Though much has been said about The Simpsons not being as funny as it used to be – how could it be after 500 episodes? – the show is still an entertaining chug-along. Witness the message at the end of Sunday’s episode.
“Thanks for 500 shows. All we ask is that you go out and get some fresh air before logging on the internet and saying how much this sucked.” Touché. The Simpsons still has some subversive bite in it yet.
And though it wasn’t one of the series’ strongest showings, it was still serviceable. Plot-wise, it borrowed two, three, four or more previous storylines, including one from The Simpsons Movie (relocating after disgracing the town), but since the show is closing in on becoming the longest-running show on television, I can forgive a bit of redundancy.
In the episode, the titular yellow clan was evicted from Springfield and landed off the grid in The Outlands. From the opening credits, there were plenty of in-jokes for longtime fans, including a couch gag to beat all couch gags – a glorious montage of what seemed like every past couch gag the show has ever done.
Also, I loved how Millhouse scribbled on the board instead of Bart (writing “Bart’s earned a day off”) and Lisa played the tuba instead of the saxophone. I wonder if she’s gunning for Tuba Gooding Jr.’s spot in The Roots?
In fact, as the town railed against the family for its egregious past sins, I remembered the final episode of Seinfeld, when Jerry, Kramer, Elaine and George were sentenced to jail for being terrible human beings.
Once they landed in The Outlands, Homer and his family stumbled upon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (voicing himself) for a throwaway gag about privacy. Much of the funny meat of the episode was Outlands-based, like Maggie joining a baby fight club, Marge trying to make the best of things, and the aforementioned Outlands’ take on the opening credits.
As they grew homesick, Marge and Homer snuck back to Springfield for some fugitive nookie. I’m assuming they felt Assange would take good care of their kids while they were gone. Speaking of missing family members, whatever happened to Grandpa Simpson? He was with the family in the bunker and at town hall, but was nowhere to be seen once they were booted …
Predictably, the Springfield citizens realized the Simpsons had a good thing going in The Outlands and crashed the place, building it up into the antithesis of what it was meant to be. Only Principal Skinner was left in Springfield proper, wondering where everyone went. I assume the next episode will find everyone back in the town without explanation of how or why they came back. But that’s the beauty of episodic storylines.
Anyway, I could go on and on, dissecting each gag and waxing philosophical about the grand social significance of The Simpsons, but there are entire websites devoted to that. Instead, here’s a quick list of some of the jokes that made me laugh the hardest. Congratulations, Simpsons!
• “The Simpsons 500th episode – The most meaningless milestone of all”
• “I could see a planetarium show without the second-hand marijuana!” – Lisa, about leaving their bunker while the town is empty.
• “Good luck patching potholes and stuffing pillows now!” – Homer, upon being tarred and feathered,
• “Salma Hayek wore me to the Oscars!” – Otto, about being a hair donor.
• Moe’s Cavern
The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Global/Fox
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