User blog comment:Gran2/Introduction/@comment-1996889-20100904142209/@comment-307330-20100904142957

In the classic era, there was a constant stream of writing talent running through the show. Most writers never stayed for more than 4 seasons, then moved on to create or write for a new show. Sure, you lost some very talented writers, but even the best can run out of steam after a few years (see: Swatzwelder, John) and bringing in new writers meant there would be fresh ideas. Season 7 (one of my favourites) had a completely different staff than season 4 (another of my favourites), but it's just as good in terms of quality.

So, they were constantly bringing in new writers. But, in the early 2000s, something happened: The death of the TV sitcom. This meant that there were less jobs out there for comedy writers. So, why would a writer want to leave a plum job for uncertainty? Because of this, many writers stayed long past their expiration date. At least 8 of the current writers have been around for 10 or more years. Even writers like Selman or Maxtone-Graham, who started great, have run out of steam. Yes, they do still bring in new writers, but their ideas are just thrown into a pond that grew stagnant long ago.