I'm not sure if anyone's familiar with
SNPP.com, but it's the creation of some Simpsons enthusiasts from the Simpsons' newsgroup (alt.tv.simpsons). I've never actually subscribed to the newsgroup, but their Episode Capsules contain reviews and comments from members of a.t.s.
I tend to disagree with a lot of what I read, and since they accept reader contributions, perhaps one day I'll submit my own thoughts and two cents on some of the discussions. One of the main assertions of most of the Capsule contributors is that past it's fourth season, the Simpsons has been in steady decline. Increased low-brow humour, having the first act unrelated to the main story, more adult content and the "anything goes" format of some episodes are the most common points of criticism from season 5 onwards.
Up until the latter stages of Season 13 and early in Season 14, I strongly disagreed that the show was as terrible as some said it was. I still think the show is nowhere near being terrible. But I must admit, I've found the new season somewhat...different. Funny, entertaining, but different. I don't know. Maybe some of the episode capsules are getting to me.
I'm not going to proclaim every episode the worst ever, or demand that writers be fired or the show be cancelled or some of the other drastic measures suggested by some of the contributors. It's just that there's something...different...about the latest episodes (here in Australia, we're up to "Pray Anything", the 10th episode of Season 14).
Anyone else feel the same way? Or am I losing my sense of humour?