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The 1989 - 2012 couch gag is the tenth couch gag of Season 23.
Plot
The Simpson family run in and sit on the couch as usual, but above the couch is a banner that says "America: Most powerful country in the world". They then go through a time warp, starting with 1989, the year the show premiered, to 2012, the year this episode aired in. Every other year, something interesting happens:
In 1989, the Simpson family holds up American flags. In 1991, Leon Kompowsky moonwalks from the middle to the left of the room. In 1993, Stampy is seen with Ralph Wiggum (who is giggling) in his mouth. In 1995, Poochie is seen in the room gesturing. In 1997, O'Reilly the Leprechaun is sitting on the TV while winking at the camera. In 1999, the ghost of Maude Flanders haunts the family. In 2001, Baron Von Kiss-A-Lot is sitting in the room. In 2003, Goose Gladwell is in the room. In 2005, Chazz Busby is in the room. In 2007, Homer is holding Plopper and is tickling him, who squeals in response. In 2009, Princess Penelope rides across the room on a unicorn prop. In 2010, Homer and Bart change the America banner to a sign that says "TOO BIG TO FAIL WE HOPE". Finally, in 2012, Maggie holds up a flag for China.
Character Appearances
- Homer Simpson
- Marge Simpson
- Bart Simpson
- Lisa Simpson
- Maggie Simpson
- Leon Kompowsky
- Stampy
- Ralph Wiggum
- Poochie
- O'Reilly the Leprechaun
- Maude Flanders (ghost)
- Baron Von Kiss-A-Lot
- Goose Gladwell
- Chazz Busby
- Plopper
- Princess Penelope
Appearances
Episode – "Them, Robot"
Trivia
- The characters that appear every other year are references to the episodes they originally appear in:
- Leon Kompowsky moonwalking is a reference to Stark Raving Dad.
- Stampy with Ralph in his mouth is a reference to Bart Gets an Elephant.
- Poochie gesturing is a reference to The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show.
- O'Reilly the Leprechaun is a reference to This Little Wiggy, even though the episode aired in 1998 and not in 1997.
- The ghost of Maude Flanders is a reference to Alone Again, Natura-Diddily.
- Baron Von Kiss-A-Lot is a reference to Half-Decent Proposal.
- Goose Gladwell is a reference to Fat Man and Little Boy.
- Chazz Bubsy is a reference to Smoke on the Daughter, even though the episode aired in 2008 and not in 2005.
- Homer and Spider-Pig is a reference to The Simpsons Movie.
- Princess Penelope is a reference to Once Upon a Time in Springfield.
- As the years go by, the character designs in the Simpson family are very noticeable. From 1989 to 1994, they have their design as seen in the Season 1 and 2 couch gags, and from 1995 to 2012, they have their current design.
- The "America: Most powerful country in the world" banner has noticeable changes, too; from 1989 to 1992, it looks all new. From 1993 to 1996, it barely starts to fade and has only a couple of rips on the left. From 1997 to 2000, its still barely faded, has more rips and has a hole nearby the second A of "America". From 2001 to 2004, the letters start to fade along with the background, the rips get bigger, and the hole gets bigger, and from 2005 to 2010 (before Homer and Bart change the sign), the letters and background are almost halfway faded, and the rips and hole are much bigger.
- From 1989 to 2006, the old 4:3 analog TV is seen, and from 2007 to 2012, the new 16:9 widescreen TV is seen, even though they didn't switch to the new TV permanently within the show until the Season 21 premiere (it did appear in the couch gags for the last twelve episodes of Season 20, however).
Gallery
