Spring Break
The Simpsons desperately deserves cancellation
Ian Pugh
Issue date: 11/12/04 Section: Entertainment
The last few seasons become little more than an attempt to keep a firm grip onto their various Guinness records. Their title of "most guest stars on a television series" was once worn with pride, with such eclectic stars as Donald Sutherland, Peter Frampton, Ron Howard, and three of the four Beatles. Now look at the lineup from the past several years: Simon Cowell? Jonathan Taylor Thomas? Sarah Michelle Gellar? That's bad enough, but even brilliant actors like Steve Buscemi and Sir Ian McKellen are only given two lines, as if only to add to the hundreds of names to that list of guest stars! They're not even trying anymore.
Perhaps worst of all is the "topical" humor. The show has always flirted with current events, along with hilarious parodies of classic television and film - yet nothing too intrusive. Now... well, it's different. One truly awful episode from last year, "Co-Dependence Day," spends ten minutes parodying the political snorefest that is Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, complete with overlong senatorial hearings and an purposely offensive Rastafarian parody of Jar-Jar Binks. Bart and Lisa go to visit the creators of the "Cosmic Wars" series, "Randall Curtis," to personally complain. I get it! It's supposed to be like Star Wars and George Lucas! Oh, stop it, you're killing me with your hilariously relevant humor! You're only four years too late, but Lord, I'm just cracking up!
Next season doesn't promise to be any better. Homer becomes an ordained minister who marries Aunt Patty and a women's golfer in an oh-my-God-it's-so-controversial gay marriage! Mayor Quimby is forced into a - wait for it - recall election. What's next? Will Kenneth Starr serve Homer a subpoena? Saving some Martha Stewart in prison jokes for next year?
"You don't like it," some die-hard fans and pundits say, "Don't watch it!" This is a self-defeating "argument" that says nothing on the series' behalf - and contending that "It's better than [some large number] percent of television" is another uninformed statement that only serves to help perpetuate Americans as ignorant fools; television is not a mandatory medium for your entertainment needs. Now, for the most part, I have stopped watching the show, but I still check up on it... and I weep, because "The Simpsons" used to be the best television series on television, bar none. My opinion of the show as a whole has suffered; I can still watch a fourth season episode and laugh heartily, but can't help but stop to think - those were the days.
Perhaps worst of all is the "topical" humor. The show has always flirted with current events, along with hilarious parodies of classic television and film - yet nothing too intrusive. Now... well, it's different. One truly awful episode from last year, "Co-Dependence Day," spends ten minutes parodying the political snorefest that is Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, complete with overlong senatorial hearings and an purposely offensive Rastafarian parody of Jar-Jar Binks. Bart and Lisa go to visit the creators of the "Cosmic Wars" series, "Randall Curtis," to personally complain. I get it! It's supposed to be like Star Wars and George Lucas! Oh, stop it, you're killing me with your hilariously relevant humor! You're only four years too late, but Lord, I'm just cracking up!
Next season doesn't promise to be any better. Homer becomes an ordained minister who marries Aunt Patty and a women's golfer in an oh-my-God-it's-so-controversial gay marriage! Mayor Quimby is forced into a - wait for it - recall election. What's next? Will Kenneth Starr serve Homer a subpoena? Saving some Martha Stewart in prison jokes for next year?
"You don't like it," some die-hard fans and pundits say, "Don't watch it!" This is a self-defeating "argument" that says nothing on the series' behalf - and contending that "It's better than [some large number] percent of television" is another uninformed statement that only serves to help perpetuate Americans as ignorant fools; television is not a mandatory medium for your entertainment needs. Now, for the most part, I have stopped watching the show, but I still check up on it... and I weep, because "The Simpsons" used to be the best television series on television, bar none. My opinion of the show as a whole has suffered; I can still watch a fourth season episode and laugh heartily, but can't help but stop to think - those were the days.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 26
karen_a_lore
karen_a_lore
posted 11/12/04 @ 1:14 PM EST
I would like to comment on the article that claims the simpsons should be cancelled. One of the things that apparently bothers the author of that article is that the jokes made on current affairs aren't current. (Continued…)
margesimpsonfan
margesimpsonfan
posted 11/12/04 @ 8:22 PM EST
NO!!!!! It doesn't!!! That's what you think JERK!!!!
The Simpsons are the best!!!! That was not nice of you!!!!
tera!
margesimpsonfan
margesimpsonfan
posted 11/12/04 @ 8:27 PM EST
NO IT DOESN'T!!!!! The Simpsons is the best show in the world!!!! I know that's what you think!! if the author of the simpsons thought that I would of been off air along time ago!! so there!!!!
markjones
markjones
posted 11/13/04 @ 2:06 AM EST
Sorry, you're wrong. Please die.
karen_a_lore
karen_a_lore
posted 11/13/04 @ 9:40 AM EST
I would like to comment on the article that claims the simpsons should be cancelled. One of the things that apparenlty bothers the author of that article is that the jokes made on current affairs aren't current. (Continued…)
maemikemae
maemikemae
posted 11/18/04 @ 5:18 PM EST
I know the simpsons isn't nearly as good as it used to be but you shouldn't base that on the treehouse of horror eppisodes. Those have been terrible ever since they began, in the second season. (Continued…)
maemikemae
maemikemae
posted 11/18/04 @ 5:22 PM EST
Also, most audiences who watch shows like that don't care as much about the quality and character development, which FOX has shown by bringing back Family Guy instead of Futurama because it got better re-run ratings and more dvd sales. (Continued…)
tlebret30
tlebret30
posted 11/28/04 @ 6:00 PM EST
Well i grew up with the simpsons,31 yrs of age been watching them from the start & still to this day i never get tired of the simpsons weather it is a older or current show. (Continued…)
peinh002
peinh002
posted 7/01/05 @ 1:55 PM EST
While the author of this piece serves some valid food for thought, I would like to hear his musings on how well the Tracy Ullman Show "Simpsons shorts" stack up against any of the recent episodes. (Continued…)
billyjoejimbob
billyjoejimbob
posted 12/28/05 @ 12:54 AM EST
Right on! There isn't much in this article I would disagree with. I don't hate the Simpsons, in fact I love most of the episodes through season 6, but I can't think of a single episode made since 1998 that I would ever have the desire to see again. (Continued…)
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