Do the Simpsons Feel that their Time is Running Out?

[Karkull]

We've all knocked The Simpsons at one time or another for being tired and running out of ideas, but do you think that the creative team feels that way too? I get the feeling that Matt Groening does.

Tonight on the Baltimore affiliate they aired the episode HOMR. In it they had two appearances by Ozmodiar--an obvious parody of the Great Gazoo (the friendly alien that heralded the end of the Flintstones). He first appeared as a joke in The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase as something coming up for season nine.

Then there was the Behind the Laughter episode where they had the joke about the Simpsons going to Delaware and how Homer jokes that, because they're so strapped for ideas, the next season will be the last. Then, next season, they actually do go to Delaware in Simpsons Tall Tales.

I know why Groening and company are still doing the show: first, he wants to maintain control of the series (it would be worse without him) and second, FOX has probably promised to continue doing Futurama as long as he remains on board. But every time I see Comic Book Guy pointing out how bad a particular episode is and how Bart and Lisa make fourth-wall breaking comments about the show's age, I wonder.

[Sora Takenouchi]

Not to mention the fact that there is a guest star in almost every episode nowadays.

[Calhoun07]

I do think they are making the best of the situation by making fun of themselves and the situation they are in.

And I am really sick of the stars every week playing themselves. That also has turned me off of the series.

[The Dark Knight]

Maybe instead of making fun of themselves they should try to write a decent episode. The fact that they acknowledge how bad the episodes are doesn’t make it ok, it only proves that they don’t care about their audience anymore.

[Mr. Obsession]

I gave up on the Simpsons a while back. I just didn't realize it until they killed off Maude (sp?). That episode was just so mean spirited and the heart was gone. I guess I haven't missed much.


Originally posted by Karkull
I know why Groening and company are still doing the show: first, he wants to maintain control of the series (it would be worse without him) and second, FOX has probably promised to continue doing Futurama as long as he remains on board.

I heard that Groening hasn't been involved with the Simpsons at all since Futurama started, that is until the current season. Apparently the episodes he has recently overseen will air starting mid season.

As for Futurama's fate being dependent on the Simsons? Given everything as of late I wouldn't doubt it.

[Failure]

I think they're aware that they're running out of good ideas. Self-parody usually occurs during the last legs of a show when everyone involved knows they're running low on creativity. I hope they can turn it around, but I'm beginning to have doubts. Personally I thought last season was fuinnier than this season. It was weirder, more mean-spirited, and such, but it could still coax a laugh from me. At least, when I saw it the first time, but this year has been just bland. I'm afraid to see what it comes to in its 14th and 15th years.

[Sheamon]

While its certainly not at the level it was 4 or 5 years ago, its still the best american animation ever made IMO. I for one still find most of the episodes good, although I do admit that they should revert back to the more real life situations they had in the earlier seasons instead of having movie stars or bizarre out of this world adventures in every episode.

[The Guard]

Repeated jokes are a staple of The Simpsons. Just look how many times Homer's ripped on POLICE ACADEMY

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

Well, it's a big debate, I'll grant it that.

Firstly, keep in mind that the HUGE majority of the fans still love it. The net people make up an admitedly small section...and who will be listened to?

Secondly, the critics love this show. That alone is reason to keep it on the air.

Finally, it has some old-new life being breathed back into it. Al Jean is now executive producer, and many old vets are coming back into the fray. The Richard Gere eppy was wonderfully done.


I think that the Simpsons still have life yet, and they're actually SERIOUS enough to make fun of themselves. Not many shows can succesfully do that. And guest stars? Well, the Simpsons IS popular right now...besides, many of the writers are actually trying to focus on the old chars right now. Look once more at the Gere eppy. ALSO, keep in mind the Simpsons can only do so many "realistic happy-sappy" eppys before getting boring....that's why we have nonsensical plot points to keep us interested (if cheesed off).

I, for one, will not mind seeing them go on yet! :)

[Nightflower]

But if *all* the episodes of the past few years have been *only* nonsensical plot points, then that gets boring too- and irritating.

[Elven Moon]

I remember when the Simpsons aired on thursday nights... ah, memories... anyway, nowadays I stick to watching reruns on FOX and UPN. I'm not too enthusiastic about watching new episodes nowadays. Sure, there are a few good ones, but I'm never really that sad if I miss an episode. I don't even go out of my way to make time to watch one. Not that I'm still not a Simpsons fan. On the contrary, I quote the Simpsons like a cartoon bible. It's one of my all-time favorite shows, and when they do finally go off the air I will miss them. But really, they should end it soon to avoid any future suffering.

[austin norsworthy]

I'm not interstaid in them anymore but I will say this.




The sooner they end the better.



{Grimly watches as hate e-mails flood his Private message box.}



let me explane. from whta i've heard when it does end matt wants to make a simpsons movie.

I heard that on www.snpp.com I think that was the name of it. great site. it has a episode guide that praticlly has the sciprts of the episodes.