Nothing lasts forever. In time, the continents will crash into each other once more, the sun will swallow the planet and, at some point long after that, The Simpsons will end. But that isn’t to say that it’s incapable of moving with the times before then. Because, in yet another nod to shifting tastes, Homer Simpson has revealed that he will no longer attempt to strangle his son to death.
In the third episode of the current 35th season, Homer greets his new neighbour by shaking his hand. When the neighbour comments that he wasn’t expecting such a firm grip, Homer replies: “See Marge, strangling the boy paid off,” before acknowledging that he doesn’t actually do that any more. “Times have changed,” he adds.
The Simpsons has done a ton of sports jokes in the past, that’s definitely not unique to recent Simpsons.
Just from memory there’s one of the most highly regarded golden era episodes, Homer at the Bat which heavily features MLB players from the time and makes jokes assuming knowledge of the league. You Only Move Twice has the joke about the Denver Broncos. The entire characters of Drederick Tatum and Lucius Sweet are based on Mike Tyson and Don King respectively.
Literally entire super bowl episode? Gags about 10 billion hours of pre-game? Small bits where Homer chuckles at sports commentators? Homer taking over running the kids football team? Mark McGuire distracting everyone from a surveillance conspiracy? Homer literally chained himself to a post to protest losing the Isotopes?
There were tons back in the day.
