Part of the reason why The Simpsons remains so beloved by adults and kids alike is because it offers something for everyone. While children get a kick out of the amusing residents of Springfield and the ridiculous scenarios they get themselves into each and every episode, eagle-eyed adults can be on the lookout for satisfying Easter Eggs and cultural references. In its 25-season lifespan every new episode has been meticulously interwoven with an insane amount of references. Matt Groening and his crack team of creatives have been furiously winking at the audience since 1989 and weve appreciated every single one (of the ones we've spotted at least). The problem with The Simpsons being so littered with Easter Eggs and generally allusive is that it can be difficult to pick out the best. You think one reference is awesome but then another crops up to divert your attention. We can unanimously agree that watching The Simpsons has certainly sharpened up our cultural knowledge; whoever said cartoons were a waste of time? The Simpsons has been able to transcend the status of being 'just a cartoon' because of how much it reflects the world around it, irreversibly weaving itself into the cultural tapestry. Indeed for a long time now The Simpsons has been important enough to warrant Easter Eggs referring to it in other television programmes, games and films. Springfield has played host to countless numbers of hidden gems over the years here are the 20 of the very best:
20. A Clockwork Cupcake
Episode: Duffless (S4, E16) Many of us were children when we first got to know the wacky inhabitants of Springfield. Our youthful inexperience meant that all of The Simpsons' more adult humour went straight over our little heads. However, years later we finally know about the birds and the bees and have seen enough amazing movies to appreciate the shows Easter Eggs, such as this superb little homage to Stanley Kubricks A Clockwork Orange. Thirsting for vengeance after Barts destruction of her giant tomato, Lisa begins the experiment is my brother dumber than a hamster?. Lisa determines that Bart probably is mentally inferior to the deceptively intelligent rodent when he repeatedly attempts to eat the cupcakes which are hooked up to a nasty electrical charge (the hamster had learned its lesson straight away). The entire sequence is animated to follow Alex DeLarges realisation that the experiments conducted on him mean he can no longer enjoy sex and violence.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
