OT : Like the Simpsons ?

[Duck Dodgers]

Which are your thoughts about " The Simpsons " , folks ?

Like , favorite seasons , episodes , characters.....I think it's one of the greatest TV show ever made . Brilliant and Funny !

I think that the first 7 seasons were the greates . Every single episode was a hit , the majority of them were pure masterpieces ( like the two-part " Who Shot Mr. Burns " ; " Cape Fear " ; " Rosebud" ; " Burns' Heir ".....) .

The subsequent seasons were not at them level but they included some classics and also developed many of the secondary characters , like " Comic Book Guy " ( one of my favorite ones ) or Professor Frink .

My favorite characters are ; Mr. Burns , Homer ; " SideShow " Bob , Ralph Wiggum ; " Comic Book Guy " .....

[cbrubaker]

"The Simpsons" is a good show, but I just wish it ends...newer episodes are pretty bad.

Pretty much the first 8 seasons were the best.

I have a lot o favorite episodes, but I think the best is "Cape Fear" (Come ON! The rake scene! While it was literally added as a time filler, that was a classic moment in the series)

[Daff Doc]

I love The Simpsons!

Favorite Season: #4
Favorite Episode: Homer the Herectic
Favorite Character: Ned Flanders

Flanders:Lord, may your loving hand guide Homer square and true. Boing. CRASH!!







DOH!

[rkish]

Not only do I agree with the sentiment of those above...but I wanted to add that as far as DVD releases are concerned, the Simpsons are in a class above the rest as far as pricing, packaging, and DVD features and options. A commentary for each episode!!!??? That is unheard of and truly a wonderful surprise with each release. I will probably collect the next couple or so, but as referenced above, the quality began to suffer a bit around the 9th or 10th seasons.

Thank you Matt Groening!!! :D

[UncleJunior]

It started out good then Seasons 2/3/and 4 came out and they were the best IMO. The show did start to erode during Season 9 and then its been all downhill till then.

[Bartman]

We've discussed the SIMPSONS previously, but I will still toss in my opinions since I have watched the show since it premiered over 15 years ago:

The best years:

1992/1993 (Al Jean/Mike Reiss were show runners)
1993-1995 (the David Mirkin years and they were a riot!)
1995-1997 (Bill Oakley/Josh Weinstein years)

From 1997-2001, Mike Scully EP'ed the SIMPSONS and to me, those are the shows worst years. Al Jean returned starting with the 2001 season and while the episodes are still kinda hit-and-miss, they are better than what the Scully years churned out...

[Duck Dodgers]

"The Simpsons" is a good show, but I just wish it ends...newer episodes are pretty bad.

Pretty much the first 8 seasons were the best.

I have a lot o favorite episodes, but I think the best is "Cape Fear" (Come ON! The rake scene! While it was literally added as a time filler, that was a classic moment in the series)

I agree ! " Cape Fear " is marvellous and it's one of my favorite . Probably the best one is the fifth Halloween special ( the one with the parody of " Shining " ) .
The eigth season is not on the level of the ones before , but some of the episodes are great ! Like the ones with Homer boxing and Homer as " Baron Beer " .

[Duck Dodgers]

"The Simpsons" is a good show, but I just wish it ends...newer episodes are pretty bad.

Pretty much the first 8 seasons were the best.

I have a lot o favorite episodes, but I think the best is "Cape Fear" (Come ON! The rake scene! While it was literally added as a time filler, that was a classic moment in the series)

The rake became a running gag associated with bob : it appears also in " Day of the Jackanapes " ( season 12 ) and in the last week episode of season 17 , " The Italian Bob " ( where even Bob 's child got his own little rake as enemy ) .

[Cartman]

I feel the show was at its peak in Season 5. I can't think of a single episode on that season that I didn't like.

[Kaleido]

I feel the show was at its peak in Season 5. I can't think of a single episode on that season that I didn't like.Bart Gets an Elephant?

Otherwise, agreed.

The first two seasons were weak, seemingly relying entirely on the "primetime cartoon" gimmick and "parody of American sitcoms/nuclear family" for ratings. The third through fifth seasons had me laughing uncontrollably. The sixth season was funny, but clearly the show was starting to go downhill. And by the ninth season, the show was unwatchable.

In my opinion.

[cbrubaker]

The first two seasons were weak, seemingly relying entirely on the "primetime cartoon" gimmick and "parody of American sitcoms/nuclear family" for ratings.
To quote Matt Groening: "We had no idea what the hell we were doing".

[J. B. Warner]

Its glory years were certainly between Seasons 3 and 8, but the first two seasons have their own special charm as well. Seasons 9-12 left a lot to be desired (there was a lot of new talent behind the scenes, and not everyone knew how to achieve the same level of genius that the previous seasons had), but at least since Season 13, it's gotten a little better.

[Larry T]

This is a topic which is largely open to pages and pages of opinion. Even in the circle of my friends, we differ as to which seasons we feel are the best. Some of my friends absolutely love the newer episodes with all their topical culture references and sitcom-oriented humour.

Myself, I'd have been happy if the Tracey Ullman versions were properly adapted into the half-hour shows. The humour was much more raw, and the family was quirkier and better defined. I guess the first season captured this feeling the most, so I'll have to say my favourite seasons are 1 and 2 (when the show was at its peak, IMO).

My ultimately favourite episodes are "There's No Disgrace Like Home" (because the show doesn't really rely on any outside reference to make it funny- it strictly focuses on the Simpsons family and their dysfunctionality) and the first "Treehouse Of Horror" (with that most excellent retelling of "The Raven" by James Earl Jones).

That doesn't mean I don't like any later episodes though- "Bart Gets An Elephant", "The Last Temptation of Homer", "TreeHouse of Horror V", and "Homer's Enemy" are certainly re-re-re-re-re-re-watchables :D .

[Lee Glover]

I feel the show was at its peak in Season 5. I can't think of a single episode on that season that I didn't like.

I agree. Season 5 included one of my all-time favourite Simpsons episodes: Marge On The Lam. That episode really shows off Homer's stupidity, especially in the sequence where he got his arms "stuck" inside two vending machines.

If I have to choose my favourite moment in the series, it will have to be when Homer gets stuck in a water chute in the episode Brush With Greatness. Just seeing Homer's terrified face as he meets some unsuspecting kids makes me crack up every time without fail. :D

I agree that the series went downhill when Mike Scully took the helm. I haven't seen many of the later Al Jean episodes to say if the series has improved recently (The newer episodes are shown on satellite & cable in the UK, and I don't have access to either).

[Jack G.]

Bart was the initial center to the show. When Homer became more the focus, I liked the Simpsons better.

The thing I like about the show is the little smart bits they put in the show.
For example the Treehouse of Horror episode where Lisa creates life around her tooth. There's a bit where Lisa looks in her microscope and sees someone posting something on the door of the "church". Lisa exclaims, "I've invented Lutherans!" :p The average person probably doesn't know about Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses. I love clever bits like that.

[Mark J]

I actually think the last two seasons have been the worst, so bad that I am actually considering not watching anymore after being a loyal viewer since that Christmas special back when I was in college. My favorites were seasons 2-4, although there were many classic episodes in seasons 5-8, including some of my all time favorites. Later seasons veered wildly from occassionally excellent episodes to unwatchable, especially season 10 & 11 which contain some of the worst episodes ever. Recent episodes are more boring and pointless. The characters are beyond parodies of their former selves and humor is strained and no longer relates to my understanding of the Simpsons universe and humor. I really can't believe Fox is cancelling the still excellent, and occassionally brilliant, King of the Hill and keeping the Simpsons on for what seems like an eternity. I guess less Simpsons watching means more time for watching:bugs2: :daffy: :tweety: :sylvester the missing head of Porky and the occassional :bosko: .

[AndrewGilmore]

I have been a huge Simpsons fan for a number of years now (in fact, my AOL screen name is SIMPFANN)- though I admit I've only been a fan for the last six of its sixteen years on the air.
I agree the recent seasons haven't been as good as the classic early episodes, but what the hell- it still makes me laugh. Yes, there are some total crap episodes now and then, but even after all these years the Simpsons is still genuinely funny and one of the best shows on TV IMO.
I could articulate about what I like about the show and why, but it's getting late and I'm sleepy.

[Vdubdavid]

For myself, the high point was Season 4. I own the DVD set and there is not a single episode there without something that will have me laughing. The thing I've noticed is that with these earlier seasons (up until about season 7 IMO) the writers managed to strike the right balance of comedy and pathos. Take the season 7 episode "Mother Simpson" for instance. Sure there was the incredibly witty comedy to roll you in the aisles, but then there were the sweeter moments that didn't strain the shows credibility, such as when Homer watches his mother leave, and then we just see him sitting on his car as the stars come out. On the other hand, the newer episodes just seem either too sappy or ridiculous for ridiculousness' sake.

[Timber Wolf]

I guess less Simpsons watching means more time for watching:bugs2: :daffy: :tweety: :sylvester the missing head of Porky and the occassional :bosko: .


The missing head of Porky? There is a Porky smilie. :ham: And I think The Simpsons are funny, but not as good as classic cartoons. ;)

[Duck Dodgers]

And I think The Simpsons are funny, but not as good as classic cartoons. ;)


But the humor in " The Simpsons " is much more sophisticated than in theatrical cartoons of the Golden Age ( said by someone who love classic cartoons ) . Don't you agree ?

[mmm...donuts]

I'm a big Simpsons fan. Personally, I like most of the episodes from seasons 1-6, and a little less seasons 7 and 8, when the show began to get worse. My favorite season is with no doubt the fifth one, with such great episodes as "Cape Feare", "$pringfield" or "Bart Gets an Elephant", just to name a few.
I also like the Tracey Ullman shorts.

[Duck Dodgers]

Some of my favorite episodes of the last seasons ( which shows a medium and sometimes very low quality of episodes , highlighted by some excellent entries ) :

Season 8 :

The Homer They Fall ( i love it ! Expecially the bòlack and white sequence )
The Springfield Files
Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious
Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment
The Old Man and the Lisa
The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase ( I know it's not a great episode per se but the Troy McLure sequences , the Wiggum 's own show as well as the idea of the episode were really funny )
Homer's Enemy ( that's a classic )


Season 9

This Little Wiggy ( Ralph Wiggum's finest hour ! )

Season 10

Viva Ned Flanders

I'll update this post later with other entries.....

[Timber Wolf]

But the humor in " The Simpsons " is much more sophisticated than in theatrical cartoons of the Golden Age ( said by someone who love classic cartoons ) . Don't you agree ?

That's true.

[Kaleido]

But the humor in " The Simpsons " is much more sophisticated than in theatrical cartoons of the Golden Age ( said by someone who love classic cartoons ) . Don't you agree ?Bah. Sideshow Bob getting hit in the face by rakes in Cape Feare was funnier than any of the so-called sophisticated humor the series has ever done.

[Emmanuel Cruz]

I love the Simpsons, but to a certain time. I have purchased the first four seasons, and plan to get more for Christmas. The earliest I remember watching the show was 1993 (I was 5 years old at the time) and I've loved it ever since. However, like many, I feel too that Season 9 to now are horrendous. I don't watch the new episodes they give, because I have such low expectations for them. I did manage to catch one fairly recent episode, and thought it was pretty good (Wandering Juvie.) However, the charm and humor of seasons 4-6 cannot be matched. I'm dying to get Season 5, because it contains probably my all time favorite episode, Homer the Vigilante. Ah, can't wait for Sunday!

-Emmanuel:bosko:

[Speedy Boris]

For myself, the high point was Season 4. I own the DVD set and there is not a single episode there without something that will have me laughing. The thing I've noticed is that with these earlier seasons (up until about season 7 IMO) the writers managed to strike the right balance of comedy and pathos. Take the season 7 episode "Mother Simpson" for instance. Sure there was the incredibly witty comedy to roll you in the aisles, but then there were the sweeter moments that didn't strain the shows credibility, such as when Homer watches his mother leave, and then we just see him sitting on his car as the stars come out. On the other hand, the newer episodes just seem either too sappy or ridiculous for ridiculousness' sake. For the record, "Mother Simpson" is, to date, the ONLY episode of The Simpsons to cause a lump in my throat every time. That ending, with the beautiful music and Homer staring at the stars, wow. It has yet to be topped. It almost rivals the end of the Futurama episode "Jurassic Bark"- if you don't choke up a little, you're a cold heartless b*stard. ;) The first two seasons were weak, seemingly relying entirely on the "primetime cartoon" gimmick and "parody of American sitcoms/nuclear family" for ratings. I disagree. While the first two seasons were admittedly rough around the edges in a lot of places (especially the voices and artwork), both have some great plots and writing. Season 2 especially, which still has some of the best satire of the series. Probably my favorite from that era is "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge", which is just great. So many potshots at both censorship and prudes, and with the quick pace they could fit it all in.

Anyway, here's how I break it down:
Seasons 1-8: Classic.
Seasons 9-10: Less classic, but still plenty of good stuff.
Seasons 11-12: Extremely uneven; some episodes were hilarious, others outright sucked.
Season 13: Worst season of The Simpsons ever. Pretty much every episode was awful, with the exception of MAYBE "Treehouse of Horror 12" (which is technically a Season 12 holdover anyway). A few funny moments here and there, but you have to overcome a whole lot of suckage to get to them.
Seasons 14-17: Back to the uneven quality of Seasons 11 & 12. Some are fine, others are horrible.

One thing's for sure, though: We're most likely never going to get back to the successful combination of humor and emotion ever again. :shrug:

[Duck Dodgers]

For the record, "Mother Simpson" is, to date, the ONLY episode of The Simpsons to cause a lump in my throat every time. That ending, with the beautiful music and Homer staring at the stars, wow. It has yet to be topped. It almost rivals the end of the Futurama episode "Jurassic Bark"- if you don't choke up a little, you're a cold heartless b*stard. ;)



Yep ! Tha Futurama episode was great ! I also loved " The Sting " ( I hope the title is correct ) .

By the way , which are your favorite characters ? Don't you agree that Montgomery Burns is a marvellous combination of Kane ( Orson Welles ' " Citizen Kane " main character , which is the basis of the plot of the superb Season 5 episode " Rosebud " ) , Scrooge McDuck and Flintheart Glomgold ?

[Thad]

But the humor in " The Simpsons " is much more sophisticated than in theatrical cartoons of the Golden Age ( said by someone who love classic cartoons ) . Don't you agree ?

No. However funny THE SIMPSONS may be, they are in no way on the same level of Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, Bob Clampett, or Frank Tashlin's humor.

-Thad

[Pietro]

I thought the Tracy Ullman shorts are the first eight seasons were the best.

After that, the series just went downhill. I tuned out after Season 14 or so. It had already been unfunny for awhile and I was just one of those dedicated fans who kept hopeful that I might actually see something good. How foolish I was.

-Pietro:daffy:

[John Pannozzi]

Here's a post DarthGonzo made at http://forums.toonzone.net/showpost.php?p=2009066&postcount=15 that sums up my feelings toward the Simpsons:

Something interesting I dont see many people mention often:

I get most frustrated at the Simpsons when I listen to the audio commentaries on the DVD season sets, by several people who do still work on the show. They're proud of how good the show was back then, but often talk as if the level of quality has been consistant since then. On the "Much Apu About Nothing" commentary, someone goes on to talk about how fleshed out Apu is, and that he's quite a deep character, despite the stereotype. How does that explain recent seasons, which see Apu as an angry, depressed man who'd rather give his children away than raise them, and has also cheated on his wife, something we're reminded of frequently? They explain they try to keep Marge real and attempt to give her a lot of heart (Marge Be Not Proud and Scenes From the Class Struggle in Springfield) yet today Marge is just a very odd character with serious emotional problems who exists to spout groan-inducing one liners and puns. There's no heart or realism to her anymore. It's stressed that Homer and Lisa stories are also sentimental with a lot of heart, but recently Lisa has been such a one dimensional know-it-all and Homer an unfeeling jackass that stories involving the two of them become a half hour of Homer doing horrible things to Lisa.

Interesting note on terciary characters. I'm noticing more in the earlier seasons how one-off characters or random residents of Springfields were usually newly designed characters and not regular cast members. Now I feel that if the writers need some random person to fill a scene, they're more likely to drag in someone like Lenny, Carl, Cletus or Frink. And of course this makes these characters much more one dimensional since usually they're pulled in simply to spout some shtick or catch phrase. And that reminds me...

For the love of God, the writers have to stop using Sideshow Mel in every episode. We were 2 minutes in last night and there he was. It's not his presence that bothers me. It's the fact that they make him speak constantly in that dramatic voice of his. That alone doesnt make what he's saying funny. I dont know what the writers find so humorous about him.

Finally, what do the writers have against these characters that they feel the need to torture and kill them every time a story takes a break from normal storytelling (Bible Stories, last night Xmas episode, Tall Tales, Public Domain, Margical History Tour)? Note how often characters are brutally murdered in these stories. Halloween episodes I used to be ok with, since the violence made sense (the Nightmare on Elm Street Willie episode for example) but more often than not we get Grim Reaper Homer or Frinks Dad type episodes...as if the writers were LOOKING for new ways to kill Moe, Krusty or Flanders. Did Homer really have to roll a tree on top of a group of regular cast members last night? I'd even forgive that, if we didnt have to watch Wiggum die on camera like that. It just seems wrong to me. This isnt South Park. I used to care about all of these characters. I just don't anymore.

[Duck Dodgers]

No. However funny THE SIMPSONS may be, they are in no way on the same level of Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, Bob Clampett, or Frank Tashlin's humor.

-Thad

In fact , I never said such a thing .

I did not say that they are funnier than the classic theatrical cartoons of the Golden Age .

I said that they are a more sophisticated production . That's a very , very different thing .

They show a complete different kind of comicity , considering how many little details are in " The Simpsons " which are connected to classic movies , romances , novels , songs et cetera ....However , everyone here knows that my real passion is classic animation . I'm NUTS about classic cartoons !

[Thad]

In fact , I never said such a thing .

I did not say that they are funnier than the classic theatrical cartoons of the Golden Age .

I said that they are a more sophisticated production . That's a very , very different thing .

They show a complete different kind of comicity , considering how many little details are in " The Simpsons " which are connected to classic movies , romances , novels , songs et cetera ....However , everyone here knows that my real passion is classic animation . I'm NUTS about classic cartoons !

You said that the " humor in " The Simpsons " is much more sophisticated than in theatrical cartoons of the Golden Age" and I said I didn't agree with you. I never said that you thought they were funnier.

-Thad

[Duck Dodgers]

I never said that you thought they were funnier.

-Thad

Well , in this post you said :

However funny THE SIMPSONS may be, they are in no way on the same level of Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, Bob Clampett, or Frank Tashlin's humor.

-Thad


So I thought you were saying that I think that " The Simpsons " are funnier than classic animated shorts .
That's what it looks from your first post .

However , let's return to the subject of this thread .

Other favorite episodes of the " less good " and of the " last and terrible " seasons are :

Season 11 :

Alone Again, Natura-Diddly ( one of the most ambitious episodes ever )

Missionary: Impossible

Season 12

Worst Episode Ever ( Ironically , it happened to be one of my favorites episodes ever , because it devoted so much time to one of the funniest characters , " Comic Book Guy " )

Day of the Jackanapes ( It's Sideshow Bob again ! )

Season 13

Weekend At Burnsie's ( Was it ever re-aired in US ? Definitively not suitable for children ! )

for the rest , I dislike this season

[Thad]

No I was just saying that the classic shorts can't be compared to any modern fare. They're on a pedestal all their own. That still doesn't mean the Simpsons aren't a riot!

My favorite season has to be the fourth one... The WWII Tom & Jerry parody in "Itchy & Scratchy the Movie" has to be the best piece of animation in a television cartoon ever!

-Thad

[Duck Dodgers]

No I was just saying that the classic shorts can't be compared to any modern fare. They're on a pedestal all their own. That still doesn't mean the Simpsons aren't a riot!

My favorite season has to be the fourth one... The WWII Tom & Jerry parody in "Itchy & Scratchy the Movie" has to be the best piece of animation in a television cartoon ever!

-Thad

Yep , the fourth season was one of the best . My best one happened to be the fifth season .
Speaking of Itchy and Scratcy , I love the episode " Itchy and Scratchy Land " , in season 6 ( if I'm right ) with the great parody of " Fantasia " .

[Daff Doc]

Missionary: Impossible



There are some funny quotes in that one. Examples, Mister Roger's "It's going to be a beautiful day in Hell!", or, "Elmo knows where you live" and Homer's "Wah! The hooligans!" and "Jebus, help me please JEBUS!".

[Duck Dodgers]

There are some funny quotes in that one. Examples, Mister Roger's "It's going to be a beautiful day in Hell!", or, "Elmo knows where you live" and Homer's "Wah! The hooligans!" and "Jebus, help me please JEBUS!".

Yep , that episode is full of great verbal gags . Some of the lines are terrific !

[Javeman]

Can I officially be the worst person at GAC? I think Cape Feare is the funniest cartoon ever made. Not post-Looney Tunes, I mean EVER. I don't think I've ever laugh that hard with ANY classic cartoon.

[Daff Doc]

Yep , that episode is full of great verbal gags . Some of the lines are terrific !

Thank you Dodgers! Forgot one with Homer and the natives, "OhGodOhGodOhGodOGodOGod".:D

[Speedy Boris]

Can I officially be the worst person at GAC? I think Cape Feare is the funniest cartoon ever made. Not post-Looney Tunes, I mean EVER. I don't think I've ever laugh that hard with ANY classic cartoon. You're definitely not the worst person at GAC. Cape Feare is hilarious. One of the best "golden age" Simpsons episodes.

Actually now that got me to thinking... what cartoon has made me laugh the most and loudest out of any I've ever seen? Hmm, I'll have to think on that one. May very well be an episode of Family Guy. I seem to recall almost being in tears after watching "Peter Peter Caviar Eater" when it first aired. :)

[Debbie]

I'm going to be one of the few people that says that I don't really care for the Simpsons. I used to be a fan, but after I moved this summer, I lost track of when they were on and what channel, and found out that I can be happy living a Simpsons-free life. I don't dislike them, but I don't care if I see them or not.