Season 8 of the Simpsons is out on DVD. This was really the liminal season; the cracks had begun to show as far back as Season 4, and after this, the show took a real downturn, from which it hasn’t recovered.
The series started out as a great family drama/sitcom, and its strength was in the interplay between the characters. After a few years, it started dredging its comedy from abstract situations and gimmicks, and the characters became cardboard cutouts going through the motions over and over again.
One of the most annoying devices was the use of unessential guest stars. John Glenn was utterly wasted, as have been several sports figures and celebrities, many of whom just happened to have been available and shoehorned in when a given episode was being scripted.
Early cameos like Dustin Hoffman (as Lisa’s substitute teacher) and Danny DeVito (as Homer’s lost brother Herb) brought real charisma to their episodes, but bringing in R.E.M. Continued...