The Simpsons has persisted for 37 seasons, with the 38th set to start later this year. Some may wonder how the show has kept an audience for so long. As with any animated show, the format offers opportunities for ever-changing stakes and oddball adventures that do not need to affect the next episode or force the characters to age. While much of that applies to The Simpsons, I would argue its consistently clever writing and humor keep the show feeling fresh and enjoyable.
The writers of The Simpsons have been hailed as possible prophets, with the show having strangely predicted several real-world events. Still, most predictions are seen as brilliant, forward-thinking moments from the show’s hilarious writing team. By populating a town full of eclectic personalities and ever-changing geography, the sky is the limit, with every episode peppering jokes wherever possible. Often it is just the name of a store or a character appearing in unique ways, but The Simpsons can land brilliant jokes that most miss on a first viewing because they are hidden in the background. Thankfully, I’ve gathered some of the funniest ones.
Why You Should Trust Me: I grew up watching The Simpsons when we got two reruns airing in syndication every weekday, maybe four if you were lucky. I never expected the series to still be on, but I’ve been fortunate to cover it in news and feature pieces.
Lisa Needs To Find a Better Party Store
Season 10, Episode 1, “Lard of the Dance”
In “Lard of the Dance,” Lisa shows a new student, Alex Whitney (Lisa Kudrow), around the school. This leads to awkward interactions and party planning, with Lisa and her friends visiting a store for supplies. The store they choose is Donner’s Party Supplies, which is already humorous on its own but even funnier with the added sign in the window announcing a Winter Madness Sale.
The sign references the Donner Party, a group of 87 American pioneers stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains in winter 1846. The ordeal led to starvation and death, with many resorting to cannibalism to survive. Precise casualty counts aren’t known, but around half the party is said to have perished. The Simpsons makes humorous use of the different meanings of party, creating an ironic bit.
Elizabeth Taylor Has Regrets About Krusty’s Comeback
Season 4, Episode 22, “Krusty Gets Kancelled”
After Krusty loses his show to the ventriloquist dummy Gabbo, Bart and Lisa won’t stand idly by, letting their favorite clown lose out. The siblings organize a comeback show for Krusty, spending time visiting celebrities like Bette Midler and Luke Perry to ask for their help putting on the special. One celebrity who turns them down is Elizabeth Taylor, who voices herself, but opts out of participating.
The episode’s funniest joke is hidden in the background, coming near the end when everyone is gathered at Moe’s to celebrate Krusty’s comeback special going so well. As the group has a poignant moment, toasting their drinks, Taylor comes up to the window behind them and longingly watches the festivities. It’s easy to miss, but absolutely hilarious to see the famous actor feeling left out and regretting her decision.
The School Library Only Has Books Banned by Other Schools
Season 6, Episode 21, “The PTA Disbands”
Things get tough in Springfield when the teachers go on strike. One joke shows Marge horrified by the school’s limited library selection after budget cuts. Superintendent Chalmers says they only have books that other schools banned, with a quick sight gag showing seven book titles, each with its own joke.
TekWar is a sci-fi novel by William Shatner and feels like a jab at it for being bad. It sits right next to the Theory of Evolution, which offers grand commentary on the ongoing debate. Henry Miller’s 1949 novel Sexus was banned for decades because of its sexual content, sitting next to 40 Years of Playboy, a pictorial retrospective of the infamous magazine. Steal This Book is Abbie Hoffman’s 1971 counterculture manual offering lessons on survival and resisting the government.
Hop on Pop may be the funniest joke, as it’s a controversy-free children’s book by Dr. Seuss that was clearly banned because no one knew what it was, speaking to the mindset behind book bans. However, The Satanic Verses: Junior Illustrated Edition is a fictional visual version of Salman Rushdie’s real and controversial 1988 novel. The title alone could serve as a joke. Still, it cuts deeper if you know the story because The Satanic Verses has a character widely interpreted as an interpretation of the Prophet Muhammad, and many Muslims object to visual depictions of the Prophet.
The Religious Flanders Kids Are Playing With Fire
Season 9, Episode 6, “Bart Star”
“Bart Star” features Homer as the coach of Bart’s pee-wee football team. This naturally leads him to play favorites, making Bart the team’s star. While there is plenty of humor to mine from that concept, one of the episode’s funniest moments is a subtle joke involving Rod and Todd Flanders that many could miss.
The Flanders family is notoriously religious, living a distinct lifestyle that reflects their beliefs, often to a humorous degree. Rod and Todd playing football is already odd given their timid nature, but The Simpsons gives each of them unique jerseys, 66 and 6. When they stand next to each other, it reads “666,” considered the unholy number of the beast or the mark of the Antichrist in the Bible’s book of Revelation.
Apu’s Grad School Bears a Bold Acronym
Season 7, Episode 23, “Much Apu About Nothing”
“Much Apu About Nothing” shows Mayor Quimby proposing an ordinance to deport all undocumented immigrants. To ensure Apu can stay in Springfield, Homer helps him study for his citizenship test. The episode provides a backstory for Apu’s education, showing he graduated at the top of his Caltech (Calcutta Technical Institute) class before pursuing a doctorate in computer science at Springfield Heights Institute of Technology. Many colleges shorten their names to acronyms. The Simpsons uses a sight gag to encourage viewers to do the same with Apu’s school, spelling a humorously hidden curse word.
Season 25, Episode 6, “The Kid is All Right”
“The Kid is All Right” features Lisa in a political battle with a student voiced by Eva Longoria. The episode also has one of the funniest visual gags, and it’s easy to miss. Maggie plays with a putty-like substance that looks like Play-Doh. The container sits on the table nearby and bears a humorous play on Homer’s famous exasperated exclamation, “D’oh!” Maggie isn’t using just any putty. It’s called “Play-(Annoyed Grunt),” letting audiences fill in Homer’s often-heard quote in a moment of meta wordplay.
What Exactly Is the “Beyond” in This Instance?
Season 9, Episode 5, “The Cartridge Family”
After a massive soccer riot breaks out in Springfield, Homer feels the need to protect his family and decides to buy a gun. His choice of gun shop is a funny play on Bed Bath & Beyond, with Homer stopping at Bloodbath & Beyond. That naturally raises the question of what the “Beyond” refers to, but Homer is undeterred. “The Cartridge Family” also features one of Homer’s funniest quotes when he learns he must wait five days for his gun background check, saying, “Five days? But I’m mad now!”
A Unique Drugstore With a Complex Name
Season 27, Episode 1, “Every Man’s Dream”
“Every Man’s Dream” is a divisive episode of The Simpsons. Homer is diagnosed with narcolepsy, leading to a trial separation from Marge. The twist at the end wasn’t perfect, but the episode has one of the show’s best sign gags. The drugstore is called Oedipus Rx, a fun play on Oedipus Rex. The funniest bit is the line underneath that reads “A Mom and Pop Son Pharmacy,” purposely showing the “Pop” has been crossed out.
Oedipus Rex is an ancient Greek tragedy about a king who unknowingly fulfills a prophecy in which he kills his father and marries his mother. If you’re not familiar with the story, the joke may not land, but it’s an absolutely hilarious visual gag that deserves more recognition.
Maybe We Shouldn’t Shop at Sneed’s
Season 11, Episode 5 “E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)”
After running from a duel, Homer hides the family on a rural farm where he grew up. There they encounter Sneed’s Feed & Seed, a fairly innocuous name for a country store, with the rhyming making it easy to say. The line under the store’s name turns the sign into one of The Simpsons’ crudest jokes hidden in plain sight. It adds, “Formerly Chuck’s.” Using the same rhyming scheme with Chuck in the store’s name, it becomes a ribald joke. This is one of the few times it might have been better if audiences missed it the first time. Still, it is an undeniably funny and clever joke for those who catch it.
Reverend Lovejoy Misses the Point of His Sermon on Gambling
Season 1, Episode 8 “The Telltale Head”
In “The Telltale Head,” Reverend Lovejoy gives a sermon about the evils of gambling. The scene is already funny, featuring Homer listening to a football game on a small radio, and the play-by-play audio humorously syncs with the Reverend’s words. However, Reverend Lovejoy seems to have missed the point of his own sermon. Right after the service, he says goodbye to his parishioners next to a sign advertising several church events related to gambling. It features bingo on Tuesday, Monte Carlo Night on Wednesday, and a Reno Retreat on Saturday. It’s easy to miss, but it’s something that gets funnier the more you think about it.
- Release Date
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December 17, 1989
- Network
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FOX
- Directors
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Steven Dean Moore, Mark Kirkland, Rob Oliver, Michael Polcino, Mike B. Anderson, Chris Clements, Wes Archer, Timothy Bailey, Lance Kramer, Nancy Kruse, Matthew Faughnan, Chuck Sheetz, Rich Moore, Jeffrey Lynch, Pete Michels, Susie Dietter, Raymond S. Persi, Carlos Baeza, Dominic Polcino, Lauren MacMullan, Michael Marcantel, Neil Affleck, Swinton O. Scott III, Jennifer Moeller
- Writers
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J. Stewart Burns, Michael Price, Brian Kelley, Bill Odenkirk, Dan Vebber, Kevin Curran, Stephanie Gillis, Dan Castellaneta, Deb Lacusta, Billy Kimball, Jessica Conrad, Cesar Mazariegos, Daniel Chun, Jennifer Crittenden, Conan O’Brien, Valentina Garza, Elisabeth Kiernan Averick, Christine Nangle, Broti Gupta, Loni Steele Sosthand, Megan Amram, Bob Kushell, David Isaacs, David Mandel
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Dan Castellaneta
Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)
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Julie Kavner
Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
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