Any Simpsons fans about? I've got a query for you.

[flobadob]

I was a big fan of The Simpsons for years but stopped watching them around season 9 or 10 as I thought, with a couple of exceptions that they were not as funny as the previous years and actually really I started to get annoyed when watching them, due to the decline in humour.

Anyway, I recently decided to give The Simpsons Movie a try and for the first half of the movie I was pleasantly surprised but thought the second half was mediocre. That is my thoughts out of the way

I see now that The Simpsons is into its 20th season and what I am wondering is, is there anyone else who also felt how I felt about the seasons mentioned and are the new episodes in any way better than season 10 to 15 for example? Thanks.

[China Doll]

Yeah, I was a real hard simpson addict but not any longer for the same reasons as you. I also really wanted to love the movie and I don't really. I'm now a die hard family guy fan and I think it won't suffer the same way as it won't be on everyday which I think is what effectively ruined simpsons.

[MarkRae]

I love them all, Flob.

[annie0000]

I got fed up with the "celebrity" character episodes - they always seemed to be very engineered and not as funny.

[sherrardk]

I've just started watching series 21 and they are quite good - maybe a break from it makes you appreciate it again?

[tommy-h]

Completey agree F losing its track try AM DAD hysterical

[flobadob]

Yes, I like Family Gut also, but wouldn't really be arsed with American Dad. annie, I think I know what you mean, it really started to grate on me when the celebrity would show up and one of the family would just announce them. I'm actually talking myself out of giving the newer episodes a chance while typing this. Mark, if you are serious, I'm really surprised at your opinion.

[sophie_1003]

Earlier episodes are definitely still the best; and movie wasn't as good as everyone made it out to be.

[MarkRae]

They went through a phase of being less belly-laugh funny and being more cerebral, with more subtle references...

[annie0000]

Is you tryin to say that us is fick Mark? lol

[flobadob]

Mark, I think it is the 100% opposite of what you are saying. They went from subtlety to basically outright explaining what was occurring on screen. eg someone falls over, cue Lisa "Oh no, someone has fallen over".

[MarkRae]

OK.

[flobadob]

Good.

[Mattk]

Its only natural after such a phenomenally successful run that you run out of steam. The same is true of Family Guy although I could happily still sit and watch it.

[cazzz1975]

I agree with matt and though the simpsons has lost its magic they still have some first class jokes, though I find the episode done by ricky gervais really lacking

[piggynose]

i prefer king of the hill

[AB Editor]

Morning Flob,

http://en.wikipedia.o.../The_Simpsons#Writing

When Meyer left he took the magic with him - that kinetic "mousetrap" feel that the first few hundred Simpsons episodes.

I always think that the older episodes are a bit like Airplane - an absolute torrent of jokes. The later stuff is less impressive IMHO.

[flobadob]

Does anyone have any suggestions of a few episodes from more recent series, say 15+ that would be one of their favourites, just so I can give them a go. Looking through some of the synopsis don't fill me with any great hope of a redemption. My favs would be the baseball one, homer astronaut, australia, george bush, monorail. The last one I enjoyed of the newer ones was probably the Scorpio one. So anything similar to them would be good, thanks.