for a long time, i was of the mindset that the simpsons should never be stopped. after all ... i mean, they're THE SIMPSONS: a show to some, a way of life for others (read: us). however, i've recently had one of my trademark changes of heart ...
to those of you who keep arguing, "stop complaining, be happy for what you've got, it'd be worse if the simpsons stopped altogether ... ," i'd like to point your attention to calvin & hobbes. bar none, the *best* comic strip ever (bloom county and the far side are a *distant* second and third ... with a few exceptions, everything else is utter crap). how did calvin and hobbes end? at the top. at the peak. at the pinnacle of it's achievement. as such, many fans of the strip complained, saying watterson could've churned out additional years' worth of material.
in the end, it's better that he didn't. as much as i miss calvin and hobbes, i'd rather remember it for what it was: unique and refreshingly funny. he quit the project b/c he was losing creative control over the process ... granted, the circumstances are a bit different with the simpsons, but the result is going to be the same ... had watterson continued, the quality would've diminished, and for what? a few more years of stories that don't compare to the originals? i suppose for people who still find "garfield" funny, this argument will be lost on them, since the fate of garfield is where the simpsons are heading, fast. how many times can garfield kick odie of the table? that strip should've ended a *long* time ago, if it hasn't already (i stopped following it).
the simpsons have always been a great show. however, to dismiss the very option of stopping the show only because of its past glory is rather short sighted. i'd rather have 15 great seasons than 15 great seasons followed by 5 crappy, profit-driven seasons.
i'm not saying the simpsons should end right now, today. however, based on the way the show has been heading, i'd give it enough steam to finish this season, and one more after that.
unless circumstances change drastically, the series finale should be in may of 2004.
it's important to note that i'm not "blaming" anyone for this. i could understand how difficult it is to write for a show that is nearing 300 episodes, so the writers can be forgiven. the producers are just doing their jobs, continuing the show. the viewers have come to expect a great show, so it's not their fault, either. it's just the way it is.
-stoops