The Simpsons Corrects A Big “Mistake” in Season 36 Premiere

As a longtime Simpsons enthusiast with over two decades of my life invested in this animated juggernaut, I must say that the recent turn of events has left me both amused and perplexed. The return of Homer choking Bart, a gag that was seemingly retired some seasons ago, has sparked quite the debate among fans and showrunners alike.


Last season, The Simpsons gained a significant amount of attention from fans due to a joke suggesting that Homer would no longer be choking Bart. However, the showrunner later admitted it was an error to imply this after the gag resurfaced in Season 36’s premiere. Now, with the start of Season 36, The Simpsons has returned to television screens, and some viewers who hadn’t watched for a while were intrigued by the premiere as it appeared to be the series finale. The episode presented various conclusions for the citizens of Springfield, wrapping up with Bart and Homer restoring the familiar family dynamics.

As a passionate gamer, I found myself immersed in the Season 36 premiere of “The Simpsons,” titled “Bart’s Birthday.” In this episode, an AI was busy weaving together every single episode of our beloved animated sitcom and all the iconic series finales from TV history to concoct a fitting “series finale” for us. However, poor Bart got jittery at the prospect of change. The twist that saved the day was Bart pushing Homer’s buttons until Homer, in a rare outburst after years, choked Bart on screen!

The Simpsons’ Biggest Mistake

According to Selman, he admitted to TMZ that the idea of Homer choking Bart was mistakenly conveyed and regretted, stating it came off as an announcement rather than a joke. He clarified that people misunderstood the jest, but he emphasized once more that The Simpsons does not endorse child abuse, just like they’ve made clear in the past. Selman explained that this type of humor is embedded within the very fabric of the show, and it may reappear if it proves funny or significant in future episodes, as it was a part of Season 35.

In the “McMansion & Wife” episode of Season 35, Homer shakes hands with someone who praises his firm handshake. Jokingly, he tells Marge that years of choking Bart have finally paid off. However, he quickly adds, “Just kidding, I don’t do that anymore – times have changed.” This brief remark didn’t initially grab much attention from fans (as many focus on the show’s classic episodes rather than its more recent ones), but it began to resonate with viewers online as Bart choking is a well-known joke from earlier seasons.

Why Homer Will Still Choke Bart in The Simpsons

Even though Homer didn’t actually choke Bart in previous seasons for quite some time prior to the joke in Season 35, it appears that the creators of The Simpsons have revived this old gag as a means to complete the series loop. The joke served as a meta-fictional device for Bart to escape what seemed like a “series finale,” and also helped alleviate concerns among fans about whether such a joke would still fit within the context of the show. This is something that the creative team has acknowledged in the past, and now it’s been integrated into the series itself.

Although the showrunner considers it an error, this incident sparked a significant dialogue among viewers, which may not have happened otherwise. This unexpected event has led to increased interest in how recent seasons have been reinventing the original format, offering fresh perspectives. The Season 36 finale’s cliffhanger hints at more experimentation as the series progresses, indicating promising developments for the future of the show.

HT – TMZ

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2024-10-03 01:10