The Simpsons Return to Itchy & Scratchy Land

January 12, 2015, 10:15 PM · On last night's episode of "The Simpsons," Bart and Homer returned to Springfield's favorite amusement park, Itchy & Scratchy Land. That send-up of Disneyland first appeared in season six and featured a climatic battle between the family and animatronic parade performers, which was in itself a send-up of Jurassic Park. Note that Itchy & Scratchy Land shouldn't be confused with Springfield's other amusement parks, including Duff Gardens, which appeared in the "Selma's Choice" episode in season four.

Soarin' Over Springfield
In the episode, Bart and Homer ride 'Soarin' Over Springfield,' which astutely recognizes the 4 Ds in 4-D as 'Height, Width, Depth, Spray!'

Last night's episode, Bart's New Friend, was written in the 1990s by Judd Apatow, who went on to write Freaks and Geeks, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Knocked Up. Apatow wrote the script on spec, but it sat around unproduced for decades until show runner Al Jean decided to produce it this year.

Here is the Soarin' Over Springfield clip from the show:

And last week, The Simpsons visited another if its many fake theme parks, "Diz-Nee-Land," where they consider such alarming attractions as The Let-Go Loop...

... but ultimately end up in the clutches of Kang and Kodos, from whom they eventually escape into a Star Trek parody.

Did you see these episodes? What did you think? And, for the truly important question:


The debate is now open in the comments!

Replies (9)

January 13, 2015 at 1:59 AM · You forgot a theme park... Storybook Village (pre Flanders) / Praiseland (post flanders)
January 13, 2015 at 5:31 AM · You also forgot my favorite Simpsons Theme Park: The EFCOT Centre (The World of Tomorrow: "What people in 1965 thought the world would look like in 1985")
January 13, 2015 at 1:32 PM · There are SOOOO many great fake theme parks in The Simpsons, but I had to limit the vote to five candidates. Heck, maybe this just needs to be a tournament!
January 13, 2015 at 2:35 PM · EPCOT CENTER because of Great Moments with Mr. Esiner, Krustyland because i've been there, and Itchy and Scratchy Land because I love that episode.
January 14, 2015 at 10:35 AM · You know what would have been really funny? If Bart came home with the measles! Haw Haw!

It's funny cause it's true.

January 14, 2015 at 10:48 AM · I finally watched the recent episode off the DVR last night. I have to say that I loved the parody of Soarin', especially the music that was pretty darn close without encroaching on copyright infringement.

However, my favorite Simpsons theme park episode has to be the original Itchy and Scratchy Land (ep.107).

January 14, 2015 at 1:42 PM · Sent this post to my husband the Simpsons superfan, and he ranked "Lisa tripping out when she drinks the water on the 'It's a Small World' parody ride in Duff Gardens" as his favorite moment. :-)
January 15, 2015 at 11:25 AM · Excellent choice there, Clara. Probably my favorite, too. (Yes, I voted Duff Gardens.)
January 17, 2015 at 10:41 AM · Not a theme park....but remember where they go to Mount Splashmore? Homer gets stuck in a tube. Was that have been a parody of a real water park, I can't remember the episode well enough now to remember.

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