30 Years Ago Today, The Simpsons Changed Fans’ Lives With an Infamous Contest

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Today marks 30 years since *The Simpsons* resolved a major cliffhanger, an event famous among fans. As the show prepares to return for a new season later this month, it’s clear *The Simpsons* has consistently explored different formats and ideas over the years-from hour-long episodes to specials featuring alternate realities and streaming exclusives. But the show first began experimenting with these kinds of extended, event-style stories with its very first two-part episode.

The groundbreaking episode “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” marked a major turning point for *The Simpsons* at the end of its sixth season. The story began with Mr. Burns being shot, and Fox cleverly engaged fans over the summer with a contest asking them to guess the shooter. The answer was revealed thirty years ago in the second part of the episode, but it later came out that the contest wasn’t really winnable for most people.

Who Shot Mr. Burns? Launched a Very Weird Contest

Taking a cue from the popular Dallas mystery, “Who Shot J.R.?” which kept viewers guessing for weeks, The Simpsons created a similar event to end Season 6 called “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” The episode featured Mr. Burns at his most over-the-top villainous yet. He not only stole the oil that Springfield Elementary had discovered, but he even blocked out the sun, adding to a long list of annoyances that finally drove the townspeople too far.

The first part of the story ended with Mr. Burns being shot, leaving viewers wondering who was responsible. Fans had to wait all summer to find out the answer, which was finally revealed when Season 7 premiered on September 17, 1995. This episode was a big event for fans, and a contest was held over the summer encouraging viewers to guess the shooter. With many possible suspects, it created a genuine mystery.

The contest invited viewers to guess who shot Mr. Burns, either by calling a special number or submitting their answer online, with the prize being animated into a future episode of the show. However, this promise was never fulfilled. Those involved later explained that the contest didn’t run smoothly. It turned out no one guessed correctly, and the number of entries was lower than anticipated.

What Happened With This Mr. Burns Contest?

The contest’s phone line caused a lot of problems, significantly reducing the number of potential winners. Fans who initially tried to solve the puzzle had to be called again, and then those called during the second part’s premiere needed to be available to answer. Even after all that, very few guessed correctly, and surprisingly, the actual winner didn’t even pick up the phone when called!

The mystery of who shot Mr. Burns became a famously funny moment for fans of *The Simpsons*, and it’s something they still talk about today. While the show has held other memorable contests – like the chance to live in a replica of the Simpsons’ house – this one stands out. Looking back after thirty years, it’s amusing to revisit the clues hidden in the episode that revealed Maggie was the culprit. The show even playfully acknowledged all the fan theories over the years.

The episode “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” marked a turning point for *The Simpsons*, demonstrating the show’s ability to create engaging and interactive finales. While similar fan-focused events followed – like a contest to determine the fate of Ned and Edna’s relationship – this episode was unique in its broad fan involvement. As the show goes on, it might be fun to revisit this kind of large-scale contest again in the future.

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2025-09-18 01:14