Just curious, but has the Simpsons done the following:
A black-out episode? Basically, a Simpson radio episode. I would enjoy them doing a Simpsons spin on the old radio programs. Would save a killing on animation costs for an episode. I'd simply have the power go out at the opening couch scene.
Have they ever done a Film Noir episode? Something along the lines of Chief Wiggum losing his job and becoming a private gumshoe detective. The whole episode in black, white, and shades of gray.
A complete episode without a single appearance of a member of the Simpsons family? Even the opening credits. The "Ha Ha" kid could do the writing on the chalkboard in the intro and others do what the Simpsons normally did in the intro. Perhaps an alternate history where there were no Simpsons. Or perhaps a scene where someone walks through a library where someone is reading an old newspaper that has a headline of Homer and Marge dying in a car accident as teenagers. Have it be a flash scene that you'd need to go frame by frame to actually see and read it.
Simpsons ever do a rip on South Park? Perhaps the Simpsons visit the mountain town in Colorado? Could do a rip that equates South Park with a show that would just feature clones of Bart and how the that would lack variety. How using cut-outs would sure be less expensive than painting each cell.
Ever done an entire episode of the Simpsons in their future? Not from the present and dreams of the future, but in the future where all the kids are grown up. Perhaps the first third of the episode being the ideal future for each of the characters. Bart as a successful politician, Lisa as famed jazz musician, and Maggie as a marksmanship champion. Second half as their worst nightmare. Bart in prison, Lisa working for Exxon, and Maggie ... hmmm ... not sure there. Last act being what they would most likely become. Bart working at the nuclear power plant, Lisa working at the nuclear power plant, and Maggie working at the nuclear power plant. ;-)
Has the Simpsons ever "magically" become other TV families? All In The Family. Family Ties. Father Knows Best. Eight Is Enough. Partridge Family. Brady Bunch. Ozzie and Harriet. Cosby family. Dukes of Hazard.
Has the Simpsons ever done a rip on soap operas where the entire episode is their spin on soap operas?
Have they ever done an episode where Burns loses it all? Where he has to try to live like an average poor person? Perhaps in a nursing home? Perhaps so poor he has to work? Naturally, at the end, he regains his wealth, but not until the very end.
Scott Jensen