October 27, 2026, 12:05 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
It’s the biggest culinary bombshell of recent weeks: After nearly four decades, the last McRibs will be served at German McDonald’s locations today, October 27, 2026. This marks the end of a burger that divides opinions but nonetheless has many passionate fans, such as Markus Söder. It’s reason enough to revisit episode 14 of the 12th season of “The Simpsons”—because the series about the yellow family has, of course, already poked fun at the burger cult.
What the McRib Episode of “The Simpsons” Is About
Of course, the McRib isn’t called that directly; McDonald’s would surely have objected. In the relevant “Simpsons” episode titled “I’m Spelling as Fast as I Can,” the Ribwich becomes the object of desire. When Homer is approached about the new burger outside a Krusty Burger one day, he tries it immediately—and is instantly hooked.
He quickly becomes a “Ribhead,” a passionate fan of the Ribwich. When he learns that the burger is only available as a limited-time offer and embarks on a kind of city tour, Homer joins other “Ribheads” to follow the sandwich’s path.
In San Francisco, Krusty suddenly appears in a limousine, holding the very last Ribwich ever. The unknown animal from which the meat was made has become extinct (and, by the way, had more legs than a cow). Krusty throws the burger into the gathered crowd, where Homer catches it.
Other “Ribheads” beg him for it and propose various deals. An Italian even offers his car. Homer agrees, trades the Ribwich, and drives straight to Lisa’s spelling bee. The Italian eats the Ribwich and later regrets his trade.
Unmistakable McRib Parallels in “The Simpsons”
The similarities to the McRib are unmistakable. The Ribwich is similarly designed and, like its inspiration, is sparsely topped with a large piece of meat dripping with sauce. Also interesting: In the “Simpsons” episode, the origin of the meat is a mystery, and in real life, there have been accusations that the McRib doesn’t actually contain real pork rib meat, as reported by the “Bild.”
The series has also recognized and parodied the burger cult. To be fair, it’s important to note that “The Simpsons” naturally refers to the U.S. And there, the McRib has always been on and off the menu. Nevertheless, the episode also fits the current exit of the burger in Germany, as it evokes similar reactions to those in the episode. Currently, there are several petitions to save the McRib in Germany with several thousand signatures. And they state, for example, that the McRib is not just a burger but a “way of life” and a “piece of happiness.”
Whether the McRib will ever return is still unclear. It’s quite possible that it will make a comeback as a limited-time promotional burger and be offered again in that form. Until then, its fans are left with only the memory of the unique smoky-sweet barbecue sauce, which was available in this gluttonous extent only on the McRib.