I don't want to get TOO into Simpsons discussion, mainly because I already do that under the name of Captain Squid over at nohomers.net
However I will say that despite the decline in quality (and what does anybody expect from a show in its 23rd, going on 24th season???) there are a few fantastic episodes each season as well as a number of good ones and a number of forgettable or bad ones.
I will say that I disagree with you, Max, on No Loan, Again Naturally. I actually like that one. I don't place it in the fantastic category, but I do think it's pretty good. I wasn't a fan of the first act, but I liked Homer having to live under Ned's rule and taking advantage of Ned's niceness. I thought this was a decent followup episode to Homer Loves Flanders.
I guess I can't hate on this episode because it does a lot of things that I like: it keeps the story in Springfield, it confines the cast to regulars, it doesn't rely on guest stars, it tries something new in terms of the usual workings of the town (Ned landlording over the Simpsons). So in the end, not a GREAT episode, but far from "worst ever". I'd rate it a 6/10 in terms of post season 15 standards.
Oops, look, I'm writing more than I said I would. Ah well.
If you're like me, and have seen every episode from the Ullman era up to the season 23 finale (and that also includes every video game, ride, commercial, etc) then you'll know that The Simpsons worst does not include Max's choice or even Nameless 24's choice, which I'm sorry to tell you is a very very good episode. Yes, Who Shot Mr. Burns is wacky, but it is essentially The Simpsons skewering the sitcom convention of a two parter season finale cliffhanger. Maggie being the shooter was surreal because it was intended to be. I can't hate the writers for being subversive and turning the murder mystery on its ear. In fact, I applaud them for Who Shot Mr. Burns.
Worst episode(s)? Are you ready?
The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed from season 21.
There is so much wrong with this episode that it hurts. Worst vacation episode. Worst use of a potentially great guest star (Sasha Baron Cohen). Jerkass Homer returns (jerkass Homer is "rude, insensitive, crude, and just plain moronic", seasons 12-14 were Homer at his worst in terms of characterization). Nearly every joke falls flat (even the worst Simpsons episodes in terms of plot have great gags, this episode did not have any of that).
NoHomer.net deems it one of the worst episodes of all time:
http://www.nohomers.net/showthread.php?86280-Rate-and-Review-quot-The-Greatest-Story-Ever-D-ohed-quot-(MABF10)
But my vote also goes to...
Moe Goes from Rags to Riches from season 23.
Now I love me a format bender when it comes to The Simpsons. Season 23's The Book Job was great fun, as was Holidays of Future Passed (in fact those are both some of the best recent episodes and I def recommend them). Sadly, Moe Goes from Rags to Riches falls flatter than flat. It just sucks so badly. Again, a great guest star is ruined by an awful character: Jeremy Irons plays Moe's talking bar rag. Now don't get me wrong, this concept COULD be good! Perhaps the episode deals with Moe's beginnings as a bartender and how his bar rag ended up being largely responsible for his nominal success in starting and maintaing a business. Better yet, perhaps there is a sweet moment at the end where the bar rag leads to Moe meeting a woman or something.
NOPE.
The bar rag is a piece of a medieval French tapestry. We get a flashback that has modern Simpsons characters in a period setting. Now don't get me wrong (again), I enjoy the episodes that throw Simpsons characters into the roles of classic literature. But here it makes no sense. This is, supposedly, real history in the Simpsons universe. Then why are there doppelgängers of modern characters existing several hundred years ago in France? It makes no sense.
Next, more history is glossed over with the rag existing in all these amazing events, eventually ending up in the hands of a yeti (WHAT?) who gives it to its son Moe (WHAT!?!). Again, another historical buttfuck. No, Moe is not a human, he is the son of a yeti. Now I like me my wacky gags, but when they are at the expense of a character's backstory, then its better not to do them. It's not funny, it's stupid. I'd much prefer a winder into Moe's childhood as a human with human parents than a gag about a yeti giving Moe a rag from a past version of Marge. It almost reads like a fanfic.
The only bits that are *slighty* good are the modern day bit of Marge washing Moe's rag for that "aww!" moment and the b-story of Bart and Milhouse having a falling out. Problem is, the b-story has zero connection to Moe's rag story. Why have a B-plot to an A-plot about a talking bar rag that is in itself flashing back to other stories that in effect are C-plots?
Overall, it's a mess. An unfunny, stupid mess. Worst of all, the concept COULD have been decent. Like I said, the origin of Moe's Tavern. Right there is a cool story. Instead, it's a cluster of shit with an unrelated childhood spat on the side.
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Having written all that, I have to say that I am looking forward to seasons 24 & 25. Not sure if the series will continue beyond that, but there are a few good looking eps to come.
Roger Meyers Jr, the son of the creator of Itchy & Scratchy, is said to have his own episode. Also, Homer buys a ride from a closing Itchy & Scratchy land and sticks it in the backyard. Sounds wacky, and I love callbacks to episodes I enjoyed (I&S Land). There is also a touching Homer/Santa's Little Helper episode to come. Hope it's a tearjerker. The next Treehouse of Horror promises a Back to the Future style spoof on the classic moment when Homer met Marge. Sort of a "What if?" story of if Marge married Artie Ziff. There also looks to be an arc this season in which Bart finally decides on a girlfriend, which could put an end to the "Bart gets a new girlfriend" episodes.
