When did The Simpson's stop being as good as it used to?

[Sawyer]

I'm not asking this to put the show down, I'm just wondering what season on DVD I should stop at. I already have seasons 1-4, so what others are good.

 

[The Question]

No one's really sure. But a friend of mine contests that the decline in quality began with the episode where N'sync guest starred.

 

[Future Prez]

I'm not asking this to put the show down, I'm just wondering what season on DVD I should stop at. I already have seasons 1-4, so what others are good.

If you only have up to season 4, you've got quite a bit to go. Some of the best episodes are, IMO, in every season until about 11/12. They just released season eight last week. I highly you pick the others up.

As far as why is concerned, its mostly due to the show's span. It's going onto its 18th season, and its hard to continue exploring new facets of the characters when everything has already been covered. That and writers gave up about four seasons ago.

 

[tzarinna]

It still makes me giggle,but I'm easily amused

 

[The Question]

If you only have up to season 4, you've got quite a bit to go. Some of the best episodes are, IMO, in every season until about 11/12. They just released season eight last week. I highly you pick the others up.

As far as why is concerned, its mostly due to the show's span. It's going onto its 18th season, and its hard to continue exploring new facets of the characters when everything has already been covered. That and writers gave up about four seasons ago.

I think what would have helped is letting the kids age a bit.

 

[Venom160]

the newer episodes are still funny but not like the older episodes. I just hope the movie is going to be good.

 

[The Overlord]

I would say season ten is when Simpsons jumped the shark, most of those episodes are bad, but season 9 was pretty hit or miss. After season 9, the Simpsons sucked.

 

[Matis17]

I would say season ten is when Simpsons jumped the shark, most of those episodes are bad, but season 9 was pretty hit or miss. After season 9, the Simpsons sucked.

I agree that the magical and so very even number of 10 is when the show really started to turn south.

 

[Dr.Doom]

ABOUT FIVE SEASONS AGO

-DOOM

 

[ultimatefan]

Everyone has a theory on that, but it´s usually between seasons nine and 12... The matter of fact is, it´s basically impossible for a show to last 18 seasons and still be great, it actually has gone further than almost any other comedy on TV. Every now and then, they still make an episode that reminds you of their prime, and even in its subpar days it´s better than a lot of sitcoms on TV. When Two And a Half Men gets an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy, you the genre is not in great shape.

 

[November Rain]

i don't think the quality has changed, it's just that people are wanting more nowadays and it's hard to keep that squeeky clean image with other series like family guy and south park blatantly pushing the boundaries of humour.

heck the only reason people think the older ones are funnier is probably due to nostalgia like many other things....

 

[Lactophiliac]

I would say season ten is when Simpsons jumped the shark, most of those episodes are bad, but season 9 was pretty hit or miss. After season 9, the Simpsons sucked.

Agreed, which means it's get dangerously close to being bad for longer then it was good.

 

[The Question]

Everyone has a theory on that, but it´s usually between seasons nine and 12... The matter of fact is, it´s basically impossible for a show to last 18 seasons and still be great, it actually has gone further than almost any other comedy on TV. Every now and then, they still make an episode that reminds you of their prime, and even in its subpar days it´s better than a lot of sitcoms on TV. When Two And a Half Men gets an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy, you the genre is not in great shape.

What would have helped is allowing the kids to age a bit. Would have opened up new situations for the writers to use.

 

[Dr. Fate]

For me the Simpsons jumped the shark during the 1996-1997 season.

 

[XCharlieX]

Hmm i used to watch the simpsons a bit, but around 2000 or 1999 i stopped and it got repetitive.

 

[Sawyer]

Yeah, I stopped watching new episodes when I discovered a little thing called Family Guy.

 

[Sawyer]

Yeah, I stopped watching new episodes when I discovered a little thing called Family Guy.

 

[Jack O Lantern]

It really started to get bad when Mike Scully took over as showrunner from Oakly and Weinstein. That was around season 9. Some of the blame lays with Oakly and Weinstein who made the Simpsons get into wacky adventures, even though they claim to have made it more realistic

 

[souvlaki]

i don't think the quality has changed, it's just that people are wanting more nowadays and it's hard to keep that squeeky clean image with other series like family guy and south park blatantly pushing the boundaries of humour.

heck the only reason people think the older ones are funnier is probably due to nostalgia like many other things....

That's rediculous. If that were true then people wouldn't find the older episodes still hilarious. I have seen every episode from the first 11 seasons multiple times, and I still laugh at all the jokes. The fact of the matter is the show has not been funny in years. It actually depressed me while looking through the episode guide to answer this question properly. Upon looking through the episode guide, in my opinion the last real solid season was season 9. For the most part there are no bad episodes in that whole season. Even the weak episodes from that season (which still is not on the same level as seasons 4 through 8) are better than the best episodes now. I think I will personally stop buying the box sets after season 11. Seasons 10 through 11 for the most part are hit or miss There are some good episodes, but there are also a lot of spotty, or just downright bad episodes, but enough good ones to make it worth buying the set for a completionist such as myself. But as soon as season 12 started it was just a complete nosedive in quality. I just see absolutely no point continuing to spend money after season 11.

 

[Caliber]

When Family Guy came back, thats when it happen to me.

 

[ultimatefan]

It really started to get bad when Mike Scully took over as showrunner from Oakly and Weinstein. That was around season 9. Some of the blame lays with Oakly and Weinstein who made the Simpsons get into wacky adventures, even though they claim to have made it more realistic

Yeah, Mike is partially blamed for it cuz it´s known that he was gearing the show more towards children and teens, making it more "whacky" and gross and less sophisticated. But the natural aging is part of it too. Plus the fact that cable shows like South Park and Curb Your Enthusiasm could get away with more.

 

[The Question]

What they get away with has nothing to do with how funny it is. Being shocking and pushing boundries is just that. Being shocking and pushing boundries. It isn't funny unless the person doing the boundry pushing is funny to begin with. Drawn Together is certainly shocking, but that's all it is. Trying to get humor from being shocking and failing.

 

[ultimatefan]

What they get away with has nothing to do with how funny it is. Being shocking and pushing boundries is just that. Being shocking and pushing boundries. It isn't funny unless the person doing the boundry pushing is funny to begin with. Drawn Together is certainly shocking, but that's all it is. Trying to get humor from being shocking and failing.

That´s why I mention South Park, a show that often pushed boundaries, but with an actual social/political comment behind it. In the beginning The Simpsons were considered a boundary-pushing show too.

 

[The Question]

True. But what I'm saying is that they don't need to be boundry pushing to be funny. They just need to be funny. The monorail episode was hardly boundry pushing, but it was one of their funnier episodes.