Gods, how right you are. I stopped after 12 watching as it came out, 10-12 had some great eps but many that I was just… bored watching.
I’ve seen a scattered few from 13-20 and they were nigh unwatchable. You’re totally right about the Family Guy-ication, and it’s not even early (good) Family Guy. It’s like watching newer Spongebob, after the writer (director?) quit.
I need to watch the Gaga episode. It sounds truly awful. I don’t know if I’m ready for that psychic damage.
However, I recently completed a straight watch-thru of every Simpsons episode, and while watching the lackluster episodes from seasons ~20-~30, I have to acknowledge one thing:
Quality of the show and its writing have noticeably improved since around Season 32.
The most recent episodes feel more centered on the family and much less on bizarre cameos and really outrageous situations. It actually feels like a show about the Simpson family and treats the characters more age-appropriately.
I don’t like that they lost/recast established voices of minority characters (Apu, Carl, Dr. Hibbert, etc), I do think the quality and the focus of the show is much better than it has been in almost 2-decades.
How do you know they suck ass if you haven't watched them?
Legitimately, what is it about the Internet and this show specifically where people feel compelled to sound off on something they are not actually watching, and haven't watched in years?
Oh, I've checked in with new episodes occasionally over the years, and they were awful. Legitimately, I'm sounding off on this show because in many ways it defined my childhood. What is it with the internet that people feel compelled to sound off on someone sounding off?!
The bigger issue is that 35 seasons of the Simpsons is over 380 hours of continuous television
During the first 3 seasons Simpsons was animated by KlaskyCsupo, "animation executive producer" and "supervising animation director" was Gábor Csupó. After he left animation style changed to more conventional.
So while the characters, writing and plotlines were not as genial as in the following seasons the animation style was much more interesting, with strange perspectives and point of views, distorted spaces, etc. Just look at this early recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LUf-GGHpuU