The Simpsons: 11 Most Paused Moments

The Simpsons had an iconic long running feud during the 90s with the Bush family. It began in when Barbara Bush claimed the family were the dumbest thing she had ever seen. This led the writers to send her a letter posed as Marge, defending her family to which Barbara responded with an apology letter and the matter was, for a while, over.

But the dispute reignited in 1992 as then-president George H. W. Bush said (paraphrased) “we are going to strengthen the American family to make them a lot more like the Waltons and a lot less like Simpsons”. Under time constraints, Matt Groening whipped up a response and broadcast it at the beginning of the episode "Stark Raving Dad". The Simpson family are sitting in their living room shocked by Bush's speech and Bart replies "Hey, we're just like the Waltons. We're praying for an end to the Depression, too".

The feud was ultimately the inspiration for the episode “Two Bad Neighbours” – the Bush family move in to property opposite The Simpson household and Bart makes frequent visits to George and constantly annoys him. The writers did not hold back when making jokes at the presidential family's expense. But they go even further to make a sly dig at Bush’s vice president, Dan Quayle.

When Bart accidentally shreds George’s memoirs, bits of paper fly around the room with one scrap of detailed writing falling right in front of the camera which says "V.P. Quayle Embarrassment”.

It’s a delectably subtle jab at the incompetence of his deputy Quayle and a brilliant way of reminding everyone of their low opinion of Bush’s administration team.