How The Simpsons Changed With The Times: No More Strangling Bart, Apu Controversy And More
The Simpsons has made some major changes in its 35th season, such as dropping the gag of Homer strangling Bart, addressing the Apu controversy and recasting some of its voice actors. The article explores how the show has changed with the times.
Homer Simpson has stopped his long-running habit of choking his son Bart on the animated comedy The Simpsons.
In the episode "McMansion & Wife," which aired on Oct. 22, 2023, as part of the show's 35th season, Homer (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) joked that he used to strangle Bart (Nancy Cartwright) when he met his new neighbor Thayer (Hank Azaria), who complimented his handshake.
"I don't do that anymore," Homer said to his wife, Marge. "Times have changed!"
I just found out that, after over 30 years, The Simpsons has finally retired their long-running gag of Homer strangling Bart.
— Simon A. (Baby Lamb Creations) (@BabyLamb5) November 2, 2023
Took them long enough lmao pic.twitter.com/JuHyNu1eiK
Homer's signature move of grabbing Bart by the neck and shaking him was a recurring joke since the show's premiere in 1989. In a 2000 episode called "Behind The Laughter," which spoofed Behind The Music, the writers made fun of the origin of the gag, with Homer saying, "And that horrible act of child abuse became one of our most beloved running gags."
However, the gag has not been seen since season 31, which ran from 2019 to 2020, as IGN notes. The decision to drop the gag is likely due to the increased awareness and criticism of domestic violence in modern media.
The Simpsons has also faced backlash for its problematic representation of some of its characters, especially Apu, the Indian convenience store owner. The 2017 documentary, The Problem with Apu, highlighted the negative stereotypes and cultural impact of the character. Azaria, who voiced Apu for decades, stepped down from the role in early 2020 and later apologized for his part in creating and perpetuating the problem.
"I apologize for my part in creating that and participating in that," Azaria said on Dax Shepard's podcast Armchair Expert. "Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize. And sometimes I do."
The show has also made efforts to cast actors of color for characters of color. In early 2021, The Simpsons replaced Harry Shearer, a white actor, with Kevin Michael Richardson, a Black actor, for the role of Dr. Hibbert, the Black family doctor.
Conclusion:
The Simpsons, the longest-running animated comedy in TV history, has made some significant changes in its 35th season. The show has dropped the gag of Homer strangling Bart, which was seen as a form of domestic violence. The show has also addressed the criticism of its portrayal of Apu, the Indian character, and recast some of its voice actors to match the ethnicity of their characters. The Simpsons has shown that it can adapt and evolve with the changing times and social norms.