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Sometimes, characters on The Simpsons break the fourth wall, or acknowledge the existence either of their status as fictional or of the audience watching them. These are the times it has happened.
In Bart the General, before the end credits, Bart sits on a table in a library and talks directly to the viewers about the seriousness of war.
In The Call of the Simpsons, Homer whistles along with the background music as the Simpson family is driving off of the road.
In Krusty Gets Busted, Lisa points out to Marge that if cartoons were intended for adults, they would be aired on prime-time. This reflects The Simpsons' current status as a cartoon aimed primarily at adults and shown on prime-time, once a very unusual position for a cartoon at the time.
A Bart Simpson Thanksgiving float
Season 2[]
In Bart vs. Thanksgiving, a balloon shaped like Bart is part of the Thanksgiving Day parade.
Later in the same episode, Lisa remarks that crazy things always happen to the Simpson family, to which Marge agrees.
When Marge is annoyed by a sexist newspaper comic in Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington, Homer assures her that cartoons are not meant to be taken seriously, and only provide cheap laughs. He then stands up, accidentally revealing his buttocks crack and causing Bart to laugh.
After putting Bill Cosby's book Fatherhood to good use in Saturdays of Thunder, Homer announces, "Thank you, Bill Cosby, you've saved the Simpsons!" This is a joke based on the fact that The Cosby Show aired in the same time slot as The Simpsons and was thus viewed as a direct competitor to the show.
Treehouse of Horror II opens with Marge warning the audience that the special may be too scary.
One of the stories in the same special involves the Simpson family getting popular in a parallel to the show's initial wave of popularity.
In a couch gag, the Simpsons pass the end of the film
Season 4[]
In Kamp Krusty, Bart asks Kent Brockman whether one can say "crappy" on TV, and Kent replies that you can on this network. This pokes fun at the FOX network's reputation for edginess at the time.
In the couch gag for Lisa the Beauty Queen (later reused for Duffless with Sound), Homer, Marge and Bart run off the edge of the film onto empty space, then quickly run back.
Maggie with a Bart action figure
In Lisa the Beauty Queen, Homer assures Lisa that a caricature of her is simply what she would look like if she was a cartoon character.
After getting a commercial aired in Mr. Plow, Homer proclaims, "It may be on a lousy channel, but the Simpsons are on TV!"
In A Streetcar Named Marge, when Maggie's pacifier is taken away, she briefly tries sucking on a Bart action figure.
In The Front, Roger Meyers Jr. explains to Bart and Lisa that cartoons often repeat the same background on a loop to save money. As he says this, the scene's background noticeably repeats to the point that the characters walk past the same janitor several times.
Treehouse of Horror III opens with Homer parodying the Alfred Hitchcock Presents intro and warning the audience that the special may be too scary.
Season 5[]
In Rosebud, Homer asks Marge if Maggie giving the bear to Burns is a happy ending or a sad ending, and Marge says it is an ending.
Treehouse of Horror IV opens with Bart talking to the audience in a parody of the intro to Rod Serling's Night Gallery, but Marge interrupts and tells Bart to warn the audience that the special may be too scary.
The same special ends with the cast wishing the viewers a happy Halloween.
Homer advertises for Armour Hot Dogs
In Bart's Inner Child, Homer quotes that if he was in a cartoon, the cliff would break due to the fact that he is in a cartoon.
Later in the same episode, Homer gives a heavily exposition-filled announcement about the plans they have already discussed (unseen to the viewer). Bart reflects on how odd his comments are.
In Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood, the fourth wall is broken when Bart, Lisa, and Homer are watching TV when Lisa tells Bart that television does not have to be 100% accurate. A second Homer then walks past
Another Homer appears
the window.
In Homer Loves Flanders, Lisa assures Bart that changes to their family's lives are always reverted by the next week, and suggests that they just say a few witty lines and otherwise live like normal.
At the end of Bart Gets Famous, Bart reflects relief that he is no longer confined to a cheap catchphrase. A montage of several characters saying their catchphrases follows. Lisa responds in annoyance, "I'll be in my room". Homer asks what kind of catchphrase that is.
In Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy, Lisa claims that she would be mortified if someone made a lousy product with the Simpson name on it. This pokes fun of the extensive merchandising for the show during its early years.
In the couch gag for Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song, Homer notices the Fox screen bug, peels it off the screen and stomps on it. The rest of the family then join him in stomping on it before returning to the couch.
Season 6[]
In Another Simpsons Clip Show, Marge says they watch the same shows all the time, while Lisa says that the Itchy & Scratchy cartoons are just pasted together from pieces of old episodes (and pointing out that Ren and Stimpy do it all the time). This comment is a sly joke about the construction of this episode; the blackboard and couch gags are taken from other episodes, there are clips from past episodes, the scene itself is from Krusty Gets Busted, and the interstitials are actually clips from past episodes that feature the family members talking in the kitchen. These three aspects support the idea of this episode being a clip show to the extreme.
Treehouse of Horror V opens once again with Marge warning the audience that the special may be too scary. The screen then shows a soundwave which wiggles in sync with the Simpsons' voices; Bart tells the viewers not to adjust their TV sets and Homer speaks gibberish to make the soundwave wiggle, remarking that he "can see [his] voice on TV".
In the "Nightmare Cafeteria" segment of the same episode, Bart assures Lisa and Milhouse that nothing permanently bad ever happens to them (which proves untrue since it is a Halloween special).
A Star is Burns makes several jokes at the expense of its status as a crossover with The Critic. For instance, after the television announces that "The Flintstones Meet the Jetsons" will soon air, Bart dismisses it as a cheap cartoon crossover before Homer introduces The Critic's Jay Sherman. Later, Bart tells Jay that his show is wonderful and should be watched by everyone, before shuddering at how forced his comment is.
Season 7[]
In Lisa the Vegetarian, after Lisa notices that The Itchy & Scratchy Show teaches the lesson that violence against animals is funny, Bart assures her that cartoons do not teach lessons, and are only about comedy such as people getting hurt. Immediately afterwards, Homer accidentally hits Bart with a door, hurting him.
At the end of Attack of the 50-foot Eyesores, Kent Brockman warns people watching the news about the statues coming to life in their town, "Lock your doors, bar your windows, because the next advertisement you see could destroy your house and eat your family." Homer then appears to say "We'll be right back" to start a commercial.
Troy McClure discussing the show
Later in Homer³, CGI Homer states "I feel like I'm wasting a fortune standing here!"
Also in 22 Short Films About Springfield, Professor Frink begs the audience to listen to his story, for which he has even composed theme music. He is disappointed when the credits start playing.
In Lisa's Date with Density, Lisa writes "I will not be a snickerpuss" on the chalkboard. She then questions how Bart writes on the chalkboard every week, referencing the opening.
Troy McClure discussing the show
In Hurricane Neddy, Ned Flanders insults Lenny by calling him a jerk during his tirade at the townspeople of Springfield after they crudely rebuild his house. Lenny becomes confused and states, “Hey, I’ve only been here a few minutes, what’s going on?”.
The entire episode of The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase takes place under the premise that The Simpsons is a TV show, with Troy McClure reflecting on it to the audience.
At the end of The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show, Lisa says, "We should thank our lucky stars they're still putting on a program of this caliber after so many years," referencing The Simpsons' popularity.
During the credits of the same episode, Homer repeatedly announces that he is "cutting" various crew members as if they were part of his sports team.
A clip show banner
In Lisa's Sax, Homer and Marge repeatedly sing to the audience about their lives in a parody of the All in the Family theme song.
In All Singing, All Dancing, At one point, towards the end of the episode, the Simpsons family sings that "it really does blow when a long-running series does a cheesy clip show", and there is a banner saying "Simpsons Clip Show" and the episode's production code which is (5F24).
During the credits of the same episode, Snake complains about the music and shoots every time it starts back up. When the Gracie Films logo appears, he shoots again and says, "You too, Gracie music dude!"
The Canyonero pushes away the 20th Century FOX Television logo
In Das Bus, Homer says about Jesus, "He's my favorite fictional character."
The chalkboard gag for Trash of the Titans is "I will not mess with the opening credits."
Season 10[]
In Sunday, Cruddy Sunday, John Madden and Pat Summerall have a "post-episode analysis", where they come to a conclusion that the episode cheated "the loyal fans who put up with so much nonsense from this franchise".
In Bart the Mother, Nelson Muntz can be heard humming The Simpsons theme while frying a carrot.
In Homer to the Max, Ned Flanders notes that one of the reasons TV networks like cartoons is that they can change the voice actors without anyone telling the difference. He speaks this line in a noticeably different voice from his usual one.
Also in Homer to the Max, as Lisa explains that TV shows sometimes put characters originally intended to be prominent into the background, Dewey Largo and the Capital City Goofball walk by in the background.
At the end of Marge Simpson in: "Screaming Yellow Honkers", Bart, Lisa, and Wiggum talk about how good NBC is and Marge tells the audience that there is only one way to find out if they have something good on. On later airings, the credits show Homer being held at gunpoint telling the audience to watch Fox only to be shot when complimenting CBS.
Groening signs his name
Season 11[]
In the couch gag for Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner? (later reused for Pygmoelian), Marge notices Matt Groening's signature on the bottom left-hand corner of the screen and wipes it off. Shortly afterwards, Groening runs onto the set and re-signs the scene.
During the credits of The Mansion Family, Homer complains about how much richer the cast and crew are than he is.
In Missionary: Impossible, a Fox pledge-a-thon presented by Betty White interrupts the ending of the episode. When Bart pledges the needed money, he receives a phone call telling him that he has saved the network. He comments that it "wouldn't be the first time" as he looks to the viewers.
In Pygmoelian, Carl Carlson looks directly at the camera and tells the viewer, "You see, that's why I don't talk much", after starting a dialogue which ends up in tears.
The Simpsons presented as a TV show
In Alone Again, Natura-Diddily, at her funeral, Maude is referred by Reverend Lovejoy as a "supporting player in our lives", and compares her death to Apu's marriage and fatherhood and the Van Houten's separation. He also mentioned that she had no significant catchphrases or comical accents.
The entire episode of Behind the Laughter takes place under the premise that The Simpsons is a TV show.
At the end of Skinner's Sense of Snow, Homer, under the influence of fumes he inhaled, perceives Lisa with a camel's head announcing "Merry Christmas from the Simpsons!"
At the end of The Computer Wore Menace Shoes, a koala bear (or someone in a koala suit) shoots knockout gas at the screen, as if it is directed at the audience. As this occurs, Homer declares, "See you on the island."
In HOMЯ, Homer claims that one of the fun things about animation is that it doesn't have to make sense. Ozmodiar appears out of thin air to confirm Homer's claim.
In Trilogy of Error, Mr. Teeny murmurs in monkey language, "This plot made no sense!" to the camera.
Francine lunges at the camera at the end of Bye Bye Nerdie.
In Day of the Jackanapes, Marge says " It's good for a show to go off the air before it gets stale and repetitive". Smithers bursts in saying "Maggie shot Mr. Burns again!"
Comic Book Guy gives insight into Marge's scarecrow items
Season 13[]
At the end of Sweets and Sour Marge, Lenny Leonard looks at the camera and says to the viewers that he found his loose teeth (which he thought were pearls at first), and that he can still make a necklace out of them.
In Brawl in the Family, Lisa nearly breaks the fourth wall in this episode when she says "Could this be the end of our series..." but finishes saying "....of events."
As Marge makes a scarecrow in Weekend at Burnsie's, pictures of Comic Book Guy repeatedly go on-screen accompanied by text telling the audience which episodes the scarecrow's parts come from (a la Pop-Up Video).
Homer eats the Joe Millionaire advertisement
The chalkboard gag for The Sweetest Apu is "I will never lie about being cancelled again."
Season 14[]
In Bart vs Lisa vs the Third Grade, Principal Skinner breaks the fourth wall in this episode, saying "If this episode has taught us anything...".
In Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington, a promo for Joe Millionaire appears on the screen as green text, which Homer picks up and eats, then spits it out.
In Barting Over, Bart expressed surprise at having been in a commercial before holding up a Butterfinger. This references Bart's Butterfinger commercials.
In I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot, after Lisa decides to name her new cat after Snowball II and pretend the real Snowball II's death never happened, Principal Skinner enters the scene and suggests that this choice is something of a cheat. Lisa replies, "I guess you're right, Principal Tamzarian", and Skinner promptly accepts the new cat as Snowball II. This references the controversy of The Principal and the Pauper as well as its similar cop-out ending.
In The Way We Weren't, after Marge prank calls Moe, Moe breaks the fourth wall and addresses the camera, saying "And that's the origin of that!”
In Fraudcast News, Burns admits that “it’s impossible to control all the media, unless of course you’re Rupert Murdoch”. Burns and Smithers then pointedly stare into the screen while calling him a beautiful man.
Homer's beard off of his face
Season 16[]
When Homer insults the quality of Korean Animation in Fat Man and Little Boy, his "five o'clock shadow" part of his face is drawn a foot away from the rest of his head.
Season 17[]
At the end of Treehouse of Horror XVI, Moe tells the viewers that he hopes they enjoyed this year's Halloween show as much as the Korean animators enjoyed making it.
In Yokel Chords, Bart says he dreamt his whole family were cartoon characters and their success had led to Fox News. This is what the Simpsons are, which breaks the fourth wall. Or this could be a reference to the episode Behind the Laughter.
At the end of You Kent Always Say What You Want, after he gets voiced over by Maurice LaMarche's ads for Fox when he tries to tell Lisa something horrible Kent Brockman mentioned about the Fox Network, but gets cut off by the 20th Century Fox Television logo and music when he says, "The truth is-", Homer tries to talk to the audience about it one more time by whispering, "OK. What I was going to say was-", before being comically interrupted by the Gracie Films logo.
Season 19[]
In Treehouse of Horror XVIII, Marge talks to the viewers about the episode during the opening sequence, but is distracted by the logos for other shows appearing onscreen.
At the end of the same special, Ned tells the viewers that they'll be condemned for watching Fox.
In All About Lisa, Sideshow Mel's narration breaks the fourth wall just before the advertisement break, saying, "Lisa didn't know it yet, but she had just dipped her first toe, into the business of show! And it is a business, as you will find out in three...two...one..."
Season 20[]
Treehouse of Horror XIX ends with Marge encouraging the audience to write letters if they feel like their parody of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was disrespectful to a holiday classic. She then wishes the audience happy holidays.
In Lost Verizon, Bart says "You can even watch commercials on it" and eventually switches to a commercial break.
In Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words, while solving crossword puzzles, Lisa thinks of B.A.R.T. and describes it as a San Francisco people mover. Bart then looks at the camera and says, "Speaking of San Francisco people movers..." before the scene cuts to Homer and Julio dancing at the hardcore gay club.
In Take My Life, Please, Bart writes 'HDTV is worth every cent', a reference to the episode being the first in production order to come in 16:9 high definition format.
In Father Knows Worst, Homer tells the viewers that he's a "great dad to both his kids".
Season 21[]
Homer and Marge encourage the audience to vote on Ned and Edna's relationship
In the "There's No Business Like Moe Business" segment of "Treehouse of Horror XX", the cast sings a short closing number to the tune of the Theme Song, telling the viewers that they hope they enjoyed this year's Halloween show.
In the "Master and Cadaver" segment of the same special, after Homer kills Roger, he says "They should've called this one 'Recipe for Disaster'", confusing Marge.
In The Ned-liest Catch, during the cliffhanger ending, Homer and Marge remind the viewer to join TheSimpsons.com and vote on whether or not Ned Flanders and Edna Krabappel should stay together (In later airings of the episode, this scene was extended into the end credits).
In A Midsummer's Nice Dream, Bart breaks the fourth wall that the viewers can watch this episode tomorrow (March 14, 2011) at hulu.com.
Comic Book Guy discussed Nedna
Season 23[]
In The Falcon and the D'ohman, Comic Book Guy, during the cold open, tells the viewers that the result of Nedna will be revealed in the episode. Also, later in the episode, when Ned and Edna are in bed together while Wayne Slater (who was having a nightmare) disturbed a few couples while sleeping, Edna winks at the camera, which also reveals the result of Nedna: "Pro Nedna".
In Ned 'N Edna's Blend Agenda, there are several moments during the episode when the fourth wall is broken. Firstly when Homer replies to Marge by saying "Let's put it to a vote America". This is in reference to the end of "The Ned-liest Catch" where the country voted whether Ned and Edna should stay together. The fourth wall is broken again when Moe says the if a three-act story is good enough for Aristotle, then its good enough for the Simpsons.
In Moonshine River, before the end credits, the Simpsons tell the viewers about making their own couch gag.
In Hardly Kirk-ing, while Homer is strangling Bart at the end of the episode, he says that Bart's comment about not wanting to look like him is "not a heart-warming scene to end [the episode] on".
In A Test Before Trying, when Homer drops the rest of his parking meter change into the wishing well, he breaks the fourth wall by telling Marge "now let's get back on topic" meaning he is aware of the two topics of the episode and the scene changes to Springfield Elementary School where Bart's test is taking place. This could also be coincidental because Homer could have found out what is happening with Bart off-screen, and when he said "let's get back on topic", that could have just meant that Homer was just going to talk to Marge about what's going on with Bart and the scene just changed because it was an appropriate time to change the scene.
Season 25[]
In Steal This Episode, as Bart explains to Homer how to pirate media content, the episode "censors" his explanations as if FOX is trying to hide the knowledge.
In Puffless, when Marge tells Homer that Patty will be sleeping on the couch, Homer breaks the fourth wall by saying "But that's where we do our couch gags!" and we then cut to the couch gag seen in the episode. Also, Maggie's plan's subtitles also break the fourth wall: "After securing the perimeter, the ground troops will advance and reinforce flanks, as the aerial units will soften their defenses. Then we shall advance in a pincer moment to infiltrate the compound and liberate our friend. If you've read all of this, congratulations, you're a genius!"
In Halloween of Horror, Ned asks Homer whether the Simpsons will continue their tradition of three stories on Halloween, which Homer affirms. This references the Treehouse of Horror series.
In Treehouse of Horror XXVI, Sideshow Bob breaks the fourth wall by saying that he's spent 24 years (actually 22 years) trying to kill a ten-year-old child. Later, Homer, confusing cartoon animation for revival animation, says the animation for the segment is good. The third fourth wall break was Kang, who complains to the viewers at the end of the episode, "Just because it looks like Season 4 doesn't make it Season 4!".
In Barthood, Homer breaks the fourth wall at the end of the episode saying "Oh, is that what this was?"
During The Marge-ian Chronicles, Homer gives the camera a thumbs up after giving Marge a reason to make a G-rated comedy club.
In Simprovised, Homer answered questions from viewers during the live broadcast, and the questions were different in both the East Coast/Central version and the West Coast/Mountain version.
Season 28[]
In The Caper Chase, Robert McKee breaks the fourth wall by talking to Homer about the time cut that happened after the introduction to the clones.
In Moho House, Homer's flip book ends with a Gracie Films logo. Also in "Stogie's Song", Stogie sang the line "that's the ending of the show, except for the tag."
In Monty Burns' Fleeing Circus's couch gag, Clancy Wiggum breaks the fourth wall, when he is knocked over by the camera.
In the Moefinger segment of Treehouse of Horror XXVII, Moe says that the secret entrance was possible with Halloween show money.
In Dogtown, Mayor Quimby breaks the fourth wall by joking about what state Springfield is in; after Quimby finds out about their current position on dogs, he mentions that Springfield will be known as the dog-loving capital of the world from that point forth, and that it will put Springfield on the map. His assistant asks why they are not on the map, but instead of revealing the answer, Quimby says that he doesn't understand, because he made twenty calls to Rand McNally, and the company doesn't even realize what state Springfield is in as well.
In Singin' in the Lane, Lenny breaks the fourth wall by saying "A lot of music in this episode" while hearing "The Boys Are Back In Town."
In an epilogue of "Lisa Gets the Blues", Homer tells the kids that with the next coming episode, the series will have exceeded Gunsmoke in terms of episode length, but Bart dampers the mood, by suggesting they factor in the episodes they made on radio.
In the episode Haw-Haw Land, there is a box labeled "Couch Gag Props Used" in the garage.
In No Good Read Goes Unpunished, Lisa and Marge break the fourth wall to pander to some opposing protesters in recently heightened controversy over the show's Indian character, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, popularized by the Hari Kondabolu documentary film, "The Problem with Apu".
Season 30[]
In My Way or the Highway to Heaven, Lisa calls her story "The Princess Not Affiliated With Disney", but then says "unless we are now owned by Disney."
In E My Sports while the Simpsons family are driving, they pass a building called Simpsons Animation Studio and Casino.
In D'oh Canada, following the musical number in the beginning, a blanket of snow falls over Buffalo, New York after the family drives into the city. Homer steps into view from offscreen declaring to the audience, "Benedict Arnold fought here, baby!"
Season 31[]
In Screenless, when Marge declares that her family isn't going to use their screens, she points at the viewers and says "You too."
In Treehouse of Horror XXXI, Homer selects his candidate (who isn’t shown), he looks at the screen and says “Who you gonna make fun of now, late night comics?” then laughs. A few seconds later, it was revealed that it was just Homer’s dream.
In "The 7 Beer Itch", Homer messes with the call's split screen.
At the opening, Homer points to the viewers during his speech.
The chalkboard gag for the movie is "I will not illegally download this movie".
During the end credits, Tom Hanks appears and asks the audience to leave him be if they see him in real life.
While the end credits roll, the Simpson family are watching them, revealing that the Simpsons were watching the entire movie, including the pre-movie Itchy & Scratchy cartoon, in the same theater in the same seats.
During the end credits, before the family leaves the theater, Maggie says "Sequel", which some viewers think is a sign that there will be a sequel to the movie. In reality, an insider source confirmed a sequel.
Characters will often refer to the player as "Sky Finger".
The level-up screens have the characters speaking directly to the player and/or acknowledging the fact that they are in a video game. Some of the character unlock screens and dialogue during certain questlines break the fourth wall as well.
Matt Groening appears as a playable character in the game, and one of his tasks is to attempt to erase Homer.
Other[]
In a clip created to acknowledge the ending of The Cosby Show, Homer explains that his show is ending because Bill Cosby wanted to end it on a high note. Bart responds that if he had his own show he'd "run it straight into the ground", which Homer agrees with.
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