# Do the Simpsons writers ever get in trouble for constantly mocking FOX?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-simpsons-writers-ever-get-in-trouble-for-constantly-mocking-fox/355662>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 6, 2006, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-simpsons-writers-ever-get-in-trouble-for-constantly-mocking-fox/355662 "2006-05-06T11:20:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-simpsons-writers-ever-get-in-trouble-for-constantly-mocking-fox/355662/41 "2006-05-11T03:17:15Z")

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> [@ftg](#):
>
> There was also a NBC/Frasier reference in the episode with Sideshow Bob’s brother (played by David Hyde Pierce).

I had forgotten about that. _Frasier_ had “title cards” before each scene in the show. The second act opens with a parody title card reading “_Frasier_ is a show on the NBC television network.”

And while we’re commenting on references to other networks, one from _Behind the Laughter_ is one of my favorite types of gags, an irony gag. Apparently, according to Homer’s view of it, the other networks turned the idea for _The Simpsons_ down before Fox picked it up. To represent this, we see a graphic of a road and the logos of ABC, NBC, and…Telemundo.

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-simpsons-writers-ever-get-in-trouble-for-constantly-mocking-fox/355662/42 "2006-05-11T03:32:24Z")

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> [@Lord Ashtar](#):
>
> _Married…with Children_ used to make fun of Fox all the time, too.

Self-mockery is a Fox tradition at this point. _The X-Files_ did it occasionally - they did a mock-_Cops_ episode, and Mulder ‘quoted’ _When Animals Attack_ once. And let’s not forget how _Family Guy_ returned to the air:

> [@](#):
>
> Peter Griffin: [hanging up the phone] Everybody, I’ve got bad news. We’ve been cancelled.  
> Lois Griffin: Oh no! Peter, how could they do that?  
> Peter Griffin: Well, unfortunately, Lois, there’s just no more room on the schedule. We’ve just got to accept the fact that Fox has to make room for terrific shows like _Dark Angel_, _Titus_, _Undeclared_, _Action_, _That 80’s Show_, _Wonderfalls_, _Fastlane_, _Andy Richter Controls the Universe_, _Skin_, _Girls Club_, _Cracking Up_, _The Pitts_, _Firefly_, _Get Real_, _FreakyLinks_, _Wanda at Large_, _Costello_, _The Lone Gunmen_, _A Minute With Stan Hooper_, _Normal, Ohio_, _Pasadena_, _Harsh Realm_, _Keen Eddy_, _The $treet_, _American Embassy_, _Cedric The Entertainer_, _The Tick_, _Luis_, and _Greg the Bunny_.  
> Lois Griffin: Is there no hope?  
> Peter Griffin: Well, I suppose if all those shows go down the tubes, we might have a shot.

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