[2] They got a boost from their recent Simpsons marathon, and the show is a long-running cash cow. Sacred cows are difficult for any network to give up (see: soap operas, reality competition shows, SNL) no matter how decrepit they become. I've watched the episodes from Season 1-25; it was early maybe after season ten the show exhibited signs of fatigue. There was a pickup after season 18 or so, but that didn't last. Definitely a low sine-wave of activity from thereon.
Please just end it now. Don't embarrass yourselves and the fans by trying to replace Shearer with any or many imitators. At this juncture of the show's existence, the odds are against such a strategy working. And besides, he's right; the quality of the writing has suffered for years and there doesn't appear to be a willingness to address it. Just... stop.
To me, the Simpsons in it's later years has been pure comfort food. It is not groundbreaking or edgy or hip or any of the things we expect to find in a new gourmet meal. Sometimes it sucks. But most of the time, it tastes just good enough.
But - replacing one of the main six voices would be like replacing the Velveeta brand cheese sauce on my bacon-cheese fries with some other type of cheese sauce. It might look similar, it might smell similar, but no way it tastes the same. And as everyone knows, comfort food is all about tasting the same.
From 1989/1990 - 2004, The Simpsons on Sunday night was must see tv for me. And I probably didn't go more than 2 days without catching a rerun on syndication. I haven't watched it as much in recent years but it still makes me laugh when I do. Harry Shearer can't go wrong on screen, but from what I've seen of him in interviews and such I don't much care for him. Mospeed in any event.
He's too many characters. And the voice does matter. Show will go into ratings death spiral.
Isn't it already there?
[2] They got a boost from their recent Simpsons marathon, and the show is a long-running cash cow. Sacred cows are difficult for any network to give up (see: soap operas, reality competition shows, SNL) no matter how decrepit they become. I've watched the episodes from Season 1-25; it was early maybe after season ten the show exhibited signs of fatigue. There was a pickup after season 18 or so, but that didn't last. Definitely a low sine-wave of activity from thereon.
Please just end it now. Don't embarrass yourselves and the fans by trying to replace Shearer with any or many imitators. At this juncture of the show's existence, the odds are against such a strategy working. And besides, he's right; the quality of the writing has suffered for years and there doesn't appear to be a willingness to address it. Just... stop.
Ack!
To me, the Simpsons in it's later years has been pure comfort food. It is not groundbreaking or edgy or hip or any of the things we expect to find in a new gourmet meal. Sometimes it sucks. But most of the time, it tastes just good enough.
But - replacing one of the main six voices would be like replacing the Velveeta brand cheese sauce on my bacon-cheese fries with some other type of cheese sauce. It might look similar, it might smell similar, but no way it tastes the same. And as everyone knows, comfort food is all about tasting the same.
Sigh.
From 1989/1990 - 2004, The Simpsons on Sunday night was must see tv for me. And I probably didn't go more than 2 days without catching a rerun on syndication. I haven't watched it as much in recent years but it still makes me laugh when I do. Harry Shearer can't go wrong on screen, but from what I've seen of him in interviews and such I don't much care for him. Mospeed in any event.