'The Simpsons' Season 32 Episode 4 mocks Trump, but fans are divided over show trying to 'sway' votes
'The Simpsons' has never been afraid to get political in its satire, but for some fans, the latest episode has gone just a step too far. The 31st edition of the show's annual Halloween-themed episode, 'Treehouse of Horror', began with a dystopic view of the consequences of not voting. Days before the episode released, however, 'The Simpsons' Twitter account posted a clip of the episode's cold open, which quickly lists 50 reasons not to vote for Donald Trump — though it doesn't mention the president by name.
The cold open focuses on a very real nightmare for America right now — election day — which Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) has almost napped through. A call from Marge (Julie Kavner) wakes him up just in time, but Homer remains undecided who to vote for, which is when Lisa (Yeardley Smith) shows up to remind Homer of every scandal the nation's current president has been involved in since 2016. The list scrolls past the screen, first in one column, then two, then three, containing trivial scandals such as "Called Tim Cook 'Tim Apple'" to ones as serious as "Destroyed Democracy", 'The Simpsons' takes a clear stance on just where it stands on who to vote for.
The Simpsons — October Surprise pic.twitter.com/wCDOrpmN80
— TheSimpsons (@TheSimpsons) October 13, 2020
Airing just three days before Election Day, many feel like this cuts a little too close to home and criticized the show for taking a side in a political election. "This episode was just as bad as last years if not worse, the fact that you used a Iconic cartoon to try and sway the vote was just something that left a sour taste and really made the Simpsons look bad, I imagine it will now affect future of what used to be a great show," writes one viewer. "It was a good 32 year run (well, really only the first 20), but I will never watch your show again," writes another. One tweet reads, "They shouldnt have been allowed 2 make a episode which is clearly a party political broadcast. It shouldnt be allowed 4 either side regardless its clearly election interference. A joke or satire is one thing, this is just a strategic & devious attempt to sway a election. Too Woke."
This episode was just as bad as last years if not worse, the fact that you used a Iconic cartoon to try and sway the vote was just something that left a sour taste and really made the Simpsons look bad, I imagine it will now affect future of what used to be a great show.
— Shane Holock 🇨🇦 (@slip180) October 19, 2020
It was a good 32 year run (well, really only the first 20), but I will never watch your show again.
— Rick (@TheRickL) October 15, 2020
They shouldnt have been allowed 2 make a episode which is clearly a party political broadcast. It shouldnt be allowed 4 either side regardless its clearly election interference. A joke or satire is one thing, this is just a strategic & devious attempt to sway a election.Too Woke
— Will Adams (@WillAdamslsd) October 14, 2020
Other fans of the show, however, find the clip both damning and hilarious and some are further amused by those "triggered" by the clip in the comment section. "Lol this comment section is hilarious. It’s all the ppl who accuse the younger generation of being so sensitive and snowflakes who are triggered being sensitive snowflakes being triggered by a cartoon. Hypocrisy is so sweet," writes one fan. "Respect! I’m surprised they only listed 50 reasons not to vote for tRump. I have over 200,000+ reasons not to vote for tRump," writes another. A third writes, "and this is why The Simpsons is the greatest Television program that we were lucky enough to ever be blessed with!!"
Lol this comment section is hilarious. It’s all the ppl who accuse the younger generation of being so sensitive and snowflakes who are triggered being sensitive snowflakes being triggered by a cartoon. Hypocrisy is so sweet. 💜
— Nels (@MisterNels) October 19, 2020
Respect! I’m surprised they only listed 50 reasons not to vote for tRump. I have over 200,000+ reasons not to vote for tRump.
— Biden for President (@Debra21719677) October 14, 2020
and this is why The Simpsons is the greatest Television program that we were lucky enough to ever be blessed with!!
— Mike Riley (@mikerileynow) October 13, 2020
Homer makes his vote — seemingly voting to remove Trump from office — as he jokes that late night talk shows are going to have to come up with new material with an easy target like Trump out of office, but the whole thing is revealed to have been a dream and Homer slept through voting day. This soon results in a dystopic, facist future, setting just the right mood with which to go into the horror-themed episode.
The next episode of 'The Simpsons' airs on November 8 on FOX.
