Having been on for a mind-blowing 22 seasons now, The Simpsons has become a juggernaut of a series that has been viewed by multiple generations. But there are many who lament the show continuing on, saying the quality has declined and that the series should have ended years ago.
But not so fast…
We asked Robert Canning, who's been covering The Simpsonsfor IGN TV for several years, what he thought about the subject. Read on to see why he's defending The Simpsons…
But not so fast…
We asked Robert Canning, who's been covering The Simpsonsfor IGN TV for several years, what he thought about the subject. Read on to see why he's defending The Simpsons…
The Simpsons is still a funny show. That's it. It's that simple. It's still worth watching and has been for years. And, yes, I'm talking about all those years after Season 9. There are plenty of classic episodes to be found in Season 12, Season 14, Season 18 and the rest. Admittedly, the classics came more consistently in the single-digit seasons, and there are episodes from that era that will never be topped. Ever. And perhaps you would have been happier if the show ended after "Natural Born Kissers." But it didn't. 270 more episodes have followed… and counting. If all you're going to do is compare those episodes to "Marge vs. the Monorail" or "Mr. Plow," you'll miss out on countless more funny bits, quotable lines and touching tales.
- FOX
Still Simpsons-ing after all these years...
The series has changed its tone a bit over the years. The first season was often just a family sitcom that happened to be animated. The next few seasons kept the family sitcom values but added the kind of absurdity that live-action television just isn't capable of. The classic seasons (let's say Season 4 throughSeason 8) found a perfect balance between the two. But when the scales tipped toward absurdity around Season 10, the series found its detractors and people started saying The Simpsons just wasn't good anymore. And I agree that watching Homer fail at some ridiculous scheme or unrealistic new job over and over again can get tiresome. But a bad Simpsons episode is still better and funnier than the countless crap sitcoms that come and go in the blink of an eye. (Accidentally on Purpose, Brothers and Hank to name a few.)
During any boring Lisa story you may discover an hilariousGroundskeeper Willie bit, an awesome Ralph Wiggum quote, or a spectacular Itchy and Scratchy short. Sure, not every episode as a whole is killer, but all are packed with the characters we've grown to adore and everybody gets a moment to shine. It's worth watching a so-so episode if Professor Frink shows up, or if Cletusmakes an appearance. The consistency of great episodes may have tapered off for a bit, but almost every episode is still good for memorable moments.
- FOX
Season 21's "The Bob Next Door"
This season is already off to a good start. And like when the series first began, The Simpsons is once again a topic of water cooler conversations, thanks to an opening sequence created by British artist and activist Banksy, and Bill O'Reilly calling The Simpsons"pinheads" for showing a Fox News slogan reading, "Not Racist, But #1 With Racists." The series may not be as edgy as it once was, but it can still make an impact. And the show is still delivering solid laughs.
- FOX
Season 22's "Lisa Simpson, This Isn't Your Life"
The series can still deliver; no matter how many times a plot might be reused. After 22 seasons, The Simpsons is still well worth watching.
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