The Simpsons: 10 Best Parody Episodes

10. A Streetcar Named Marge

Movie parody: A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

In this episode, Marge lands herself a role in a musical version of A Streetcar Named Desire called “Oh, Streetcar!”. The parody is not just contained to the musical itself as the relationship issues between Marge and Homer largely parallel the ones of Tennessee Williams’ Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski. Homer even recreates the infamous “STELLA!” by screaming for Marge in a white shirt whilst she rehearses her part with Ned Flanders.

It’s also worth mentioning this episode came under fire from New Orleans after one of the songs within the musical was considered insulting to the Louisiana city. In the following episode “Homer the Heretic”, the chalkboard gag reads “I will not defame New Orleans”.

There are also a couple of other movie parodies slotted within the secondary plot for good measure. As Maggie retrieves the banned dummies of her fellow daycare companions, the scene largely resembles The Great Escape (1963). Furthermore, when Homer picks up Maggie, there is also a parody of The Birds (1963).

Musical numbers, drama, movie parodies, a Maggie Simpson based B-plot, controversy - this episode had it all.