Top 30 Greatest EVER Simpsons Couch Gags

#30: Having Friends Over

“Marge vs. the Monorail”

This Season 4 gem is widely considered one of the best episodes of “The Simpsons” for how it epitomizes the show’s comedic style, satire and worldbuilding. It helps that the opening sequence foreshadows how the ensemble is also used effectively. After the Simpsons gather on the couch with no fuss, they’re swarmed by almost all of their peers. The sequence is brief, but a clever nod to how overwhelming it can be to have guests for at-home TV viewing. In retrospect, it also signals the show’s shift from being a family sitcom to a farce that draws on all of Springfield. Something as small as a joke about big crowds can really mean a lot.

#29: There’s Wood Everywhere

“Irrational Treasure”

With the change to HD in Season 20 came many changes to “The Simpsons’” intro. This includes Homer no longer avoiding Marge’s car after coming home, but getting knocked through an oak door in the garage. It wasn’t until Season 37, with the show’s 800th episode, that we see the immediate aftermath. A bloodied and splintered Homer limps to the couch to confront his family about ignoring the car accident. This boldly knocks the audience out of the inconsequential fantasy of slapstick comedy. Thankfully, Homer’s rant is so over-the-top that even the dark comedy is a riot. Just be sure to take this kind of injury seriously in real-life – as if we needed 17 years to figure that out.

#28: Frink’s Shrink Ray

“How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window?”

Professor John Frink’s gadgets do cause quite a bit of trouble. When the Simpsons come home to find him sitting on their couch, he zaps them with a shrink ray and leaves. The miniaturized family is left to travel a relatively great and perilous distance to get to the couch. In the end, Snowball II chases them into a mouse hole and the mousetrap therein. The gag isn’t really as dark as it sounds. It’s really a fun sequence of epic sci-fi adventure, with a jarring punchline. While Season 22 did face some backlash for cementing a trend of super-sized couch gags, this one was just big enough to leave viewers genuinely impressed.

#27: Homer’s Body

“What to Expect When Bart's Expecting”

It was surreal enough when we ventured into Mr. Burns in the “Treehouse of Horror” episode “In the Belly of the Boss.” Another “Fantastic Voyage” parody takes an even more dazzling turn when Marge’s car knocks Homer into his own mouth. This leads to an industrial labyrinth full of his loved ones and strange creatures. It’s a creepy concept, but an enchanting execution thanks to Michał Socha’s experimental 2.5D animation. The family lands on Homer’s tiny, couch-shaped brain, then fades into his actual body on the actual couch. There’s something nice about that being what’s on Homer’s mind, even if what’s going on in the rest of his anatomy bends your brain.

#26: M.C. Escher

“Homer the Great”

Fans consider this one of the most iconic couch gags for its being a real work of art. “Real,” in that it’s based on M. C. Escher’s 1953 print “Relativity,” the masterpiece of his impossible construction style. A seemingly ordinary couch gag scene pans out to show the Simpsons converging from a gravity-defying maze of stairs. In hindsight, it seems like an obvious parody for a running gag all about creatively experimenting with a house. But it’s so beautifully done that viewers have spent a lot of time examining the architecture of a sight gag that only lasts four seconds. Never underestimate the art of a good spoof.

#25: The Game of Life

“Pay Pal”

Milton Bradley managed to turn the cynical realities of life into fun for the whole family. “The Simpsons” did the same by spoofing the Game of Life to recap the odyssey of Homer. The gameboard takes him from a cool kid with the wife of his dreams to a stressed-out, deeply indebted father of three. Their only salvation is, of course, the couch! That is, until they’re visited by the Grim Reaper or, in a later version, Grandpa. Homer’s family have always won over audiences with their entertaining honesty about how life can turn out. But this admission that the Game of Life did it long before them brings a charming spin to the formula.

#24: John Kricfalusi

“Bart Stops to Smell the Roosevelts”

Before retiring in scandal, John Kricfalusi was one of the biggest names in animation for his edgy surrealism. There’s certainly no mistaking his style as a guest animator for this couch gag. Nor is there mistaking his comedic style in Homer aggressively making Marge get him a beer, before getting so mad at Bart’s whoopee cushion that his peanut brain pops out. The Ren and Stimpy creator takes the satire of suburban naivety to his own nuclear extreme. He also seems to be playing on his infamous criticism of the writing on “The Simpsons.” This resolution to the long feud may not be very warm, but the hilariously unhinged self-parody is favored by animation enthusiasts.

#23: The Flintstones on the Couch

“Kamp Krusty”

The pinnacle of the modern animated sitcom has never denied its Stone Age roots. In fact, Season 4 opens up with the Simpsons coming home to find the Flintstones already seated on their couch. It was a striking symbolic expression of what audiences already knew: that “The Simpsons” was far from the first cartoon to arguably appeal to adults more than children. But with Fred Flintstone greeting the actual homeowners with a friendly wave, this gag feels less like self-deprecation than a passing of the torch. When the sequence was recycled in syndication for Season 8, it was to gloat about “The Simpsons” breaking the record for the longest-running animated sitcom.

#22: “Get Smart”

“Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade”

This parody of the Hollywood spy genre at least took its iconic opening credits sequence seriously. So too does “The Simpsons” with its loving homage to the opening credits of “Get Smart.” Homer recreates Maxwell Smart’s confident stride through a series of secret doors to Irving Szathmary’s infectious theme song. And when he finally drops through the payphone trap door, he’s deposited on the couch next to his family. There’s not much parody to this regularly reused sequence, but the cool and tight twist on an iconic scene was a smart move. Homer’s slick entrance perfectly gets you hyped up to watch his show, and maybe some “Get Smart” afterwards.

#21: Game of Couches

“Exit Through the Kwik-E-Mart”

“Game of Thrones” was already a pop culture phenomenon going into its second season. “The Simpsons” got in on the hype with a parody intro that really didn’t seem that irreverent. Complete with Ramin Djawadi’s unmistakable score, the iconic opening credits of “Game of Thrones’” is reenacted with an animated map of Springfield. The residents also pop up in Westeros costuming, with “The Couch” standing as their very own Iron Throne. The ambitious sequence is so beautifully detailed that it expresses the “Simpsons” team as genuine fans of HBO’s fantasy epic. As much as audiences could relate in 2012, this regal couch gag will never get old.

#20: Maggie Has the Remote

“Married to the Blob”

Bill Plympton’s surreal animation has produced some of the most unique couch gags ever seen on “The Simpsons.” His third contribution especially hit the sweet spot between his and the show’s style. With the Simpsons gathered on the couch, Maggie takes control of the TV remote, magically transporting the family to many exaggerated locations when she changes channels. As the visuals and music intensify, they finally return home, and Maggie throws the remote at the TV. The sequence is reminiscent of a Season 14 couch gag, in which Homer channel surfs through history. But Plympton’s twist enhances the gag with the incredible artistry that always makes his contributions a treat.

#19: “Robot Chicken”

“The Fabulous Faker Boy”

A diverse array of guest artists have pushed the boundaries of traditional animation with “Simpsons” intros. There were basically no boundaries for the animation team for “Robot Chicken.” After being knocked through the house by Marge's car, Homer awakens in the sketch show's stop-motion format. He then makes the most of being an action figure by going on a rampage. He explodes Flanders, squashes Mr. Burns as a donut, and throws Otto’s school bus off Springfield Gorge. It’s the perfect use of Springfield's characters in “Robot Chicken’s” chaotic dark comedy. By the time the actual Robot Chicken turns the tables by strapping the Simpsons into their couch, audiences should be fixed to their own TVs.

#18: Three Takes

“Homer’s Barbershop Quartet”

Couch gags have gotten much more elaborate through the years. Of course, it would appear that early ones still got complicated enough for some wild bloopers. In a Season 5 classic, the Simpsons accidently and spectacularly collide in three filming takes. They shatter to pieces in the first, morph together in the second, and finally explode in the third. They never actually made it to the couch this time. Though the animation was so experimental, the sequence was strikingly fast-paced. It was a fairly shocking and bizarre gag for that era of the show. After all these years, it might still be one of the funniest.

#17: 500 Episodes

“At Long Last Leave”

Between recycled gags and abridged intros, “The Simpsons” didn’t reach 500 couch gags with 500 episodes. A celebration was still in order. “At Long Last Leave” opens with the first couch gag ever, followed by an epic montage of clips and frames from ones that followed. The Simpsons then gather one last time, before the image pans out to reveal a collage of couch gags, printed with the number 500. This work of art was worthy of the milestone in 2012. Sure, the moment was spoiled a bit when the collage dispersed to show Homer strangling Bart. The retrospective still says a lot about how essential the couch gag is to the show’s long-running brand.

#16: “Tik Tok”

“To Surveil with Love”

Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok” was one of the hottest party anthems of 2009. Even “The Simpsons” got in on the fun. An entire intro features all of Springfield lip-syncing the song, while the Simpson family hurries home to sit on the couch. The elaborate sequence was part of “Fox Rocks,” a 2010 event where Fox shows featured musical numbers to promote “Glee.” The typically timeless “The Simpsons” may be accused of selling out with its contribution. But it really captures the spirit of Ke$ha’s jam and Springfield’s colorful ensemble. Never mind the show’s continued pop culture savviness. It was also a more wholesome party than the one Homer secretly hosted in “To Surveil with Love.”

#15: Future Family Portraits

“Homer’s Paternity Coot”

Even if “The Simpsons” doesn’t always nail the future, the predictions make for interesting visuals. In a 2006 couch gag, a photographer snaps a lovely portrait of the Simpson family. Then, a slideshow of portraits over the next seven years suggests a bleak and bizarre future. Homer is dead by 2008, and Marge remarries Lenny and Jimbo. In between, Lenny and Carl apparently get custody of the kids. Everything seems to work out with a Homer robot in 2012, until the whole family is replaced by robots the following year. Thankfully, 2013 really came and went with no robo-uprising. Homer is also still alive somehow. Still, few couch gags have gotten fans thinking like these eerie snapshots of the future.

#14: “The Simpsons of Belleville”

“Diggs”

The renowned works of Sylvain Chomet are very different adult animation from “The Simpsons.” The French illustrator nonetheless captivated Matt Groening so much that he personally invited him to animate a couch gag. In the surreal style of “The Triplets of Belleville,” Homer eats snails while Marge looks for Maggie and Bart makes goose liver pâté the hard way. When Homer grabs an extra snail off the TV, it’s revealed that he sat on Maggie. The gag was a bit lowbrow for Chomet. It’s still refreshing to see him take such a hilariously stereotypical jab at his own French style. With his bizarrely beautiful animation to boot, the scene is as haunting as it is weird.

#13: Eric Goldberg

“Fland Canyon”

Eric Goldberg has supervised animation for some of the most iconic Disney films since the ‘90s. There was no mistaking his whimsical style when he supervised a couch gag that paid tribute to classics before his time. The Simpsons joyously appeared in the styles of Minnie Mouse, “Cinderella,” “Snow White” and “The Jungle Book.” Then along came Bart from “Fantasia” to turn everything back to normal. The sequence was still as magical and funny as animation fans would hope. It may have also been another “Simpsons” premonition. A year after the gag’s premiere in 2016, Disney announced their 20th Century Fox merger. “The Simpsons” has since become a Disney icon, but Goldberg first proved it to be a perfect fit.

#12: Couch: A Love Story

“Beware My Cheating Bart”

Bill Plympton’s tenure as a “Simpsons” animator started with a love letter to the couch gag’s namesake. In a surreal alternative origin story, Homer literally falls in love with his anthropomorphized couch. After Marge comes along, his heartbroken ex falls into a downward spiral. It all ends happily with the remorseful Homer giving the couch and their chair baby a home. The short film is every bit as strange as it sounds. Plympton stays true to the show’s irreverence, but his beautiful animation and poetic storytelling are remarkably moving. His work has all the makings of a classic couch gag, as well as an artful tribute to the furniture we take for granted.

#11: Banksy

“MoneyBART”

“The Simpsons” has never been afraid to strike at corporations, including their parent company. The anonymous British artist Banksy tends to be much more serious with his iconoclastic illustrations. Nobody knew what to expect from a couch gag he storyboarded, or what to make of it. An intro filled with Banksy’s graffiti tags ends with a peek inside a 20th Century Fox studio. There, a dangerous sweatshop produces couch gags, while animals are killed to produce “Simpsons” merchandise. Some viewers felt that this spoof was too dark. Apparently, the storyboards were even darker. For many, though, it was a bold statement from two subversive artists. Banksy's couch gag now has its own cult following for this debate, along with increased awareness of real corporate villainy.

#10: “Rick and Morty”

“Mathlete’s Feat”

An appropriately science-themed episode of "The Simpsons" opened with a pleasant surprise for adult animation fans. It was a less pleasant surprise for the Simpson family. As soon as they sit on the couch, they get splattered by Rick and Morty Sanchez's spaceship. A panicked Morty then goes to clone the Simpsons while Rick wanders the house, eventually discovering that the family's DNA was contaminated with his own. It's a lengthy gag, but the "Rick and Morty" team perfectly promotes their show's pop culture awareness and hilarious shock sci-fi. The couch gag has quickly become a favorite among fans of both shows. It's just as well that the Bart-Rick crossover blurts out, "No more guest animators." This hybrid is tough to top.

#9: “The Couch Gag: Part One of Six”

“Four Regrettings and a Funeral”

Matt Groening is known to be a big fan of fantasy. So during the run of “The Hobbit Trilogy,” a couch gag paid a remarkably faithful tribute to Tolkien and Peter Jackson. The Simpson family embark on a sweeping quest from the Shire to find “The Comfy Couch,” along the way encountering their friends as Middle-earth characters. The crossover is perfect, as are a few hilarious jabs at the ultimate fantasy franchise. Despite all the endless walking, this spoof is distinguished by its level of detail in the animation designs. It's a truly epic minute-and-a-half. It's also one of the few timely couch gags to be this timelessly entertaining.

#8: “MusicVille: A Silly Sympsony”

“The Kid Is All Right”

Disney enthusiasts should be familiar with the visually and musically rich “Silly Symphony” shorts of the ‘30s. The “Silly Simpsony” gag particularly pays homage to 1935’s “Music Land.” In fact, Lisa liberating Springfield from Mr. Burns’s classical music tyranny is an almost exact adaptation of the short’s premise. But “MusicVille” is a swinging improvisation, playing to the absurd humor and personalities of beloved “Simpsons” characters. They really seem to harmonize with the instruments they’re adorably animated as. Technically, the sequence may very well outplay Disney before “The Simpsons” jammed with their animation team. Musically and artistically, it's an infectious composition for music, “Simpsons” and Disney fans alike.

#7: The Day of the Couch

“Marge’s Son Poisoning”

What about the other couches on “The Simpsons”?” The opening to “Marge’s Son Poisoning” finally brings Springfield’s furniture to the forefront, though not in a way anyone expected. Before the Simpsons can sit on their sofa, it bears monstrous teeth and begins chasing them. It is then revealed that couches across Springfield have attained sentience for a gruesome uprising. It’s a boldly surreal horror show, and it’s kind of awesome. Moe also gets a notable time to shine when he stands his ground against his own tavern booths. The spectacle of carnivorous couches may thankfully be far-out, but it is one way to promote appreciation for your furniture.

#6: Circus Line

“Lisa’s First Word”

The 1992 episode “Lisa’s First Word” was an event even from its opening. There had been some pretty elaborate couch gags even by then. But the Simpson family put on a real show when they form a kickline in front of the couch, before the living room lifts up to reveal an enormous circus set piece. It was a big breakthrough in animation for the show, and immediately became an iconic sequence. With its showmanship and concise length, it went on to be the most reused couch gag “The Simpsons” ever produced. Sure, there have been much loftier follies since this technical achievement. Still, the circus line’s ambition at the time and continued charm can always draw a crowd.

#5: “La-Z Rider”

“Teenage Mutant Milk-Caused Hurdles”

Steve Cutts’s affinity for comic book style and classic cartoons makes for unique animation. It also produced one of the most unique couch gags of its era. After throwing on a pair of sunglasses, Homer rides his couch into a slick opening credits sequence from an ‘80s action show. As the muscled-up Joe “Kaz” Kazynsky, Homer and his couch sidekick blow up some baddies to Paul Engemann’s “Scarface (Push It to the Limit).” It’s “Miami Vice” meets “Knight Rider,” with a few other ‘80s easter eggs. There are a lot of hilarious and undeniably cool visuals throughout the fast-paced minute-and-a-half. Despite this length, online views and audience response suggest that there is no pushing “La-Z Rider” to the limit.

#4: “Powers of Ten”

“The Ziff Who Came to Dinner”

The Eames reduced the universe to a single atom within ten minutes in “Powers of Ten.” This mind-blowing science documentary experiment was replicated in one of “The Simpsons’” most mind-blowing couch gags. The shot pans out of the Simpson house into infinity, while Strauss’s cosmic anthem “Also sprach Zarathustra” plays on. The zoom finally reveals that the whole universe is contained within Homer's molecules. He is the star of the “Simpsons” universe after all. His response to this incredible revelation is simply, “Wow.” Although, when the gag was recycled for other episodes, he says, “Cool” or “Weird.” Either way, a mesmerizing homage to the Eames and universal expanse says a lot about the unpredictable genius of “The Simpsons.”

#3: Guillermo del Toro

“Treehouse of Horror XXIV”

The versatile Guillermo del Toro has mastered many brands in both live-action and animation. He brought them and so much more together when he directed the opening to 2013’s “Treehouse of Horror.” It’s the same structure as the average “Simpsons” intro, but with an exhaustive horror revamp. Del Toro references “Treehouse” classics, Universal monsters, iconic thriller artists, and more. Naturally, iconic visuals from his own filmography take center stage. When Lisa falls through a hole in the couch, del Toro even acknowledges how similar “Pan’s Labyrinth” is to “Alice in Wonderland.” These easter eggs make for a highly rewatchable display of an iconic filmmaker’s self-awareness and encyclopedic pop culture enthusiasm. More than that, it’s one of the most entertaining couch gags for any occasion.

#2: The Sampsans of A.D. 10,535

“Clown in the Dumps”

As one of the most acclaimed animators of his generation, Don Hertzfeldt has a notorious disdain for commercial appeal. There’s certainly no accusing him of selling out with his mad but brilliant couch gag. A time travel remote sends Homer to the year 10535, where the Simpson family have become distraught mutants in a crude cartoon purgatory. He then has disjointed, apocalyptic flashbacks to more loving times. It’s an audacious mix of futuristic horror and radical satire of “The Simpsons’” longevity. Are sitcoms doomed to be Flanderized into an amorphous cycle of catchphrases and advertising? Hertzfeldt’s deeply disturbing vision clearly isn’t for everyone. But it is as artistically daring and thought-provoking as any couch gag produced this millennium.

#1: The Homer Evolution

“Homerazzi”

As long as “The Simpsons” has been around, it's satirized nearly every facet of the human condition. That includes human evolution. A simply perfect couch gag traces Homer’s entire ancestry, back to a single-celled organism. The literal trek through time is a phenomenally animated and visually hilarious epic. There’s also evidence that Moe Szyslak is a de-evolution in humanity. In the end, the Homer sapien is welcomed home with, “What took you so long?”. The alternate line, “Did you bring the milk?”, also perfectly sums up mankind’s struggles after eons of survival. True, a crash course in evolution would have to be one of the longest couch gags ever. But with educational spectacle and brilliant existential jokes, it’s arguably the best ever.

Which couch gags help you cozy up to “The Simpsons?” Take a seat in the comments below.