Simpsons in decline?
Dan Pollak
I still have to say that the program seems to be
in gradual decline. This season's premiere, while amusing,
had the same problems that were becoming apparent last year.
Namely 1) the amazing stream of fresh ideas and inventions
that crowded the early episodes is dwindling. 2) The show
seems to be getting sloppier. While most episodes probably
have their flat spots, the appearance of sequences that
are downright bad is alarming. As some others have noted,
that scene where Marge is weeping is an example of this -
a bit so awkwardly done that it's embarassing to watch.
I've noticed that among my friends and acquaintances a number
have already lost or are beginning to lose interest in the show.
I personally think it's still well worth watching and videotaping
every episode. Some of the gags can make me laugh out loud
just reading about them. For example, that upcoming bit
somebody posted about "Die Bart Die" tattood on Sideshow Bob's
chest (and his explaining to the parole board that it merely means
"The Bart" in German).
I just hope that when the time comes, The Simpsons will die
with dignity.
-Dan
Joshua Reuben Rovner
Timothy K. Callahan
>I really disagree.
Now THAT'S the kind of retort I like to see! None of this lengthy bickering
and debating the relative merits of this or that, just 1 line---short and sweet.
Keep it up!
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Callahan: teaching | "I heard it was really gnarly: she sucked down
assistant to the stars | a bowl of multi-purpose deodorizing disinfectant
| and then SMASH!" --- Tracy, from Heathers
michael grisham
--
The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
internet: laUNChpad.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
Patrick Ryan
Simpsons that aired against the last episode of Cosby. Bart and Homer
were watching the last fleeting moments of Cosby (at the end of the
Simpsons.) Bart asked "When the time comes, are we going to let the
show die gracefully?" Homer replies, "No boy, we are going to milk it
for all it's worth."
Oktay Ahiska
Patrick Ryan <p...@halcyon.com> writes:
=> I believe this scenario was addressed by Bart in the episode of the
=> Simpsons that aired against the last episode of Cosby. Bart and Homer
=> were watching the last fleeting moments of Cosby (at the end of the
=> Simpsons.) Bart asked "When the time comes, are we going to let the
=> show die gracefully?" Homer replies, "No boy, we are going to milk it
=> for all it's worth."
I'll have to agree with the originator of this thread. The season
premiere lacked all the usual subtleties and went for more obvious,
regular-sitcom-kinda-jokes (whatever that might mean.) Tonight's
episode was better, ("anyone speaking German can't be evil!") but
still didn't quite do it for me. Bart misunderstanding everyone (Mrs
Krabaapel saying "you're gonna be my murder victim... in blah-blah's
play" and so on), Homer entering Bart's room with the kitchen knife,
and then the chain-saw, so un-simpsons-like. They seem to have lost a
member of their creative staff! :) (Speaking of which, did Conan
O'Brien co-write tonight's episode?) It may not be too long before we
hear a laughter track on the simpsons!!
Oh well. IMHO, of course. :)
--
William Gibson doesn't want to be the Garth Brooks of Science Fiction.
Tony Day
awful and the Sideshow Bob episode was not much better. They use to cram 45
minutes of ideas in a half hour show...now they seem to be adding pointless
filler (i.e. the rake scene, the endless songs in the first episode...)
Ralph Yozzo
>>I really disagree.
>
>Now THAT'S the kind of retort I like to see! None of this lengthy bickering
>and debating the relative merits of this or that, just 1 line---short and sweet.
>Keep it up!
>--
the issues. One side presents their side. The other presents
their side. Then, a long drawn-out argument ensues which resolves
nothing. And where do you end up? Back where you started, I suppose.
In those rare occassions where there is a clear winner, there are
always the few that don't know when they have won the argument.
So, they go on debating the very issue which they have already won.
In summary, I cannot stress the importance of succinct, concise
discussions. We need less of the diatribe full of facts and figures.
And more of the one line answers with no reasons given.
Then and only then, will man progress into the next century.
;-)
--
Take care of yourself, __o
_-\<,_
Ralph E. Yozzo (Internet: yo...@watson.ibm.com ) (_)/-(_)
Bicycling through the beautiful and historic New York State Hudson Valley.
Joshua Reuben Rovner
>In article <28urla$c...@agate.berkeley.edu> callahan@physics3 (Timothy K. Callahan) writes:
>>In article <1993Oct6.1...@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> jr0...@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Joshua Reuben Rovner) writes:
>>>I really disagree.
>>
>>Now THAT'S the kind of retort I like to see! None of this lengthy bickering
>>and debating the relative merits of this or that, just 1 line---short and sweet.
>>Keep it up!
>>--
>
>I agree. There is nothing worse than a long-winded debate over
>the issues. One side presents their side. The other presents
>their side. Then, a long drawn-out argument ensues which resolves
>nothing. And where do you end up? Back where you started, I suppose.
>In those rare occassions where there is a clear winner, there are
>always the few that don't know when they have won the argument.
>So, they go on debating the very issue which they have already won.
>In summary, I cannot stress the importance of succinct, concise
>discussions. We need less of the diatribe full of facts and figures.
>And more of the one line answers with no reasons given.
>Then and only then, will man progress into the next century.
I can't beleive how much you people can write about one show.
It's a great show, but I don't watch frame by frame after I'm done. Reruns
are much more fun when you see something new.
Juha Terho
DP> 2) The show seems to be getting sloppier. While most episodes
DP> probably have their flat spots, the appearance of sequences that
DP> are downright bad is alarming. As some others have noted,
The third season has been the best so far.
The fourth was ok, but...
- The background design is ... "de-evolving".
In the first and second season shows the backgrounds were simple.
In the third, they were complex, like the theatre scene in 8F18.
In the fourth, the backgrounds became again simpler and simpler.
Good background design makes the show much better!
- The animation sucks.
Some people like the Tracey Ullman show look best. I hate it.
The characters should look like what they looked in the beginning
of the third season. The animation got better and better until the
fourth season, when they got rid of Klasky-Csupo (can anyone explain
why?).
- The tempo of the show is going doowwwnnnn...
In the third season, the show had fast scenes. Words just went
by. "Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. (commercials)
Blah blah blah blah blah." In the fourth season (especially 9F02,
9F12 and 9F14 suffer from this) the show gets sllooowww...
"Blah blah. (5 second pause) Blah blah. Blah. (5 second pause). Blah.
(commercials) Blah. Blah blah. (5 second pause). Blah blah." etc.
- Some of the new writers suck.
Conan O'Brien's Marge vs. the Monorail had 0 good quotes.
Having read the script for his "Homer Goes to College" (1F02), looks
like it sucks too. Just prolonged sketches put together.
John Swartzwelder's episodes are great, like 9F03 (I & S: The Movie).
Bill Oakley's reports of the upcoming episodes have a lot of new names:
Dan McGrath (a story editor), Bill Canterbury, David Mirkin (a new
executive prod), Mike Scully, Jace Richdale, David Richardson...
Where are Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Wallace Wolodarsky, Jay Kogen, Sam Simon
and Matt Groening? Did they die or something?
Real disappointments so far:
9F02 Lisa the Beauty Queen (worst episode so far)
9F04 Treehouse of Horror III - King Homer (worst Halloween story so far)
9F12 Brother from the Same Planet (the animation and writing suck)
9F14 Duffless (same here)
9F16 The Front (no plot, nothing funny)
Positive surprises:
9F01 Homer the Heretic (excellent!)
9F03 Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie (excellent!)
9F06 The New Kid on the Block (excellent!)
9F09 Homer's Triple Bypass (excellent!)
9F11 Selma's Choice (could be a 3rd season show!)
9F13 I Love Lisa (same here)
9F15 Last Exit to Springfield ("... and that's the tooth!")
--
Juha "mmm... sausage [1F02]" Terho; juha....@mpoli.fi
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
Bruce M. Franklin
That description isn't correct. It went like this: Homer and Bart are
watching the last episode of the Cosby show. Bart asks Homer why the
show ended. Homer says that Cosby wanted to quit while the show
still had quality. Bart says: " Quality? If I had a show I'd run that
sucker into the ground!".
______________________________________________________________
| |
| B r u c e M. F r a n k l i n |
| bru...@access.digex.com |
|______________________________________________________________|
Danielle Hood u
[whole bunch o' stuff deleted - only wanted to reply to one thing...]
>- Some of the new writers suck.
>Conan O'Brien's Marge vs. the Monorail had 0 good quotes.
It did! The possums living in the first aid compartment (or whatever)
Homer: "I call the big one Bitey".
--
Dani Hood || I'm not voting
Wilfrid Laurier University || until I get
Ontario, Canada || my stuff!!
"It's not tipping I believe in, it's OVERtipping."
michael grisham
>In article <5011.14...@mpoli.fi> juha....@mpoli.fi (Juha Terho) writes:
>
>[whole bunch o' stuff deleted - only wanted to reply to one thing...]
>
>>- Some of the new writers suck.
>>Conan O'Brien's Marge vs. the Monorail had 0 good quotes.
>
>It did! The possums living in the first aid compartment (or whatever)
>Homer: "I call the big one Bitey".
>--
>Dani Hood || I'm not voting
And don't forget:
"It's my fault. I shouldn't have stopped for that haircut." (context required)
MG
Peter Hum
In a previous article, hood...@mach1.wlu.ca (Danielle Hood u) says:
>In article <5011.14...@mpoli.fi> juha....@mpoli.fi (Juha Terho) writes:
>
>[whole bunch o' stuff deleted - only wanted to reply to one thing...]
>
>>- Some of the new writers suck.
>>Conan O'Brien's Marge vs. the Monorail had 0 good quotes.
>
>It did! The possums living in the first aid compartment (or whatever)
>Homer: "I call the big one Bitey".
My friends and I are also known to quote Homer's: "Batman's a
scientist."
--
Peter Hum
af...@Freenet.carleton.ca
(613) 596-3761 (voice)
(613) 726-1198 (fax)
Jason A. Miller
>In article <5011.14...@mpoli.fi> juha....@mpoli.fi (Juha Terho) writes:
>
>[whole bunch o' stuff deleted - only wanted to reply to one thing...]
>
>>- Some of the new writers suck.
>>Conan O'Brien's Marge vs. the Monorail had 0 good quotes.
>
>It did! The possums living in the first aid compartment (or whatever)
>Homer: "I call the big one Bitey".
That's not the best one ...
Bart: True or False: You can catch "Mono" from a "Monorail"
Homer: False! No wait ... true?
Bart: No, you got it right! Saaaay, you really *do* know your monorails!
Homer: (impressed at this filial piety) How would you like to change your
name to "Homer Junior"? The kids could call you "HoJu"!
Bart: Er ... I'll get back to you on that. . .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jason A. Miller | "some doctor guy"
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in%"doc...@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu" | *Sigh* Thanks, White Sox :-(
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