My take

I have 2 points to make:

1. What is the fascination with seasons 1 & 2? I think you people, who perpetually hearken back to the "good ole days" of those seasons are in the minority. EVERY fan of the show that I personally know, finds those seasons to be by far the weakest of the series. Even through those episodes are what started it all, most of them don't really hold up today.

I remember when the season 1 and 2 episodes originally aired, and I liked them a lot.....However, I was 12-13 years old. Honestly, when you watch those episodes now, do you really think that they have the same wit and sheer originality of any of the episodes from season 7?

Just because those were the first two seasons of the series, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are the best and brightest of the show. Personally, I would rather watch "The Principal and the Pauper", an episode which is now legendary for being ludicrous, than any episode from season 1 and most of the episodes from season 2. From season 2, I like:

"Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" "Three Men and a Comic Book" "Dancin' Homer" "Bart the Daredevil" "Bart Gets Hit by a Car"

2. The episodes from the last couple of seasons have been sub par overall, but they haven't been bad enough to cancel the show. I can't believe some of the extremes with which some of you criticize the show. However, you do have your opinions and I respect that.

For me, the show is a source of joy, and there has always been something redeemable about any of the episodes from the last couple of seasons. While they haven't been at the level of genius of the episodes from 4-9, they are still in that same vein though. I guess my main complaint of these past couple of seasons, would be that the roles of the supporting characters seems to be diminishing. What I mean is, it seems the focus is on the family more and more, and the supporting characters just seem to be around to tell jokes every once and awhile.

the

seasons

a few of season 1's episodes were weak. I don't care for Homer's Night Out, Homer's Odyssey, Bart The General or Some Enchanted Evening, mostly because the plots are flat and the writers haven't really got going yet. of course the dodgy animation and Homer's voice don't help, but even with that, the rest of the episodes in the series are just about up to par. The humour is fine, it just aren't as densely streamed into the writing as they would be in later seasons. This was mostly due to the writers not being as confident or as sure-footed as they would be later, which I think they mention in the DVD commentary. Anyway, I'd rather have the style of season one, understated humor and genuine feeling, rather than have an episode in the style of season 11 or 12, where we get a totally shit story with forced in-your-face gags jammed in between the dialogue. (and Krusty Gets Busted is a best-20-ever caliber episode)

As for Season 2, I have no doubt that they are as clever and as witty as any other season. The humour is wonderfully presented, it's beautifully subtle and flows seamlessly into the story, and is still laugh-out-loud funny. Two Cars in Every Garage, Three Eyes on Every Fish, Simpson and Delilah, Itchy & Scratchy & Marge, ...Blowfish, Homer Vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment, Lisa's Substitute, Brush With Greatness, The Raven segment in the first TOH, I could go on. Most of season 2's episodes are among "the best ever". I felt War Of The Simpsons was rather weak and felt like a season 1 clunker, Principal Charming isn't that great, but it is still the wittiest and the cleverest of any season. It had a wonderful atmosphere, and was truly multi-layered, appealing to many different types of audience (something which gradually deteroirated over the course of the series). Best......season.....ever. Easily.

overall,

do

ignoring the fact that in my view the recent episodes are - as you say - not anywhere near bad enough to warrant cancelling the show, cancelling the show would serve no purpose as I have said before. it's an animated series without plot arcs, hence it can do rapid switch-ups in style or go into periods of bad episodes, and still have the full ability to recover. cancelling the show would do just that and no more, it wouldnt save its reputation, it wouldnt mean it would end on a high (far from it), it would just mean there would be no more new Simpsons.

bear in mind that there have been inarticulate morons on ATS consistently calling for the show to be cancelled ever since season 2....

it just aren't as densely streamed into the writing as they would be

yeeuch.....aren't = isn't, it = they

They just isn't...?  ;-)

Austin

shut up