On the FOX animated television series The Simpsons, the opening credits sequence features a visual joke usually involving the Simpson family's living room couch; this is the primary element that changes between opening sequences. A typical gag features the family running into the living room only to find that the couch is missing, or to find that it is entirely occupied by a very fat man.
The first episode of the series, Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (episode 7G08), did not feature a couch gag. The second episode, Bart the Genius, features the first ever couch gag. When the family sits down on the couch the pressure from the five causes Bart to pop into the air. During the shot of the television set following the couch shot we see Bart falling back down in front of the TV.
In all, ten episodes do not feature couch gags. Most of these are Halloween specials. Two couch gags feature in five episodes each. One of these involves the family forming a chorus line with a group of dancers. The background falls away to reveal unicyclists and elephants in a large stage show. This gag was often used when episodes were in danger of being too short. The extra length of the gag compensated for a shorter episode. This has become less common in later seasons as the required length for each episode has reduced. The other much-used gag shows the family in miniature climbing onto the couch. Maggie is lifted up.
One of the more memorable couch gags involves the Simpsons arriving to find The Flintstones sitting on the couch - a nod to The Simpsons' antecedent.
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Last updated: 05-07-2005 16:45:37
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
