User blog comment:The-Writer/Regarding "The Simpsons"/@comment-307330-20100805122050

In response to your first question - "is The Simpsons' popularity dwindling?" - it depends on how you define popularity. If we're going by the new episodes, then yes, I believe it is. While the show was never #1 in the ratings, and rarely even in the top 10, it was always able to get a solid number of viewers. These days, the record for "least watched new episode" is being broken constantly.

But, the show is such an institution that this might not matter. With the show constantly running in syndication, it seems like it is always on TV, which is something that can't be said for the majority of other shows.

I think the decline in viewers for new episodes has more to do with lack of quality than the fact that it's a cartoon.

"Maybe if the people see the deeper side of the show, then maybe they'd appreciate it with a better sense of understanding."

One of the great things about the show is that it's satire, but not to the extent that casual viewers are turned off. Viewers who love the show for its satire, and viewers who just watch it for the humour can both love the same episode, which is rare. You don't need to be able to see the "deeper side" to be able to enjoy the humour.