The Simpsons is well-known for its funny opening sequence, which often features visual jokes that are easy to miss. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the funniest visual jokes in the opening sequence of The Simpsons.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
The Simpsons has been on the air for over 30 years, and in that time, it has become renowned for its sharp wit and clever humor. A large part of that humor comes from the show’s opening sequence, which is packed with jokes and references that even the most dedicated fans may not have noticed.
Here are some of the funniest visual jokes in the openings of The Simpsons:
1. In the very first episode, Homer is seen running towards the camera with a terrified look on his face. This is a reference to the infamous scene in The Shining where Jack Nicholson runs through a maze towards the camera.
2. In another early episode, Lisa is seen reading a book called “Crime and Punishment.” This is a reference to Fyodor Dostoevsky’s classic novel of the same name.
3. One episode sees Marge knitting a sweater with a picture of Homer on it. This is a reference to The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening, who often wears sweaters with pictures of his own face on them.
4. In one episode, Lisa is seen playing with a Barbie doll. However, this Barbie doll has four arms, which is a reference to the four-armed alien inToy Story 2.
5. In another episode, Homer is seen driving whilst eating cereal out of the box. This is a direct reference to Michael Bay’s film Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen, which was heavily criticized for its portrayal of product placement.
The Simpsons
As America’s longest-running sitcom, The Simpsons has provided fans with plenty of laughs over the years. The show is also known for its clever opening sequence, which often features a visual joke. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the funniest visual jokes in the openings of The Simpsons.
The Opening Joke
The Simpsons is known for its funny visuals, and one of the best places to find them is in the show’s opening sequence. In each episode, there’s a quick joke or visual gag hidden in the background of the scene. Can you spot them all?
The Couch Gag
An essential part of every episode of The Simpsons is the couch gag – a joke in the opening sequence which changes from episode to episode. These gags range from the clever to the absurd, and often reference pop culture or current events.
The show’s creator Matt Groening has said that the couch gag is “just another opportunity for comedy”, and that it is “a running joke about the show”. Many of the gags are conceived by the show’s writers, while others are submitted by fans.
Here are some of our favorite funny visual jokes from The Simpsons’ couch gags over the years:
The family being sucked into a black hole ( Season 6, Episode 4)
In this couch gag, the black hole swallows up Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie one by one – until only their legs are left sticking out. This is a reference to the popular TV show Lost, which was known for its mysterious black smoke monster.
The family being turned into ghosts (Season 25, Episode 3)
In this spooky gag, the Simpson family are turned into ghosts by a haunted TV set. This is a reference to the popular horror movie The Ring, in which a cursed videotape turns its viewers into ghosts.
The family being turned into Lego people (Season 26, Episode 4)
In this witty gag, the Simpson family are turned into Lego people by an evil Lego version of Homer. This is a clever reference to The Lego Movie, which was released in 2014.
The family being attacked by zombies (Season 27, Episode 3)
In this gore-filled gag, Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa are attacked by zombies – with gruesome results. This is a reference to The Walking Dead, which is one of the most popular TV shows in recent years.
Other Animated Shows
The Simpsons set the bar high for animated shows that followed it. Not only is it the longest running American sitcom, but it’s also been influential in pop culture and inspired other animated shows. Other animated shows that have followed in The Simpsons’ footsteps include Family Guy, American Dad, and South Park. While these shows may not be as popular as The Simpsons, they all have their own unique sense of humor that sets them apart from other shows.
Family Guy
The opening of Family Guy varies from episode to episode, but typically features the Griffin family in various situations and locations. In early seasons, the opening would frequently feature a musical number sung by the characters. In later seasons, the musical number would be replaced by a montage of several gags from past episodes.
One of the more popular gags in the opening is when one character makes a pop culture reference, only for another character to be confused or uninterested. For example, in one episode, Chris makes a reference to the movie Forrest Gump, but Brian is unfamiliar with it. In another episode, Stewie makes a reference to the band Queen, but Lois has never heard of them.
Another frequent gag in the opening is when something bad happens to one of the characters, usually as a result of their own negligence or stupidity. For example, in one episode Chris leaves his bicycle out in the rain and it rusts away. In another episode Meg slips on a banana peel and ends up in the hospital.
The opening of Family Guy often includes visual jokes that are easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. For example, in one episode there is a briefly seen sign that reads “Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here,” which is a reference to Dante’s Inferno. In another episode, there is a sign that reads “-23 days since our last accident,” which is a reference to The Simpsons Episode “Homer’s Odyssey” where Homer gets injured on the job and Springfield’s safety record resets to zero.
American Dad
Stan Smith is the stereotypical American dad who works for the CIA and is overly patriotic. He is also a bit of a control freak who doesn’t like when things don’t go his way.
The opening of American Dad features Stan in different situations where his control freakery gets the better of him. In one scene, he’s trying to put a banner up for the 4th of July but it keeps falling down. In another scene, he’s trying to mow the lawn but the lawnmower keeps getting stuck. And in another scene, he’s trying to cook a turkey but it keeps getting away from him.
All of these scenes are funny because they show how Stan just can’t seem to catch a break. Even though he’s always trying to be in control, things just keep happening that are out of his control. It’s a good way to start off the show because it sets the tone for what kind of character Stan is and what kind of situations he’ll be getting himself into throughout the course of the show.
Conclusion
The Simpsons has been on the air for over 30 years, and in that time, it has become known for its clever humor and pop culture references. One of the most iconic elements of The Simpsons is the opening sequence, which features a number of visual gags.
While some of these gags are easy to spot, others are more subtle and require a second viewing to catch. In this article, we’ve rounded up some of the funniest visual jokes that have appeared in the opening sequence of The Simpsons.
So next time you’re watching The Simpsons, keep your eyes peeled for these hidden jokes!
