‘The Simpsons’ Just Subverted a Classic Gag in Its Darkest Story Yet

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The Simpsons

The Simpsons has been berated for its perceived decline in quality for years now, with many claiming the show's "classic era" ended after Season 10. It's not an entirely fair statement — episodes like Season 34's "Not IT" and Season 26's "Simpsorama" are among the best in the show's long history — but there's no denying that there are often more misses than hits in its later seasons. However, the current season, number 36, has reinvigorated the series, with many seeing it as a return to form. There are many elements that have contributed to the renaissance of The Simpsons, including fresh voices among the writing staff, but the willingness to embrace, and subvert, its own history is key among them. And in the Season 36 episode "The Man Who Flew Too Much," one callback to Simpsons history takes a dark turn.

Season 36 of 'The Simpsons' Revives Old Running Gags

Running gags have been a part of The Simpsons from the beginning. Some, like the chalkboard and couch gags, have been a continual presence, while others, like scenes from "McBain" movies, died long ago. Season 36 has revived a few of these classic gags and given them a new spin, and the results have been perfection. One of the most notable is the "Sideshow Bob Rake" gag, where Kelsey Grammer's Sideshow Bob steps on a rake that invariably hits him in the face (which debuted in the classic "Cape Feare" episode) in every appearance. Season 36's "The Yellow Lotus" has Bob not only acknowledging how often he gets hit in the face but taking active steps to stop it by making a rake with a shorter handle... the perfect height to get hit in the groin. It's a brilliant twist to an old gag that is instantly funnier.

Another one of the most beloved classic gags from the early seasons that Season 36 revives is Bart's (Nancy Cartwright) prank phone calls to Moe (Hank Azaria). There is rarely a setup, just Bart calling Moe at the bar, asking to speak to the likes of Mike Rotch, Jacques Strapp, or Seymour Butz. Moe calls out the name ("I'm looking for Amanda Hugginkiss"), realizes he's been pranked, threatens Bart with increasingly violent consequences, and Bart hangs up, laughing (one exception is a personal favorite: Bart asks for Hugh Jass, and there happens to be a Hugh Jass in the bar who takes the call). Moe always recognizes it's the same prankster, but somehow never knows that it's Bart, despite having heard him numerous times before.

Moe's Reaction to a Classic Running Gag Imperils the Pin Pals in 'The Simpsons'

The twist "The Man Who Flew Too Much" gives the prank call is indeed funny, but very, very darkly so. The episode begins with a town rally for the Pin Pals bowling team (itself a call back to Season 7's "Team Homer"), who have made it to the state championship match (of course, which state that is remains unknown, another long-recurring gag). Only the helicopter ferrying them to the match crashes on an isolated mountainside, forcing the Pin Pals — Homer (Dan Castellaneta), Moe, Ned (Harry Shearer), Carl, and Fausto (both voiced by Alex Desert) — and their pilot, Barney (Castellaneta), to try and find their way home.

At least one of the group's phones are still working, so calling for help shouldn't be a problem. Or at least shouldn't be, which is where the prank calls of Bart's past come into play. Bart calls, looking to confirm that his dad and the rest of the group survived the crash and Moe answers. Only Moe recognizes the voice as the one that has been playing prank calls on him for all those years and instantly becomes enraged. Bart's pleas to confirm their safety and share their location with rescuers fall victim to Moe's PTSD over the calls, and Moe throws the phone away. With their lone chance at getting rescued quickly now inaccessible, the group is left to their own devices in order to survive.

blended image of Lady Gaga performing at the Super Bowl next to her Simpsons character

Predictions From 'The Simpsons' Can Actually Be Explained

There's nothing particularly prognostic about the wacky events in Springfield.

The bit works on multiple levels. For one, it's a plausible explanation for why the group can't be located. It also serves as a fun nod to one of the series' earliest contributions to the public consciousness, one that went beyond the show itself. The most interesting thing the scene does is to give Bart a real consequence for his past actions. Bart has rarely faced any real repercussions for his actions over the years, including Moe's disturbing threats, and this one, with the fate of his father now in jeopardy, hits hard. It's a reversal of sorts to the "Treehouse of Horror II" story where Bart has vast mind powers that force Moe to repeat his words verbatim ("I'm a stupid moron with an ugly face and a big butt and my butt smells and I like to kiss my own butt"). Now Season 36 just needs "McBain."

The Simpsons is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.

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