As a die-hard Simpsons fan who has watched the yellow family navigate Springfield since their inception, I can confidently say that the show’s longevity is nothing short of miraculous. From its witty humor to its insightful social commentary, The Simpsons has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember.
The show has been going on for such a lengthy time that several recurring jokes have seamlessly blended into its overall structure. Interestingly, even the producer, Al Jean, is feeling weary of one of the series’ most famous recurrent scenes – the Sideshow Bob rake trick.
Initially hard to fathom, but the first time Bob’s face got squashed with a gardening tool was in the outstanding “Cape Feare” episode from Season 5. Interestingly, this gag has resurfaced recently, appearing not once, but twice within a week – first in the Season 36 episode “The Yellow Lotus” and then twice in the Disney+ short, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” When interviewed by Inverse, Jean shared that despite it being one of his favorite gags, he won’t be repeating it personally in the future. He stated:
I find the joke amusing, and it seems Director David Silverman intended for it to serve as a ‘Tired gag’ at the end, implying its repetition was the humor. However, this will be the last time I participate in it. Although I can’t prevent others from using it, I’ve grown tired of it now.
Just as countless jokes in “The Simpsons” often blend together due to their abundance, it can sometimes go unnoticed when a recurring gag takes a break for an episode or two. This could lead to the possibility that many viewers might not even realize if the rake gag was absent from a future episode, particularly given the preference some fans have for rewatching classic episodes they consider superior to certain more recent seasons of this 35-year-old show.
Another Long-Running Simpsons Gag Seemed to Be Ending
After more than three decades, some viewers might now find The Simpsons feeling repetitive and past its expiration date. But for many others, classic jokes like the rake gag have become an essential element in the universe crafted by Matt Groening throughout the years. However, as times evolve, it appeared for a brief moment that another frequently-used joke might be retired.
As a die-hard Simpsons fan, I was thrilled to see the title “McMansion & Wife” in Season 35’s third episode. It seemed like Homer was putting an end to the controversial scene of him strangling Bart, as he declared, “I don’t do that anymore. Times have changed.” However, when I tuned in for the premiere of Season 36, my heart sank as I witnessed a recurrence of the tradition. Poor Bart found himself in another terrifying nightmare sequence, once again experiencing his father’s grip around his neck. It seemed like one of The Simpsons’ iconic moments was still very much alive and kicking!
Matt Selman later clarified that the idea of ending the recurring gag with Homer and “the boy” (Sideshow Bob) was never serious. Instead, Homer’s speech in Season 35 was meant humorously and didn’t signify an actual end to his mistreatment of his son. Although we might not witness Sideshow Bob getting raked as frequently, the ongoing saga of Homer’s maltreatment of his son is likely to persist for years ahead.
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2024-10-13 15:01