# Simpsons Gag That That Has Begun To Bother Me **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012 "2005-03-17T17:56:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/21 "2005-03-18T04:50:16Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > One of the Halloween specials also showed him owning an entire box full of guns, including one affectionately nicknamed “Ol’ Blasty”. Yes, but those _Treehouse of Horror_ episodes aren’t cannon. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/22 "2005-03-18T09:02:20Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > It’s one of those jokes about Burns being stuck in the past. ‘Catsup’ used to be much more commonly used as a name for what we know as ‘ketchup’, and he gets thoroughly confused by the modern preponderance of Ketchup. That’s how I interpreted it, anyway (hey, this is a guy who drive a Model T and answers the phone “Ahoy hoy”). Nitpick: he drives a 1936 Stutz Bearcat. Maroon, not burgundy. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/23 "2005-03-18T09:19:30Z")
> [@](#): > > The word catsup is on the piece of paper right there in Burns’ hand. How does the product known as ketchup even cause confusion? BECAUSE BURNS IS OLD!!! THAT’S THE JOKE!!! OLD PEOPLE GET CONFUSED!!! ::beats people over the head:: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BobNewby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@BobNewby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobNewby)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/24 "2005-03-18T10:13:16Z")
And how come no one gets any older? And what’s the deal with the yellow skin and four-fingered hands? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/25 "2005-03-18T11:26:31Z")
> [@BobNewby](#): > > And how come no one gets any older? And what’s the deal with the yellow skin and four-fingered hands? Confused? You won’t be, after the next episode of “Soap”! Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/26 "2005-03-18T11:39:53Z")
It’s OK guys I have written to FOX and I am just waiting to get the answers. I’m sure Homer will write me soon. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/27 "2005-03-18T11:41:28Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > Yes, but those _Treehouse of Horror_ episodes aren’t cannon. Wow, is that as clever as I think it is? ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/28 "2005-03-18T12:42:26Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > Wow, is that as clever as I think it is? I was thinking the same thing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/29 "2005-03-18T17:43:12Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Yeah, that, and for years, Homer was shown as _having a gun already._ (A shotgun, as I remember.) > > Of course, they’ve also shown characters wielding double-barreled pump-action shotguns, too. > > I’ll just put one " :smack: " at the bottom of the page, to save time. I do remember when he was hidden behind the mattress with the kids, the shotgun, shells scatttered about the room and a big hole in the front door. All because a “boogeyman or boogeymen” might be in the house. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/30 "2005-03-18T17:59:58Z")
> [@BobNewby](#): > > And how come no one gets any older? And what’s the deal with the yellow skin and four-fingered hands? Apu’s kids have gotten older. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/31 "2005-03-18T18:20:23Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Apu’s kids have gotten older. They are really the only characters who have aged, unless you count Pattys recent bout with menopause. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/32 "2005-03-18T19:13:23Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Uh, no. > > Williams’ character was overwhelmed by the vast quantities of choices of coffee brands. Burns, who has apparently never shopped for groceries in his life, could easily be overwhelmed by just two choices of a condiment. Whoosh. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/33 "2005-03-18T19:31:28Z")
\<------------- HA-HA! :smack: > [@Munch](#): > > Whoosh. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/34 "2005-03-18T22:08:16Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Williams’ character was overwhelmed by the vast quantities of choices of coffee brands. Nah, everybody knows that William’s character esteems Folgers crystals above all other caffeinated products. This was established in _Manhunter_. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/35 "2005-03-18T22:54:39Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > Wow, is that as clever as I think it is? I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/36 "2005-03-18T22:58:12Z")
> [@SPOOFE](#): > > BECAUSE BURNS IS OLD!!! THAT’S THE JOKE!!! OLD PEOPLE GET CONFUSED!!! No. The ‘idiot old people’ jokes are the ones with Grandpa Simpson. The Burns gags are always about somebody stuck in another era - he never gets confused, which is why he’s a successful and cunning businessman. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/37 "2005-03-18T23:03:40Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > They are really the only characters who have aged, unless you count Pattys recent bout with menopause. The statue of Jebediah Springfield contains a device invented by Professor Frink which warps reality around Springfield. This accounts for: A. The lack of aging. B. The ability of Springfield to be in different parts of the country at different times. C. Any other continuity or logical glitch you can think of. Larry Kidkill is the only other one who knows about this and was protecting Apu’s kids from the effects until Apu and Homer stole them back. This allowed them age for about a year or two and then they too were effected. This will be the plot of the last Simpsons episode. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/38 "2005-03-18T23:05:23Z")
> [@treis](#): > > I don’t get it. Guns. Cannon. See? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/39 "2005-03-18T23:08:52Z")
> [@](#): > > No. The ‘idiot old people’ jokes are the ones with Grandpa Simpson. The Burns gags are always about somebody stuck in another era - he never gets confused, which is why he’s a successful and cunning businessman. Dagnammit, I’ll teach _you_ to steal my thunder… c’mere! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012/40 "2005-03-19T08:10:56Z")
> [@](#): > > No. The ‘idiot old people’ jokes are the ones with Grandpa Simpson. The Burns gags are always about somebody stuck in another era - he never gets confused, which is why he’s a successful and cunning businessman. Burns was born rich, and has run the power plant into financial ruin on more than one occasion. Like most of the characters on the show Burns character is an allusion to a historical or fictional person. Burns bears some resemblance to William Randolph Hearts and Howard Hughes. Both of whom were so insulated by their great wealth that they lost touch with so-called ordinary life. Hence the gag, Burns doesn’t even realize that catsup and ketchup are alternative spellings for the same popular condiment. Also, the “stuck in the past” theory holds some water as well, although according to [answers.com](http://answers.com) the word ketchup predates catsup by precisely 29 years. Also, in the “Simpsons” nothing is really required to make sense even in the episodes constituting canon. Observe: > [@](#): > > Episode 1F06 “Boy Scoutz 'N the Hood” > > BART: The guys who wrote this show don’t know squat. Itchy should have tied Scratchy’s tongue with a taut-line hitch, not a sheet bend. > LISA: Oh, Bart, cartoons don’t have to be 100% realistic." > Just as she finishes saying this, Homer walks by the window – despite the fact that another Homer already sits on the couch. Any further examination of the logical underpinnings of the “Simpsons” will only result in disillusionment and ultimately heartbreak. For the love of god we must stop before someone publishes a book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-gag-that-that-has-begun-to-bother-me/295012.md?page=3)