Simpsons' 19th Season Premiere

[hypernova]

I know this show has been slowly deteriorating in quality, but did anyone else catch last week's episode?

Was anyone else supremely disappointed in the quality of the show?  There were maybe, at most, five very brief humorous moments, with the rest of the show mired in a storyline that leaves you feeling bored and depressed that the show you watched for a comedic relief did just the opposite.

To summarize, Homer saves Burns's life early, and tastes the sweet life on his private jet.  As a result, his borderline depressive state requires the assistance of a life coach.  He then applies for another job, quitting the power plant.  He tells the family that he got the job, but in reality didn't.  He then spends his days at the Krusty Burger.  When he first got there, he requested all the child tray liners to do the maze.  The teenager informs him they're all the same, to which Homer mutters, "somebody's gotta do them." or something like that.  We then see him sit at the seat, and quickly proceed to hammer out maze after maze.  I want to say we watch him fill out about five or so.  (This sequence more than likely could've been made funnier, but there was no humor at all.)  Frankly, this was the emotion throughout the entire episode.  Not only was it devoid of humor, but it began to flirt with the feeling of depression for the viewer just watching it.  He ends it by renting a private jet to tell Marge he didn't get the job (a pricey transaction,) and has to land the plane when the pilot blacks out from alcohol.  His life coach guides him through the landing procedure.  He quits the job he never had, using the excuse that private jets are dangerous.

 

[Joystick Jerk]

I wouldn't say the show is slowly deteriorating. I haven't cared much for it since season 8 or 9. Now that were in Season 19, it's really become one of the worst shows on television. All the things it used to mock about sitcoms and bad tv shows are now used regularly on the show. The writing is abysmal, the characters have become one dimensional, one-joke parodies, and even the animation is starting to suffer with the cel-shaded 3D they're starting to use lately.

[Ken Layton]

Slowly deteriorating? More like on life support. It's sucked for the past 15 years. No more storylines left. How about this for a story: Bart goes crazy and shoots everyone in his family. Then we could have the Chief Wiggum show!

[AtomSmasher]

I wasn't disappointed because the show hasn't been very good for a while, so I wasn't expecting much.  I did think the first half of the episode was pretty funny, but the second half wasn't.  Its a shame, but every great sitcom eventually jumps the shark.  

[DaveMMR]

I still thought it was funny.  If I get 5 good laughs out of it I got my time's worth.  I think everyone's expecting something fresh after 400 episodes and a movie and it's not going to happen.  Yeah, it's not going to ever be the "golden age" ever again, but I still happen to think it's funnier than half the crap on television.

[pointdablame]

I still thought it was funny.  If I get 5 good laughs out of it I got my time's worth.  I think everyone's expecting something fresh after 400 episodes and a movie and it's not going to happen.  Yeah, it's not going to ever be the "golden age" ever again, but I still happen to think it's funnier than half the crap on television.

That's exactly how I usually feel about the Simpsons, and I've been able to enjoy them even though it has been less than great for a while now.

That said, I didn't much care for the premiere.  It just wasn't that funny IMO

[TOK]

Figured that the success of the movie might have been enough to get it back on track...

Did I see the movie? No.
Did I watch the premier? No.