The voice of Edna Krabappel dies aged 70

[Superphil]

Family guy craps all over The Simpsons nowadays lads.
.

Surely thats like comparing James Bond to Superman because they are both movies, or Eastenders and HIGNFY because they are both television shows? FG & Simpsons are completely different programs, written for very different audiences, with very different styles. I enjoy both Simpsons and Family Guy (and American Dad and Bobs Burgers for that matter) but I really don't see them as competitors to each other.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Surely thats like comparing James Bond to Superman because they are both movies, or Eastenders and HIGNFY because they are both television shows? FG & Simpsons are completely different programs, written for very different audiences, with very different styles. I enjoy both Simpsons and Family Guy (and American Dad and Bobs Burgers for that matter) but I really don't see them as competitors to each other.

What's Bobs Burgers all about? I love American Dad as well. Both FG and AD affect my retirement to the republic of Bedfordshire.

 

[surrey jim]

Nomination for the Monorail, Fantastic episode

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Well each to their own but I have to confess you're the first person I've ever heard with a good word to say about the latter years.

I think Homer is a total puppet now, much like the Family Guy Characters are.

In the glory days you would know how Homer would react or what his thoughts may be on various topics because he was a developed character with a personality we all knew and loved. Whereas nowadays they just make him act a total jerk for the sake of getting more slapstick laughs. He's no longer loveable or goofy, he's just a dick.

And it's the same with the other characters. Fans of the original show (and I treat the early years and latter seasons as separate shows) know that Lisa is a strictly moral and ethical person with a few simple flaws befitting of an 8 year old girl, whereas now she's just there to act as the voice of reason to whatever latest jerkass antics they've got Homer doing. And on occasion they'll just completely rewrite her personality to suit whatever banal and disjointed new storyline they want to crowbar into this week's terrible new episode.

What's more is that they didn't used to rely on contemporaneous or cultural references very often, which helps give the golden years that timeless appeal. Sure the animation was a little more crude, which dates it somewhat, but the storyline and the gags translate to today no problem. Take a look at the more recent episodes however and they're crammed full of references to whatever the latest crazes might be or who's been in the (American) news of late.

Oh look, here's Justin Bieber, turning up for no other reason than that he's popular with kids and has sold millions of records.

Compare the celebrity appearances then and now. The guest stars pop up these days, always playing themselves, basically because they want the publicity. They're crowbarred into the show with no thought or planning and are usually interchangeable. It's much like in Ricky Gervais' Extras when they're short an actor and get Keith Chegwin in just because he's a "name" and the guy shows absolutely no aptitude for the job in hand.

But when you look back to the glory days you find that global megastars would lend their voices to characters that weren't even based on them. Sometimes not even credited (Michael Jackson, Dustin Hoffman). They got involved because it was fun, not to sell anything. And what's more they added something to the episodes in question.

Remember Michelle Pfeiffer's turn as sexy siren Mindy, tempting Homer in Season 5? Classic. Or what about Jeff Goldblum turning up as Troy McClure's agent in A Fish Called Selma (Season 7)? It was excellent.

I just don't think you can look at the shell of what was there now, in the same way. It should have been put to bed long ago instead of letting the current crop of writers anywhere near it. The gags they're churning out now should have been given a new host, instead of turning the family we all love into zombies to suit the network's desire to see the show never die.

What a glorious post. I'm with you, man.

 

[Lady Whistledown]