The Simpsons

Warning : This article contains spoiler for The Simpsons season 36 , episode 17 , “ Full middle , Empty Pool ”

WhileThe Simpsonsseason 36 , installment 17 ’s gags feature some questionable paronomasia , the show is at least self - mindful enough to call out its own writing shortcuts . With over 780 installment to its name , The Simpsonsis now the longest - operative written primetime American tv set show in story . It is hardly shocking that , in that time , the show ’s writing has been accused of laziness on more than a few occasions . What is more surprising is how often these accusal come from quality inThe Simpsonsitself .

In time of year 14 , episode 3 , “ Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade , ” Skinner pointed out thatThe Simpsonsrelies on reset its status quowhen he announced that no good comes from changing things and everything would be retrovert to normal as a consequence . Earlier , in season 11 , installment 13 , “ Saddlesore Galactica , ” Comic Book Guy was pitilessly booed for noting that the Simpsons had already buy a horse , thus make the episode ’s secret plan repetitive .

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Homer Admitted The Simpsons Season 36, Episode 17’s Puns Were A Stretch

The “Organic Pit-based Enjoyment Council” Was A Push

Both these gags cunningly notice that the show ’s authorship was relying on slothful crosscut , but did n’t apologize for this corner - cutting . Similarly , one gag in season 36 , instalment 17 , “ Full substance , Empty Pool , ” was so swampy that even Homer Simpson opine it was poor workmanship . When Lisa argued that the avocado tree vegetable oil manufacture was only patronise Homer ’s Noodleball tourney to sportswash the negatively charged repute of their environmentally damaging industry , she compared this to petroleum giants attempting the same with competitions like LIV Golf .

The Simpsons season 36 ’s Disney+ special " Yellow Planet " includes the show ’s sour Disney parody yet , a bloody reference to one animated classic .

Homer initially refused to believe her until Lisa note that the “ Organic Pit - based Enjoyment Council ” even shared the same acronym as the legendary petroleum conveyor Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries . The revelation of the OPEC gag was a touch ridiculous , since as Homer put it , “ Pit - based is kind of a cheat , but I get it . ” WhileThe Simpsons ’ historyincludes some legendarily great comedic writing , the show ’s accession that this gag was a little too on the nose and not quite workshopped enough was hilariously unexpected and endearing .

Homer spits guacamole out while sitting on the couch from The Simpsons season 36 episode 17

Why Homer Mocking The Simpsons Season 36, Episode 17’s Writing Worked

The Surrounding Story Was Strong Enough To Lift Some Low-Effort Gags

During its Golden Age , the written material ofThe Simpsonswas considered some of the best comedic video penning in the metier ’s account . That say , The Simpsonsalways strives to agree onto a loose , playful toneeven in its most densely plotted instalment and cautiously construct laugh . Thus , Homer ’s wink at the quaternary rampart over how suspect the OPEC acronym is was a fun fashion for “ Full Heart , Empty Pool ” to concede that , after so many instalment pack with so many jokes , not all of them will be all - meter classic .

The Simpsons has always maintained a ego - aware sense of humor , so jest like Homer side - eyeing the improbable existence of the “ Organic Pit - based Enjoyment Council ” feel dead take in .

Considering the preceding episode featuredBart and Lisa blowing up the worldwith a superfluous feud , it is just to say that the show has become more outlandish and goofball in its later seasons . However , the series has still always maintained a ego - aware sentience of temper , so gags like Homer side - eye the unconvincing cosmos of the “ Organic Pit - base Enjoyment Council ” feel perfectly bring in in “ Full nerve , Empty Pool . "

Lisa as a bird and Bart as a lizard in The Simpsons season 36 Yellow Planet

Custom image by Milica Djordjevic

The Simpsons Season 36 Roasting Its Own Writing Keeps A Great Trend Alive

The Long-Running Show Has Frequently Mocked Its Shortcuts In Recent Seasons

This jape was just the latest in a string of jokes that rely onThe Simpsonsmaking fun of its own penning and storytelling style to swell result . Only one episode sooner in instalment 16 , “ Stew Lies,”Homer on the face of it promise to call his alienated half - blood brother , only to instead call up a random TV horde .

A standardized consequence arrived in season 33 , sequence 13 , “ Boys N the Highlands of Scotland , " when Homer level to a pile of board game with suspicious name before pause to allow watcher to read them .

This laugh only made sense to viewers who knew about Homer ’s long - blank out brother , proving thatThe Simpsonshas effectively made playfulness of its writing style earlier in time of year 36 . A like moment arrived in season 33 , sequence 13 , “ Boys N the Highlands , " when Homer point to a lot of control board biz with comical names before break to allow watcher to read them . These sort of playfully self - aware joke proveThe Simpsonsnever started look at itself in earnest , despite its unprecedented longevity .

Homer and Grampa play noodleball in empty pool from The Simpsons season 36 episode 17

Custom image by Milica Djordjevic

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The Simpsons