The Simpsons is one of the most popular animated comedies of all time and has lived through multiple decades now, some of which it even helped define. It makes sense, then, that there would be a few old jokes that do not land today. These are the times when a joke made enough sense when the episode was released, but the passage of time and real-life events can make things quite awkward.
After all, The Simpsons is as infamous for predicting the future as it is for being such a long-runner. Jokes about real-life celebrities still being alive are doomed to age poorly, but sometimes a joke ends up eerily paralleling the events in a real figure's life. Sometimes, the subject of a joke could end up becoming part of a real-life tragedy years later. Even jokes about things like modern technology and trends can read differently with future viewers knowing what they know now.
10 Cypress Creek Elementary Proudly Advertising Its Website
Season 8, Episode 2 - "You Only Move Twice"
"You Only Move Twice" sees the family move to Cyprus Creek after Homer is offered a new job with the charismatic and affable Hank Scorpio, who just happens to be an evil genius bent on world domination. At first glance, everything seems better and brighter at Cyprus Creek, even if Springfield isn't such a high bar. Of course, much of the family ends up feeling homesick for one reason or another.
The Digital Age Was Right Around the Corner
One early hint of how advanced things are in Cyprus Creek is that the local school, Cypress Creek Elementary, has its own website, which is proudly printed under the school's name on its sign. A school having its own website seemed like a novelty when the episode first came out, but schools having their own websites has become so commonplace over the years it would be unusual for one not to have one.
Similarly, schools usually don't need to advertise their websites these days, as most people would likely just search for one online using the school's name. Notably, even the writers have commented on how dated the joke has become on the episode's DVD commentary.
9 John Travolta's Failed Acting Career
Season 6, Episode 4 - "Itchy & Scratchy Land"
"Itchy And Scratchy Land" has the Simpsons visiting the titular amusement park. Homer and Marge stumble upon "Itchy's '70s Disco," which, to their surprise, showed its work when matching up with the past decade. Marge comments that a bartender even looks like John Travolta. The bartender suspiciously repeats Marge's line that he "looks like" the actor, implying he's the real Travolta, presumably having given up on his acting career.
The Episode Didn't Predict Pulp Fiction
During the early 1980s, Travolta's career had taken a turn thanks to movies like Blow Out and Urban Cowboy. "Itchy And Scratchy Land" uses this to paint Travolta as specifically a star pf the 1970s. However, the episode came out the same year that saw Travolta in Pulp Fiction, which helped restart his career, leading to roles in Get Shorty and Face/Off.
8 Lisa Saying People Wouldn't Recognize Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Season 2, Episode 7 - "Bart vs. Thanksgiving"
At the start of "Bart vs. Thanksgiving," Lisa crafts a centerpiece for the family's holiday dinner. As she explains to Maggie, the piece is a tribute to various great women who helped build America into what it is today. She names three of the figures as Georgia O'Keeffe, Susan B. Anthony, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Lisa claims that Maggie, and by proxy the audience, might not recognize Marjory Stoneman Douglas, but commends her work preserving the Florida Everglades.
One Name Would Be Attached To a Real-Life Tragedy
At the time the episode aired, the line emphasizes how meticulous Lisa is with her holiday project, choosing all sorts of women from history. Tragically, Marjory Stoneman Douglas' name would become much more well-known to the American public after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018.
7 Chief Wiggum Calling Jared Fogle "Sexually Ambiguous"
Season 17, Episode 24 - "Treehouse of Horror XVI"
One of The Simpsons' annual Halloween specials, "Treehouse Of Horror XVI," ends with a story in which the town of Springfield offends a witch, who curses everyone to transform into their costumes. The town has mixed feelings over the situation. Some people want to be changed back, while others appreciate their new forms.
Wiggum Had a Poor Choice of Words Describing His Halloween Costume
Chief Wiggum went as Jared from the Subway ads, which he claims makes him only slightly overweight and "sexually ambiguous." Jared Fogle appeared in a variety of ads for the sandwich chain from 2000 and well into the 2010s, extolling the brand as a healthier alternative to other food chains. However, the comments on Fogle's sexuality didn't age well, after an FBI investigation saw him convicted with charges of child sex tourism and being in possession of child pornography.
6 Krusty Sending Flowers To Bea Arthur's Grave
Season 6, Episode 15 - "Homie the Clown"
In "Homie the Clown," Krusty's spending habits have gotten him into trouble with the Springfield Mafia. To raise some needed money, he launches a clown college, which soon enthralls Homer into enrollment. In time, Homer finds himself filling in for Krusty for various appearances.
The Real Arthur Would Pass Away in 2009
One of the ways Krusty's spending has gotten out of hand is that he just sent one thousand roses to the grave of actress Bea Arthur, best known for appearing in The Golden Girls. His accountant, who confirms the order went through, tries to tell him the actress behind Dorothy Zbornak is still alive, but is interrupted. It's also implied that Krusty has done this more than once. Sadly, while Bea Arthur was alive at the time the episode first aired, the joke became less funny in 2009, after the actress passed away.
5 The "Ode to Branson" Musical Number
Season 13, Episode 13 - "The Old Man and the Key"
"The Old Man and the Key" sees the family trailing Grampa Simpson and Bart after the former steals Marge's car and drives off to Branson. During their visit, they catch a performance of "Ode to Branson," in which older celebrities put on a lavish musical number about how they are still alive.
Even the Nick at Nite Joke Didn't Age Well
Unfortunately, many of the performers listed in the song have passed on since its release, such as Charlie Callas, Bonnie Franklin, and Bill Saluga, seen in his "Ray Jay Johnson" persona. Of course, the episode seems aware of how well the song would age over the years, as there is a joke about Grampa reminding Tennessee Ernie Ford he really is dead, causing him to crumble to dust.
On a more lighthearted note, the show episode has a line about the town effectively being Nick at Nite brought to life. At the time, Nick at Nite was primarily known for airing sitcoms from past decades, referencing how the actors of yesteryear, some of whom were even in said shows, performed. In recent years, however, the block has instead leaned towards more contemporary shows.
4 Grampa Stealing Andy Griffith's Heart Medicine
Season 5, Episode 14 - "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy"
Grampa Simpson gets to meet his idol, legal-drama protagonist Matlock, presumably his actor Andy Griffith appearing in-character, in "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy." Appearing at the opening of the Center for Geriatric Medicine, Matlock's appearance plays out like a parody of Bye Bye Birdie, with all of the seniors acting like crazed teenaged fans, each wanting a piece of their hero. Unfortunately, seeing "Matlock" causes Grampa to reconsider his own mortality.
The Real Matlock Would Die of a Heart Attack
Grampa's friend Jasper notes how upset his friend is, commenting that Abe wanted to see Matlock and even stole his heart medication. An ambulance rides past them, implying that Abe might have just killed a man. In 2012, the actor who brought Matlock to life, Andy Griffith, ended up dying of what was believed to be a heart attack. It's also noteworthy that the whole scene gets Grampa to think about his own upcoming demise.
3 The "Gator Baiter" Getting Attacked Onscreen
Season 15, Episode 8 - "Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens and Gays"
Bart can be seen watching a documentary series, The Gator Baiter, in "Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens and Gays." The host gets bitten by a saltwater crocodile. However, Lisa changes the channel, and, by the time Bart changes it back, the host has already been dismembered, possibly killed, causing him to lament missing the feeding frenzy.
Irwin Would Lose His Life to a Stingray Attack
The show Bart watches is a parody of The Crocodile Hunter, with the host being a parody of conservationist and media personality Steve Irwin. The real-life Irwin lost his life just a few years later, after a short-tail stingray pierced him in the chest during a filming. At the time, Irwin's death was notably believed to be the first time a stingray-related human death was caught on video.
2 Edna's Future Death
Season 23, Episode 9 - "Holidays of Future Passed"
Viewers get a glimpse into the future of The Simpsons in "Holidays of Future Passed," with the kids now having kids of their own. When Ned Flanders briefly appears, he reveals that Homer has accidentally killed Edna Krabappel, who Flanders had married seasons after his original wife Maude's death. Noting how hard it is to start a new relationship after ending one, Ned then reveals he ended up remarried to Maude's ghost.
Edna Was Retired After Marcia Wallace's Passing
When the episode came out, the joke about Edna's death was simply meant to imply that history repeated itself, as Homer was also partially to blame for Maude's death too. However, the idea of Edna passing on became sadder when her actress Marcia Wallace passed away in 2013. This caused the show to retire the character, with Edna dying shortly after her marriage to Ned.
1 The "Tower 1" Line During the Simpsons' Visit To NYC
Season 9, Episode 1 - "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson"
"The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" sees Barney illegally park Homer's car next to the World Trade Center. Homer is tasked with getting his car back and bringing his family along with him, despite the fact that he has some past bad blood with New York City.
The Episode Ended Up Banned By BBC Two
The Twin Towers are a prominent aspect of the episode and are used for a few jokes. Notably, when Homer watches people yelling between the towers, a character comments that, "they stick all the jerks in Tower 1." Many of these jokes did not age well and can be hard to watch for some after the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Notably, the episode has been edited in syndication, removing scenes referencing the World Trade Center. The episode was also initially skipped by BBC Two, although versions of the episode later surfaced on other networks in the U.K.
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