The following contains spoilers for The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 2, “The Yellow Lotus,” now streaming on HuluThe Simpsons‘ brought back one of their classic jokes for a fun modern remix. The long-running animated show has provided plenty of memorable gags over the years, with “The Yellow Lotus” referencing multiple jokes from past seasons. Nominally a parody of The White Lotus Using this concept for optimal humor, “The Yellow Lotus” includes new takes on Homer baking in the hedge and gags about Mr. Burns’ vicious hounds.
The best callback of the episode has to do with Sideshow Bob. Played by Kelsey Grammer (and no noticeable aging) since season 1, Bob has become one of The Simpsons‘ Most memorable and enduring guest star. A frequent enemy of Bart and the rest of the family, Sideshow Bob returns The Simpsons‘ White lotus Parody along with a new spouse. This sets him up to repeat one of his most famous moments on the showAlthough in a fresh new way that also feels reminiscent of another classic Golden Age gag.
The Simpsons Season 36 has a big update on Sideshow Bob’s Rake gag
The collapsible rake, explained
The SimpsonsThe second episode of season 36, “The Yellow Lotus,” includes a pretty clever update to Sideshow Bob’s rake gag. Now more or less synonymous with the character, the sight of Bob stepping on a rake and hitting himself in the face was one of the most iconic gags in season 5’s “Cape Fear.” Since then, this has been referred to and recreated several times, including in season 36. “The Yellow Lotus” brings Bob back as the rich Tasha’s husbandAnd reveals that he made a small fortune from his rake design.
Related
The collapsible rake is specifically designed so it’s harder to step on it and bump your head. It’s a smart plan that has seemingly earned Bob a fortune of his own. However, it still has its flaws, as Bob highlights when he tries to show off how it can not reach your head by stepping on it. instead, The collapsed rake handle is now the perfect height to hit someone right in the groin. It’s a big broad physical gag that works perfectly, thanks to the fluid animation and nature of the physical comedy.
Why Sideshow Bob’s Rake Gag is still one of The Simpsons’ most iconic jokes
The rake gag was born out of desperation
The rake gag remains one of the best gags in The Simpsons‘ Potentially 37-time long run. Originally added to “Cape Feare” as a means of making sure the episode reached the minimum length for broadcast, the rake gag saw an exhausted Sideshow Bob unwittingly step into a circle of rakes. Taking a few steps forward, he would knock it up and hit himself in the face. Turning to leave while grumbling, Bob stepped on another rake, repeating the gag. This continued in the same way for a long time, The sheer length of the joke serves as the true punch line.
|
Sideshow Bob episodes of The Simpsons |
Time |
|
Krusty gets busted |
1 |
|
Black widow |
3 |
|
Cape Feare |
5 |
|
Sideshow Bob Roberts |
6 |
|
Sideshow Bob’s Last Gleamin |
7 |
|
Brother from another series |
8 |
|
Day of the Jackanapes |
12 |
|
The Big Loose Detective |
14 |
|
The Italian Bob |
17 |
|
Funeral for a fine |
19 |
|
The Bob next door |
21 |
|
The man who grew too much |
25 |
|
Treehouse of Horror XXVI |
27 |
|
gone boy |
29 |
|
Bobby, it’s cold outside |
31 |
|
Treehouse of Horror XXIV |
35 |
The idea was to have a hilarious joke, repeat it so much that it stopped being funny, only for the repetition to circle around and become even more humorous. Coming between the shows “Golden Age,” The rake gag stands the test of time thanks to the sheer commitment the show made to the little ones.. It’s a quiet wild gag, and also gives the ever-intellectual sideshow Bob a bit of pure slapstick comedy directed at him. It has since become a definitive joke of the series, and is often referenced in other Sideshow Bob episodes.
Sideshow Bob’s Season 36 Rake Gag is reminiscent of another classic The Simpsons joke.
The latest rake joke fuses the gag with another golden age favorite
It’s actually another “Golden Age” episode gag that feels reminiscent of Bob’s last rake-related disaster. Bob’s hit in the groin recalls season 6’s “A Star Burns,” which saw Jay Sherman from The critic Crossover in Springfield to help judge a film festival. One of the best gags of the episode came courtesy of Hans Moleman’s submission to the festival, a short film titled “Man Gets Hit by Football” which consisted entirely of Moleman taking a football to the crotch. Similar to Bob being hit by the miniature rake, this is a moment of pure slapstick.
“Man Gets Hit By Football” becomes an unexpected finalist at the festival thanks to the always amused Homer, and later inspires an Academy Award-winning adaptation with George C. Scott. It’s such a simple silly gag, taken to an artistic extreme. Both the football and rake jokes highlight The Simpsons‘ long-standing balance of broad humor and clever scripting that has carried through decades of the show. The Simpsons‘ Last rake gag is a great little reflection of the approach to comedy that has always been made The Simpsons Special.