The plot of The Simpsons season 35 episode 10 may appear outlandish, but it is actually inspired by a true news story. Homer and Bart’s strange adventure is based on real-life events.
Additionally, the episode’s commentary on the corrupt nature of competitive sports and the lengths people will go to win is a relevant and thought-provoking topic. The show’s ability to tackle serious issues while still maintaining its trademark humor is a testament to its longevity and cultural impact. Overall, The Simpsons continues to be a relevant and entertaining show, even after 35 seasons.
which involved using a fake fish.
The episode also references several real scandals, including the Lake Erie Walleye Trail scandal, the Varsity Blues scandal, and Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal. By grounding the inciting incident in reality, the episode strikes a better balance between the show’s tendency for quirky misadventures and its ability to comment on current events. This approach makes Bart and Homer’s antics feel more believable and adds a layer of social commentary to the episode.
Overall, The Simpsons season 35, episode 10 showcases the show’s ability to adapt to changing times and remain relevant in the ever-evolving landscape of television. With a renewed focus on timely plots, the show may continue to surprise and delight audiences for years to come.
The Simpsons drew inspiration for Bart’s cheating trick from a real-life scandal.
In the episode, Bart helps Homer catch the biggest fish by stuffing it with marbles. According to Variety, episode writer Joel H Cohen revealed that a real-life incident inspired this plot twist. The 2022 Lake Erie Walleye Trail fishing tournament scandal involved Chase Comnisky and Jacob Runyan using lead weights to increase their winning walleye’s weight. CNN reported that Cominsky and Runyan received 10 days of jail time and a $2,500 fine each after their suspiciously heavy walleyes almost netted them $28,760 in prize money. In a nod to another real-life scandal, the Varsity Blues scandal, Homer’s influence leads Marge to cheat on Lisa’s application for a prestigious summer camp.
The episode’s combination of referencing both a little-known scandal and an infamous one made for some inspired antics. By using this viral story as a launching pad for the episode’s plot, Cohen ensured that the story felt rooted in believable, if bizarre, Americana. Despite the later, cartoonier twists, the inciting incident’s basis in reality made Bart and Homer’s antics ring true. While the worst episodes of The Simpsons season 35 abandoned reality altogether for relentlessly quirky, absurd misadventures, “Do The Wrong Thing” found a better balance for Homer and Bart.
The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 10 Referenced A Lot of Real News
The Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament may have been the inspiration for the episode, but it also referenced several other real-life stories ripped from the headlines. The episode “Do The Wrong Thing” name-checked Sam Bankman-Fried’s fraud charges, the Variety Blues scandal, Bill Belichick’s cheating, and the Michigan Wolverines football sign-stealing scandal, as well as Lori Laughlin’s rowing controversy and Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal. What’s impressive is how The Simpsons managed to seamlessly integrate all of these references into the episode’s storyline, without making it feel like a desperate attempt to prove its relevance 35 years after its debut.