When America’s favourite yellow family The Simpsons (sorry liver-diseased The Johnsons of Massachusets) first appeared on our screens back in the 90s, who could have predicted that they would sustain twelve long seasons (and beyond…)?

Yet while this series packs in the laughs, the guest stars and the characters we all know and love, there is something that is starting to smell a bit off  in Springfield.

That is not to say that this is now a bad show. Far from it. In fact, this season packs in more wit and memorable episodes than other shows struggle to over their entire lifetimes. You just have to look at episodes like Trilogy of Error with its take on Run Lola Run mixed with Go. It’s fast, inventive and constantly delivers the laughs in a well-crafted story.

By season 12, The Simpsons started to struggle with what other animated shows have been wrestling with for years – what do you do when The Simpsons has already done everything? It has to take the premise – which usually grounds the episodes in family dilemmas, adolescent struggle and community issues (along with some spot-on social commentary) – and push it into extremes more suited to other shows.

Even the guest stars start to become less well integrated. Instead of having someone appear to play a character (just look back at how good Danny DeVito was as Homer’s brother) they seem to have episodes revolving around people they have signed on to appear – looking at you *NSYNC in New Kids on the Bleech. Sometimes, though, other episodes do a good job of slotting an actor into a role, such as Michael Keaton in Pokey Mom where he plays a convict with artistic talent that Marge takes a shine to. Comparing the two episodes, the latter is clearly a better crafted and funnier episode.

There is still a lot to like with The Simpsons: Season 12 and most of that is due to the familiarity and love that the audience has for the characters. Investing years in their exploits has made the audience feel like extended family members and, while they may be starting to show their age a bit with the musty smell of dried urine and the wrinkles of better times all over their face, we’d rather spend our Sunday afternoons with them than anybody else.

Although The Simpsons takes its time to come to DVD, it’s not really a problem considering the care and attention that goes into each DVD release. This season is no exception, featuring a wealth of extras including commentaries, deleted and extended scenes, behind the scenes footage and trailers galore. The commentaries (on every episode) are constantly entertaining and never a bore.

If you want to laugh, feel happy and spend roughly 500 minutes of your life having fun with one of the best (if not the best) television shows ever made, this is the DVD for you. It may not be on the top of its game any more but it certainly wipes the floor with most of those other, less jaundiced, television shows.

Follow hecklerspray on Twitter