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[EulaCapra]

I have the first 3 seasons of the Simpsons on DVD. At what season should I stop purchasing sets? I was told that season 8 was the last consistently good season. I haven't watched Simpsons since the late 1990's, but I checked out some recent episodes on Hulu and they were bad. What the hell happened? Did they run out of ideas, or was it a change in the philosophy of the writers. I don't remember them ever resorting to sight gags and slapstick for the sake of slapstick.

The writing team on the first few seasons were so subverse. It was like they were starving artists who were hungry to prove something.

I still enjoyed seasons past the tenth, and I say anything close to the 300th or past the 14th season where the animation changes to digital and sound and music gags are off their mark is where things really dip.

And then I found these seasons leading up to the HD seasons to still be charming. The animation and sound/musical cues (or lack of) becomes a hindrance now to jokes though.

But then the HD seasons become a total chore to watch for awhile thanks to even more sterile animation, going-through-the-motions voice acting (could Skinner and Flanders be even less funny now?), and writing that relies on too many pop culture trends now. What annoys me even more now though is that instead of using a rotation of Springfield residents, they keep using one-off stock generic characters to fill the backgrounds and say jokes. These past two seasons do have their uptick episodes though.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

I stopped buying after Season 6. While Season 7 has some great episodes, I wouldn't say it's consistently gold-tier Simpsons like Season 2-6.

 

[Nert]

I still enjoyed seasons past the tenth, and I say anything close to the 300th or past the 14th season where the animation changes to digital and sound and music gags are off their mark is where things really dip.

And then I found these seasons leading up to the HD seasons to still be charming. The animation and sound/musical cues (or lack of) becomes a hindrance now to jokes though.

But then the HD seasons become a total chore to watch for awhile thanks to even more sterile animation, going-through-the-motions voice acting (could Skinner and Flanders be even less funny now?), and writing that relies on too many pop culture trends now. What annoys me even more now though is that instead of using a rotation of Springfield residents, they keep using one-off stock generic characters to fill the backgrounds and say jokes. These past two seasons do have their uptick episodes though.

There are some episodes in the "Jerkass Homer" era that, while far removed from the heights of seasons 3-9, are still really funny. I think episodes like Behind the Laughter, Last Tap Dance in Springfield, and Skinner's Sense of Snow are *way* better than any of the HD episodes that I've tried.

 

[Demy]

Your avatar plus this is pure gold

Thank you so much for this.

How can I make gifs from videos or youtube? I want to make a "Mr T is the Lion King" gif for everyone.

 

[Dilly]

The Aurora Borealis? At this time of year? At this time of day? In this part of the country? Localized entirely within your kitchen?

 

[Boss Doggie]

I tried watching Season 1 again. Man it's hard.

I think the only true Season 1 episode I thoroughly experienced was the first episode.

 

[Dr_Boris_Goltz]

Anyone have that gif of Homer coming into the room with a giant ridiculous hat and an airhorn?

 

[Messypandas]

Spinal Tap: I just looked out there and theres puddles of water all over the bleeding stage.
Organiser: Yeah, well I don't want to lie to you boys but 6 days a week the place is a hockey rink.
Spinal Tap: Yeah well this is a rock concert not the bleedin', splish splash show.

 

[Lord British]

Why do people seem to rate Holidays of Future Passed? It's near-unwatchable.

 

[Fuzz Rez]

Why do people seem to rate Holidays of Future Passed? It's near-unwatchable.

I like it even tho there are many parts I don't care for. Like Lisa's part of the story. Book Job on the other hand is garbage I don't get the love for it at all.

 

[Box of Bunnies]

I tried watching Season 1 again. Man it's hard.

This is even more egregious than your dislike of Akibaranger.

 

[Übermatik]

 

[Tricky I Shadow]

I love this thread so much.

 

[Natetan]

I tried watching Season 1 again. Man it's hard.

I think the only true Season 1 episode I thoroughly experienced was the first episode.

Yeah the show really lived on marketing to kids the first couple seasons. I had the tshirt but I came to appreciate the show for very different reasons only many years later probably around season 6 or 7 and that was mostly in syndication already at that point. I stopped watching the show for quite a few seasons.

 

[Exterminieren]

Funny fact; Bart appeared in a blue shirt in a lot of the early merchandising as a simple way of marking out counterfeit merch.

If some merchandise featured him in the red shirt he wears on screen, it was fake.

 

[G-Fex]

Is this the end of zombie Shakespeare?

Again with the Klingons

 

[Sleepy]

My fav episode:

 

[the chris]

The Aurora Borealis? At this time of year? At this time of day? In this part of the country? Localized entirely within your kitchen?

Yes.

 

[JehutyRunner]

"That is so 1991."

 

[JehutyRunner]

 

[AcridMeat]

Yeah the show really lived on marketing to kids the first couple seasons. I had the tshirt but I came to appreciate the show for very different reasons only many years later probably around season 6 or 7 and that was mostly in syndication already at that point. I stopped watching the show for quite a few seasons.

Speaking of, this was probably my most read book as a kid.

Where's that gif from JehutyRunner? Doesn't ring a bell but it sure is entertaining.

edit: I think I've posted that book before, sorry. :S

 

[Ahasverus]

You guys weren't kidding :O
I'm a fan of modern Simpsons, but just watched like 3 eps of season 3 and I'm about to get teary the difference is astounding.

 

[Fey]

"Hello, Marge."

"Hello, Marge."

 

[UberTag]

You guys weren't kidding :O
I'm a fan of modern Simpsons, but just watched like 3 eps of season 3 and I'm about to get teary the difference is astounding.

You can be a fan of both modern & classic Simpsons... just so long as you frame your expectations properly for what you're watching.
Been watching a ton of classic Simpsons this weekend myself.

 

[The Real Abed]

Funny fact; Bart appeared in a blue shirt in a lot of the early merchandising as a simple way of marking out counterfeit merch.

If some merchandise featured him in the red shirt he wears on screen, it was fake.

Also, I don't think he has ever used the word "radical" or "cowabunga", but it was always on all his merchandise.

Yes.

...May I see it?

 

[inky]

You guys weren't kidding :O
I'm a fan of modern Simpsons, but just watched like 3 eps of season 3 and I'm about to get teary the difference is astounding.

Old Simpsons had a lot of heart. New Simpsons have a lot of... uh... pop culture references.

 

[Gui_PT]

Old Simpsons had a lot of heart. New Simpsons have a lot of... uh... pop culture references.

And fart jokes

 

[AcridMeat]

And fart jokes

Poop culture am I right guys?

 

[Gui_PT]

Poop culture am I right guys?

You think this is a laughing matter?

 

[AcridMeat]

You think this is a laughing matter?

 

[G-Fex]

and you guys managed to ruin the thread 6 pages in

 

[Gui_PT]

 

[JehutyRunner]

Where's that gif from JehutyRunner? Doesn't ring a bell but it sure is entertaining.

Trash of the Titans.

 

[KalBalboa]

This got me to laugh entirely to hard.

 

[The Janitor]

ICE CREAM MAN, ICE CREAM MAN!

 

[British Monsoon]

Which episode is this from?

I love the vendor's delivery; "Lady, he's putting my kids through college!", but can't remember the episode to find it.

 

[UberTag]

I love the vendor's delivery; "Lady, he's putting my kids through college!", but can't remember the episode to find it.

'Round Springfield - Season 6, Episode 22

 

[Javier]

Which episode is this from?

http://i.imgur.com/7YXZjS0.jpg

I love the vendor's delivery; "Lady, he's putting my kids through college!", but can't remember the episode to find it.

'Round Springfield, from season 6.

 

[Henchmen21]

You think this is a laughing matter?

"Why do you think I took you to see all those Police Academy movies"

 

[weekend_warrior]

"Why do you think I took you to see all those Police Academy movies"

For fun? Because I didn't see anyone laughing, DID YOU??

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

"Why do you think I took you to see all those Police Academy movies"

My favorite running gag.

"Boy, when Marge first told me she was going to the police academy, I thought it'd be fun and exciting, you know, like that movie, 'Spaceballs.' But instead it's been painful and disturbing like that movie 'Police Academy.'"

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

There was a Simpsons panel at Bridgetown Comedy Festival yesterday with Dana Gould, Brian Kelley, Matt Selman, and Bill Oakley.

My favorite story involved Stephen Hawking doing his cameo in that season 10 episode, and then he just kept showing up everyday afterward and watching. It was awkward and no one knew how to get rid of him. Chris Carter from X-Files comes over one day, puts an X-Files hat on Hawking, takes a selfie with him, takes the hat off, and leaves.

 

[JordanN]

Saw the episode yesterday. There was some great animation (particularly facial expressions), although the audio was completely dated.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

Bart the General still holds up pretty solid for me.

 

[Creamium]

Hey IceDoesntHelp and Ubertag, thanks for the list. Gonna be watching the recommendations.

Moe goes from rags to riches is on the list as well, out of morbid curiosity. I mean, it couldn't be worse than Simpson Safari or Bart to the Future.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

For fun? Because I didn't see anyone laughing, DID YOU??

"Except at that guy who made sound effects. *beep boop beep boop ksshhhhh wee oo wee oo* Now where was I? Oh yeah. Stay away from my booze."

 

[Rhomega Beta]

"Homer, your boss called. If you don't come in on Friday, don't bother coming in on Monday."
"Woo-hoo, four day weekend!"

 

[hoverboarder]

Speaking of, this was probably my most read book as a kid.

Oh man, me too. Loved this book. It was like my bible in 4th grade.

And I wore this shirt until it had too many holes in it during that time:

 

[hammster]

I tried watching Season 1 again. Man it's hard.

I think the only true Season 1 episode I thoroughly experienced was the first episode.

Some good defence on season 1 in here: http://www.nohomers.net/showthread.php?88908-Yet-another-episode-log-thing-2-0

 

[Clydefrog]

I have this book