Eisner said that if you're bored doing backgrounds, then they probably don't have to be there to serve the story. Every element in the comic page should work toward progressing the story in one way or the other. Considering Eisner's backgrounds, he truly lived by his word!
Also, Charles Schulz loved Bill Watterson's style because everything Bill drew had LIFE to it. Things didn't look ordinary and flat, they were characters as well. These two examples are what get me through drawing backgrounds (which I used to HATE). As a result, now I feel as if I get carried away.