The episode isn't great, but come on you can't use that joke as an example of them having to spell out the jokes.

That is a reference to Back To the Future.

They didn't run out of jokes they just got lazy and stopped being funny. Relied too heavy on celebrity guest voices and too many "silly jokes" stuff like a spaghetti slide with meatballs as beach balls and spaghetti sauce as water and Homer eating it, which is mildly funny but should only be used as filler.

What made the earlier seasons so great were all the one liners from the supporting cast/random characters, like when Bart shoplifts the video game and spoiled kid goes off on his Mom calling her an idiot.

Or when the tiny old guy whose name I forget asks Mr.Burns for $17 for a new broom and Burns says "Oh the delightful Leprechaun from television. I'm gonna get your lucky charms!" and holds up an electric drill.

An episode that really sucks is when motorcycle John Goodman kidnaps Marge. All the jokes are old, Marge is disappointed and relieved at the same time that they are not interested in raping her and Homer is forced to eat stuff with his Motorcycle gangs logo on it. That episode to me really symbolizes the worst of the show.

Lisa on Ice was another classic.

"Oh hey there Midge," then Moe starts physically examining Lisa and Bart for handicapping purposes.

you are certainly entitled to your opinion. i thought the ep was fun and creative and well done. especially when compared to other episodes over the last few seasons.

as pudge pointed out that was a back to the future reference (and they didnt spell out the joke in any way) and i thought it was pretty funny.

but, i could very well be in the minority of liking this episode.....maybe you had to be the right age during the early '90s......

grunched- homer at the bat (softball) did not make the list, and neither did homer's enemy (Frank Grimes). this list in invalid.

Homer: "You're Darryl Strawberry!"
Strawberry: "Yes"
Homer: "You play right field..."
Strawberry: "Yes"
Homer: "I play right field too."
Strawberry: "So...
Homer: "Well are you better than me?"
Strawberry: "Well I never met you before... but yes."

God bless reruns. Never would have got that as a kid.

This. Homer at the bat is definitely one of my all time favorites.

I believe he calls her Blanche in this scene, which is even more awesome.

The one with Col Leslie Hap Hapablap, A Streetcar Named Marge (New Orleans song), and The New York ep (Khav Kalash) were all hysterical.

From the pretzel one....

"Hello. I'm Frank Ormand, and if you're watching me, that means you've
got pretzel fever -- and not the kind that attacked my intestinal lining
some years back. [starts a sickening laughter] So let's get your
franchise up and running.

Open your bag of ingredients. Check for... [starts groaning] millipedes.

The family gets in on Marge's business as they follow Frank's
instructions.

"Start by setting up an office in your basement or garage" is the
first direction; Marge sets up the (again) cliche "Hang in there,
baby!" poster with a cat hanging from a clothes-line.

"An automatic garage door opener makes you feel like you're working in
a futuristic wonderworld." Homer puts the door to use by stutting it
down in front of Ned.

"Next, blanket your community with flyers. A phony ticker-tape parade
will help you avoid littering laws." Bart and Marge take care of the
pamphlets, while Homer rides in the streets with Lisa in the back
seat, wearing some crazy Martian helmet. The whole town cheers.

Chief Wiggum: Welcome back, space girl! [wipes a tear]

Bart: DAAAA - RYL. DAAAA - RYL.
Marge: Kids you shouldn't do that.
Lisa: Don't worry mom, they're professional athletes, they get this stuff all the time.
[tear slides down Darryl Strawberry's cheek]

Ken Griffey: (drinking Mr. Burns "Brain and Nerve Tonic") It's like a party in my mouth -- and everyone's invited!


I can also remember the fates of all the players (from memory).

Steve Sax -- Gets arrested for every unsolved murder in NYC
Wade Boggs -- Gets knocked unconscious by Barney in a bar fight arguing over who was the best Prime Minister of England
Mike Scoscia -- Gets radiation poisoning from working at the plant too much
Ken Griffey -- Suffers gigantism from Mr. Burn's Brain and Nerve Tonic
Don Mattingly -- Didn't shave his sideburns ("At least he's better than Steinbrenner")
Roger Clemons -- The hypnotist accidentally made him think he was a chicken.
Ozzie Smith -- Disappears forever into the Mystery Spot
Jose Conseco -- Rescues a lady from a fire...come game time the house is still on fire and the lady tells Jose to put the dryer on the left of the washer

LORD PALMERSTON!

The latest episode I ever remember liking from The Simpsons was http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmoelian.

It was never the same after Pymoelian.

Behind the Laughter came after. Tis the Fifteenth Season was also really good. Give those a watch.

Homer's flags always get me.

Apparently those are a Swartzwelder staple. So any time you see one, you know it's one of his episodes.

And they can replace the actors and no one can tell the diddly-ifference!

I liked the episode with "Michael Jackson" a lot.

Homer: Wow. Can you do do that thing with your feet again?
Michael: What? The moonwalk?
Homer: NO! THE THING WITH YOUR FEET!

NO DEAL MCCUTCHIN THAT MOON MONEY IS MINE

You can call them Whitey Whackers.

When Homer's flags started appearing is pretty much exactly when the Simpson's stopped being funny.

The Simpsons is still funny. It may no longer be brilliant but it is still pretty good. I assume most people who say it isn't funny anymore just don't watch it.

i don't even know what "homer's flags" are