The Lesson Is, Never Try
By 
The Simpsons is celebrating 30 years on the air. If “celebrate” is the right word for a show that has been pointless to terrible for the last 15 years. In fact, it’s been bad for so long that it’s almost easy to forget just how wonderful it was. Here is a ranking of the top 100 Simpsons episodes. Tellingly, not a single episode in the top 100 happened after Season 9. If only the show had ended there, or at least by Season 12 or so when it was clear that it was dead except for cheap gags and celebrity appearances. Of course, one could say the same about Woody Allen films. Anyway, if it ever ends, it will be easier to go back and remember its greatness without being reminded of what it has become.