The Simpsons

[El Barto]

It was always the most likely scenario, since Groening is from Portland.  Not sure why he'd bother confirming it now, though.  It was more amusing as a long-running joke.  Trying to drum up some press, I suppose. 

[fadetoblackdude7]

"You can't seriously want to ban alcohol! It tastes great, makes women appear more attractive, and makes one virtually invulnerable to criticism!"

 

[JRundquist]

My all time favorite Simpsons moment (Although not the best quality)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rzbNqqaVd8

[Chino]

I am studying plants in biology lab this week.... Every time I hear "Epidermis" I can't help but think of Nelson

[Dr. DTVT]

I am studying plants in biology lab this week.... Every time I hear "Epidermis" I can't help but think of Nelson

Now we know the real reason you fell.

"Hey Chino!  Your epidermis is showing!"

*Chino falls from balcony*

[JRundquist]

You see, epidermis means your hair. Hold on a second, HAHA!

[BlobVanDam]

It was always the most likely scenario, since Groening is from Portland.  Not sure why he'd bother confirming it now, though.  It was more amusing as a long-running joke.  Trying to drum up some press, I suppose. 

Seems kind of pointless to me at this stage. Does anybody eve care anymore? They intentionally contradicted it being in any specific location so many times that this seems to be trivial at best now.

[Progmetty]

^ I cannot be the only "relatively new" fan out there and those care.
Barto your PM inbox is full man!

[El Barto]

Wow.  Treehouse of Horror really blew this year.  A laugh here and there, but overall all completely forgettable.  And is it me, or are the vignettes quite a bit shorter than they used to be?  Doesn't seem like any of them topped 5 minutes.  That'd make the show 50% commercials now. 

[Ben_Jamin]

Wow.  Treehouse of Horror really blew this year.  A laugh here and there, but overall all completely forgettable.  And is it me, or are the vignettes quite a bit shorter than they used to be?  Doesn't seem like any of them topped 5 minutes.  That'd make the show 50% commercials now.

I was afraid of the time issue after watching the one at 6, where Flanders kills all of Homers enemies it was really short.

[El Barto]

'Simpsons' actress Marcia Wallace dies at 70

Adios Edna Krabappel. Probably watch a few Edna-centric episodes this evening. A couple of them made my top 20.

Interestingly, CNN reported that they were going to kill off a major character this year. I honestly did't care, since it won't be one of the Simpsons themselves. In retrospect, I suspect they were planning it to be Edna all along, since they were aware of the situation with Marcia Wallace's health. Hopefully they'd already produced the relevant episode, so as to giver her a proper send off.

[GentlemanofDread]

They said it wasn't Edna they were going to kill off.

[El Barto]

They said it wasn't Edna they were going to kill off.

Really. Huh. Did they say this in response to MW's death, or were they dropping hints beforehand?

[GentlemanofDread]

'Statement from executive producer Al Jean, on behalf of The Simpsons:

I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace. She was beloved by all at "The Simpsons" and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character.

Earlier we had discussed a potential storyline in which a character passed away. This was not Marcia's Edna Krabappel. Marcia's passing is unrelated and again, a terrible loss for all who had the pleasure of knowing her.'

[Ben_Jamin]

Its going to be interesting how they're going to find a replacement teacher...its actually a fresh idea for The Simpsons.

[El Barto]

Ironically, losing a character this way will actually get them a much bigger ratings boost than had they gone ahead and just whacked somebody for the sake of doing it. I wouldn't have bothered watching another "Ned's wife gets killed" episode, but I might actually tune in to the first non-Edna episode.

[?]

Aww, sad to hear that...

There'll actually be 5 Simpsons reruns in a row today on Finnish TV, so maybe I'll see an episode with Edna in it.

[Dr. DTVT]

I wonder how they are going to deal with Ned losing his second wife now.  Edna was so ingrained, I don't think you can just stop writing her into scripts like they did with Phil Hartman's characters.  Damn I miss Lionel Hutz.

[El Barto]

I didn't know she and Flanders were married. As for writing out her character, I say you kill Krabappel off in spectacular fashion; particularly since Marcia Wallace would have dug such an exit.  She died. She have heart attack and fell out of window onto exploding bomb, and was killed in a shooting accident.

[Chino]

Well done.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/04/the-simpsons-tribute-marcia-wallace-chalkboard-message-video_n_4210838.html

[Zantera]

https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/14/8604495/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons-no-mr-burns-flanders

[BlobVanDam]

They've lost voice actors over the years, but main cast aside, this is the one guy the show cannot do without. Continuing without him will make the show even more of a shadow of its former self than it has been for the past 15 years.

How can you even make an episode without these characters? Will they just have them silently appear in the background but say nothing? Will they kill some characters off? Will they replace the characters with new ones? They'd have to. There's no good solution here other than finally admitting it's old yeller time.

[ariich]

Either that or they get in good impressionists to voice the most important characters that Shearer voices.

[?]

The series has been renewed for at least two more seasons, but I can't see the point in going on if so many key characters either disappear or get new voices. At this point I wouldn't be sad if the show ended, because only a handful of episodes in the latest season were better than merely alright IMO.

[BlobVanDam]

I wouldn't be sad if the show ended. I'm more sad that it's still going.

They could recast the voice actors, but those characters are so well known after 25 years that I don't think they could get away with it without it being very noticeable.

[Kotowboy]

They could either feature them less or after 25 years or so - they might re use old lines. I'm sure they probably have enough to work with if that happens.

But yeah if Shearer leaves then no more Otto, Mr Burns, Lenny, Dr. Hibbert, Kent Brockman, Ned Flanders, Whelan Smithers, Principal Skinner.

[BlobVanDam]

They'll probably replace Mr Burns and Smithers with Rich Texan and business lady, have Gill take over driving the school bus, have Dr Nick become the main doctor, replace Skinner with Supernintendo Chalmers, and replace the Flanders with some desperately trying to be relevant unconventional family with three mummies and an adopted Ethiopian kid and they'll be Satanists.

I say this all jokingly, but I'm sure at least one of them will come true.

[Kotowboy]

I saw a new episode of the show recently and it was just awful. Like you said before - jokes that they setup and payoff in the same scene and are cringe worthily obvious.

Like Lisa saying "this wall is insured against car crash" or something - then a car immediately crashes into it.

Plus it's horribly self aware and referential. It's not a funny sitcom anymore. It's a TV show that knows it's a TV show and all the characters are just going through the motions.

Bart misbehaves ! Lisa is smart and an activist ! Homer gets drunk / says something stupid ! Marge  disapproves !

It's so bad. I hate Family Guy but I'd rather watch that than current Simpsons.

[Mladen]

Like Lisa saying "this wall is insured against car crash" or something - then a car immediately crashes into it.

Yeah, I think this kind of humor became really prominent around season 18 or 19 and I didn't like it at all. I haven't been following them over the last couple of years, there are probably three seasons that I missed. Honestly, it always felt like they would end the show once one of the main voice actors either died or decided they've had enough. We can only wonder if the situation would be any different if it was Dan Castelaneta who decided to leave the show.

[sneakyblueberry]

For some reason, my 2 year old LOVES The Simpsons, they're currently airing season 4 on TV at the moment, which must be like, the 100th time they've shown it.  She's only ever been into watching Frozen, so I'm a very happy man atm.  Classic Simpsons is pretty much unbeatable, and they've been played on TV for so long that I find myself quoting at least 3-4 classic lines in each episode. 

[El Barto]

If I'm Hank Azaria or Dan Castelleneta I have no desire to do the show anymore. I always figured that if any of the main cast split that'd probably be the end of it. Christ, it's not like any of them need the money.

[Kotowboy]

They probably never need to work again just on the re-runs.

It get shown repeatedly all over the world PLUS Harry Shearer must have 10 voices per episode so he's set for life.

[BlobVanDam]

If I'm Hank Azaria or Dan Castelleneta I have no desire to do the show anymore. I always figured that if any of the main cast split that'd probably be the end of it. Christ, it's not like any of them need the money.

That main cast is set for life. But it's easy reliable money that they're never going to get anywhere else, so why not keep taking the paycheck? Obviously they're not in it for artistic reasons at this point, it's just a cushy job. If I ever had a sweet gig like that, I'd be clinging on to it forever.

[Kotowboy]

Well Harry has been talking about leaving for years. I'd imagine it would get a bit boring after a while. Plus as an actor - you'd wanna do different things.

He's in his 60s and yes - pretty much set for life - so why not use your time to do what you really want to do ?

[BlobVanDam]

I hope the day comes where I can get bored of $300k an episode.