WhileThe Simpsonsseason 25 mocked one of the show’s most moving episodes, the mixed response to this gag highlights a major issue for the long-running series. With more than 790 episodes and a theatrical movie spinoff to its name,The Simpsonsis officially the longest-running scripted primetime American TV show in history.
Although manyepisodes ofThe Simpsonsare considered masterpieces, many more have been dismissed by both fans and critics alike as they arrived after the show’s peak. Broadly speaking, the Golden Age ofThe Simpsonsis defined as seasons 3-11. This was the era when the series enjoyed its most critical acclaim and cultural influence.
In contrast, some of theworst seasons ofThe Simpsonsinclude the period from season 16 until 32, when the show was at its critical nadir. Although there are plenty of strong standalone episodes from this period, it is still typically perceived as the“Zombie Simpsons” era when the show is analyzed as a whole.
The Simpsons Season 25 Episode 6 Made Fun of Lisa’s Saddest Story
Mr. Bergstrom From “Lisa’s Substitute” Returned For a Silent Cameo
Since season 33,The Simpsonshas become “Good again,” according toVultureand a wide variety of other cultural critics, commentators, YouTube creators, and online fans. However, during the show’s period of sustained critical decline, the series made the questionable decision to jokingly reference one of its saddest early storylines.
In season 25, episode 6, “The Kid Is Alright,” Lisa is initially delighted to meet a new girl at school who is just as smart, precocious, and perceptive as her. However, her joy turns to disdain and misery when she finds out Isabel Gutierrez, played by guest star Eva Longoria, is a die-hard Republican.
Lisa can’t believe that her political views don’t align with her new friend’s leanings, and she is inconsolable when the pair are pitted against each other in a student election. This sets up an unexpected nod to one of thebest guest stars inThe Simpsonshistoryas Dustin Hoffman’s Mr Bergstrom returns.
Bergstrom appeared in season 2, episode 19, “Lisa’s Substitute,” wherein the short-lived substitute teacher gave Lisa a new lease on life and reignited her love of learning.
Or at least, he almost returns. Bergstrom appeared in season 2, episode 19, “Lisa’s Substitute,” wherein the short-lived substitute teacher gave Lisa a new lease on life and reignited her love of learning. When Bergstrom left town, Lisa was understandably devastated, but learned to carry his lessons with her even in his absence.
Mr. Bergstrom’s return would have been a huge deal in any episode ofThe Simpsons, but “The Kid Is All Right” was a particularly promising place to find the kind-hearted educator. Since Bergstrom brought Lisa out of a depression once, his comeback could provide the same clarity and hope for the lonely little girl.
Instead, the return was just a throwaway joke. Marge told Lisa, “Someone who loves you very much is adding hot butter to your vegetables” to coax her out of her bedroom, and it turned out that someone was inexplicably Mr. Bergstrom, rather than her mother. Lisa narrowly missed since she obviously assumed that Marge was referring to herself.
The Simpsons Season 25’s Mr. Bergstrom Joke Highlights Its Legacy Issue
The Long-Running Show Struggles With Its Legacy
A quick search of “The Kid Is All Right” online proves that the fan base ofThe Simpsonsremains divided on this joke years later. AlthoughThe Simpsonspredicting Donald Trump’s presidencymight have made more headlines, this throwaway reference to a one-off guest star garnered major reactions from the show’s longtime viewers. Sadly, the reception was divided.
Bergstrom’s absurdly brief return was seen as an insult to the original, more grounded and serious storyline.
On the one hand, many fans treat classic episodes like “Lisa’s Substitute” as untouchable. As such, Bergstrom’s absurdly brief return was seen as an insult to the original, more grounded and serious storyline. On the other hand,The Simpsonshas always been a goofy, zany comedy where nothing is sacred.
The Simpsonsis available to stream on Hulu.
As such,the question was whetherThe Simpsonsshould make fun of its older, sadder episodes. It seems pretty obvious thatThe Simpsonsshouldn’t turn the death of Bleeding Gums Murphy into a joke, or mock the pain that Homer felt when he lost his mother, Mona.
However, asThe Simpsonsseason 37’s arrival nears, it is harder to decide whether Mr. Bergstrom’s return was a good idea. “The Kid Is All Right” is otherwise a pretty middling episode, defined by political satire that feels toothless and outdated by the time the episode aired.
The unexpected appearance by Bergstrom is a reminder of the show’s love of absurdity, and a zany way to let viewers know that anything can happen in the anarchic show. That said, reminding viewers about one of Lisa’s saddest storylines and then ignoring it for the rest of the episode was a strange tonal choice.
A lot of fans might understandably have realized, when Bergstrom appeared, that they would prefer to see another episode focused on him and Lisa instead of “The Kid Is All Right.” Even worse, viewers might have realized that they would simply prefer to re-watch “Lisa’s Substitute” instead of the season 25 episode.
The Simpsons Revisited This Gag More Successfully In Later Seasons
The Show’s Westworld Spoof Was A Stronger Self-Parody
Recently, anepisode ofThe Simpsonsseason 26 went viralthanks to a false claim that the outing predicted 2025’s Coldplay concert affair controversy. The episode, season 26, episode 10, “The Man Who Came to Be Dinner,” received notably poor reviews when it was originally released in 2015.
“The Man Who Came to Be Dinner” expanded one of the earliest Treehouse of Horror segments into a full-length outing.
What makes this interesting is the fact that, much like“The Kid Is All Right” brought back Mr. Bergstrom for a throwaway gag, “The Man Who Came to Be Dinner” expanded one of the earliest Treehouse of Horror segments into a full-length outing. This proved unpopular with critics, providing further evidence thatThe Simpsonsrevisiting old stories rarely earns critical acclaim.
The Simpsonsseason 37 begins airing on Sunday, August 14, 2025.
Some of themost popular recent episodes ofThe Simpsonshave instead invested time in new formats, experimental storytelling styles, and original plots. Alternatively, the show can utilize the approach seen in season 34, episode 6, “Treehouse of Horror XXXIII.”
That episode’s closing segment, theWestworldspoof “Simpsons World,” focused on theSimpsonsfandom and their adulation of old episodes. This made the meta gag stronger, meaning the show was actively mocking its fans instead of just parodying older episodes. As such,The Simpsonsmanaged to make fun of itself without detracting from the legacy of classic episodes in the process.
The Simpsons
Cast
The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
