Over its many years, The Simpsons has created a number of beloved traditions and running gags that are now essential to the show. Things like the iconic opening sequence—including the chalkboard and couch gags—Bart’s calls to Moe, and many memorable catchphrases have become deeply ingrained in the series and in popular culture. These elements have evolved over time, but they’ve all contributed to the show’s lasting appeal and helped it stay popular for decades.
A now-famous tradition started with Season 2 of The Simpsons: the yearly “Treehouse of Horror” Halloween episode. Since the show’s first season began airing so late in the year, it missed the chance to celebrate Halloween. But when the series moved to a regular fall schedule, it kicked off this tradition with the first “Treehouse of Horror” episode on October 25, 1990. Introduced by Marge, the episode took inspiration from EC Comics and was presented as spooky stories told by Lisa and Bart in their treehouse. It established the three-segment format still used today, with stories like “Bad Dream House,” “Hungry be the Damned,” and “The Raven.”
Treehouse of Horror Is Important For The Simpsons (But What’s The Best One?)
The annual Treehouse of Horror episodes are a highlight of The Simpsons, letting the show shake things up and try new things. Because these episodes aren’t considered part of the show’s official storyline, the writers have freedom to explore different genres like science fiction and horror, and to push boundaries with more violence, character deaths, and experimental animation. The short story format also encourages bursts of creative ideas that might not work for a full-length episode.
The first Treehouse of Horror in 1990 was remarkably well-developed right from the start. The show quickly established its now-familiar format, and the segment “The Raven” is still considered a classic – a perfect parody and a clever adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem. While some things changed over the years – like the treehouse itself disappearing and the initial warnings being dropped – other elements, such as horror-themed puns on the crew’s names, were added later on.
The show really took off with these episodes, and many of the “Treehouse of Horror” segments are now considered some of the most memorable and funny in the series. The first one is definitely a classic, but if I had to choose the very best, I’d pick either “Treehouse of Horror IV” – with its fantastic trio of stories: “The Devil and Homer Simpson,” “Terror at 5+1⁄2 Feet,” and Bart as Dracula – or “Treehouse of Horror V,” which includes “Time and Punishment,” “The Nightmare Cafeteria,” and, in my opinion, the best individual segment ever, “The Shinning.” No matter which one you prefer, these episodes are a highlight of The Simpsons and it all began on this day.
The Simpsons‘ Treehouse of Horror episodes are all available to stream on Disney+.
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2025-10-25 15:12