[Stu]

A new generation of writers came in who grew up with the original episodes. Hence most of their current output is heavily self indulgent and touching on self parody. Before when Snake done a crime, or Otto done some drugs, or Chief Wigum was a dumbass it was because those characters were being developed and it was done every now and then and done smart. Nowdays they will put Snake in a scene abruptly just to have him there and do his Snake crime bit. That's the difference. Look at the new title sequence. They are trying to put too much in and it comes off as garish.

They are also exchanging genuine emotion and point making for Family Guy style randomized trash writing. Futurama is doing the same thing right now. It's just jokes being fired at rapid pace missing most of their targets because you eventually get tired of holding up the bullseye.

It's still a good show, but compare it to any of the season 4 - 10 stuff. Last Exit To Springfield is probably the funniest half hour ever broadcast on telly.