When a show starts treading on its own fame, when the writers start making laboured jokes about the sight gags (Homer's map) that were once a trademark, and when the fact that the show is successful outside it's TV realm (Lisa's "Sunday Best Simpson's" line) it becomes more "hey, get it? get it? *wink* *wink*? *grinning thumbs up*" than intelligent self reference.
Last nights show had the potential to be something great, yet it was full of horrible hackneyed jokes and sight gags.
And the one thing that used to be a staple of The Simpson's, the fact that it was a real family, living in a surreal world (They didn't live in space, or have a talking dog) was busted by Barney's silly Road Runner act and the cigarette getting stuck in Homer's eye... far too Warner Bros. for The Simpson's.
I've never agreed with those who post about the "end" after every episode, I'm not one of the trolls or naysayers that usually take up space around here.
I loved The Simpson's, but I can officially say that as of last night, they've jumped the shark.