The following is a list of couch gags seen in the opening sequence of The Simpsons for Seasons 1 through 5.
#
Airdate
Screenshot
Gag Name
Episode
Code
1
December 17, 1989
no gag
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire "
7G08
2
January 14, 1990
The family sits on the couch. Bart gets squashed into the air. He comes back down about six seconds later, during the TV scene.
"Bart the Genius "
7G02
3
January 21, 1990
The family sits; the couch falls apart leaving the family sitting on cushions on the ground. The lamp slides away as well.
"Homer's Odyssey "
7G03
4
January 28, 1990
The family sits on the couch. Homer gets "squashed" off, landing with a soft "D'oh!" on the ground.
"There's No Disgrace Like Home "
7G04
5
February 4, 1990
No gag (shortened opening)
"Bart the General "
7G05
6
February 11, 1990
The family sits. Maggie gets squashed into the air, falls, and gets caught by Marge.
"Moaning Lisa "
7G06
7
February 18, 1990
The family sits as normal.
NOTE:This was originally the first couch gag.
"The Call of the Simpsons "
7G09
8
February 25, 1990
repeat of 7G02
"The Telltale Head "
7G07
9
March 18, 1990
no gag (shortened opening)
"Life on the Fast Lane "
7G11
10
March 25, 1990
repeat of 7G03
"Homer's Night Out "
7G10
11
April 15, 1990
repeat of 7G04
"The Crepes of Wrath "
7G13
12
April 29, 1990
repeat of 7G06
"Krusty Gets Busted "
7G12
13
May 13, 1990
repeat of 7G09
"Some Enchanted Evening "
7G01
#
Airdate
Screenshot
Gag Name
Episode
Code
14
October 11, 1990
The family sits on the couch which falls through the floor. Homer shouts "D'oh!"
NOTE: During the repeats, Homer doesn't shout "D'oh!".
"Bart Gets an "F" "
7F03
15
October 18, 1990
The Simpsons do an Egyptian dance before jumping on the couch in a 'Ta-da' pose.
"Simpson and Delilah "
7F02
16
October 25, 1990
no gag (shortened Halloween intro)
"Treehouse of Horror "
7F04
17
November 1, 1990
The Simpsons sit, only to get flung into the air by the couch which opened into a bed. They then land on it.
"Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish "
7F01
18
November 8, 1990
Everyone except Maggie sit on the couch. Maggie then peeks out of Marge's hair, sucking on her pacifier happily.
"Dancin' Homer "
7F05
19
November 15, 1990
The Simpsons followed by Snowball ll and Santa's Little Helper sit on the couch.
"Dead Putting Society "
7F08
20
November 22, 1990
Grampa is asleep on the couch and gets startled awake when the family comes in.
"Bart vs. Thanksgiving "
7F07
21
December 6, 1990
Homer tips the couch over on its side and Maggie sits on a fallen couch cushion.
"Bart the Daredevil "
7F06
22
December 20, 1990
The family comes in and finds the couch missing.
"Itchy & Scratchy & Marge "
7F09
23
January 10, 1991
Homer squeezes everyone off the couch one by one until he has the couch all to himself.
"Bart Gets Hit by a Car "
7F10
24
January 24, 1991
The couch falls over backwards; Maggie peeks from behind.
"One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish "
7F11
25
January 31, 1991
repeat of 7F03's gag
"The Way We Was "
7F12
26
February 7, 1991
repeat of 7F02's gag
"Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment "
7F13
27
February 14, 1991
repeat of 7F01's gag
"Principal Charming "
7F15
28
February 21, 1991
repeat of 7F05's gag
"Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? "
7F16
29
March 7, 1991
repeat of 7F08's gag
"Bart's Dog Gets an F "
7F14
30
March 28, 1991
repeat of 7F07's gag
"Old Money "
7F17
31
April 11, 1991
repeat of 7F06's gag
"Brush with Greatness "
7F18
32
April 25, 1991
repeat of 7F09's gag
"Lisa's Substitute "
7F19
33
May 2, 1991
repeat of 7F10's gag
"The War of the Simpsons "
7F20
34
May 9, 1991
repeat of 7F11's gag
"Three Men and a Comic Book "
7F21
35
July 11, 1991
repeat of 7F03's gag
"Blood Feud "
7F22
#
Airdate
Screenshot
Gag Name
Episode
Code
36
September 19, 1991
The family sits; the couch tips over backwards and crashes into the back wall.
"Stark Raving Dad "
7F24
37
September 26, 1991
The family sits on the couch but Homer sits on Santa's Little Helper, whom Homer pulls out from under him.
"Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington "
8F01
38
October 3, 1991
repeat of 7F02's gag
"When Flanders Failed "
7F23
39
October 10, 1991
The family forms a human pyramid on the couch with Maggie on top.
"Bart the Murderer "
8F03
40
October 17, 1991
A space alien is on the couch with a drink in hand. Before the family can come in, it escapes through a trap door in the floor. The family comes in and sits as normal.
"Homer Defined "
8F04
41
October 24, 1991
Everyone (except for Bart) sits on the couch. Bart comes in moments later and lies stretched out on everyone’s laps.
"Like Father, Like Clown "
8F05
42
October 31, 1991
no gag (shortened Halloween intro)
"Treehouse of Horror II "
8F02
43
November 7, 1991
Homer lies down on the couch and ends up getting sat on by the rest of the family.
"Lisa's Pony "
8F06
44
November 14, 1991
Everyone sits on the couch, and falls in with their legs behind their heads.
"Saturdays of Thunder "
8F07
45
November 21, 1991
Two burglars are in the process of carrying off the couch. The Simpsons come in and sit, but the burglars throw them off and leave with the couch.
"Flaming Moe's "
8F08
46
December 5, 1991
Santa’s Little Helper is asleep on the couch. When the family comes in, he growls ferociously, and the family backs away slowly.
"Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk "
8F09
47
December 26, 1991
The family (except Maggie, who hops after failing to do a proper cartwheel) cartwheels to the couch and lands with a “ta-da” pose.
"I Married Marge "
8F10
48
January 9, 1992
The family sits on the couch and end up bouncing over and under each other until they're in completely different places on the couch.
"Radio Bart "
8F11
49
January 23, 1992
repeat of 8F01's gag
"Lisa the Greek "
8F12
50
February 6, 1992
repeat of 8F03's gag
"Homer Alone "
8F14
51
February 13, 1992
repeat of 8F04's gag
"Bart the Lover "
8F16
52
February 20, 1992
The family runs to the couch, but knocks themselves unconscious in the process. Maggie (the only one who isn’t knocked out) ends up on the couch.
"Homer at the Bat "
8F13
53
February 27, 1992
repeat of 8F05's gag
"Separate Vocations "
8F15
54
March 12, 1992
repeat of 8F06's gag
"Dog of Death "
8F17
55
March 26, 1992
repeat of 8F07's gag
"Colonel Homer "
8F19
56
April 9, 1992
repeat of 8F08's gag
"Black Widower "
8F20
57
April 23, 1992
repeat of 8F09's gag
"The Otto Show "
8F21
58
May 7, 1992
repeat of 7F24's gag
"Bart's Friend Falls in Love "
8F22
59
August 27, 1992
repeat of 8F10's gag
"Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes? "
8F23
#
Airdate
Screenshot
Gag Name
Episode
Code
60
September 24, 1992
The Flintstones (Fred, Wilma, and Pebbles) are on the couch. When the Simpsons come in, Fred smiles at Homer and invites him to sit.
"Kamp Krusty "
8F24
61
October 1, 1992
The family sits on the couch. The couch transforms into a monster and swallows the family.
"A Streetcar Named Marge "
8F18
62
October 8, 1992
The Simpsons sit on the couch. The wall rotates around, leaving an empty couch from the other side.
"Homer the Heretic "
9F01
63
October 15, 1992
Maggie is already on the couch. Homer, Marge, and Bart run off the edge of the film onto an empty white space and quickly run back. Lisa jumps in at the last minute.
"Lisa the Beauty Queen "
9F02
64
October 29, 1992
The Simpsons are now skeletons who rush to the couch and sit as normal. This is based on the promotional poster from "Treehouse of Horror II ". (Halloween episode)
"Treehouse of Horror III "
9F04
65
November 3, 1992
The Simpsons sit on the couch. The couch deflates like a balloon.
"Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie "
9F03
66
November 5, 1992
The family’s heads are mismatched. Everyone undoes the mistake by taking back their proper heads and Maggie takes her pacifier out of Homer’s mouth.
"Marge Gets a Job "
9F05
67
November 12, 1992
repeat of 7F03's gag
"New Kid on the Block "
9F06
68
November 19, 1992
The couch is replaced by a small wooden chair; the family sits on it.
"Mr. Plow "
9F07
69
December 3, 1992
As the standard theme music stops, the family forms a chorus line, joined by a line of Rockette-like women, all high-kicking to a Vegas-like rendition of the main theme melody. The living room walls are lifted to make way for a large production number, featuring hand-standing elephants, magicians, Santa's Little Helper leaping through a ring of fire, and more all set to circus style music. The standard theme music then returns, concluding normally. (This is the first extra-long couch gag, as well as the first to cut into the standard theme with alternate music. This couch gag is also used for edited versions of other episodes from all seasons.)
"Lisa's First Word "
9F08
70
December 17, 1992
The family are shrunk and climb the “giant” couch.
"Homer's Triple Bypass "
9F09
71
January 14, 1993
The Simpsons sit down, followed by three rows of secondary characters (such as Kent Brockman, Apu, Krusty, Principal Skinner, Marge's mother Jackie, Mr. Burns, Smithers, a black-haired Princess Kashmir in her belly dancer costume, Nelson, Milhouse, Martin, and Mrs. Krabappel) from the show who obstruct the family's view.
"Marge vs. the Monorail "
9F10
72
January 21, 1993
The family is caught in a rope trap set up on the floor.
"Selma's Choice "
9F11
73
February 4, 1993
repeat of 9F01's gag
"Brother from the Same Planet "
9F12
74
February 11, 1993
repeat of 9F08's gag
"I Love Lisa "
9F13
75
February 18, 1993
repeat of 9F02's gag
"Duffless "
9F14
76
March 11, 1993
repeat of 8F18's gag
"Last Exit to Springfield "
9F15
77
April 1, 1993
repeat of 9F05's gag
"So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show "
9F17
78
April 15, 1993
repeat of 9F08's gag
"The Front "
9F16
79
April 29, 1993
repeat of 9F07's gag
"Whacking Day "
9F18
80
May 6, 1993
repeat of 9F09's gag
"Marge in Chains "
9F20
81
May 13, 1993
repeat of 9F11's gag
"Krusty Gets Kancelled "
9F19
#
Airdate
Screenshot
Gag Name
Episode
Code
82
September 30, 1993
A director does three couch gag takes. Take one: The Simpsons first run into the living room and shatter like glass, with Santa's Little Helper walking in to look at the mess on the floor. Take two: The Simpsons run in and coalesce into a multicolored, five-headed blob. Take three: The Simpsons run in and explode on contact, with Maggie's pacifier falling onto the blackened crater. (syndicated reruns use the “take one” couch gag and takes two and three are used as individual couch gags in different episodes)
"Homer's Barbershop Quartet "
9F21
83
October 7, 1993
repeat of 9F08's gag
"Cape Feare "
9F22
84
October 14, 1993
The family sits; the couch and family are crushed by the cutout foot from the opening of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
"Homer Goes to College "
1F02
85
October 21, 1993
The Simpsons run in and find an identical Simpsons family on the couch. (This scene is frequently used as the opening couch gag on syndicated versions of Simpsons episodes from seasons one to five.)
"Rosebud "
1F01
86
October 28, 1993
The Simpsons are zombies who break through the floor and groan as they sit on the couch. (Halloween episode)
"Treehouse of Horror IV "
1F04
87
November 4, 1993
The family runs in and crashes through the wall, as it turns out the couch and other living room furniture is painted on a backdrop.
"Marge on the Lam "
1F03
88
November 11, 1993
The family runs in and finds an obese man taking up the entire couch. The man tries to give the Simpsons room to sit, but it's a tight fit.
"Bart's Inner Child "
1F05
89
November 18, 1993
The lights are out as five pairs of eyes enter. The lights turn on revealing only eyes, as the eyeless family rushes in and sits down, reconnecting with their eyes.
"Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood "
1F06
90
December 9, 1993
The family sits, then realizes the couch is on the set of the Late Show with David Letterman; next to the couch, Dave spins in his chair to face forward at his desk.
"The Last Temptation of Homer "
1F07
91
December 16, 1993
repeat of the first of 9F21's three gags
"$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling) "
1F08
92
January 6, 1994
repeat of the third of 9F21's three gags
"Homer the Vigilante "
1F09
93
February 3, 1994
repeat of the second of 9F21's three gags
"Bart Gets Famous "
1F11
94
February 10, 1994
Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa poke their heads out from behind the couch; Maggie pokes out from behind the center cushion.
"Homer and Apu "
1F10
95
February 17, 1994
repeat of 1F02's gag
"Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy "
1F12
96
February 24, 1994
repeat of 1F05's gag
"Deep Space Homer "
1F13
97
March 17, 1994
There are two identical couches in the living room. The Simpsons split themselves down the middle and each half sits on the couches.
"Homer Loves Flanders "
1F14
98
March 31, 1994
repeat of 1F06's gag
"Bart Gets an Elephant "
1F15
99
April 14, 1994
The Simpsons are balls that bounce onto the couch. Bart almost bounces away, but Homer reigns him in and hurls him onto the couch.
"Burns' Heir "
1F16
100
April 28, 1994
The Simpsons sit on the couch just as a translucent FOX station identification logo appears in the lower right hand corner of the screen. Homer sees it, gets up from the couch, peels it off, and stomps on it (with the family joining him in stomping it) before returning to the couch.
"Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song "
1F18
101
May 5, 1994
repeat of 1F07's gag
"The Boy Who Knew Too Much "
1F19
102
May 12, 1994
repeat of the first of 9F21's three gags
"Lady Bouvier's Lover "
1F21
103
May 19, 1994
repeat of the third of 9F21's three gags
"Secrets of a Successful Marriage "
1F20
Citations [ ]