'The Simpsons' Retire the Couch Gag

April 20, 2026, 2:10 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

There aren’t many series that, over decades, not only captivate with their new episodes but also with their opening sequences. However, early on, the creators of “The Simpsons” established the so-called Couch Gag. But now, the humorous tradition has come to an end.

“The Simpsons” Couch Gag also scrapped due to money

It wasn’t just about the stories when a new episode aired. Fans of “The Simpsons” always eagerly anticipated the new Couch Gag. In these short clips, when the titular yellow family takes a seat on the couch (or at least tries to), the creators and guest artists could creatively explore new ideas. Over time, this moment became a cult within a cult.

But with the start of the 37th season at the end of 2025, fans noticed that “The Simpsons” suddenly appeared without a Couch Gag. There is now an official explanation for this. In an interview with Four Finger Discount, showrunner Matt Selman revealed that economic constraints were among the reasons for this decision. The existing budget is primarily intended to create the best possible story, for which they have exactly 20 minutes and 40 seconds. The Couch Gag, however, would consume time and financial resources.

If “infinite money” were available, every episode of “The Simpsons” would still feature a Couch Gag. But that’s not the case, and the priority remains the episode itself.

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Streaming makes Couch Gag obsolete

Another factor arises from the changing viewing habits with streaming. Nowadays, it’s common for services to offer the option to skip the intro–and many take advantage of this to save time. This means that traditional Couch Gags haven’t been watched as frequently for some time. This change affects not only the Couch Gags but also the ever-changing lines Bart scribbles on the chalkboard at the beginning.

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At least the “Simpsons” creators take it with a wink. In the upcoming double episode “Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition,” they address the phenomenon of skipped series intros with a joke.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.