The Simpsons: A Spectacular Journey Through their Iconic Milestones

Summary

The Simpsons

The show frequently acknowledges significant achievements through lighthearted humor instead of adopting a serious approach. Episodes such as "The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show" and "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular" playfully ridicule the show's triumphs and commemorate seemingly insignificant milestones.

The Simpsons cleverly commemorates milestones with self-referential moments, such as Bart's mischief in the opening credits of "Trash of the Titans" and the couch gag in "Manger Things."

Being on the air for decades, The Simpsons has had numerous lighthearted celebrations marking significant achievements. When it first premiered in 1989, no one could have predicted the immense popularity, influence, and critical acclaim it would garner. With thirty-four seasons under its belt and two more on the way, The Simpsons' so-called Golden Age is acclaimed as some of the finest comedy writing in television history. Nonetheless, the show maintains its commitment to not taking itself too seriously.

While The Simpsons has proven itself capable of delivering dramatic plot twists, the show's primary focus is humor. This presents a challenge when it comes to acknowledging the show's significant milestones, as doing so requires addressing its immense cultural impact. However, The Simpsons manages to maintain its freshness and comedic appeal by playfully acknowledging these milestones.

10 “Sweet Seymour Skinner’s Badasssss Song”

In episode 19 of The Simpsons' fifth season, titled "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badasssss Song," Principal Skinner experiences a comical identity crisis after losing his job. This episode not only marks the 100th episode of the series but also comes at a time when both viewers and critics already appreciate The Simpsons. Interestingly, the creators had plans for a spinoff that never came to fruition during this period. However, "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badasssss Song" doesn't take itself too seriously. The episode begins with Bart's chalkboard gag, playfully mocking "Meaningless milestones," affirming that The Simpsons is always ready to push boundaries.

9 “The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular”

8 “The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show”

: The Simpsons rarely devoted an entire episode to a significant achievement, but they did just that in season 7, episode 10, titled "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular." True to its nature, however, the show didn't dwell on its own accomplishments but rather dissected and mocked the conventions of nostalgic clip shows. Interestingly, the choice of the 138th episode was deliberate as it symbolized a meaningless milestone. This clever move allowed The Simpsons creators to simultaneously ridicule their own success while delivering enjoyable deleted scenes and abandoned storylines to their audience.

From its very beginning, The Simpsons has always been characterized by a self-referential nature, often poking fun at the changes in voice actors whenever a character's voice-over artist was replaced. However, the series took this self-referentiality to a whole new level in season 8, episode 14 titled "The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show." This particular episode boldly embraced meta elements and served as a celebration of The Simpsons' 167th episode, marking its status as the longest-running prime-time cartoon in TV history, surpassing The Flintstones. The plot revolved around Itchy and Scratchy's network trying to maintain viewer interest by introducing a gimmicky new character, resulting in a scathing self-parody that quickly became a favorite among fans.

7 “Trash of the Titans”

6 “Barting Over”

: The Simpsons season 9, episode 22, titled "Trash of the Titans," did not explicitly acknowledge its 200th episode in the storyline. Instead, it featured guest appearances by Steve Martin and U2 and revolved around a surreal plot where Homer assumes the role of Springfield's new Sanitation Commissioner. However, the episode did include a clever twist where Bart interfered with the opening credits by incorporating his chalkboard gag into the usual couch gag. This subtle meta moment served as a subtle nod to the show's significant milestone without overshadowing the overall excellence of the episode.

Sometimes, The Simpsons conceals hidden behind-the-scenes alterations in the hopes that viewers will not perceive them. However, the show also occasionally highlights its own production challenges for a self-aware joke. For instance, The Simpsons season 14, episode 11, "Barting Over," received substantial promotional efforts as the series' 300th episode. Featuring guest appearances by Tony Hawk and Blink 182, this episode was widely publicized as the milestone 300th episode, generating a media frenzy about the show's lasting impact. However, the truth is that "Barting Over" was actually the 302nd installment, a cleverly acknowledged fact within the episode itself.

5 “You Kent Always Say What You Want”

4 “At Long Last Leave”

The Simpsons season 18, episode 22, titled "You Kent Always Say What You Want," stands out for several reasons. Firstly, this episode gained recognition as the final one before the groundbreaking release of The Simpsons Movie in 2007, which went on to break box office records. Moreover, it served as the impressive season 18 finale and marked the remarkable milestone of the show's 400th episode. In a subtle tribute to this achievement, the traditional opening credits sequence of the show was replaced with one of the early Tracey Ullman Show shorts named "Family Portrait."

The plot of The Simpsons season 23, episode 14, titled "At Long Last Leave," revolved around the Simpson family being forced to leave their hometown of Springfield due to the growing irritation of their fellow residents. Notably, this episode marked the 500th episode of the series and featured a brief cameo appearance by Julian Assange. To commemorate this milestone, "At Long Last Leave" showcased a unique couch gag that ingeniously combined elements from the previous 499 couch gags into an intricate photomosaic.

3 “Treehouse of Horror XXVII"

2 "Manger Things”

The 600th episode of The Simpsons, airing in season 28, episode 4, was a special Halloween edition. Rather than celebrating the milestone in an overt manner, the show subtly acknowledged it with a tombstone that humorously proclaimed, "We're coming for you Gunsmoke." This sly reference signaled to viewers that The Simpsons, with its 600th installment, had now equaled the record set by the classic Western series as the longest-running scripted prime-time show in American television history.

The Simpsons season 32, episode 16, titled "Manger Things," stands out for several reasons. Firstly, it defies convention by being a Christmas episode that aired in March. Secondly, its surreal plotline takes unexpected twists that challenge the established canon of the show. Despite its ambitious and unconventional nature, this holiday special fails to acknowledge that it marks the 700th episode of The Simpsons. However, it does feature a special guest appearance by renowned animator Bill Plympton, who contributes a unique couch gag.

1 “Homer's Adventures Through the Windshield Glass”

The Simpsons celebrated its 750th episode with a couch gag featuring 750 distinct characters spanning several decades. In addition, the episode featured notable appearances by Lizzo, Bowen Yang, and Tim Robinson, known for their work in I Think You Should Leave. While not every celebrity guest star in season 34 of The Simpsons achieved significant success, the show effectively commemorated its milestone episode without seeming overly self-important.