With 750 episodes and one movie behind it, “The Simpsons” returned to Fox for its 35th season on October 1st. The classic show first aired as shorts on “The Tracey Ullman Show” until getting their own half-hour episodes in 1989. The new season will air at 8 p.m. on Sunday nights.
“The Simpsons” is a lighthearted animated show focusing on the lives of the five members of the Simpson family: Homer, the dad who isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed; Marge, a kind stay-at-home mom; Bart, an average fifth grade troublemaker; Lisa, the genius third grader; and Maggie, the baby that never speaks. The show takes place in the town of Springfield. Which Springfield, however, nobody knows, a running joke on the show.
In celebration of the newest season, let’s take a look back at some of the best moments and my personal favorite parts of the show:
The “Treehouse of Horror” episodes
Every season around Halloween, a new “Treehouse of Horror” episode comes out. Each “Treehouse of Horror” episodes contain three separate spooky stories. The stories are so absurd and weird making it all the more entertaining. Some of the best “Treehouse of Horror” shows include: aliens becoming political leaders of America, a parody of “The Shining,” a fake reading of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” and Homer eating his own body parts.
The couch gag
The couch gag is an ongoing joke on “The Simpsons.” During the intro of every episode, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie take a seat on their couch in front of their television. While this seems innocent enough, the gag is that each time they sit differently. This little joke makes something as simple as the intro interesting and engaging to the audience.
“Who Shot Mr. Burns?” episodes
This two-part saga was the season finale of season six and the premiere of season seven. Mr. Burns attempts to cover up the sun so the Springfield residents are forced to use the electricity he provides to the town. Residents get so mad that eventually one of them shoots him. The second episode tries to discover and catch the shooter. For me, this wild mystery was one of the top moments because it was the first time that I felt the episodes weren’t just one-off stories. The two parts had a cliffhanger and resolution that other episodes don’t always have, while also preserving the comedic aspects of the show.
Sideshow Bob’s ongoing hunt for Bart
Sideshow Bob was first introduced in season one when he attempted to frame his employer, Krusty the Clown, for armed robbery. His attempt is foiled by Bart Simpson, thus starting a rivalry between the two. Following that, Sideshow Bob continues to attempt to kill Bart, leading to Sideshow Bob being a main character in 14 episodes. This storyline was hilarious because Bart, a kid, wins every time, making Sideshow Bob look like an idiot. While this is simple humor, the way “The Simpsons” delivers it is incredible and so entertaining.
“The Simpsons Movie”
The movie, which aired in 2007, was a big hit among Simpsons fans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) puts Springfield in a dome because Homer dumps manure into the environment. Because of Homer’s mistake, the Simpsons go on the run as fugitives. They then return to Springfield in an attempt to save them from the EPA.
I highly recommend that everyone watch some content from “The Simpsons.” The show revolutionized comedic animation and I truly believe there is nothing like it. The characters are well thought out, the plots are interesting and most importantly it is a great source of laughter.
As the new season arrives, I am excited to see “The Simpsons” incorporate aspects of current events and past episodes into the plots for season 35.
