At Long Last Leave! - The Simpsons

[Reply #520 on:]

I'm sorry but you're just plain wrong.

Season 8 of The Simpsons is incredible. It's a season from the show at its best and it reflects one of the best bits of television ever produced. Season 9 of The Simpsons was also pretty damned good - it was just when the show began to show the cracks of age. Hell, the show remained pretty watchable for a while.

The last "Treehouse of Horror" was not really cool. It was absolutely dire, just as every episode is nowadays. "Hardly Kirking" was also absolutely cringe-inducingly terrible, just lik every single episode of the show is these days.

Season 18 was not fantastic. It was flat-out shit. Since the movie, the show has show a very slight increase in quality, but it's like how pissing in the ocean will make it very slightly warmer. It's not good in its own right. That's the thing. These other shows like South Park and, indeed, Futurama, aren't what they once were, but they're still good in their own right compared to most of what's on TV. The Simpsons is one of the few shows I know of that went WAY beyond that and just become, genuine, legitimate trash.

Family Guy hasn't been dreadful since day 1. It's essentially a sketch show and it is often funny. It's never aspired to be particularly much and it more or less does what it sets out to do. South Park nailed them on the head, but they basically just said that Family Guy isn't very well written. It isn't. But it isn't a bad show - or at least, it hasn't always been. Even in its current cheap and lazily written state, it's still vastly better than The Simpsons in its current state on pretty much every level. It's better written than The Simpsons is these days, despite the fact that it's really poorly written. That's just how outright terrible The Simpsons is these days.

The Simpsons is only still entertaining in the same way that a car crash is morbidly entertaining. It's beyond a joke.

Nice guy. I see you can definitely respect other people's opinions that are different from yours, and you obviously have great reading comprehension as well, because TheAnvil totally did say season 8 was bad. He really did.

[Reply #521 on:]

So TheAnvill can't say his opinion? That's a bit confusing for me.

Anywho, how was TOH? It's not on demand, so I can't watch it yet. Is it even remotely interesting?

[Reply #522 on:]

Not really. Sadly, the best part of the episode was the opening, which is pretty sad. I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it if I were you.

[Reply #523 on:]

It was well above present-day Simpsons standards, though hardly a must-see (apart from the intro).

[Reply #524 on:]

The opening being the best part isn't sad if the opening is the best thing ever. Of course it is sad when the rest of it is terrible...

[Reply #525 on:]

Nice guy. I see you can definitely respect other people's opinions that are different from yours, and you obviously have great reading comprehension as well, because TheAnvil totally did say season 8 was bad. He really did.

I respect people's right to an opinion, but why should I respect someone's opinion, itself? I respect reasonable or well-reasoned opinions. The notion that every opinion should be respected is just absurd.

Some people think it's cool to have sex with children and I sure as hell don't respect that.

I don't have a problem with TheAnvil at all and I don't want to seem like I do. I just completely disagree with the notion that The Simpsons is anything but awful, these days.

I also never said that TheAnvil did say season 8 was bad, so I don't really know what your problem is.

[Reply #526 on:]

"I'm sorry, but you're just plain wrong.

 Season 8 of The Simpsons is incredible. It's a season from the show at its best and it reflects one of the best bits of television ever produced."

Maybe I just picked you up wrong, but that sounds to me like you were responding to a non-existent part of his post where he said he didn't like season 8.

[Reply #527 on:]

Yeah, the secret is to read more than the first few sentences of a post.

"I'm sorry but you're just plain wrong.

Season 8 of The Simpsons is incredible. It's a season from the show at its best and it reflects one of the best bits of television ever produced. Season 9 of The Simpsons was also pretty damned good - it was just when the show began to show the cracks of age. Hell, the show remained pretty watchable for a while."

He was clearly responding to this:

Simpsons down period was from 9-16ish. Season 9 was the first Season when they started making bad episodes.

[Reply #528 on:]

I was at CVS yesterday, and I noticed a pack of Butterfingers with The Simpsons on it. I guess they're the mascots again.

[Reply #529 on:]

Big news, I'm sure some people know, but I haven't seen it discussed yet...
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/10/11/simpsons-which-character-dies/

[Reply #530 on:]

It was discussed here.

So, if the actor doesn't know, it's not as necessary as with Maude Flanders. It'll be interesting, nevertheless.

[Reply #531 on:]

Hmm, that seems like it takes Herschel Krustofski, Anne Hathaway's character and possibly even Sideshow Bob and Edna Krabappel out of the running.

I can't imagine they'd write the death of one of their guests (and announce it) without at least making sure that they'd be up for coming back to reprise the role in the episode first.

And I can't imagine that they wouldn't discuss writing someone like Kelsey Grammar or Marcia Wallace out of the show after 20+ something years with the actor before announcing it and so forth. It wouldn't be particularly respectful.


It's looking more and more like it might be Grampa.

[Reply #532 on:]

It would certainly explain why the writers have seemingly been on a quest to redeem Grampa as of late.

[Reply #533 on:]

Hmm, that seems like it takes Herschel Krustofski, Anne Hathaway's character and possibly even Sideshow Bob and Edna Krabappel out of the running.

I can't imagine they'd write the death of one of their guests (and announce it) without at least making sure that they'd be up for coming back to reprise the role in the episode first.

And I can't imagine that they wouldn't discuss writing someone like Kelsey Grammar or Marcia Wallace out of the show after 20+ something years with the actor before announcing it and so forth. It wouldn't be particularly respectful.


It's looking more and more like it might be Grampa.

Isn't Herschel Krustofski Krusty's name? I thought his father was Hyman or something like that?

Anyway, If the emmy is for the character itself rather than "various voices", then, excluding the main family (it'll never happen), we actually only have FOUR possibilities:

Rabbi Krustofsky
Edna Krabaple
Apu
Sideshow Bob

Now, I don't think it will be Rabbi Krustofsky. Reason? Not major enough. They didn't build up Mona Simpson's death, and she is more major than Rabbi Krustofsky IMO. If Rabbi Krustofsky does die, I'll feel cheated. There is a gut feeling that this will happen, but he's not my prediction.

For Edna, it's certainly a possibility. But I hope not. And seeing as the Nedna thing is new-ish, they may keep her for that. It might be too predictable for Ned to lose a 2nd wife. Also, Al Jean's clue said ACTOR (not actress)... probably means nothing, but worth a thought. The woman who voices Edna doesn't voice anyone else, which may be evidence that she won't die as the writers probably wouldn't kill off an actor's only character unless the actor knew (which they don't). Edna is also one of the only consistent female characters outside of the family. It might be her but I hope it's not.

Apu... Could be. There were rumours that it IS Apu, but the producers themselves said they would be giving out false leads on purpose, to try and attract more viewers. I think chances of Apu dying are high, but he's not the one I'm predicting. If he does die, maybe he'll get reincarnated - shot of Apu's body fades into a shot of an animal (a humming bird? an elephant?) to signify that this is Apu's new life.

Sideshow Bob is my prediction. I know that Kelsey Grammer voices only that one character, but Kelsey Grammer is unlikely to be upset at Bob's death as he's probably rich anyway. Killing Sideshow Bob would finally end the Bob/Bart story arc in a definitive way. The only reason that Bob might not die though, is that he faked his own death in that funeral for a fiend episode, so it might be kind of similar.

[Reply #534 on:]

Hmm, that seems like it takes Herschel Krustofski, Anne Hathaway's character and possibly even Sideshow Bob and Edna Krabappel out of the running.

I can't imagine they'd write the death of one of their guests (and announce it) without at least making sure that they'd be up for coming back to reprise the role in the episode first.

And I can't imagine that they wouldn't discuss writing someone like Kelsey Grammar or Marcia Wallace out of the show after 20+ something years with the actor before announcing it and so forth. It wouldn't be particularly respectful.


It's looking more and more like it might be Grampa.

You make a good point about guest stars... hmm... Apu's looking like a strong possibility

[Reply #535 on:]

The death isn't going to be the focal point of the episode. Instead, it will be an anthology episode where Homer, Marge, Mr. Burns and Kent Brockman regret things they have done in the past at a beloved Springfielder's funeral.

[Reply #536 on:]

Isn't Herschel Krustofski Krusty's name? I thought his father was Hyman or something like that?

Yeah, I think you're right. Whoops.

Anyway, If the emmy is for the character itself rather than "various voices", then, excluding the main family (it'll never happen), we actually only have FOUR possibilities:

Not quite. Some of the wins have gone to a specific list of characters from their actors as opposed to just "Various characters".

The characters that have been named in Emmy wins, officially are:
Bart Simpson
Homer Simpson
Marge Simpson
Rabbi Krustofski
Lisa Simpson
Edna Krabappel
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
Sideshow Bob
Princess Penelope (some one-off character voiced by Anne Hathaway that no one cares about)
Comic Book Guy
Carl
Lou
Chief Wiggum
Moe Syzlak
Johnny Tightlips
Bumblebee Man
Cletus
Krusty the Clown
Groundskeeper Willie
Grampa
Sideshow Mel
Barney
Itchy

Obviously, it won't be any of the main family. They don't have the balls to do something like that.

Like I said, I can't see them making a big deal out of the death of a guest star's character without at least running it by them, first. I'm sure Kelsey Grammar would be fine with Sideshow Bob being killed, but it'd be a bit disrespectful to him to not at least run it by him, first, like I said. Plus, they already did an episode where Sideshow Bob "died". They'd be repeating a lot of the same material from that episode if it were him. Plus, I'd have thought that they'd want to keep Bob around for future Simpsons movies.

With that in mind, I don't think it's going to be one of the guests.

I think it's pretty safe to say that it won't be Itchy - otherwise, Al Jean is just trolling the world and he's going to piss a lot of people off.

Then, Jean has spoken about how the storylines have driven this and basically, he's said that the emotional impact of the death is the reason that they're doing it. With that in mind, it obviously won't be Johnny Tightlips, Bumblebee Man, Sideshow Mel or Lou and it's pretty unlikely that it'll be Comic Book Guy, Carl or Groundskeeper Willie.

The implication has been that the emotional impact is going to have to carry on over to the main family, too. Wiggum could make for a sad episode, but it'd have to be a Ralph episode, so I doubt it'll be him. Cletus could make for another episode about Bart and that girl that girl he went out with a few times that they seem to like for some reason, but I can't really see that being the case, so I'd say it's fairly safe to rule him out, too.

That leaves:
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
Krusty the Clown
Grampa
Barney
Moe Syzlak

It could easily be any of them, but I'd say that the most logical person on that list is Grampa as it just makes sense and opens up a lot of storylines.

Apu would leave behind 8 children with his wife. I can't see the show being quite that dark. Krusty is still one of the show's better characters in terms of the mileage that they get out of him and I just can't see them taking out such an important character at this stage. Barney would make sense as he's Homer's best friend depending on what episode it is. Homer losing his best friend could be interesting - and it's not as though Barney isn't likely to die of some alcohol related illness or simply a drunken accident. Moe is also pretty likely, although, there's no way that they're going to give up the Tavern as a writing tool and I can't see them just replacing Moe with a new bartender, so I think he's fairly safe, too.


Jennifer Tilly (who used to be married to Sam Simon) was asked about it, recently, and she said that she heard a rumour that it was Apu, but there's no real reason why she'd be in the loop on this one. She's Sam Simon's ex-wife and Sam Simon doesn't work on the show any more. Chances are that she was just saying it to get the annoying reporter that was following her to leave her alone. So yeah, in spite of that, I'm betting on Grampa.

Now, I don't think it will be Rabbi Krustofsky. Reason? Not major enough. They didn't build up Mona Simpson's death, and she is more major than Rabbi Krustofsky IMO. If Rabbi Krustofsky does die, I'll feel cheated. There is a gut feeling that this will happen, but he's not my prediction.

I don't know. They built up a lot of hype before they killed Maude Flanders off and, really, she was a pretty minor character.

[Reply #537 on:]

The death isn't going to be the focal point of the episode. Instead, it will be an anthology episode where Homer, Marge, Mr. Burns and Kent Brockman regret things they have done in the past at a beloved Springfielder's funeral.

This sounds pretty fake to me. Where, exactly, do you get this information? If you have a link to an article revealing that this will be the story, please share it with us, as we'd love to see it. If not, then stop making up fake storylines that are meant to confuse other Members. That's just stupid, and is very Troll-ish. 

[Reply #538 on:]

http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-simpsons-2013/episode-3-season-25/four-regrettings-and-a-funeral/100521

Episode Synopsis: When a beloved Springfielder dies, four residents recall life events that they would like to do over. Among them: Homer bemoans selling a tech stock to purchase a bowling ball, and Marge fears that she's the reason Bart is such a rebellious child. Others wishing for a do-over are Mr. Burns, who recalls a long-ago romance with a lovely Parisienne, and newsman Kent Brockman who regrets not leaving the local station to take a job with cable news. Original Air Date: Nov 3, 2013

Ehem...SHAME ON YOU MONSTER_ROBOT_MANIAC! SHAME! ON! YOUUUUUUUUUUUU!

 

...sorry, just really had to get that out of my system.

So yeah, I'm predicting this isn't going to be the death episode and that the person who dies either be a 1 time character or will come back to life at the end.

[Reply #539 on:]

You're a Cyber-Bully! I'm gonna call the Cyber-Police on your ass!

So it's actually real? Wow, sounded like a fake-out to me. I, too, doubt that that's the 'death' episode, as I'm sure they'd make a bigger deal out of the death of whatever character it will be, what with all their 'hints' and all. But, if it is, then at least it sounds like a pretty good episode.

Now, excuse me while I go cry in the corner because I just went through the most brutal shaming of my life...

[Reply #540 on:]

So yeah, I'm predicting this isn't going to be the death episode and that the person who dies either be a 1 time character or will come back to life at the end.

I don't think so. Definitely it won't be Grampa nor even Bob, which would require full storyline, just a minor character and if they already are in a funeral, there's probably not 'coming back to life'. Well, that's a little shame it's not anything bigger.

[Reply #541 on:]

Is it not completely possible that this death will be the focal point of an episode and then "Four Regrettings and a Funeral" will be the episode to follow it?

Edit: Nope, "Four Regrettings and a Funeral" is the next episode to air. I take it back.

Is this definitely the episode where a character dies? I mean, Al Jean says that the actor doesn't even know who's going to die yet and, obviously, if they're at the funeral, then the whole thing has been recorded and animated by now.

Unless the character doesn't have any speaking lines. If it was someone like Rabbi Krustofski, then they could just start the episode with him dead and have everyone show up at his funeral without giving him any dialogue and without telling the actor that he died.

[Reply #542 on:]

I'm pretty sure that this is going to be a separate episode entirely, with the death episode happening later. The plot sounds like it'll be more focused more on doing another quadrilogy episode with the supposed ''death'' not mattering much at all.

Possibly it'll be the death episode, but it honestly doesn't sound like something that could really focus and send off a character well.

You're a Cyber-Bully! I'm gonna call the Cyber-Police on your ass!

Now, excuse me while I go cry in the corner because I just went through the most brutal shaming of my life...

I learned it from watching you...I learned it from watching you! (also cries in the corner)

[Reply #543 on:]

Yeah, like I said, Al Jean's comments suggest that the death episode hasn't even been recorded yet, so I imagine that these are two separate episodes.

[Reply #544 on:]

It has to be either Grampa, Krusty or Sideshow Bob. I hear all these people in real life telling me it's most likely Bart, but seriously? I can't see them killing him off for real surely? Also, I'm voting the next episode isn't it, too.

[Reply #545 on:]

Watch them actually have Bender successfully kill Bart in Simpsonrama, and then proceed to eat his shorts.

[Reply #546 on:]

I've been getting back into The Simpsons.

When I say that of course, I mean rewatching Seasons 4-8, and some of the previous others. I think my favorite Season would have to be Season 7. It was probably the greatest season of anything that was produced for television. Ever. Season 6 is also a close second. They both have classic episodes, and barely had any bad ones at all. I generally liked Season 4 and 5, they were definitely great. 4 is where they began to pick up the quality. 5 is when they started to really get good with most of their episodes.

Don't get me wrong, I like Seasons 1-3. but they generally have lots of hits and misses. And some moments from these Seasons are general milestones of the show (Homer falling down the canyon, getting stuck in the amusement park ride tube, etc). Seasons 9 and 10 I liked, 10 more than 9. But around Season 11, they began to go pretty downhill. Very fast.

I still haven't bothered watching episodes from seasons 13-17. I watched some eps from Seasons 18-25, but still make me regret wasting my time watching them. They're not anywhere as bad as the New Family Guy (They get more atrocious every year), but still fall under a very sucky category. The last good episode they had was "Holidays of Future Passed". I remember sitting in my room when it first aired, with my laptop and such. I kept peaking over at my TV during the first few minutes, and after 5 minutes,  I freaking loved it, but now I look at it as simply a pretty good episode from the Simpsons I'd see from possibly Season 9. I mean the Family Picture montage was great, that was probably the only thing that gave me interest to watch the ep. The rest was pretty good, not bad at all.

I still wonder, if we will ever get an episode like that again. Right now it seems pretty unlikely, seeing how last Season and this season has currently been on a shitfest (usual for the modern-day Simpsons).

[Reply #547 on:]

I think my favorite Season would have to be Season 7. It was probably the greatest season of anything that was produced for television. Ever. Season 6 is also a close second.

Seasons 1 & 2 of Arrested Development, season 2 of 30 Rock & Community, season 5 of Breaking Bad & Mad Men and season 4 of Lost would like to have a word with you...

Seriously though, I've actually been re-watching a lot of the classics lately myself and it always amazes me how well the more satirical episodes age. Aside from a few dated cultural references, they're still as relevant as ever. Not to mention how damn funny and clever they all still are... It's sad to see just how low the show's standard dropped.

[Reply #548 on:]

I think my favorite Season would have to be Season 7. It was probably the greatest season of anything that was produced for television. Ever.

I'd put seasons 3, 4 and 6 of Futurama, seasons 1, 4 and 5 of Breaking Bad, season 8 of South Park and seasons 4 and 6 of The Simpsons ahead of it, but I more or less agree with the sentiment - the sentiment that it rocks.

4 is where they began to pick up the quality. 5 is when they started to really get good with most of their episodes.

I'd say that season 3 is when the show noticeably began to pick up the quality to "one of the best things on TV" standards and by season 4, it was utterly sublime. I suppose the show got more consistently funny in season 5, but honestly, I'd have a hard time picking between seasons 4 and 5, overall. 5 is funnier, but it also has a lot more missteps and silly cartoonery.

Don't get me wrong, I like Seasons 1-3. but they generally have lots of hits and misses.

Really? I'd say that they were pretty consistent seasons. Season 3 is consistently very good from start to finish, but it was still yet to hit the highs of season 4. Seasons 1 and 2 are, maybe a bit more hit and miss, but they're still mostly all good episodes, but not nearly as good as what the show turned into. The only one that strikes me as being particularly weak is "Dancin' Homer", the worst non-clip-show episode of the show's golden years.

Seasons 9 and 10 I liked, 10 more than 9. But around Season 11, they began to go pretty downhill. Very fast.

I'm also rewatching the series at the minute and I'm currently on season 9. I remember season 13 being the point where the show became unwatchable for me, but I always enjoyed seasons 9 to 12, whilst they were noticeably weaker that what had come before. I expected to revisit them only to like them much, much less than I did when I was younger, but if anything, the opposite is true. Most of season 9 so far is much better than I remember, although it still represents the first season that's really obviously showing cracks in the series as a whole. It's probably the first season that they made where I wouldn't give a single episode a 10/10 rating
 

I still wonder, if we will ever get an episode like that again. Right now it seems pretty unlikely, seeing how last Season and this season has currently been on a shitfest (usual for the modern-day Simpsons).

The last season wasn't any worse than pretty much everything the show has been doing in the last 10 years. I imagine that the show will give us another decent episode at some point. "Holidays of Future Passed" was such a blip on the radar - the first decent episode in about 7 years or something crazy - but if the show runs another 7 years (which is very possible) then I expect one of those episodes will be half-decent. I'm hoping that "Simpsorama" will be their next decent episode.

Seasons 1 & 2 of Arrested Development, season 2 of 30 Rock & Community, season 5 of Breaking Bad & Mad Men and season 4 of Lost would like to have a word with you...

For my money, season 3 is the best season of Arrested Development by a mile and, at any rate, season 2 is noticeably weaker than 1 and 3. To be honest, I think I prefer season 4 to season 2, but then, I loved season 4. 30 Rock is a great show, but it's not THAT great. Community is far too hit and miss to put on par with golden era Simpsons. Some episodes are downright incredible, but they're usually the few high-concept episodes and plenty are nothing hugely special. Mad Men and Lost can piss right off.

Seriously though, I've actually been re-watching a lot of the classics lately myself and it always amazes me how well the more satirical episodes age. Aside from a few dated cultural references, they're still as relevant as ever. Not to mention how damn funny and clever they all still are... It's sad to see just how low the show's standard dropped.

I've been finding what has aged quite amusing. The fact that computers and the internet are still a novelty in the early episodes, for example. But I agree. I went through all of South Park prior to going back over The Simpsons and some of those episodes (from only 2 or 3 years ago, I might add) have aged horribly. I had to keep stopping and explaining what current events had been happening at the time of airing to my girlfriend who hadn't seen much of season 12, onwards, of the show before.

[Reply #549 on:]

For my money, season 3 is the best season of Arrested Development by a mile and, at any rate, season 2 is noticeably weaker than 1 and 3. To be honest, I think I prefer season 4 to season 2, but then, I loved season 4.

Season 3 has more episodes in my top ten than any other; The Cabin Show, Mr. F, Exit Strategy and Development Arrested. Buuuutt, I thought the Rita story arc was a little weak in its execution (who didn't figure out the "twist" a few minutes into her first appearance?), and the season ultimately suffered from Fox cutting down the order (though granted, that was beyond their control). Not too mention far too much reliance on callbacks during the middle point of the season. I love all of Arrested Development dearly, but seasons 1 and 2 are just stronger as a whole for that very reason.

And yeah, I completely forgot about South Park in that list. Seasons 6-8 are all utterly perfect in my opinion.

[Reply #550 on:]

It would certainly explain why the writers have seemingly been on a quest to redeem Grampa as of late.

Just curious, how have they been redeeming him? (I haven't watched any new eps in ages)

[Reply #551 on:]

All the Grampa episodes of last season showed him as a much nicer person than he'd ever previously been depicted in the show. There was a flashback episode about a torrid affair between him and a black woman which seemed incredibly out-of-character to suggest that he would've been that progressive and open-minded at a time when it was still considered taboo, and more than one episode that revealed he was more caring than the family had previously given him credit for, which also contradicts a slew of flashbacks from the classic era.

[Reply #552 on:]

Oh man... I'm currently watching all the Season 11 episodes on DVD and just got through Saddlesore Galactica for the first time. Jesus Christ! That was bad, I mean, REALLY BAD! I never realised The Simpsons could get that retarded. Worst episode ever!

[Reply #553 on:]

As utterly ridiculous and beyond stupid that episode is, I promise you that it's not even close to being the worst episode ever. The show gets much, much worse after that.

It's to the point that, honestly, that episode's probably in the top half of the show's episodes, overall.

[Reply #554 on:]

I almost might agree with "worst episode ever", it was very bad. Not only it had that terrible out of the place premise of jockeys, but also it was not enjoyable or anything. Even Comicbook Guy was there as a voice of the fans.

I don't think it tops the new episodes much or at all.

[Reply #555 on:]

This was my most hated Simpsons episode. Up until that fucking piece of shit with the dishrag.

Seasons 11-12 had their fair share of utter stinkers, but even the worst episodes made me laugh at least once or twice. The bad episodes from the recent seasons haven't even done that.

[Reply #556 on:]

"Husbands and Knives" was pretty bad. It's definitely in my Top 10 Worst Episodes.

[Reply #557 on:]

Also worse than Saddlesore Galactica: The Boys of Bummer and that piece of shit episode where all the old people's eyes fall out.

[Reply #558 on:]

I'm not sure if this is my least favorite, but it's definitely not far from holding that title: Homer Simpson in Kidney Trouble.

[Reply #559 on:]

All's Fair in Oven War for me. Not a single redeeming quality.