"The Simpsons is still better than most"- Valid?

J

johnnycash

New member
Whenever I take an occassional look at JumpTheShark.com, one of the frequent arguments I see from Simpsons defenders is "It's still better than anything else on TV!" or some variation.
Now, personally, I can't agree. I'm certainly one of the many that feels the show has been on a decline for at least a decade but regardless it seems a desperate argument from the most rabid of fans. Maybe this is because I live in the UK but I can't honestly say The Simpsons is still one of the best written shows on TV and to see people defend it as such makes me wonder what they consider below it. It seems like some have taken Bart's Poochie defense to heart and are trying to use it.
 
No matter which way you slice it, no matter which way you try to argue it, it all comes down to the fact that people, for whatever reasons, have very different tastes about what's the 'the best' and what's 'the worst'.

Personally, I do believe the Simpsons has lost a lost of quality over the last few seasons, but the post-movie episodes, barring a mis-step or three this past season, has actually improved upon things a bit.

But still, me, personally, in my own opinion, believe that American Dad's taken the Simpson's position as best written prime time cartoon this past season. Others are, of course, going to disagree and say that The Simpsons or King of the Hill are the best, and they're welcome to say so.

But like I said, there are no clear cut winners in an argument like this, because it all boils down to what people's opinions of 'good writing' are.
 
Personally, I agree with this.

But there's also the fact that, outside of Fox on Sunday nights, I enjoy almost nothing on the big 4 networks. Even other channels like comedy central and cartoon network only have me clinging to a few shows anymore.

I really do agree with the assertion that The Simpsons is currently better than most TV programs out there. Probably not the best, but certainly more watchable than most.

I also don't think it's declining. It hit rock bottom way back in season 11/12 and has been much more watchable since. Nothing they ever do will be worse than that.
 
I take you've never seen "That '90s Show". I think I contemplated suicide when I watched it, but ultimately settled for not watching any more Simpsons because I didn't want to make a mess.

That said, that statement that the show is better than most is only valid to the slightest degree, especially compared to other shows that are on the air elsewhere and to some extent Fox since there's nothing really like it. That said, it is only slightest when observers are able to discern how shows like KOTH and American Dad can a slightly (or just plain) higher modicum of respect in its writing and continuity.
 
"Kill The Alligator And Run", and "Simpson Safari" trump it in awfulness, I'm afraid. There will never be an episode worse.

But then again, I don't think that episode is nearly that bad. (But yes, it's bad)
 
Well,I haven't seen much of the show since the movie came out (I did love the movie,but I don't really watch much TV anymore....I just don't really feel like it),but I do think the quality of the show has gone down as the series progresses...It's still watchable/funny,but not as much as in the "classic" years (IMO,season 9 and below)....
 
While opinions will vary whether the show IS "better than anything else on (or most of) TV", I'm going to tackle the defense itself, on principle. And to that end, I would say that it's not a very good argument. The truth to it is that naturally, if there's less competition for my attention, I am more likely to watch the show. But if I'm just looking for something to watch, there's pretty much always something else available, whether it be unscripted television (entertainment news-type shows, pro wrestling, talk shows, "amazing/funny videos", Ninja Warrior, etc.) or syndicated comedy.

And naturally, if even ONE show does rise to the occasion of being as funny as or funnier than new episodes of The Simpsons, then its leverage is gone. And that has happened. The Office, American Dad, South Park (as brief as its seasons are), Family Guy (by a smaller margin these days), and The Colbert Report (pseudoscripted) are where I go for comedy these days. And for a while, Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond were good substitutes. And when it comes to non-comedy, there's 24.

But I still try to catch every Simpsons episode. Why? Because of the stronger principle at work here: it used to be the greatest comedy of all time, and it still has my loyalty. And as bad as it gets, it's true that it's rarely unwatchable. I think it helps that it's animated, because the characters keep their subconscious appeal in spite of just about anything that can happen to the show, and even the worst episode represents a lot of artistic effort. It's usually visually interesting enough to merit viewing. The only shows I've ever actually stopped watching are Everybody Loves Raymond (I missed most of season 8, but did watch all of the final season) and Star Trek: Voyager (though I never loved the show to begin with, but did love Star Trek in general). And they're both live-action.
 
Because the plot wandered all over the place and most of the jokes were weak. That's why I don't care for it, anyway - I'll give it a rewatch once Season 11 hits DVD in October and see if my opinion has changed.
 
Better than other animated sitcom comedy? Probably. The best show on TV? That's a quite a stretch when it comes to current Simpsons.

Though, I can see where the belief comes from. A lot of American TV is crap that gets cancelled before very long, whereas the Simpsons is practically an institution of television.

If all you have is basic cable, the Simpsons may well be one of the very best things you can watch. The offerings of NBC/ABC/CBS are just weak all too often.
 
There's also the phenomenon of episodes that seemed bad when they were new aren't as bad in reruns. There've been many times when I watch a season 14-18 episode again and think, "Wow, I hated this?" That's not to say that they become GOOD, but less offensively bad, and I can focus on the positives a bit more. Not to drag this too off-topic, but when you went back to watch season 8 in reruns, what did you think?
 
I actually like those episodes. I find the wackiness hilarious. Everyone hates those wacky episodes except me.
Like the one where Bart gets that racing horse. I laughed my butt off with that one.
 
I hate declaring something the "best" or the "worst" because there's so much out there that saying something's the best there is so subjective. There's no way you could experience everything else in your life time to actually say something's the best there is.

Personally I can always find something else on TV I enjoy more than the Simpsons these days. I find Venture Brothers a funnier and better animated comedy than the Simpsons.
 
Is it valid that some people on the internet tell me that only "Classic" simpsons are the best and perfect, and everything Modern sucks? Not it's not. Because the classic simpsons weren't perfect, some are outdated specially Season 7 with it's cliches. but it seems there's a lot of Rabid fans about the classic simpsons, who say anyone who enjoys the current gen of the simpsons is a "Fanboy" You're saying people who enjoy current simpsons have no taste?

You're saying things like if they were fact, they are not. is Opinion. Art can be enjoyed and interpreted in diferent ways, it's subjective, not Odjective. I enjoy both classic and Modern Simpsons, so that doesnt make me a real fan? then screw it.

I have to admit, it has taken a dip in quality, but it's still a great show, and Enjoyable. and just because a few nostalgic fans tell me "OMG The simpsons sux!!" doesn't mean it's valid. The show is still the best comedy of all time, still gets strong ratings, and has a HUGE following all around the world. #12 out of the top 50 here in Puerto Rico. (A record not even Futurama reached here..)

But of course this is the internet... You have to love the classic simpsons to be smart and love futurama. and You have to hate current Simpsons
 
Hey now, I for one don't hate current Simpsons, but Futurama was and is better than current Simpsons. It's absolutely true that the Simpsons endures because, even through the weak parts, people stick with the show because they've gotten so familiar with the characters. It's also true that the writing that made the Simpsons so popular often isn't the kind of writing that the show gets anymore. It went from an animated situational family comedy to a comedy that depends a lot on quirks and jokes that have been a mainstay of various characters for years. The Simpsons wouldn't be nearly as legendary if it had been written that way from the start, I think. The show owes a lot to what the early years did.
 
I echo many of the comments here in that it no longer has the crown in terms of writing or hilarity. The last season of American Dad! has proven that the show has come a long way since it's somewhat shaky start. With excellent verbal and physical jokes and pop-culture references that are superior to the Simpsons at the moment, its the program that makes for essential sunday night viewing.

The Simpsons is still a very good show, but it's lustre is dimmed by the sheer brilliance of the earlier seasons. If you only caught on to the Simpsons a few years ago, you may well believe that the show is better than anything else, but for me, recent episodes are just a reminder that it was not only better than most, it was better than everything.
 
I don't think people 'have' to hate the new episodes. Obviously alot of people do, but if you enjoy them that's fair enough. The problem I see is that The Simpsons has mustered a very large die hard fanbase that can't let go of it. They can't perceive any flaws, insist it's better than ever and that anyone saying otherwise is just looking for flimsy reasons to attack it and was never 'a true fan'. For me, that's when it becomes a problem, making people's dislike of the current seasons into a personal attack. To say nothing of the can of worms that is comparing it to any other prime time animated show.

In my opinion, alot of what I see as the more rabid fans want to get by on a 'It used to be good and is an institution, so you're not allowed to say anything negative against it". I think that's an awful view to have. Many fans have argued the show should just go out on a high note, not be drawn out as it currently is. Every credible plot has been done and the more they drag it out the more I lose respect for it. The Simpsons in it's first 9 or so seasons was one of the sharpest comedies ever, real must see TV. But if they can't end it and instead proceed to just put out awful episodes, those good episodes can only cut them so much slack. Apparently however the majority favour quantity over quality.
 
I, for one, don't think The Simpsons is better than everything else on TV. Or even most, really. Maybe, once upon a time, it did shine amongst the rest of animation on television, but... right now, I don't think the show is really the gem it used to be.

As someone else said, I think Futurama is still better than Simpsons. I found it to be wittier than Simpsons and the characters were better defined/more likable. I've also noticed that in nearly all the recent-ish episodes I've watched, the plots don't focus on one event, but tend to be one event branching out into the next and then another...and it gets a little confusing for me to follow. :ack: I don't know if anyone else has noticed that, though.

Anyhow, there's a lot of other animated shows I find to be 'better' than Simpsons...like Avatar, King of the Hill (though, I don't watch it as often as I'd like), Batman: TAS (and the other DCAU shows), Exosquad, etcetcetc. But, yeah, not trying to knock on other people's opinions, but I just don't find Simpsons to be all that great...especially nowadays.
 
Back
Top