Blood for Creme!
Despite a very funny Sondheim cameo, I was very disappointed with last night's "Simpsons." Yes, I know, the ending finally made sense. It was everything else...
I don't know. I mean, I can't even bring myself to watch the old episodes in syndication anymore, because there's a greater viability they will be showing an episode I'm unexpectedly disappointed in than an out-and-out "Simpsons" classic: a rarity these days. The new episodes are rude, crude, and, if you believe everything you read on Wikipedia, unexpectedly racist. And, yes, I know "The Simpsons" is usually better than ninety percent of the crap out there. But I think sometime around when they started doing parodies of shows/movies/pop cult parahernalia I was totally unaware of ("The Prisoner!" Day of the Dolphin!) was a true jumping-off point for my loyalty to the series as a whole. Combined with the fact that most of the show's writers are as old as Bart Simpson (b. 1984 and after) and are either oblivious or unaware of the show's origins, it's bunk.
I've always used the hiring of Ian Maxtone-Graham as my usual gambit, but a rerun tonight confirmed my worst fears: "The Simpsons" stopped being great when the writers discovered irony.
At some point, when "The Family Guy" became a mainstream hit, I'm guessing, "The Simpsons" was perceived as stale, out-of-touch, and, compared to some of the edgier comedy out there like "American Dad" and "South Park," a glorified morality play. This point of view was probably that of the "Simpsons" writers themselves. I mean, the older episodes are quaint, and, when push comes to shove, Flanders and his bible are typically right about everything.
And then, someone thought: You know what would be hilarious? Let's give the fans the opposite of what they expect. Let's make Homer stupider, Marge crazy, Lisa shallow, and Bart the bystander, instead of the show's breakout star. You can just imagine the writers' laughing at themselves and this ingenious ploy.
But the thing is: This hasn't been the case for only one episode, or even a few. No, this rule applies to NEARLY EVERY DAMN EPISODE THAT'S BEEN RUNNING RIGHT NOW. The humor has even veered into unexpectedly racist, scatalogical, and homophobic territory. And, I know, "The Simpsons" was the exception to the rule. Now, it's a product of its own time. You can't watch those promos for Wild Hogs and tell me this is a funny, inoffensive film by any means. I saw an ad for Blades of Glory on the 6 today, and all I could think was, "Yep, that's pretty homophobic." "Simpsons" was smart, now it's just smart-ass. The humor just isn't the same. It's supposed to be ironic, and it comes out as offensive.
Take, for example, Cletus hanging a raccoon. No, this isn't the only joke that would be perceived as "racist," nor is it the only gag having to do with a character in that episode being fatally, and violently, choked. It's just gotten to a point where the writers have to just make things up. The Bart storyline was the "B" storyline in this week's episode. Normally, I wouldn't give a shit about a fictional cartoon family, but you'd think the writers would have some knowledge of who these characters are. Considering that there are cults, nay, entire segments of the population who have "The Simpsons" trivia memorized to the smallest detail, you'd think those people who are paid to dream up storylines for the characters in Springfield would know who they are and what they're about. All through last night's episode I kept thinking, "Where's Dylan? Where's Dermot?" And thus, one of the show's great, randomly funny gags is now lost FOREVER.
And that's what is wrong with "The Simpsons": Now it tries too hard to be random, instead of not trying at all, which is when the show was really cooking, IMO. You'd think these kids, who perhaps grew up with the show's greatest episodes, would know that Bart knows what sex is already, Marge wouldn't resort to violence when acting upon her jealousy, or that Lisa wouldn't care about body image (leading to at least three of the show's most baffling recent denouments). I know these characters aren't supposed to age, but they should mature, and that's what they fail to understand: And what great writers like Conan O'Brien, Adam Lapidus, and George Meyer knew to a brilliant T. Now, it's all about violence, offensive throwaway jokes pertaining to serious issues (gay marriage, teen pregnancy out of wedlock, religious Jews and Mormons), and, yes, pop cultural references that only the writers would get. I was racking my brain trying to figure out what they were accomplishing with the Bart storyline. Granted, it wasn't as extreme as Homer being raped by a panda, but what was it supposed to be? 12 Monkeys? "The Sopranos"? Edward Gorey? The hell? And why would Principal Skinner bust out "Let's Hear It for the Rainbow Tour," anyway? I find myself, of all people asking, "What are they parodying?"
Okay, I'll admit. I was kind of proud that they did shout-out "Let's Hear It for the Rainbow Tour." But it's all too much for probably anyone else. I mean, I fully expect Homer to tell us about the time he left an aborted fetus in the dumpster a la Peter Griffin in the next new episode, and I worry that he might.
But maybe there's hope. There would be no such thing as a "Simpsons" purist, but I know the humor used to be less presentational and a lot more subtle and mature. Now it's all about easy grabs to the Iraq War, the death penalty, the Internet, red states, and "golden showers."
I'd cite more examples, but I'm getting tired right now. Like when Maude Flanders died? I wouldn't have expected "Simpsons" to be in such poor taste.
Also? Salad dressing.
By the way, my own personal choice for Worst Episode Ever. Maggie isn't even in it, and Dennis Rodman jokes when they've already become stale? Pandering!
I so miss Sideshow Raheem. Angry, angry young man...
I don't know. I mean, I can't even bring myself to watch the old episodes in syndication anymore, because there's a greater viability they will be showing an episode I'm unexpectedly disappointed in than an out-and-out "Simpsons" classic: a rarity these days. The new episodes are rude, crude, and, if you believe everything you read on Wikipedia, unexpectedly racist. And, yes, I know "The Simpsons" is usually better than ninety percent of the crap out there. But I think sometime around when they started doing parodies of shows/movies/pop cult parahernalia I was totally unaware of ("The Prisoner!" Day of the Dolphin!) was a true jumping-off point for my loyalty to the series as a whole. Combined with the fact that most of the show's writers are as old as Bart Simpson (b. 1984 and after) and are either oblivious or unaware of the show's origins, it's bunk.
I've always used the hiring of Ian Maxtone-Graham as my usual gambit, but a rerun tonight confirmed my worst fears: "The Simpsons" stopped being great when the writers discovered irony.
At some point, when "The Family Guy" became a mainstream hit, I'm guessing, "The Simpsons" was perceived as stale, out-of-touch, and, compared to some of the edgier comedy out there like "American Dad" and "South Park," a glorified morality play. This point of view was probably that of the "Simpsons" writers themselves. I mean, the older episodes are quaint, and, when push comes to shove, Flanders and his bible are typically right about everything.
And then, someone thought: You know what would be hilarious? Let's give the fans the opposite of what they expect. Let's make Homer stupider, Marge crazy, Lisa shallow, and Bart the bystander, instead of the show's breakout star. You can just imagine the writers' laughing at themselves and this ingenious ploy.
But the thing is: This hasn't been the case for only one episode, or even a few. No, this rule applies to NEARLY EVERY DAMN EPISODE THAT'S BEEN RUNNING RIGHT NOW. The humor has even veered into unexpectedly racist, scatalogical, and homophobic territory. And, I know, "The Simpsons" was the exception to the rule. Now, it's a product of its own time. You can't watch those promos for Wild Hogs and tell me this is a funny, inoffensive film by any means. I saw an ad for Blades of Glory on the 6 today, and all I could think was, "Yep, that's pretty homophobic." "Simpsons" was smart, now it's just smart-ass. The humor just isn't the same. It's supposed to be ironic, and it comes out as offensive.
Take, for example, Cletus hanging a raccoon. No, this isn't the only joke that would be perceived as "racist," nor is it the only gag having to do with a character in that episode being fatally, and violently, choked. It's just gotten to a point where the writers have to just make things up. The Bart storyline was the "B" storyline in this week's episode. Normally, I wouldn't give a shit about a fictional cartoon family, but you'd think the writers would have some knowledge of who these characters are. Considering that there are cults, nay, entire segments of the population who have "The Simpsons" trivia memorized to the smallest detail, you'd think those people who are paid to dream up storylines for the characters in Springfield would know who they are and what they're about. All through last night's episode I kept thinking, "Where's Dylan? Where's Dermot?" And thus, one of the show's great, randomly funny gags is now lost FOREVER.
And that's what is wrong with "The Simpsons": Now it tries too hard to be random, instead of not trying at all, which is when the show was really cooking, IMO. You'd think these kids, who perhaps grew up with the show's greatest episodes, would know that Bart knows what sex is already, Marge wouldn't resort to violence when acting upon her jealousy, or that Lisa wouldn't care about body image (leading to at least three of the show's most baffling recent denouments). I know these characters aren't supposed to age, but they should mature, and that's what they fail to understand: And what great writers like Conan O'Brien, Adam Lapidus, and George Meyer knew to a brilliant T. Now, it's all about violence, offensive throwaway jokes pertaining to serious issues (gay marriage, teen pregnancy out of wedlock, religious Jews and Mormons), and, yes, pop cultural references that only the writers would get. I was racking my brain trying to figure out what they were accomplishing with the Bart storyline. Granted, it wasn't as extreme as Homer being raped by a panda, but what was it supposed to be? 12 Monkeys? "The Sopranos"? Edward Gorey? The hell? And why would Principal Skinner bust out "Let's Hear It for the Rainbow Tour," anyway? I find myself, of all people asking, "What are they parodying?"
Okay, I'll admit. I was kind of proud that they did shout-out "Let's Hear It for the Rainbow Tour." But it's all too much for probably anyone else. I mean, I fully expect Homer to tell us about the time he left an aborted fetus in the dumpster a la Peter Griffin in the next new episode, and I worry that he might.
But maybe there's hope. There would be no such thing as a "Simpsons" purist, but I know the humor used to be less presentational and a lot more subtle and mature. Now it's all about easy grabs to the Iraq War, the death penalty, the Internet, red states, and "golden showers."
I'd cite more examples, but I'm getting tired right now. Like when Maude Flanders died? I wouldn't have expected "Simpsons" to be in such poor taste.
Also? Salad dressing.
By the way, my own personal choice for Worst Episode Ever. Maggie isn't even in it, and Dennis Rodman jokes when they've already become stale? Pandering!
I so miss Sideshow Raheem. Angry, angry young man...
posted by Gypsy at 7:24 PM
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