The Simpsonshas earned its spot among the most recognizable TV series ever made, but within the world of the show, there were plenty of exciting ideas for real series. While viewers have watched Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie run toward their couch to see what’s on TV since 1989, when looking at the sheer volume of fictional series and movies they’ve enjoyed over the years, the spin-off potential is endless. From tongue-in-cheek talk shows to the over-the-top action series,The Simpsonshas continually parodied mainstream media with hilarious homages.
WhileTheSimpsonshas featured some incredible celebrity guests, many famous fictional faces in Springfield have led their own TV shows and movies. From Krusty the Clown to the action hero McBain, some ofthe best episodes ofThe Simpsonshave featureda glimpse into the incredible world of Springfield’s media industry. These included everything from a crime-solving boat to a hospital staffed entirely by monkeys, pitches so intriguing viewers start to wish these shows and movies were actually real.
15Police Cops
Season 10, Episode 13: “Homer to the Max”
While the pilot ofPolice Copsfeatured a suave action hero named Homer Simpsontaking out criminals and uttering his slick catchphrase, “and that’s the end of that chapter,” by the second episode, he was turned into a bumbling sidekick who instead said, “uh-oh spaghetti-o’s!” This was a terrible development for Springfield’s Homer, who was so mortified about being compared to the character that he actually changed his name to Max Power. But the truth was thatPolice Copslooked like a simpleMiami Viceripoff, and in the words of George Harrison, “It’s been done.”
14Up Late With McBain
Season 5, Episode 2: “Cape Feare”
WhileThe Simpsonshave been seen watching everything fromThe Oprah Winfrey ShowtoLate Night with David Letterman, the series' most famous action star, Rainier Wolfcastle, also boasted his own talk show calledUp Late with McBain. With a seemingly high-ranking SS officer announcer named Obergruppenfuhrer Wolfcastle, the jokes inUp Late with McBainwere so horribly written that even Bart Simpson couldn’t bear to watch. Lisa was also horrified by the show and commented that “The FOX Network has sunk to a new low.”
13The Gabbo Show
Season 4, Episode 22: “Krusty Gets Kancelled”
WhileThe Krusty the Clown Showhas long been the most popular series among Springfield children, it received some stern competition whenThe Gabbo Showbegan airing during its same 4:00 pm timeslot. This variety show was led by a ventriloquist and his rude talking puppet, Gabbo, whostole many aspects from Krusty’s series. By repeating Krusty’s prank call routine and even stealing itsItchy & Scratchysegment,The Gabbo Showdidn’t stick around for long as the puppet’s lackluster catchphrase “I’m a bad widdle boy” soon grew tiring.
12When Buildings Collapse
Season 9, Episode 17: “Lisa the Simpson”
The primetime seriesWhen Buildings Collapsefeatured, as the title implied, the demolition of various buildings scored to classical music, such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” This mix of high and low-brow content aired aspart of the ‘Non-Stop FOX’ lineupand opened with the pressing idea that “man has always loved his buildings, but what happens when the buildings say no more?“From the Leaning Tower of Pisa finally falling over to the Society of Structural Engineers building rolling down a hill,When Buildings Collapsewas pure, unfiltered entertainment.
11Knightboat
Season 6, Episode 12: “And Maggie Makes Three”
Knightboatfollowed the adventures of Michael, and his hi-tech crime-solving boat powered by artificial intelligence, taking down criminals in a formatoddly similar to the David Hasselhoff crime seriesKnight Rider. WhileKnightboatfeatured plenty of exciting chases, Bart and Lisa were frustrated that every time the criminals escaped on land, there was always an“inlet, canal, or fjord” nearby for Knightboat to follow them. This repetitive deus ex machina stoppedKnightboatfrom standing up against the very best shows seen inThe Simpsons.
10Angry Dad
Season 13, Episode 8: “I Am Furious (Yellow)”
Angry Dadwas an internet series described as a “Bart Toon presentation in association with Ay Carumba Entertainment,” which Bart Simpson created based on his father, Homer. Based on his dad’s stupidity, Bart told Lisa he was inspired by “a little of my dad, your dad, bit of Maggie’s dad.” The crudely drawn web series became a hit and was eventurned into the Golden Globe-nominatedAngry Dad: The Moviein Season 22, which saw Homer trying to take credit for a step into the spotlight.
9The Worker & Parasite Show
AfterThe Itchy & Scratchy Showwas stolen by Gabbo, Krusty was forced to replace them withEastern Europe’s favorite cat-and-mouse series,The Worker & Parasite Show. This cheap replacement was produced in 1959 and featured a crudely drawn constructivist-like style as the animals uttered incoherent pseudo-Russian over a crackling soundtrack. Even Krusty was shocked by the poor quality of the series, and this was one of several bad mistakes that led to the brief cancellation ofThe Krusty the Clown Show.
8Rock Bottom
Season 6, Episode 9: “Homer Badman”
Homer Simpson tried to clear his name by appearing on the tabloid news showRock Bottomafter being accused of sexually harassing a babysitter when he grabbed a rare gummy candy shaped like Venus de Milo that was stuck to her behind. However, rather than an even-handed interview,the producers ofRock Bottomthrew all journalistic credibility out the window and edited Homer to make him look like a pervert. The “Babysitter and the Beast” segment justified its sensationalist style with a brief note stating their lies were part of a dramatization and “may not have happened.”
7Radioactive Man
Season 7, Episode 2: “Radioactive Man”
6It Never Ends
Season 11, Episode 16: “Pygmoelian”
The soap operaIt Never Endsbriefly featured Moe Szyslak as the handsome Doctor Tad Winslow. While Moe was initially rejected for being “ugly-ugly” and not “TV ugly,” his plastic surgery secured his part after Winslow’s original actor was fired for asking for a raise. Marge was a fan of the show’s “shocking twists and endless pillow talk,” with storylines including reviving a 5000-year-old Egyptian queen and a baby shower invaded by terrorists, with sexy results. With the slogan “Like the cleaning of a house… it never ends,” the soap was a parody of shows likeDays of Our Lives.
