Bill Oakley Relates to ‘Simpsons’ Fans Who Hate This Historical Fact About ‘Who Shot Mr. Burns?’
Every time the OG Simpsons fandom hears another “fun” little factoid about how long ago the Golden Age really was, they feel a little bit more like Abe wondering if what they’re “with” isn’t “it.”
Back in May, Simpsons fans celebrated the 30th anniversary of “Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One),” a landmark moment in television when seemingly the entire world had their own theories on what really happened to Springfield’s most ruthless megalomaniac. Vegas casinos took odds on the outcome, to be unveiled four months later in the Season Seven opening. Matt Groening gave his artists multiple endings to animate in order to prevent the possibility of a leak. John Walsh hosted a very special America’s Most Wanted parody called Springfield’s Most Wanted, interviewing actual police officers to help with the detective work.
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For one glorious summer in 1995, the entire entertainment industry had Simpsons-mania. Now, 30 years later, fans who remember the rampant speculation and hysterical hype of “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” must come to terms with the fact that the iconic double-episode, penned by the brilliant duo of Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein, is now as old as was the Apollo 11 mission was at the time of airing.
Yes, when “Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)” premiered on May 21, 1995, it had been just under 26 years since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the surface of the moon. Now, 30 years after The Simpsons’ equally significant cultural achievement first left Season Six on a cliffhanger, the leap in time between then and now feels even more giant than Armstrong’s famous step.
But, if Oakley wants to feel even older, here’s another doozy that the comedy veteran and fast-food enthusiast can similarly hate: The Simpsons’ series premiere on December 17, 1989, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” is older today than the first McDonald’s franchise location was when the episode first aired. Ray Kroc opened the first of thousands of his franchised locations in Des Plaines, Illinois in April 1955.
It goes without saying that, from here on out, the Simpsons family fandom will have to come to terms with increasingly sobering reminders of the show’s age. In just a few years, The Simpsons itself will be older than Neil Armstrong was when he walked on the moon. Hell, the series might already be older than the heroic carbon rod!
