Spring Break
The Simpsons desperately deserves cancellation
Ian Pugh
Issue date: 11/12/04 Section: Entertainment
About four years ago, the first "cancel The Simpsons opinion articles were released onto online periodicals. Of course, at the time, I scoffed. That's not possible; this show is spectacular. I grew up with this show, quoting the lines from the previous night with such love and fervor, to a point where it became annoying. I steadfastly defended "Homerpalooza," one of the episodes sometimes touted as the beginning of the quality slip.
As time went on, however, I came to see their point. One of the few hilarious jokes in the past few years was the song "They'll Never Stop 'The Simpsons,'" a parody of "We Didn't Start the Fire" which essentially states that the series will continue no matter how bad it becomes. As the series nears 350 episodes and sixteen seasons, I fear that they may have been more serious than they were letting on. The Simpsons has indeed become a cartoon, as MSN Slate writer Chris Suellentrop called it more than a year ago. It now contains mind-numbingly improbable events passed off as reality - remember the racing horse jockeys who were really leprechauns? That's a far cry from the positively side-splitting status the series held as an "animated sitcom." Who's to blame for it? The writers? Producer Al Jean? "Other" producer Ian Maxtone-Graham? I can't say for sure, but one thing remains resolutely clear. This show needs to end, and fast.
The characters have become broad and bland - Homer is a gleeful ignoramus, Bart is "America's bad boy," Lisa an annoying activist. As storytelling, the series has become a joke. Often times, they waste a good ten minutes (sometimes fifteen) of an average 22-minute episode on setup alone. Worst yet, they've recycled the plots over and over again - remember that episode where Lisa became a Buddhist, much to the chagrin of everyone before they came to tolerate her preferences. Oh, and Richard Gere was there, too. All well and good - if you completely missed the episode where Lisa became a vegetarian under similar circumstances. It was a much better episode, and had incomparably better guest voices to boot (Paul and Linda McCartney).
As time went on, however, I came to see their point. One of the few hilarious jokes in the past few years was the song "They'll Never Stop 'The Simpsons,'" a parody of "We Didn't Start the Fire" which essentially states that the series will continue no matter how bad it becomes. As the series nears 350 episodes and sixteen seasons, I fear that they may have been more serious than they were letting on. The Simpsons has indeed become a cartoon, as MSN Slate writer Chris Suellentrop called it more than a year ago. It now contains mind-numbingly improbable events passed off as reality - remember the racing horse jockeys who were really leprechauns? That's a far cry from the positively side-splitting status the series held as an "animated sitcom." Who's to blame for it? The writers? Producer Al Jean? "Other" producer Ian Maxtone-Graham? I can't say for sure, but one thing remains resolutely clear. This show needs to end, and fast.
The characters have become broad and bland - Homer is a gleeful ignoramus, Bart is "America's bad boy," Lisa an annoying activist. As storytelling, the series has become a joke. Often times, they waste a good ten minutes (sometimes fifteen) of an average 22-minute episode on setup alone. Worst yet, they've recycled the plots over and over again - remember that episode where Lisa became a Buddhist, much to the chagrin of everyone before they came to tolerate her preferences. Oh, and Richard Gere was there, too. All well and good - if you completely missed the episode where Lisa became a vegetarian under similar circumstances. It was a much better episode, and had incomparably better guest voices to boot (Paul and Linda McCartney).
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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