You may have thought the episode was not the best, but it wasn't a rehash of "22 Stories About Springfield." It was a spoof of the German film, "Run, Lola, Run" ("Lola rennt"), which started with an armed robbery, and then went through four or five long flashbacks for the main characters who all came together in that robbery. It was put together much like "Go!" or Guy Ritchie's "Lock, Stock and Two Smonking Barrels." And "22 Stories About Springfield" was a spoof of "Pulp Fiction."
Of course, there is a ton of film spoofing in "The Simpsons," as well as spoofing of TV shows, songs, religion, politics and just about everything else. That's what hooked me. The first episode I ever saw was the softball episode, and it cracked me up, right down to getting Terry Cashman to sing a spoof of his song, "Talkin' Baseball," (Talkin' Softball) over the ending credits.
I think the show is as fresh now as it ever has been, although some episodes in the past two seasons have had some low moments, or spots where the buildup was so great, but the punchline was lame. But I still laugh pretty much from the 2-minute unrelated setup to the closing credits.
"Futurama" and "King of the Hill" both great shows, too, but they also try to do something a little different from the Simpsons.
Now, "South Park"--there's a show that is not consistent and was funnier in its earliest seasons than it is now.
Thanks!
b-rad
Bethlehem PA