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Let’s face it. The Simpsons has been on a steep decline in quality for how long now? Maybe season 12? Probably earlier – we just didn’t notice back then. The laughter faded quickly though and now you can go entire episodes of yellow-skinned semantics without even a single chortle. Novelty characters like Sideshow Bob used to appear maybe once a season and because of their rarity were hilarious. Now? ...

Let’s face it. The Simpsons has been on a steep decline in quality for how long now? Maybe season 12? Probably earlier – we just didn’t notice back then. The laughter faded quickly though and now you can go entire episodes of yellow-skinned semantics without even a single chortle. Novelty characters like Sideshow Bob used to appear maybe once a season and because of their rarity were hilarious. Now? Sideshow Bob and countless other guest stars are paraded before the Simpsons audience in a last-ditch attempt to gain viewership.

What went wrong? How can a classic comedy like the Simpsons go from spot-on social satire to pop-culture dribble overnight? Let’s take a look shall we?

Throughout its 19 Season career The Simpsons has seen 72 writers walk through its Evergreen Terrace doors. That’s right 72. In those 72 you obviously have groupings according to writing staffs of various seasons. Somehow they managed to weed out the quality writers of the earlier seasons and replace them with the crappy ones that produce the shite we see today.

But wait – James L Brooks, Sam Simon and Matt Groening are credited with writing each episode since the beginning of Simpsonian time. Do they deserve blame for the decline in quality? Not as much as the credits would make you think. They receive credit simply for having created the characters early on – thus their receive top-honors in opening credits – as a new band of crap-ass writers destroy their creation from some dingy writers room.

The Simpsons did it wrong. They followed typical television procedure – writers come and go – but they failed to maintain any semblance of comedic standards.

Even Family Guy has fallen victim to this trend. With 6 seasons containing 109 episodes they’ve had 32 writers. However, unlike the Simpsons – Family Guy doesn’t rely on a group-think method for episodic creation. Family Guy has individuals or two people write each episode. I think you’ll agree that this technique has worked well for them. Unfortunately, even using a different model for episode writing doesn’t protect you against falling standards for comedic writing. Maybe you’ve noticed – maybe you haven’t but Family Guy hasn’t been quite up to par since being cancelled. Sure it’s still funny and some episodes certainly hit the hilarity highs of the originals but it’s not smash hit after smash hit like the first few seasons.

Falling standards. Hell, it pains me to say this but even the Futurama “movie” was a failure compared to the excellent writing of the last few seasons pre-cancellation.

What makes this even more frustrating? We know, we have proof, that Television comedy doesn’t have to lose quality with every successive season. Countless shows maintained their high-caliber writing throughout their multiple season runs.

Spin City:

145+ episodes, 6 seasons, 25 writers

Absolutely hilarious while Michael J. Fox ruled supreme. Still pretty damned funny even after Charlie Sheen took over.

Seinfeld:

175 episodes, 9 seasons, 32 writers

Do I even need to say anything?

Scrubs:

145+ episodes, 7 seasons, 19 writers

Hilarious medical comedy that only seems to pick up momentum with each season.

Frasier:

243 episodes, 11 seasons, 46 writers

Maybe you find it pretentious. However, anyone who watched the series from start to finish knows the show’s writing was spot-on each episode – every episode.

Arrested Development:

53 episodes, 3 seasons, 12 writers

Cancelled far before its time this show became a cult-hit for its self-referential humor and unending string of comedic misunderstandings. Brilliant show (even if the third season was Danny Devito in stature (short and odd, though still funny))

The Drew Carey Show:

233 episodes, 9 seasons, 43 writers

Perhaps the best show for syndication. Very funny show that found new ways to milk boring office life.

Futurama:

72 episodes, 5 seasons, 18 writers

While its first few seasons were overshadowed by the initially funnier Family Guy, Futurama’s writing kept gaining steam and was a comedic powerhouse by the time it was cancelled. Stupid Fox.

House:

83 episodes, 4 seasons, 18 writers

Maybe you’d argue this is more of a drama than a comedy. Alright, I accept that argument – but only if you concede it’s one of the most consistently funny pieces of programming on television. Are we agreed?

South Park:

171 episodes, 12 seasons, 24 writers

To deny that political satire has ever seen better paper cut-out representation would be a blatant lie. I for one will not perpetrate that lie. South Park is damned funny and damned smart.

The Office:

60 episodes, 4 seasons, 13 writers

Where Drew Carey left off The Office picks up lampooning the ridiculous nature of the corporate workplace. Dwight Shrute. Staplers in Jell-O. Politically incorrect. Brilliant.

How I Met Your Mother:

58 episodes, 3 seasons, 15 writers

It’s like Friends without nearly as much drama. Pure free-flowing comedy. Oh, and Neil Patrick Harris. Need we go on?

These shows are guaranteed to keep you laughing far into the night. If you haven’t watched these series from one end to the other – do so. The Hollywood crap-factory is capable of solid material day-in and day-out – maybe it’s time to pull the plug on the Simpsons. They’ve run their course and it’s clear the material is exhausted. Let them die. Please, let them die.

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