It's Election Week, which can be stressful for all of us. Thank God The Simpsons can chip off some of that stress by watching a few (or many) episodes. As it's Election Week, we're dropping on-theme political episodes, but don't be concerned—they're filled with the classic humor and satire the series is known for. However, one prediction did come to fruition several years after the episode's initial airing.
The Presidential campaigns have always been nail-biting for me as they could be the rise or destruction of our nation. For the 2024 installment, it's incredibly close between the two candidates, and no matter who will win, it'll be written in the history books.
Alright then, which election-charged episodes were voted in and won our election? Why don't we find out?
8 The Simpsons election-themed episodes to watch during Election Week
"Lisa's Substitute" (season 2)
In this second season episode, Bart runs for class president with his opponent, Martin Prince. When he loses, he's naturally disappointed. Homer gives him a pep that being class president means extra work and responsibility, and once Bsrt realizes he's free from them, he feels better.
"Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish" (season 2)
Mr. Burns runs for governor after Bart pulls out Blinky-the three-eyed fish from the lake. His appearance is caused by genetic mutation from the power plant's nuclear waste. If Burns were to be elected in, it reflects that he'll continuing harming the environment and make life miserable for everyone.
Luckily, his opponent, Mary Bailey was reelected in.
"Sideshow Bob Roberts" (season 6)
Sideshow Bob cheats his way into becoming the elected mayor of Springfield by pulling every illegal stunt. Bart and Lisa, who brought him down before, do it again by revealing his tactics. One of them is that he got the deceased to vote and we all know that's impossible.
With the kids' success of revealing his lies, Bob's back to jail and Bart's back in the forth grade.
"Much Apu About Nothing" (season 7)
When Apu is threatened to be deported as he isn't a legal immigrant and resides in the States on a Work Visa, he vows to become a citizen as the US has gave him so much that India couldn't. He studies for the Citizenship Test and passes with flying colors.
This episode reveals much of Apu's backstory before he became the owner of the Kwik-E-Mart.
"Two Bad Neighbors" (season 7)
"Two Bad Neighbors" was a clapback to Former President George W. Bush's statement that "American families should be more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons." The comparison didn't sit well with most, but back in the late 80s/early 90s, The Simpsons walked on raw ground with material that was considered controversial. Bush's speech was shown in the now-banned episode, "Stark Raving Dad," in which Homer does not know what the president is implying.
In the season 7 episode, Bush moves into the Simpsons' neighborhood and makes enemies with Homer and Bart, while his wife, Barbara, is friendly with Marge. Bush gets so fed up with the Simpsons that he and Barbara move out. Not long after, Homer befriends Former President Gerald Ford, who moved into the Bush residency.
"Treehouse of Horror VII" (season 8)
When Kang and Kodos invade Earth and swear to take over the world, it's up to Homer to save it. The aliens take the exterior forms of Former President Bill Clinton and his opponent, Bob Dole, when the 1996 election took place. Kang was elected into Office despite Homer's warnings that they weren't the actual candidates. No matter if you voted for Kang or Kodos, the world was doomed.
Yet, I did enjoy Clinton's and Dole's Bipartisan talk on how America could be great if they placed into gears. Why not take the best from each Party and make it unified?
"Bart to the Future" (season 11)
Here's the episode when the writers predicted that Trump would be president and that Kamala Harris would wear the exact same outfit as President Lisa Simpson? Let's hope that "Bart to the Future" would be the stroke of luck we'll need for the 2024 campaign.
"Bart Stops to Smell the Roosevelts" (season 23)
Bart learns about President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt's history and presidency, and for once in his educational journey, wants to learn more. To further educate Bart and his friends about the 26th president, Superintendent Chalmers takes them on an unauthorized field trip, but it doesnt end well, and he's fied by the school board. Bart and his group utilize a plan to get Chalmers rehired and it succeeded.
The episode is the first and only one to feature the actual voice of a president, thanks to audio footage from 1918, which is rare to attain.
Showrunner Al Jean spoke to Entertainment Weekly at the SDCC 2011 about obtaining the audio and injecting it into The Simpsons' lore.
"We [the writers] have actual audio of Roosevelt [that was] taken from a speech circa 1918 in the show. I thought, 'Finally! We can put a president in the show.' And a good one, too. We're going to give him a little credit at the end."
What other episodes have your votes The Simpsons' fans?