Hey- you there. You, the one still watching The Simpsons. Cut it out. Buy the first few seasons on dvd instead and remember what an amazing show it used to be, with real heart and hysterical plot lines and incredible family dynamics, before it descended into self-parody and easy jokes. Let it finally die already.
This weekend The Simpsons will celebrate their 450th episode, a number that’s at least twice as large as the show should ever have known. Not only has the show gone on for 20 years, but this season it’s seized
the title of the longest scripted nighttime series ever, finally besting Gunsmoke.
Doubtlessly we’ll be suckered into watching it, chuckling one or twice and immediately forgetting about it, but there’s more in store for us! Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me and 30 Days fame) has created an hourlong documentary about the series, entitled The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special in 3-D on Ice. It will air on Fox right after the 450th episode.
But it’s terrifying to think what the future could entail.
“I think we could do it for another 20 years, actually,” Matt Groening told the Associated Press at a recent “Simpsons” tribute by Los Angeles’ Paley Center for Media. Then he dissolved into giggles.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
34 comments
"…dissolved into giggles…a la Dr. Hibbert."
There. Everything is finally right in the world.
Yeah, get rid of The Simpsons. Leaving what exactly? Wall-to-Wall Seth MacFarlane with the occasional South Park cultural blip? It might not be as good as it once was, but most things aren't as good as The Simpsons at it's height. Anyway, I kinda like the "Fuck it, let's go for it!" attitude to see how long they can run this sucker for.
450 shows? Ridiculous. They're just dicking with us now (sic) Having said that, I agree 100% with the article. The Simpsons have not been relevant (or funny for that matter) in YEARS. IMO, it reached its pinnacle around 1998 and even then you could tell it was on some downward slide. Frankly I am amazed that this show has lasted this long even with the movie (which I still have not seen). Besides, who watches this show anymore? Seriously I'd really like to know.
I read that the dreadful, formulaic crapfest known as Law & Order held that honor.
I don't watch it regularly anymore, but I'll catch one occasionally. Still funnier than Family Guy, American, Dad or Cleveland. South Park and Venture Brothers is still tops though.
I thought The Simpsons Movie would have been a good way to cap the whole thing off. It was funnier than the last few seasons combined, and they found a way to include almost every character. Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if The Simpsons lasts another 3 or 4 seasons. I definitely can't imagine them hitting 30 years. I much prefer Futurama, Family Guy, and South Park nowadays.
No, The Simpsons doesn't have "it" anymore, but it's still consistently funny and heartfelt. It goes for more cheap laughs these days, and, yes, the episodes dissipate after a viewing. They improve on repeat viewings, however, just not as well as episodes from seasons 3 through 7 did. I say let the Simpsons keep going. Anything to keep McFarlane from getting another half hour.
I own the dvd's of seasons 2 through 8. That's all the Simpsons ever was. IT NEEDS TO FUCKING DIE ALREADY.
The Simpsons is still funny and relevant.
It may not be must see tv anymore but it is still great television. Also I find it kind of sad that I lust after girls that were born after the Simpsons were created. Family guy and the rest of those show are crap. "Remember that time Devin Got really fat and ate the Hostess Twinky guy?" que Zombie Devin eating Hostess Twinky Guys head saying "Cream!" I hope The Bradleys is good.
Believe it or not, it's not even the world's longest running animated show. That honour goes to a Japanese animated show called "Sazae-san", where they've been replacing original voice cast members over the last few years – because they've been dying of old age.
Matt Groening raped my childhood.
The Simpsons is still WAYYY better than Family Guy, which was good in its early seasons but has devolved to "remember when THIS happened", as they cut to some joke that is only funny in context.
Not to mention that the Simpsons has a HUGE cast of entertaining and funny supporting characters. Maybe SOME of the characters on Family Guy are funny, but some (Quagmire) are one-note at best.
Whatever you think of McFarlane, at least he isn't so goddamn CUTESY like the Simpsons is nowadays. Every other episode of that show tries to cast Homer/Marge as some sort of great romance — please. Lois/Peter may be a ripoff of that pair, but McFarlane at least gets that dynamic… Lois (Marge) is too good for Peter (Homer), Peter (Homer) is a selfish ingrate who will probably kill Lois (Marge) by accident someday. It isn't some schmaltzy "love conquers all" bullshit that Groening shoves down our throats.
Yeah, let's all rail against scripted television. If you haven't noticed, each year there are less and less shows that are actually written, acted, directed, etc. They are being pushed out by super-cheap reality shows. The Simpsons may not be as strong as they once were, but they are still better than most shows, and a shitload better than whatever reality shows Fox has on thier unholy drawing board. Be careful of what you wish for.
You know, Fox turned in to a hardcore porn channel so gradually I hardly noticed.
I remember reading somewhere years ago that Groening wrote the final episode of the show in the golden age (circa season 4 or so) and it has been waiting in a vault for the show to end ever since. If that's true The Simpsons may have at least one classic episode left in it.
The Simpsons is still a free show, and nobody's forced to watch it, right?
Just checking…
Hell, its better than family guy and the cleveland show
wow, get rid of the simpsons? is there a better show on fox? sure it lost some family values heart, its still constructed better plotwise than any other primetime cartoon.. it doesn't rely on random cheap laughs thats 80% of family guy or the crudeness of south park to remain popular, you get a story with a multiple plotlines that converge every single show.. go watch seth and alex's primetime special if you want a nightmare future.. the TV guys wants the Simpsons cancelled.. you're a joke, sir..
"I remember reading somewhere years ago that Groening wrote the final episode of the show in the golden age (circa season 4 or so) and it has been waiting in a vault for the show to end ever since. If that's true The Simpsons may have at least one classic episode left in it."
Groening has never written a single script for the show, and his overall contribution to the show beyond coming up with the concept and creating the family members has always been greatly exaggerated (especially from a writing standpoint). The show has always been the brainchild of James L. Brooks and Sam Simon.
Lets see.. Alex hates Family Guy. He also hates Green day. And now he hates The Simpsons. So anything the general public likes Alex hates. Hardcore. Way to stick it to the conformist pigs, man. Rock on!! Word on the street is Alex likes to cock-punch little puppies because everybody loves them too.
If The Simpsons was a person, it would be saying: "*hic* kill me *hic* kill me *hic* kill me…"
Someone said, is there a better show on fox? Yeah futurama. An actual successor to the simpsons that though not as good as the classic show, it was a fresh concept at least. Yet for whatever reason it was canned. It's really sad to see a show fail time and again to recapture its former glory. Old yeller this bitch and be done with it.
You folks are the reason we have Comic Book Guy.
The Simpsons is actually quite good again — well, at least compared to MacFarlane-fest which has gotten so bad, repetitive and insulting that it's made the Simpsons look fresh again.
The Simpsons is still on? Yes, but everyone says the first 500 years was better than the second 500 years.
Simpsons bad, Family Guy badder, McFarlane worse than Hitler! Avatar badderest. Me no like anything. Me remove part of brain enable joy. Me wonder why atheist celebrate Christmas anyhow?
While i don't watch the show anymore, I don't really want to live in a world without the Simpsons. So keep goin' I guess.
I'll never understand this thought process. I used to really like this show..now I don't it needs to die. It still makes fox lots of money and still lets the people involved do what they enjoy. It is not as good as it once was but still can get laughs. Why does it need to be more than this? Isn't there some comfort that it's still around? I'm 30. I've been watching the simpson's since I was 10 years old. I love the fact that this is even possible.
Squidbillies is better.
Oh, that Hugganut-the-Caveperson; what a character! (wah wah waaaaaaaah) I vote to bring back Harvey Birdman.
Sure, it's not as great as it once was, but it's still pretty damn good, on occasion. Actually, starting at around season 12 or 13, it started getting kinda bad, but it's rebounded in a pretty good way in the last couple seasons after the Siimpsons movie – and those detractors, LIKE YOU, ALEX, wouldn't know that it's gotten better because they haven't been watching – you ignorant fuck! You take your misinformed opinion and shove it up your ass.
I don't understand. What is everyone crowing about? For those of you who still watch the show go ahead and watch it. I still do from time to time. Those that don't care for it anymore just stop tuning in. In what way is the Simpson harming you to the point that you request that it ends? Just frigging ignore it.
"Just don't look. Just don't look." Yeah. That's a quote from the Simpsons. So what? 🙂
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