bkev said:

Leonardo said:

I can't help but feel that isn't the same Homer Simpson that, 20 years ago, upon learning he was going to die soon, decided to spend a day with his dad, even if he didn't like him that much. The characters no longer resemble their former selves. Homer went from a loving father, just a little slow, to an annoying dimwit who will do incredibly stupid things just because the writers think it's funny.

Nobody likes Grandpa jokes started as far back as Season 6, but people still like those episodes! Still, in terms of Homer's characterization I tend to agree at least a bit. There are plenty of stupid antics he did in the earlier seasons, too...

Yes, "nobody likes Grampa"... nobody wants him around, in fact the first time Mona came back, this little conversation occurred during dinner:

SNPP said:

  Lisa: Grandma, have you ever thought about moving back to
          Springfield?
   Homer: You could live with Grampa again.
           [everyone, including Abe, laughs]
     Abe: Oh, I'm a living joke.

which is both funny and a bit sad because of the way Abe is treated by his own family.

Somebody might even want him dead, cause he's just a rambling, senile, Matlock loving oxygen waster.

But that scene I mentioned earlier with Homer dreaming about suffocating his dad because he did not want to deal with his recovery, well... it's just not funny to me, it's only really disturbing.