The Simpsons Just Redeemed One of Its Worst Retcons After 17 Years (But Not How You Think)

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After 17 years, The Simpsons cleverly fixed a major continuity error, though not in the way fans anticipated. As the show begins its 37th season with a new showrunner, Matt Selman (following Al Jean’s long run), the first episode of this new era surprisingly pairs up two characters and subtly addresses the timeline changes that have occurred over the years.

Back in 2008, The Simpsons aired a memorable and talked-about episode called “That 90s Show.” This episode reimagined Homer and Marge as young adults attending college in the 1990s. In a surprising twist, the episode revealed Homer invented Grunge music and led a successful band called “Sadgasm.” Now, decades later, “Sadgasm” has unexpectedly returned in a recent Season 37 episode, appearing in a flashback that also deepens the backstory of Professor Frink.

The Simpsons Just Made Sadgasm Easier to Accept

After being on television for so many years, The Simpsons has gradually changed its own history. Episodes have sometimes revealed past events – like Homer and Marge meeting as children – or established dates, such as Bart being six years old in 2021. While the show doesn’t follow a strict timeline – characters haven’t aged – fans have come to accept certain key moments as consistent, even with all the changes made in later episodes.

“That 90s Show” introduced a major change to the established history of The Simpsons. Previously, the show had suggested Homer and Marge were young parents in the 90s before settling into their current lives. This episode revealed a previously unmentioned part of their past, showing them still living before Bart was born, also in the 90s. It remains a controversial episode because it hasn’t been acknowledged much since it aired. However, a recent episode in Season 37, “Bart’N’Frink,” revisited a similar backstory concept with a look into Frink’s past, offering a potential correction to the timeline issue.

How The Simpsons Moves on From Sadgasm

This episode delves into Professor Frink’s college days, revealing that an old friend stole one of his inventions and became incredibly wealthy from it. A poster in Frink’s dorm room confirms this part of his history now takes place in the 1990s. This helps make the show’s recent decision to rewrite Homer and Marge’s backstory—shifting it to the 90s—feel more natural, and suggests there are plenty of interesting stories still to be told.

By revisiting and expanding on the show’s history, The Simpsons has cleverly adjusted its timeline. This allows Homer and Marge to remain consistently around their late 30s, even after so many seasons. This recent flashback further solidifies this change to the established backstory, and fans are hoping it will lead to more glimpses of this era in future episodes.

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2025-11-10 19:44