The Simpsons: 10 Hidden Jokes Everybody Missed
6. A Split-Second Dig At Former V.P Dan Quayle (Two Bad Neighbours)
During the first few years of The Simpsons being on air, there was quite a long-standing feud between the Bushes and The Simpsons writers. First Barbara Bush dissed the show before subsequently apologising when the writers sent her a letter in the style of Marge Simpson.
President George H. W. Bush then proceeded to diss The Simpsons during one of his campaign speeches, which ultimately became the inspiration for the episode, 'Two Bad Neighbours'. The writers didn't pull any punches for that episode, and after all the jokes about Bush, they managed to put a cherry on top of it all with a split-second dig at Bush's Vice-President, Dan Quayle.
During the scene where Bart accidentally shreds Bush's memoirs, a piece of paper flies across the screen with the words: 'V.P. Quayle Embarrassment'. Dan Quayle was considered by most Americans to be a useless V.P who was intellectually incompetent at anything he did in that position. Unable to resist, the writers inserted that quick-fire gag as a reminder to everyone of the low opinion they held of Bush and his administration.
In fact, this wasn't the last Simpsons gag involving Quayle. In the Treehouse of Horror X episode, Quayle was one of the passengers who was on-board the rocket headed to the sun.