14 Things Fox Wants You To Forget About The Simpsons

9. The Couch Gags Used To Be 2-Second Bits

The Simpsons opening credits, and in particular the couch gags, have long been the source of hilarity, and they continue to be a strong part of the show even as other areas have faltered.

And therein lies the problem. The couch gags were just that, or quick, two-second bit that wouldn't be topped by the episode that followed it. In later years, however, the gags have become a much bigger deal, running for an increasingly long time, and becoming more and more like standalone moments, often appearing separately on social media, and on occasion bringing in other shows (e.g. Adventure Time).

Of course, they'd have you believe it was always the case, but it's just one of many examples of how The Simpsons has changed over the years. It might not be so bad if they kept up the quality of the episodes (although there are some bright spots in the last, say, 15 years, there are many failures too), but as it is these overlong segments are a reminder of what the show's become.