Every Change ‘Women In Shorts’ Makes To The Simpsons’ Iconic Intro

The following contains spoilers for The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 6, ‘Women in Shorts,’ now streaming on HuluThe Simpsons modified their intro sequence for season 36’s “Women in Shorts”, reflecting the episode’s main focus on many of the women of Springfield. The Simpsons The intro has gone through some small tweaks and changes over the years, while maintaining the same iconic Danny Elfman soundtrack that’s been around since the first season. Although the specific style and background characters of the introduction have changed over time, the overall structure of the sequence generally remains focused on the titular family.

However, some episodes of The Simpsons they played with the formula for the sake of an individual episode or plot. The modern seasons of The Simpsons have been very open to this type of experimentation, which extends all the way to “Women in Shorts” in season 36. Reflecting the episode’s story structure focused on The Simpsons‘ several female characters, “Women In Shorts” modifies the intro sequence to focus on Lisa instead of Bart, shows Marge without Maggie, and generally highlights the female characters at the center of the episode. Here are all the ways The Simpsons changed the classic intro to “Women in Shorts”.

7

Lisa doing the blackboard

Lisa just got arrested for this introduction

The first indicator that “Women in Shorts” is changing The SimpsonsThe typical theme song comes with the reveal that Lisa has replaced Bart at the chalkboard, setting the stage for a female-focused episode. Going back to the early days of The Simpsonsthe intro has always established Bart’s status as a troublemaker by featuring him writing lines on the blackboard. This has continued for decades, with the actual phrase on the chalkboard changing between episodes. There have been other examples throughout the series where other characters have taken on this responsibilityas in “Women in Shorts.”

In “Women in Shorts”, Lisa is the one writing on the blackboard. Lisa has done this before, as have Homer and Todd Flanders. However, it appears that Lisa is not writing on the board because of an irregularity. Instead of, the blackboard suggests that Lisa was detained specifically to practice her cursive handwriting. The Simpsons has already used this type of motivation for Lisa, with Season 24’s “Adventures in Baby-Getting” revealing that Lisa practices a more refined style of handwriting in her personal time. Lisa replacing Bart at the chalkboard is a sign of the episode’s focus.

6

Shauna and Jimbo at the front door

Lisa actually passes off some characters in her version of the intro

Although most introductions to The Simpsons see Bart run out the front door of the school on his skateboard as soon as the doorbell rings, “Women in Shorts” switches to Lisa riding her bike. Notably, although Bart usually doesn’t pass anyone on his way out the door, Lisa actually goes by two other characters, Shauna and Jimbo. Jimbo has been a recurring character on The Simpsons since Season 1’s “The Telltale Head”, while his love interest Shauna made her debut in Season 20’s “The Good, the Sad and the Drugly” before settling in as the daughter of Superintendent Chalmers.

Shauna has received more focus as a character throughout the series’ modern seasons. This includes episodes where she ends up befriending Bart and Lisa. In “Women in Shorts”, Shauna serves as the focus character of The Simpsons‘latest parody of Barbiewhich revolves around Malibu Stacy arriving at school to comfort Shauna. Revealed to still play with her Malibu Stacy dolls, Shauna tries to save her bad girl reputation by attacking Malibu Stacy. Her presence on the steps of Springfield Elementary silently foreshadows the setting of her plot and how she influences the episode.

5

Luann replaces Willie and Barney

Modern intro gives Bart two people hit with his skateboard

In the original version of The SimpsonsIn the intro, Bart leaves school on his skateboard and lands on a nearby sidewalk. This was changed when The Simpsons updated the intro sequence in season 20. In the modern version of the intro, Bart lands in a pile of leaves being swept up by Groundskeeper Willie. This scatters the leaves and enrages Willie, while also revealing a sleeping Barney underneath. In “Women in Shorts”, the timing is adjusted so that Lisa doesn’t fall for Barney or anger Willie. Instead, Lisa falls to the sidewalk next to Luann Van Houten, who narrowly avoids being hit.

Luann is the mother of Bart’s best friend, Milhouse. She was introduced in season 3’s “Homer Defined” and has always had a unique relationship with the Simpsons, alternating between being Marge’s friend and rival (as seen in season 35). Many episodes focusing on Luann and the Van Houtens as one all see her working out her marital issues with her comically pathetic husband, Kirk. Luann can be seen in the intro wearing a burgundy shirtwhich alludes to his role in the episode as the target of an intervention regarding his addiction to purchasing wine merchandise.

4

Marge at the bookstore instead of the supermarket

Marge gets some time for herself in the intro to ‘Women in Shorts’

In the traditional introduction of The SimpsonsMarge was always shown going to the supermarket alongside Maggie. While the original version of the intro was a slightly limited version of this beat, the Season 20 intro update added many more details and references to previous episodes of the series. Marge is actually not with Maggie in the intro to ‘Women in Shorts’and it’s not even buying groceries. Instead, the new intro is tweaked so that Marge is alone and in a bookstore, buying a single item instead of a week’s worth of food.

This pays off in the first “Women in Shorts” segment, which reveals that the book was purchased for a book club that Marge belongs to, along with many other women in the group. The Simpsons‘extended cast. The focus solely on Marge on the beat underscores how the episode is largely focused on the women of Springfield, outside of their other commitments and family connections, emphasizing their own personalities. Maggie is practically absent from the episode as a wholeonly really being referenced in the credits tag which silently portrays a large element of its origins.

3

Lisa’s bike ride instead of Bart’s skateboard

Lisa follows the same path as Bart, but in a different way

Similar to how Bart normally walks the streets of Springfield in the show’s intro, ‘Women in Shorts’ Shifts Focus to Lisa Doing the Same on Her Bike. This means that Lisa skips her typical spot in the show’s intro, which shows Lisa at the end of a music lesson before heading off for the day mid-song. There is no role reversal for Bart during this beat, and the moment is more or less removed from the intro’s normal playing time. This subtle reversal also highlights the inherent differences between Lisa and Bart.

Lisa cycles through the city in a more orderly manner, wearing a helmet and ringing the bell to alert pedestrians that she is approaching. In contrast, Bart often passes through the citizens of Springfield in a more chaotic manner.. He does this without a helmet, despite the greater awareness of street safety in the modern day versus the more lax approach to personal safety when the show premiered in 1989. It’s a small difference, but it highlights some of the major differences that have come to exist between Lisa and her brother throughout the long series.

2

The citizens of Springfield Lisa pass

Season 36 shifts the focus to many of the women of Springfield

As Lisa walks down Main Street in the modified intro to “Women in Shorts”, she ends up passing several female members of the group. The Simpsons‘supporting cast. They each have a role to play in the episodewith her appearance in the intro reflecting the focus of her individual segments in the anthology episode (such as Mrs. Muntz being dressed as a princess for her bedtime story). In most episodes that feature a full introduction, Bart ends up passing Sideshow Bob, Apu, Moe, Helen Lovejoy, Comic Book Guy, Disco Stu, the Crazy Cat Lady, Rich Texan, Chief Wiggum, and Hans Moleman.

In Lisa’s version of the introduction, the only man seen in the background is Dr. Hibbert, who can be seen fighting with his wife Bernice. The other people she passes include Helen Lovejoy, Lunchlady Doris, Mrs. Muntz, a beaver, Agnes Skinner, Agnes’ rival and Luigi’s mother. Notably, Helen Lovejoy is the only character to appear in the new version of the introduction who is also present when Bart normally skates by, although now she is squinting at Moe’s Tavern.

1

Marge goes to the Wine Club instead of the couch

In almost all versions of The Simpsons introduction, regardless of the length or content of the joke, the sequence ends with the family gathering in the living room and gathering on the living room couch. This is subverted in ‘Women in Shorts’, with the couch gag seeing Marge park her car in Van Houten’s garage instead of her own. As Marge runs out of the car and runs inside, she quickly joined other female characters such as Helen Lovejoy, Bernice Hibbert, Mrs. Hoover, Sarah Wiggum, Kumiko and Lindsey Naegle.

The upshot is that they’re all gathering on the Van Houten couch for their regular book club meeting (kicking Krik out of the room in the process), which sets up the opening segment of Luann’s episode. Although the intro moves in the normal clip to The Simpsons episodes, the modified intro finds a way to reference many characters who are usually absent from the show’s opening sequence while tweaking the established formula for comedic effect. It’s a fun way to highlight the episode’s shift in focus and highlight the unique qualities and focus of The Simpsons‘Episode full of women.