' for Eight Years straight. So when the show suddenly drops one aspect of what the Simpons "is" (and what made it great) , I should just go with the mob and suddenly lower my standards just to like it and to 'fit in' around here?
I watch the Simpsons to expect a certain level of quality, whereas any other two-bit sitcom I don't care about the characters and just get a chuckle at something odd that happens. These days I can't tell the Simpsons from a two-bit sitcom anymore.
Unfortunately, I do "get" what it has evolved into - everything I hate about what's on TV. Typical Fox network sleaze TV like Malcolm In The Middle and That 70s Show. No thanks, I'll pass.
The IQ of this show has plummetted. The best thing about the Simpsons was that it WAS intellectually above the norm. That is no longer true.
"donutbandit" wrote in message news:brc80t$2kl$[email]...
newbie
better.
Are you nuts, man? No way the Simpsons is worse than Crap, Crapp, 'n' Crappy.
Actually, I've never watched Ed etc. But hey, maybe this is the start of a flame war to revitalize the group (or possibly kill it for good)! Simpsons vs. Cartoon Network... hmm....
"donutbandit" wrote in message news:brd5jm$b3f$[email]...
Oh I was just kidding, I should have put an emoticon in that last message. Just watching the ads for EEE, I was turned off by the jiggly wiggly animation style. But after reading your rave review I'll have to check it out.
You're right, there are an awful lot of gay references in the show these days... Also a lot in this newsgroup. Damn that Rob Wade and his posse of spammers.
Tho' I don't diss -all- of the newer shows/seasons there has definitely been a noticeable decline going on....it reminds me of those Ren & Stimpy eps after the network fired whatshisname, Krickfalusi?, and put its own creators in. The show looked the same and had similar gags but you could tell it wasn't what it once was.:(
I think when you look at the simpsons you can notice a decline but you gotta think.... It's 15 years old now and that's not counting the shorts they did. What other TV show can keep up their strength for 15 years. True, most people watch now out of loyalty. I watch because I love The Simpsons and it's worth watching some bad eps to see the truely good ones. Name one show that has been strong for 15 years. Requirements... must be a show that is shown on a weekly basis. Shows like "The Price is Right" or other game shows dont count as it is a completely different kind of show. "donutbandit" wrote in message news:brc80t$2kl$[email]...
"Sydney Assbasket " wrote in message news:[email]...
and no
Krusty,
will
have
only
Homer: [not Homer's voice] I do not miss Sydney Assbasket at all. Marge: [not Marge's voice] I am glad he's gone. Lisa: [almost Lisa's voice] As am I. Homer: [drops a sandwich] B'oh!
Sydney Assbasket: [Not Sydney's voice] I have to go now. My planet needs me. ["Note: Sydney Assbasket died on the way back to his home planet"] Bart: Wow, Sydney Assbasket came from another planet? Lisa: Uh, I guess...
Thank you, http://www.snpp.com/episodes/4F12.html, for making my joke better than Mr. Costington's. If that is his real name.