The legendary animated series, The Simpsons, has been on the air for what seems like forever! But it's always changing, adapting to a new era with fresh new gags!
A Classic Joke Revisited:
In the newest episode, "The Yellow Lotus," from Season 36 (currently streaming on Hulu), we get to see a major throw back for fans, specifically with Sideshow Bob, voiced by the incredible Kelsey Grammer.
One of the most well known and loved scenes in The Simpsons, makes its return, which features Sideshow Bob repeatedly hitting himself in the face with rakes!
The Rake Gag Improved:
What makes this moment even more compelling and why it made its return as a well-known gag is its significance to fans! The episode takes the rake gag to an all new level!
The episode takes place in Season 36 which means this has been around for a pretty long time! It's crazy as the original came out during Season 5's episode "Cape Fear" (back in 1993).
- It appears the classic gag "Cape Feare" takes on a more hilarious version, too.
- Sideshow Bob is now married to a super wealthy person named Tasha, who helped him build his fortune!
His new rake was uniquely engineered to be almost fool-proof!
However, there's still a bit of a flaw. In the classic scene it was always about how the rake was so easy to step on. Now that he's improved his rake design he didn't stop himself from being smacked!
Why It Works:
The latest Simpsons iteration really goes above and beyond for these fun moments, keeping a mix of well done classic moments. What was a throwaway bit for Season 5 actually helped them to create something even more remarkable for audiences. Even now fans appreciate this because this type of broad physical comedy is iconic and something that The Simpsons knows how to really create! The length, of these jokes help to push the gag into a moment for fans, making the characters in this classic animated show seem even more interesting.
The Original Rake Gag:
To remember that scene. Sideshow Bob is completely worn out as he falls for the joke. In "Cape Feare" that Sideshow Bob is continuously tripped by rakes, but he always gets hit in the face!
Fans might recall the humor is amplified by how many times Sideshow Bob hits his head repeatedly! The idea from the start is pretty brilliant because its focus was on how the humor was able to circle back around and create an unforgettable punchline for viewers!
You can really see it as a part of what made "The Simpsons" iconic. It made Sideshow Bob even more likable in a twisted kind of way.
A Familiar Joke- The Football:
This is more than just an exciting callback to fans of this popular animated show. Fans of The Simpsons will remember a pretty memorable scene that really highlights how silly and classic the "golden age" episodes can really be!
The moment brings us back to "A Star is Burns," where the viewers were presented with Hans Moleman starring in a short film simply titled "Man Getting Hit by Football"! Guess what happened? This is more than just slapstick.
- It features Moleman continually hit by footballs to the groin.
- That's really what makes it a powerful episode!
- Homer loves the ridiculous movie and Hans Moleman goes on to become somewhat of an artistic hero.
What makes it compelling? It's super silly! It makes audiences fall in love with "The Simpsons"! Its humor takes you back into that "Golden Age."!
The Simpsons Legacy:
The Simpsons continues to reign supreme and be the focus for new, entertaining shows that adapt over time, adding fun new details and humor for decades!
If The Simpsons show had not had its throwaway moments, or these incredibly silly jokes, Sideshow Bob wouldn't have had such a fun return.
What makes it interesting for fans, is just how "The Yellow Lotus" really showcases why the series has lasted for such a long time. There’s more than just fun moments for fans!
This shows that The Simpsons team, has done some excellent writing to keep it around and fresh with great character development, fantastic animation and even more compelling writing! With the inclusion of callbacks from past episodes, fans are surely excited to continue to enjoy this latest installment! For anyone who has never watched, there's plenty of great content to get you caught up and will help give viewers a brand new look at the enduring greatness of "The Simpsons".
