Despite all evidence to the contrary, maybe the Family Guy/Simpsons crossover episode will turn out not-embarrassing…possibly? As hard as I try, though, I can’t help but assume the worst about the “stupid tie-in cartoon,” which is why I’m glad it’s TECHNICALLY a Family Guy episode. Even during the lean seasons, The Simpsons has always been very good at referencing other TV shows, whether it’s episode-length homages (24) or cold open tributes (Breaking Bad) or even just brief mentions. There’s a real appreciation to what’s being spoofed, especially during the so-called Golden Era, which for the purposes of this article, I’m saying lasted from seasons 1-10 (DEBATE). Let’s have a look at some of The Simpsons‘ greatest references to other TV shows, not including MacGyver and The Twilight Zone.
There are too many references to both to keep track of.
ALF
Episode: “Bart Sells His Soul”
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Episode: “Treehouse of Horror III”
All In the Family
Episode: “Lisa’s Sax”
Barney
Episode: “Rosebud”
Batman
Episode: “Mr. Plow”
Beavis and Butt-head
Episode: “D’oh-in’ in the Wind”
Blossom
Episode: “Summer of 4 Ft. 2” (“AND SHE LOOKS LIKE BLOSSOM!”)
Cheers
Episode: “Flaming Moe’s”
The Cosby Show
Episode: “Round Springfield”
The Critic
Episode: “A Star Is Burns”
The Flintstones
Episode: “Marge vs. the Monorail”
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Episode: “Bart Gets an Elephant”
The Gong Show
Episode: “$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)” (Homer and Barney got “more gongs than the break-dancing robot that caught on fire”)
Hard Copy
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Episode: “Homer Badman”
Hee Haw
Episode: “Colonel Homer” (featuring Yodelin’ Zeke, Butterball Jackson, Freddy-Boy and Yuma, Cloris Mozelle, Big Shirtless Rod, Orville and Hurley, Kathy Mae, Pip Diddler, Rudy, and the Ya Hoo! Recovering Alcoholic Jug Band)
Home Improvement
Episode: “Deep Space Homer” (“I’ve killed Wilson. Looks like it’s back to jail for me.”)
I Dream of Jeannie
Episode: “The Last Temptation of Homer”
King of the Hill
Episode: “Bart Star”
Knight Rider
Episode: “And Maggie Makes Three” (“Go, Knightboat, go!”)
Lost in Space
Episode: “Fear of Flying”
Married… with Children
Episode: “Deep Space Homer”
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Episode: “And Maggie Makes Three”
Matlock
Episode: “Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy” (“Get to Matlock! Maaatlooock!”)
NYPD Blue
Episode: “Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield” (“But Sipowicz does it!”)
The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show
Episode: “Treehouse of Horror V”
Schoolhouse Rock
Amendment To Be from Dental Plan on Vimeo.
Episode: “The Day the Violence Died”
Soul Train
Episode: “Radio Bart”
Twin Peaks
Episode: “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” (“Did you have that same backwards-talking dream with flaming cards?”)
The X-Files
Episode: “The Springfield Files”
The Wonder Years
Episode: “Three Men and a Comic Book”
