Top 10 Simpsons Easter Eggs You Missed
#9: Matt Groening’s Signature
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Various Homer Simpson is an instantly recognizable character, with defining traits like his white collared shirt, muzzle, and two hairs on the top of his otherwise bald head. He even comes with his own artist signature, but it’s one you might not even realize was there. The hair on the side of Homer’s head and the ear below was first designed to create an “M” and a “G” - the initials of “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening. In one episode, Homer semi-breaks the fourth wall by drawing himself and making note of this. Although later versions of the ear have less of a “G” shape, due to fear of distracting viewers, Groening still reportedly draws it as a “G” when sketching Homer for fans.
#8: Principal Skinner is Jean Valjean
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“Homer’s Barbershop Quartet” (1993) Despite being an animated sitcom on Fox, “The Simpsons” has made numerous allusions to pop culture over the years. In season five’s “Homer’s Barbershop Quartet,” Principal Seymour Skinner visits military goods dealer Herman’s booth at the local swap meet. He finds himself reunited with a mask he wore for two years as a prisoner of war while serving in Vietnam. The number on the mask? 24601, the number assigned to Jean Valjean, the tormented protagonist in Victor Hugo’s novel, “Les Misérables” and the musical of the same name. It’s commitment to seemingly minor details like this that makes “The Simpsons” more than just another cartoon.
#7: "A113"
Various “A113” has appeared multiple times on “The Simpsons”, but it isn’t a reference to any literary character. It is, however, the number of an important classroom at the California Institute of Arts, one used by many prominent figures in filmmaking and animation. This includes former "Simpsons" director Brad Bird, who went on to make "The Incredibles" and "Ratatouille." This alphanumerical Easter egg has also popped up in multiple Pixar films. On "The Simpsons," it's been exclusively used for mugshots and prisoner numbers, including for the dastardly Sideshow Bob. Hopefully, students at this school don't feel imprisoned.
#6: Hidden Lentil Soup Recipe
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“Lisa the Vegetarian” (1995) Three members of The Beatles have been on “The Simpsons,” and Paul McCartney’s appearance had something extra. When Lisa gives up meat for good, she meets two world-famous vegetarians: McCartney and his late wife, Linda. Paul tells Lisa that, when played backwards, his song “Maybe I’m Amazed” has a lentil soup recipe. And, at the episode’s close, a version of the song plays. When this version is played backwards, you indeed hear Paul reading a recipe for lentil soup. We wish more songs came with recipes when played in reverse, rather than satanic messages.
#5: Frink’s Boast
“Treehouse of Horror VI” (1995) “The Simpsons” is a show for nerds, by nerds. A great example of this is in the largely computer-animated “Treehouse of Horror” segment, “Homer Cubed.” When Homer finds himself trapped in the mysterious “third dimension,” the brainy Professor Frink tries to explain the situation. In the background around Homer are all kinds of sights, including a row of hexadecimal numbers. To the average viewer, including us, these don’t mean anything. However, when converted to ASCII code, it translates to “Frink Rules!” “The Simpsons” is the kind of show you can enjoy without a computer programming degree. But sometimes, you just gotta throw the nerds a bone.
#4: God’s Hands
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Various Like many cartoon characters, “The Simpsons” cast has four fingers on each hand. There are numerous advantages to this, including saving time on drawing an extra finger. However, one figure is granted a fifth digit during his rare appearances. Whenever God appears on the show, he’s typically rendered with five fingers on each hand. His son, Jesus, has been shown with five fingers as well, but sometimes he’s depicted with four. Portraying revered figures such as these on a comedy show is inherently risky, so we understand “The Simpsons” staff wanting to be cautious with their depictions. And, in terms of potential to offend, it’s nothing compared to where “Family Guy” or “South Park” go.
#3: Message to the Audience
“Homer Badman” (1994) “The Simpsons” has had a slightly complicated relationship with their fanbase, and they’re not shy to poke fun at them. When Homer is exonerated after a false claim of sexual harassment, tabloid news show “Rock Bottom” issues a slew of corrections. These include “Lyndon Johnson did not provide the voice of Yosemite Sam” and “Ted Koppel is a robot” This episode aired in the days before DVDs or streaming. So, the only way to read it all is if you recorded it to VHS and carefully paused it. Then, you would catch the message, “If you are reading this, you have no life.” The list does, however, end with “The people who are writing this have no life.” It truly takes one to know one.
#2: Maggie’s Price
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Various During the full opening credits sequence, infant Maggie Simpson is scanned at the grocery checkout line before a relieved Marge sees she’s okay. The amount that popped up on the price reader during the original credits - $847.63 - wasn’t just picked randomly. This was reportedly the average monthly cost of raising a baby back when the show first premiered in 1989. When the opening was updated in 2009, it was changed so that Maggie instead doubles the cost of the groceries. That’s definitely less stressful than adjusting for inflation, as $847 in 1989 is a lot more now.
#1: Hidden “McBain” Movie
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Various In multiple “Simpsons” episodes, we’ve seen clips of a movie called “McBain,” starring muscular Austrian action star Rainier Wolfcastle. While already hilarious in how they spoof ridiculous action movies, these scenes weren’t just randomly chosen. When viewed in the right order, they form a cohesive, if over-the-top narrative, where McBain investigates a corrupt senator, fights his superiors, avenges his partner’s death, and gets the girl. Although these clips are all from the show’s first four seasons, it wasn’t until 2011 that the hidden “McBain” movie became a part of “Simpsons” fan lore. This is truly a show that keeps on giving.
