More alarming, the show has no vision. With Matt Groening gone to Futurama , and the reins handed to folks with little institutional memory, The Simpsons has lost its soul. It was never one-liners that made the show what it was. Sure, they were great, and the show thrived on zany creativity, but its humor was always grounded in well-formed, honestly drawn characters. But lately, plots are far-fetched.
Characters do anything for a laugh instead of staying in, well, character.
Before it falls any further, I say take it off the air. I know fellow fans will call for my head, but surely they admit the show's lost a step. Much of the animation process is outsourced to Asia. The ratings will stay strong for years after the sell-by date because Americans suffer from TV inertia. Fox won't murder its flagship show until it absolutely must.