Since its premiere more than 35 years ago, the beloved yellow family of Springfield has been present in the living rooms of thousands of homes. Throughout this time, «The Simpsons» has become one of the longest-running and most influential series in the history of television, conquering the audience with its humor, satire and its countless references to popular culture.
Available at Disney+, the animation created by Matt Groening has built a good part of its legacy based on parodies of films and some of the series of the last decades. From classics such as «Twin Peaks» or «The X-Files» to more recent phenomena such as «Stranger Things» or «Black Mirror», which can now be seen on different platforms from
«BLACK MIRROR» (NETFLIX) AND «YELLOW MIRROR»
The universe of «Black Mirror», available on Netflix, is the protagonist of the new parody of «The Simpsons» with «Yellow Mirror», an exclusive episode of Disney+ that will premiere on August 26 of this year. The special brings to Springfield some of the usual themes of the series created by Charlie Brooker, adapting the tone and premises that have made the production one of the benchmarks of contemporary science fiction. In the episode, Homer will discover a disturbing truth about the reality that surrounds him, while an AI tablet will befriend Maggie until he ends up controlling her.
«BREAKING BAD» (NETFLIX) AND «WHAT ANIMATED WOMEN WANT» (S24 E17)
Although in this case the reference is in the header, «Breaking Bad», available on Netflix, also has its wink in «The Simpsons» in the episode «What Animated Women Want». In it, Marge takes on the role of cook and prepares some blue cupcakes while a Homer characterized as Heisenberg watches her. Bart, on the other hand, is in charge of distributing the merchandise in a briefcase, in a recreation of some of the most recognizable scenes of the fiction starring Bryan Cranston. The tribute is completed with the song «Crystal Blue Persuasion» by Tommy James and the Shondells, also used in the Vince Gilligan series.
«THE PRISONER» (FILMIN) AND «THE COMPUTER THAT KILLED HOMER» (S12 E06)
The British series «The Prisoner», which can be seen on Filmin, is the great reference of «The Computer That Killed Homer». After revealing various secrets as the mysterious Mr. X, Homer is kidnapped and transferred to a strange island from which no one can escape. From that moment on, the episode reproduces some of the most recognizable elements of 1967 fiction, such as isolated community, constant surveillance, escape attempts and even the gigantic white balloon that chases those who try to escape. More than a simple wink, it is one of the most faithful television tributes of the series.
«x-files» (DISNEY+) AND «THE SPRINGFIELD FILES» (T08 AND E10)
Available on Disney+, «The X-Files» stars in one of the most remembered tributes to «The Simpsons» in «The Springfield Files». The episode incorporates agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who arrive in Springfield to investigate the alleged sighting of an alien after a statement by Homer. The plot reproduces the tone of mystery, conspiracies and paranormal phenomena that made the series created by Chris Carter famous, until revealing that the alien is none other than Mr. Burns.
«FARGO» (PRIME VIDEO) AND «UN FLANDERS SERIO» (T33 E06 AND E07)
With «A Serious Flanders», «The Simpsons» sign one of its most ambitious tributes to «Fargo», available on Prime Video. In this double episode, Ned Flanders abandons his image as an exemplary neighbor to become the protagonist of a crime thriller. The story adopts the tone, black humor and aesthetics characteristic of Noah Hawley’s series, as well as recreating some of its most recognizable elements, such as snowy landscapes, narration and the presence of criminals as violent as they are unpredictable.
«GAME OF THRONES» (HBO MAX) AND «THE SERVANTS» (S29 E01)
Magic, dragons and power struggles take over Springfield in «The Servants», the episode with which «The Simpsons» pays tribute to «Game of Thrones», which can be seen on HBO Max. The Yellow Family enters a medieval kingdom where there is no shortage of fantastic creatures, spells and battles, in a story that recreates the aesthetics and much of the universe of the series based on the novels of George R. R. Martin.
«STRANGER THINGS» (NETFLIX) AND «THE TREE-HOUSE OF HORROR XXX» (S31 E04)
Turned into one of the most popular science fiction series on Netflix, «Stranger Things» also has its space in Springfield with «The Treehouse of Horror XXX». In the «Danger Things» segment, Bart, Lisa and Milhouse replace the young protagonists of Hawkins in a parody that recreates the Upside Down, the supernatural experiments and the eighties aesthetics that made the Duffer brothers’ fiction world famous.
«TWIN PEAKS» (FILMIN) AND «WHO SHOT MR. BURNS?» (S07 E01)
Considered one of the most iconic episodes of «The Simpsons», «Who Shot Mr. Burns?» is also one of the most remembered tributes to «Twin Peaks», available on Filmin. The second part of the episode incorporates a dream starring Chief Wiggum that recreates almost in detail the iconic Red Room of the series created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, with its red curtains, zigzag floor and disturbing atmosphere that made the production a benchmark on television.
More than three decades after its premiere, «The Simpsons» continues to find new ways to surprise its fans. Between humor, satire and references to popular culture, the most famous family on television has turned tributes to other series into one of its hallmarks, inviting you to discover curious winks hidden among the streets of Springfield.
