"The Simpsons" is a show home to innumerable colorful characters, including two space aliens named Kang and Kodos. How do aliens fit into the world of Springfield? Out of canon, of course! Created by Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky, the alien characters made their debut on the Halloween episode "Treehouse of Horror," and have appeared in every "Treehouse of Horror" episode since (with one exception: "Treehouse of Horror Xxi").
These episodes are understood to take place outside of the standard "Simpsons" continuity, which means aliens can pop up and have no effect on the show's "normal" world. While Kang and Kodos mostly get cameo appearances, they occasionally get their own major "Treehouse of Horror" plotlines, like the time they famously switched places with then-presidential candidates Bill Clinton and Bob Dole for "Treehouse of Horror VII." This is the episode that gave us the now-famous line, "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.
These episodes are understood to take place outside of the standard "Simpsons" continuity, which means aliens can pop up and have no effect on the show's "normal" world. While Kang and Kodos mostly get cameo appearances, they occasionally get their own major "Treehouse of Horror" plotlines, like the time they famously switched places with then-presidential candidates Bill Clinton and Bob Dole for "Treehouse of Horror VII." This is the episode that gave us the now-famous line, "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.
- 4/27/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
The 2001 series "Star Trek: Enterprise" takes place about a century before the events of the original "Star Trek," and a lot of the technologies Trekkies took for granted hadn't been invented yet. Transporters, for instance, weren't yet safe for human use. Starships didn't have shields and instead were equipped with specialized hull plating that needed to be polarized to deflect phase cannon blasts. Instead of tractor beams, the Enterprise had grappling hooks. And, because Earth hadn't yet encountered too many alien species, there wasn't yet a workable universal translator.
That's where Ensign Hoshi Sato (Linda Park) came in. Ensign Sato was a language wunderkind whose ear for language and knack for syntax proved invaluable for making first contact with alien species. She was, however, only 22 years old when she joined the crew of the Enterprise and, like the rest of the crew, had no deep space experience. Ensign Sato was...
That's where Ensign Hoshi Sato (Linda Park) came in. Ensign Sato was a language wunderkind whose ear for language and knack for syntax proved invaluable for making first contact with alien species. She was, however, only 22 years old when she joined the crew of the Enterprise and, like the rest of the crew, had no deep space experience. Ensign Sato was...
- 11/25/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Fun trivia! For its first 12 installments, the annual "Treehouse of Horror" episodes of "The Simpsons" were merely called "The Simpsons Halloween Special." It wouldn't be until 2002 that "The Simpsons" would adopt the more familiar "Treehouse" title for its horror shows.
Starting with the show's second season, the "Simpsons" showrunners used their Halloween episodes to tell shorter, more outlandish stories wherein fantasy elements could be more openly employed, monsters could coexist with the title family, and the characters could die horrible, bloody deaths. For the most part, the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes were anthology shows, with each installment featuring three brief segments, many of them openly ripped off from "The Twilight Zone." Later on, "Treehouse" would be used to lampoon movies in a more general fashion, as when Homer (Dan Castellaneta) and Marge (Julie Kavner) re-enacted the 2005 action film "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."
As of this writing, there have been 34 "Treehouse of Horror" episodes,...
Starting with the show's second season, the "Simpsons" showrunners used their Halloween episodes to tell shorter, more outlandish stories wherein fantasy elements could be more openly employed, monsters could coexist with the title family, and the characters could die horrible, bloody deaths. For the most part, the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes were anthology shows, with each installment featuring three brief segments, many of them openly ripped off from "The Twilight Zone." Later on, "Treehouse" would be used to lampoon movies in a more general fashion, as when Homer (Dan Castellaneta) and Marge (Julie Kavner) re-enacted the 2005 action film "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."
As of this writing, there have been 34 "Treehouse of Horror" episodes,...
- 10/31/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Every time spooky season rolls around, there are a few traditions that brighten up our jack-o-lanterns. One of the funniest is a new episode of The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror.
A new year of gruesome and campy tales that brings our favorite family into unexpected chaos. From horror movie parodies to pop culture references, Treehouse of Horror is the chance to break away from the main story with some Halloween treats. And some tricks along the way!
With nearly 33 specials, The Simpsons has covered it all.
Each episode typically has three spooky segments, some arguably better than others. But with decades of stories (which you can watch online via TV Fanatic), there are many to choose from.
Below, we've picked out 25 stories from The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror that capture our love of the season. They're great binge-watches to get in the mood for Halloween. Check them out below!
"Bad...
A new year of gruesome and campy tales that brings our favorite family into unexpected chaos. From horror movie parodies to pop culture references, Treehouse of Horror is the chance to break away from the main story with some Halloween treats. And some tricks along the way!
With nearly 33 specials, The Simpsons has covered it all.
Each episode typically has three spooky segments, some arguably better than others. But with decades of stories (which you can watch online via TV Fanatic), there are many to choose from.
Below, we've picked out 25 stories from The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror that capture our love of the season. They're great binge-watches to get in the mood for Halloween. Check them out below!
"Bad...
- 10/21/2023
- by Justin Carreiro
- TVfanatic
Even if longtime fans of "The Simpsons" have fallen away from their love of the series in recent years, the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes typically have the power to bring them back. Every Halloween for over 30 years, "The Simpsons" has delivered an ongoing series of anthology shorts that take inspiration from horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres. Acting as "The Simpsons" version of "The Twilight Zone" or "The Outer Limits," each episode contains a few shorts that find Springfield's finest caught up in some kind of unbelievable story. It should come as no surprise that some of the great moments in Simpsons history comes from these episodes, and the recent passing of controversial talk show host Jerry Springer just reminded us of one of those hilarious bits.
During the tenth season of "The Simpsons" in October 1998, writer David X. Cohen (who would go on to co-create the brilliant "Futurama") gave us the segment "Starship Poopers.
During the tenth season of "The Simpsons" in October 1998, writer David X. Cohen (who would go on to co-create the brilliant "Futurama") gave us the segment "Starship Poopers.
- 4/27/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
The trailer for season 2 of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" is here with glimpses of upcoming adventure and good humor from our beloved Enterprise crew. It's like a friendly greeting, a promise of lofty things to come. But while we see the showrunners waving from such great heights, we're about to bring them down now.
Sure, everything looks perfect from far away and I'm trying my best to leave it there, but there's a comedic beat that sounded pretty thin in the trailer, and the more I think about it, the more I realize that it frankly will not fly.
The "Strange New Worlds" trailer ends with James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley), the future captain of the Enterprise, getting confused by a revolving door. And when LA'an (Christina Chong) asks him, "Never seen a revolving door before?" he says, "I'm from space."
Hahahahahahahahahaha. James T. Kirk is from Iowa and we all know it.
Sure, everything looks perfect from far away and I'm trying my best to leave it there, but there's a comedic beat that sounded pretty thin in the trailer, and the more I think about it, the more I realize that it frankly will not fly.
The "Strange New Worlds" trailer ends with James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley), the future captain of the Enterprise, getting confused by a revolving door. And when LA'an (Christina Chong) asks him, "Never seen a revolving door before?" he says, "I'm from space."
Hahahahahahahahahaha. James T. Kirk is from Iowa and we all know it.
- 4/19/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
When J.J. Abrams' feature film "Star Trek" was released in theaters in 2009, there seemed to be a clear creative mandate at work. "Star Trek" was set prior to the events of the 1966 TV series on which it was based, telling an alternate timeline version of how the well-known "Trek" characters all first met. Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), and the rest of the crew were all depicted as younger, hotter versions of themselves, each one more youthful and impulsive than their adult counterparts from 1966.
Given the hot-headedness of the Enterprise crew and the entire 2009 film's "action-packed" vibe, the mandate mentioned above seems to have demanded the filmmakers kick everything into Overdrive. It's as if they wanted critics to respond with the phrase, "This ain't your grandpa's 'Star Trek.'"
It's worth noting that the writers of "Star Trek" -- Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman -- were basing...
Given the hot-headedness of the Enterprise crew and the entire 2009 film's "action-packed" vibe, the mandate mentioned above seems to have demanded the filmmakers kick everything into Overdrive. It's as if they wanted critics to respond with the phrase, "This ain't your grandpa's 'Star Trek.'"
It's worth noting that the writers of "Star Trek" -- Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman -- were basing...
- 3/30/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Aside from its principal characters existing on a floating timeline and having yellow skin, the long-running animated series “The Simpsons” is typically grounded in reality. That is, the many situations that the titular family have found themselves in over the course of 33 seasons have largely been plausible and relatable. Every Halloween, however, reality and continuity are totally ignored as the team behind the show mark the holiday by airing their annual “Treehouse of Horror” episode.
Check out our photo gallery detailing the extensive history of this great annual tradition from its starting point in 1990 to the latest entry, which premiered on Fox earlier this month. And find out how to watch “The Simpsons” “Treehouse of Horror” episodes in order.
Each year, the Simpsons and their fellow Springfieldians take part in recounting three weird and wild tales (which sometimes result in their demise) before returning to their normal existences the following week.
Check out our photo gallery detailing the extensive history of this great annual tradition from its starting point in 1990 to the latest entry, which premiered on Fox earlier this month. And find out how to watch “The Simpsons” “Treehouse of Horror” episodes in order.
Each year, the Simpsons and their fellow Springfieldians take part in recounting three weird and wild tales (which sometimes result in their demise) before returning to their normal existences the following week.
- 10/30/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Once upon a midnight dreary, Matt Groening’s “The Simpsons” conjured up a Halloween special with the modest title “Treehouse of Horror.” In the twilight of October 25, 1990, TV lovers tuned into Fox for a seasonal three-part parody framed as Lisa and Bart exchanging scary stories while an unfazed Maggie and terrified Homer listened along.
The Season 2 episode would kick off a spooky tradition that “The Simpsons” fans have enjoyed for more than three decades. The inaugural “Treehouse of Horror” chapter introduced fan-favorite characters: the aliens Kodos and Kang who would visit for every “Treehouse of Horror” to follow. Season 3’s “Treehouse of Horror II” would incorporate a special credits sequence, featuring a graveyard full of funny headstones (see “Casper the Friendly Boy” and the meta “Amusing Tombstones”) and Halloween-themed nicknames for the show’s artists, producers, and writers.
Early “Treehouse of Horror” episodes framed their anthologies as cohesive wholes: first...
The Season 2 episode would kick off a spooky tradition that “The Simpsons” fans have enjoyed for more than three decades. The inaugural “Treehouse of Horror” chapter introduced fan-favorite characters: the aliens Kodos and Kang who would visit for every “Treehouse of Horror” to follow. Season 3’s “Treehouse of Horror II” would incorporate a special credits sequence, featuring a graveyard full of funny headstones (see “Casper the Friendly Boy” and the meta “Amusing Tombstones”) and Halloween-themed nicknames for the show’s artists, producers, and writers.
Early “Treehouse of Horror” episodes framed their anthologies as cohesive wholes: first...
- 10/3/2022
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
No sitcom is complete without an occasional guest star popping in to shake things up. When it comes to "The Simpsons," they've booked almost everyone in Hollywood at some point, whether it be Meryl Streep, Phil Hartman, Johnny Cash, Neil Gaiman, Billie Eilish, or Tom Hiddleston. Throw a rock in Los Angeles and you'll likely hit someone who has done a guest spot on the animated sitcom.
These spots usually fluctuate between a celebrity playing a character that impacts the family in some way, such as Dustin Hoffman's Mr. Bergstrom, or an uninspired one-and-done playing themselves like Elon Musk. This does not, nor will it ever, apply to Mark Hamill.
When asked by IGN if the show had any guest stars they had been pulling for, executive producer Al Jean revealed that they had tried to arrange a U.S. President to no avail:
"We've tried pretty hard –– we...
These spots usually fluctuate between a celebrity playing a character that impacts the family in some way, such as Dustin Hoffman's Mr. Bergstrom, or an uninspired one-and-done playing themselves like Elon Musk. This does not, nor will it ever, apply to Mark Hamill.
When asked by IGN if the show had any guest stars they had been pulling for, executive producer Al Jean revealed that they had tried to arrange a U.S. President to no avail:
"We've tried pretty hard –– we...
- 8/25/2022
- by Matthew Bilodeau
- Slash Film
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