12 Times The Simpsons Went Dark

Couch gags don't usually get a lot of attention. They're mostly there to give the audience a little chuckle before the actual show begins.

Sometimes they go above and beyond, like the Miami Vice parody and the crossover with Robot Chicken, but one in particular really stuck with fans of the series. In the episode "MoneyBart," the creators teamed up with anonymous street graffiti artist Banksy to create a grim real behind-the-scenes look at the show's production.

We're taken to a sweatshop full of young workers not only working on the animation for the show but also all the merchandise. The workers shred bunnies to use their fur for Bart dolls, kids breathe in toxic fumes and pandas are used for labor. Everyone looks dirty and depressed, as if they're being tortured... which isn't far from the truth.

It's a harsh, unapologetic look at the reality of what we choose to ignore what happens around the world, just so that we can stay entertained for 30 minutes. And then it just ends; no punchline, no funny music, just us left stunned.

Try enjoying the rest of episode after that.