It’s frightening how frequently The Simpsons mimics real-life events, sometimes with uncanny but unintentional foreshadowing and other times with entirely deliberate plotlines.
In the newest episode of the long-running animated sitcom Do the Wrong Thing, the programme addresses real-life controversies… and the writers don’t hold anything back.
They cover college admissions scandals, sports cheating, and even the chess grandmaster vindicated of charges that he used vibrating anal beads to cheat during a match.
As previously said, no holds barred!
After the father of the family unintentionally wins a fishing tournament using a devious tactic that was actually utilised in real life, Bart and Homer learn they have a talent for cheating in numerous sports.
Two fisherman pled guilty to cheating charges earlier this year when it was revealed that their fish had been filled with lead weights and fish fillets, CNN said.
After Homer wins the fishing contest in this manner, “what should be shame is instead replaced by the thrill of winning through cheating,” writer Joel H Cohen told Variety.
‘Our episode starts the same way – Homer unknowingly wins a fishing tournament cheating this way and what should be shame is instead replaced by the thrill of winning through cheating.
‘He and Bart thus team up to cheat at as many sports as they can, chasing that high.’
That’s just the beginning, as the father-and-son duo’s proclivity for cheating worsens.
The instalment aired after a game of American football between the Cowboys and the Dolphins, which Joel felt was ‘a good lead-in and also sort of appropriate’.
He continued, quipping: ‘Since the episode is about cheating and I suspect the NFL game will be won by cheating (or ability or grit or coaching, but the episode isn’t about those).’
To add to the show’s controversies, Lisa tries to get into summer camp… which ends up drawing on a historic college admissions scandal.
The Simpsons, as always, intends to shock and will almost certainly succeed!
The Simpsons is available to watch on Disney Plus.