Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36, episode 18, “Estranger Things”
AlthoughThe Simpsonsseason 36 finale’sNew Girlspoof was about ten years too late, the gag still worked thanks to its impressive cameos and clever punchline.The Simpsonsis officially the longest-running scripted primetime American TV show in history, so it is not a shock that the show is occasionally slow to the draw when it comes to topical gags and satire. Unlike one of its earliest competitors,South Park,The Simpsonshas a relatively slow production process. This means the series isn’t optimized for timely commentary.
AlthoughThe Simpsonsseason 37may change this, the comparatively slow production ofThe Simpsonsmeans the series can sometimes struggle with pop culture parodies. Infamously, season 33, episode 10, “Bobby, It’s Cold Outside,” included a nod to the viral song “Baby Shark,” whose popularity had peaked some three and a half years earlier. While season 36, episode 18, “Estranger Things,” featured an even more outdated pop culture parody, the series managed to make this gag work a lot better.
The Simpsons Season 36 Finale Spoofed New Girl
Zooey Deschanel and Max Greenfield Appeared In “Quick Girl”
InThe Simpsonsseason 36 finale, Bart and Lisa bonded over a shared love ofItchy & Scratchycartoons throughout their childhood. However, when Marge showed them Maggie’s firstItchy & Scratchymerchandise, the kids were horrified to discover that their favorite show was now “For babies,” and they immediately stopped watching the cartoon together. Armed with an iPad each, Bart and Lisa sought out new forms of entertainment independently. Bart started watchingScreaming Friends, an affectionate parody of Adult Swim’s cult hitSmiling Friends.
Although their characters weren’t named, Greenfield’s effete, high-strung housemate was clearly Schmidt and Deschanel’s earnest, awkward heroine was obviously Jess Day.
Meanwhile,Lisa started watching “Quick Girl,” an obvious spoof ofNew Girl, after the duo gave up onItchy & Scratchy. “Quick Girl”’s parody of New Girlwas hilariously effective for anyone familiar with the classic sitcom, and stars Zooey Deschanel and Max Greenfield both appeared in the brief spoof. Although their characters weren’t named, Greenfield’s effete, high-strung housemate was clearly Schmidt and Deschanel’s earnest, awkward heroine was obviously Jess Day.
The Simpsons Season 36’s New Girl Parody Was Hilariously Accurate
The Long-Running Cartoon Playfully Skewered The Sitcom
The Simpsonsaccurately recreated New Girl’s tone, to the extent that the scene almost felt lifted from the original show. SinceThe Simpsonsmocks its own writingall the time, the gag didn’t feel too harsh, and the presence of Greenfield and Deschanel made it clear this was more of a loving homage than a barbed satirical attack. Of course, it would have been a little late forThe Simpsonsto lob any substantial criticisms atNew Girlsince the show ended its run back in 2018.
New Girlbegan airing in 2011 and its series finale aired in May 2018, some seven years beforeThe Simpsonsparodied the series. This seems like a strange choice, particularly whenThe Simpsonsalready regularly faces criticism for its slow response to pop culture trends.The Simpsonshas been mocked for taking over a year to mention thePokémon Gocraze, so singling out a show whose popularity peaked around 2013 in 2025 is a bizarre choice. Luckily, the series justified this.
The Simpsons Season 36 Finale Justified Its Oddly Late Gag
Lisa Said She Was Watching A “Golden Age” TV Show
When Marge asked Lisa how she had replaced her belovedItchy & Scratchy, Lisa announced she was catching up on a show from the “Golden Age of Television.” The gag was thatLisa’s generation thinks the Golden Age of TV was 2013, not the ‘50s. This era’s association with the Prestige TV boom made the gag particularly effective.
As many ofThe Simpsonsseason 36’s self-aware jokes prove, the show’s creators are aware of its limited capacity for timely satire. However, gags like Lisa thinking the Golden Age of TV ended only a decade ago allowThe Simpsonsto spoof shows likeNew Girlwithout feeling bizarrely out of touch.
