A shark-jumping moment

In Large Marge, at one point the 'camera' moves down to the top floor to the bottom ; you may remember in previous episodes as the camera moved down you could see piles of gold or hidden tape recorders between the floors. In Large Marge, the camera actually stops for a couple of seconds so the joke (in this case some hatching lizards, or something) is super obvious. It's not a funny enough joke to do that with, most sight gags aren't, and I'm tired of them doing it with every single one these days. If you don't call that dumbing it down, then I don't....know....what...uh.....you call....stuff...

the

you

call

ffs. JUMP THE SHARK - significant moment that changes a TV programme forever. Thats NOT what you just described. The whole point of the shark jump is the moment where it all went downhill. I don't think even the most agressive fan would pinpoint this.

the

fan

Pfft......JTS is a all-purpose phrase.

What I meant that it was a further deterioration of the show.   Many people
have described the Simpsons as "jumping the shark gradually".   "A
shark-jumping moment" was a snappy header.

Oh no! Improper use of JTS! Oh no!

Listen, the phrase itself started out as _slightly interesting_ and got very old very quick. The guy's point wasn't to use it, it was about changes in The Simpsons. If you're still worried about salvaging the possibility of making yourself look cool by using the term "jumped the shark" then you're much, much too late.

Anyway: The original point I agree with. It's kind of like "freeze frame fun" for people who don't have time to record it... So yes, I call it dumbing it down, too. One of the things I love about good Simpsons episodes is that they _challenge_ the viewer - something that later episodes, although quite funny, don't do.

-AM

the

fan

"Jamie" wrote in message news:au9k8c$dng$[email]...

the

you

call

Uh... no.

I thought it was funny.

"Jamie" wrote in message news:au9k8c$dng$[email]...

the

you

call

it was OK.

"Jamie" wrote in message news:au9k8c$dng$[email]...

the

you

call

It would've been a decent joke back on in the old days, but it really was emphasized too much here (though, to be fair I was too disgusted by the general tone of it to really enjoy most any good joke, not that there were many). It was nice they gave us a return of that former running joke, but for my money the old ones worked largely because they didn't bang you on the head with it. Even some of the good jokes these days seem to be ruined because the writers figure some person out there might not get it (god forbid!), so they bang you on the head with it til they're sure you get it. "there's no cane in Citizen Kane" and "look, its the Incredible Hulk" are good examples of jokes that didn't need explaining, they were obvious enough, but the writers felt that one guy out in the middle of nowhere might not get it, so they ruined them for the rest of us.

just nerds

Honk if you demand satisfaction.

Most of the people I associate myself with in real life (not "nerds" either, mind you) have stopped watching or are about ready to stop watching because they're sick of the over explained and generally bad jokes, terrible characterizations, ridiculous plots, etc. In fact, any time a large group of peers is having a conversation regarding The Simpsons, it always seems to go into "simpsons sucks now" with everyone basically nodding their heads in agreement. I'd say that us "Simpsons 'nerds'" might, in some cases, be more open minded about new episodes then the casual fans. most any casual fan I've seen that doesn't like newer episodes much seems to more strict with their complaints then myself.

The "shark jump" not so much occurred but is illustrated by the episode where bart & lisa go to military school....

cadet: truth is beauty, beauty truth, sir!

instructor:    but the truth can be harsh and
disturbing.... how can that be                         considered beautiful

marge: well, he really sucked the fun out of that poem....

PS: who was Tim, anyway?

Jamie wrote in message news:au9k8c$dng$[email]...

the

you

call

Jamie wrote:

Yep, I also noticed the camera stop to show the gag. Such "easy" things have become so common in the show, I don�t even care about them any longer. It�s just another element of decline and generic style. Cartoons are funny and easy and most people don�t want to pay too much attention when they watch cartoons. It could distract from the simple fun.

It seems as if they (the writers) don�t care about attention and freeze frame jokes any longer, they explain too much, they show signs and gags for seconds, even stop a camera to show an obvious visual gag etc.

I called it once the "there�s no kane in Citizen Cane" syndrome in a rambling text. A typical problem, no shark-jumping moment though.

Adaptation to a mass market of people with reduced attention span (cartoon conformism, here we go again.)

Chris

I wrote:

May I add something to my own post.

I think the show always encouraged attention in its classic years S1 -S8. It used freeze frame gags and hidden jokes to make a point against superficial entertainment. Remember material like the "Rock Bottom" list in 2F06 and more? The show rewarded you for paying attention, it rewarded you with even more good fun.

All this has IMO nothing to do with nerd stuff and nitpicking, it was the general style of the show for so many years and it was part of the viewing experience.

Chris

Yeah like if you freeze the TV it says "If you are reading this, you have no life."

Honk if you demand satisfaction.