Lame episode titles wearing a little thin...

[Just a rant, I suppose, since there's little chance of the writers would care]

Is anyone else getting increasingly tired of the (apparently endless) lame pun-styles titles? If they were clever, that'd be great - but they're far from clever. It's as though they don't even try any more.

Very week gags which also have a very short life-span (eg: referring to verizon, mypods etc.). These writers are not worthy of the show.

The Burns and the Bees Mypods and Boomsticks Lost Verizon Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes

etc etc...

I've been watching seasons 4 and 5 again in the past week, and the difference in quality really stands out. Not just the writing, but also the animation. I already knew this, of course, but watching the old eps again really drives the point home.

Ah, for the good old days... you know, when it was still the style to waer an onion on your belt. Sigh.

On Mon, 8 Dec 2008, Jeßus wrote:

THe only time I really see the titles are here. I don't see it in the local listings, I don't see it when the episode is broadcast. Hence they mean very little to me, and I give it really no thought. So I couldn't say whether they are lame or not, and it wouldn't matter either way.

Michael

"Michael Black" wrote

The only time I really see the titles are here. I don't see it in the local listings, I don't see it when the episode is broadcast. Hence they mean very little to me, and I give it really no thought. So I couldn't say whether they are lame or not, and it wouldn't matter either way.

They are used in on-line programme guides (like www.yourtv.com.au/guide ) which is very handy because they usually don't use the production codes. Because 'new' episodes are shown in Australia up to 6 months after the US debut, www.tv.com has an episode summary by the time we see the programme here, meaning we can read up on it and see what to look out for.

Paul

On Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:07:14 -0500, Michael Black wrote:

A lot of TV guides list the title, never been sure why the episodes themselves stopped using them.

Sure it matters - it reflects the general standard (and care or otherwise) of the writing.

Je�us wrote:

Yep. They have lost "it". Last season, there were entire episodes without a single laugh or even chuckle in them.

The newer artwork/animation and voice acting are always solid - it's the writing that's not consistent.

Mypods and Boomsticks I thought was very good. This week, Burns and Bees... really lame.

On Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:14:26 -0800, zvoidx wrote:

If I have interpreted the above comment correctly, I agree the animation and voicework is solid (consistent, right?), but I really don't like it, to be honest. Some of the 'charm' (for want of a better description)is now missing. It might have been a "terrible strain on the animator's wrists", but it sure looked better.

I watched Burns & Bees last night... and as you say, was absolutely awful. There were a couple of what I thought were pretty good episodes this season, though.

To make matters worse, all the voices sounded totally wrong as well. Smithers in particular - I had to listen closely to see if that really was Harry Shearer.

I think they've gone well beyond any hope of restoring the quality to the show now, perhaps they no longer care anyway as they know the end is on the horizon?