The Simpsons – Season 28 premiered on September 25, 2016, and consisted of 22 episodes that continued the long-running story of the Simpson family. The season featured the main voice cast of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, and Hank Azaria. This season remained a staple of the TV Shows landscape by blending situational comedy with parodies of 2016 cultural events and media trends.
The plot for this season involved various household and community conflicts in the town of Springfield. Homer faced challenges at the power plant and in his personal hobbies, while Marge managed family crises and community projects. Bart and Lisa navigated school life, social status, and their differing moral views. The season is notable for reaching a significant television milestone and experimenting with different episode lengths and formats to keep the content relevant for modern audiences.
Why You Should Watch The Simpsons – Season 28
The Simpsons – Season 28 is a significant entry for viewers who follow the history of the show because it contains the 600th episode. This season also experimented with its traditional structure, offering the first hour-long episode in the history of the series. The season maintains a high production standard with guest stars and specialized animation sequences that address the evolving technology and social norms of the mid-2010s.
The Milestone 600th Episode
The 600th episode of The Simpsons occurred during this season with the airing of “Treehouse of Horror XXVII.” This Halloween special used a virtual reality intro, allowing viewers to see a 360-degree version of the famous couch gag. The episode itself parodied various films and pop culture elements, including The Hunger Games and Mad Max: Fury Road. Mr. Burns controlled the water supply in a drought-stricken Springfield, forcing the children to fight in a battle royale.
This episode showed the production team’s interest in using new technology to engage with the audience. By reaching 600 episodes, the show solidified its place as one of the longest-running scripted programs in history. The writing in this milestone entry combined the standard horror tropes with the specific social commentary the show is known for. The use of Sideshow Bob in a recurring segment also satisfied long-term viewers who follow the show’s deeper lore.
Experimental Formats and Cultural Parody
A major highlight of The Simpsons – Season 28 was the two-part episode titled “The Great Phatsby.” This was the show’s first hour-long special and it served as a parody of The Great Gatsby and the hip-hop industry. Mr. Burns lost his fortune to a music mogul named Jay G. To get his money back, Mr. Burns teamed up with Homer and Bart to seek revenge. The episode featured guest voices like Taraji P. Henson and Keegan-Michael Key.
Another notable episode was “22 for 30,” which used a documentary style to tell its story. The episode parodied the 30 for 30 sports documentary series on ESPN. It focused on Bart and his career as a high school basketball star. The format allowed for a different type of humor, using talking-head interviews and dramatic narration to mock the tropes of sports journalism. This showed that the writers were still finding ways to change the presentation of the The Simpsons after nearly three decades.
Character Developments and Conflicts
The season also focused on more grounded character stories, such as the relationship between Homer and his neighbor Kirk Van Houten. In the episode “There Will Be Buds,” the two fathers started coaching a lacrosse team together. This plot explored Homer’s competitive nature and his tendency to take credit for things he did not do. It provided a look at the suburban social dynamics that the show has used as a foundation since the beginning.
Marge had her own struggles with modern trends, specifically in the episode “Pork and Burns.” After reading a book about decluttering, she forced the family to get rid of items that no longer brought them joy. This led to Homer having to find a new home for Spider-Pig, a character that first appeared in the movie years earlier. These episodes used simple household conflicts to mirror real-world trends, such as the popularity of minimalist living and organization experts.
Guest Stars and Springfield Expansion
The season was filled with notable guest appearances that brought new life to the town of Springfield. Amy Schumer voiced a character in the season premiere, while Patton Oswalt provided the voice for Homer’s new guilt-tripping obsession. The inclusion of these actors helped the show remain connected to the current comedy scene. Each guest star was integrated into the specific ecosystem of Springfield, often playing characters that challenged the Simpsons‘ worldviews.
Episodes like “The Town” expanded the world outside of Springfield. In this episode, the family traveled to Boston after Bart began cheering for the local football team’s rival. This allowed for a series of jokes about regional differences, sports fandom, and cultural stereotypes. By taking the family out of their normal environment, the writers were able to find new ways to test the family bond and create conflict between Homer and the rest of the world.
Is The Simpsons – Season 28 Safe to Watch? (Age Rating Guide)
Official age rating not available.
For verified credits, release details, or official resources, visit IMDb and Official Site.
| Director | Not available |
|---|---|
| Main Cast | Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria |
| Release Year | 2016 |
| Genre | Animation, Comedy, Family |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Simpsons – Season 28 released?
The Simpsons – Season 28 was released on September 25, 2016.
What is The Simpsons – Season 28 about?
The Simpsons – Season 28 is available on Flixr.
Where can I watch The Simpsons – Season 28?
The Simpsons – Season 28 is available on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Disney+.
Episode guide
Monty Burns' Fleeing Circus
When a fire levels Springfield, Mr. Burns agrees to the Simpsons' pleas that he fund the town's rebuilding, on the condition that he gets to put on a variety show.
Friends and Family
Mr. Burns hires the Simpsons, except Homer, to be his virtual family; Homer becomes best friends with the girl next door.
The Town
After Homer catches Bart rooting for Springfield’s football rival, the Boston Americans, he plans a family “hate-cation” trip to Boston in an attempt to show Bart that Boston is a terrible city.
Treehouse of Horror XXVII
Better late than never, The Hunger Games come to Springfield!
Trust But Clarify
Lisa and Bart investigate Krusty’s suspicious new "Krustaceans" candy. Meanwhile, Homer wants a promotion at the nuclear plant and asks Marge to help him dress the part, and news anchor Kent Brockman struggles to find his feet in the changing media world.
There Will Be Buds
Homer gets roped into coaching the kids' lacrosse team with Milhouse's dad, Kirk, who is in desperate need of a friend. When Kirk gets too clingy, Homer vents about how much of a loser he is. Kirk overhears his rant and disappears, right when the team needs him most: the championship game.
Havana Wild Weekend
When the Retirement Castle and the V.A. Hospital can’t solve Grampa’s health issues, the Simpsons decide to take a family trip to Cuba to get him cheap medical care.
Dad Behavior
Homer finds a new app that makes his life much easier and outsources his father-son bonding. Meanwhile, Grampa finds that he is about to be a father again.
The Last Traction Hero
A workplace accident leaves Homer in a cast, and in a position to sue Mr. Burns. This leaves Marge unfulfilled, so she turns to an unexpected source for romance. Meanwhile, Lisa is made "Bus Monitor" and tries to keep the peace.
The Nightmare After Krustmas
Krusty tries to impress his daughter as they spend Christmas with the Simpsons. Meanwhile, Reverend Lovejoy seeks converts after church attendance plummets, and Maggie is haunted by a spooky Christmas toy.
Pork and Burns
When Marge becomes obsessed with a Japanese style of living, the Simpsons must part with any item that no longer brings them joy. For Homer, this means finding a new home for the family pig. For Lisa, it means saying goodbye to her beloved sax
The Great Phatsby (1)
Mr. Burns tries to relive his glory days and crosses paths with a mysterious music mogul. After being conned by him and reduced to bankruptcy, Mr. Burns seeks revenge on the Music Producer with the help of Homer, Bart, rapper Jazzy James and the mogul's ex-wife, Praline. Also, Lisa is courted by the richest kid in town, Smithers begins a perilous journey and Marge opens an obscure boutique store.
The Great Phatsby (2)
Mr. Burns tries to relive his glory days and crosses paths with a mysterious music mogul. After being conned by him and reduced to bankruptcy, Mr. Burns seeks revenge on the Music Producer with the help of Homer, Bart, rapper Jazzy James and the mogul's ex-wife, Praline. Also, Lisa is courted by the richest kid in town, Smithers begins a perilous journey and Marge opens an obscure boutique store.
Fatzcarraldo
All of the fast food restaurants in Springfield go healthy, forcing Homer to turn to the last bastion of greasy food for comfort.
The Cad and the Hat
Bart deals with his guilt after betraying Lisa; Springfield is in awe of Homer when he is revealed to be a chess savant.
Kamp Krustier
Bart and Lisa return home from Kamp Krustier early, interrupting Homer and Marge's romantic encounters; Bart and Lisa confront a source of trauma.
22 for 30
Bart goes from delinquent with detention to the star basketball player at Springfield Elementary. Lisa covers Bart’s success for the school paper, and Homer becomes the team’s coach. Things go awry when Bart gets involved with the mafia
A Father's Watch
Marge turns to a series of parenting experts for advice when she becomes worried that Bart is destined for failure; Homer decides to open a trophy store; Grampa gives Bart a watch coveted by Homer.
The Caper Chase
Disappointed in Yale, Mr. Burns decides to start his own for-profit university and Homer is hired as a professor
Looking for Mr. Goodbart
Bart gets in trouble on Grandparents Day at school and is forced to hang out with Skinner's mother as punishment. After spending time with various grandmas in the neighborhood, he learns the benefits of hanging out with the elderly, but eventually recognizes the dangers of taking advantage of them. Meanwhile, Peekimon Get has taken over the town of Springfield.
Moho House
Mr. Burns makes a bet with his old friend that nothing can break Homer and Marge apart. But that's where Moe comes in.
Dogtown
After a successful animal rights campaign, all dogs in Springfield are allowed to go where they want and do what they want. Pack mentality quickly kicks in and the dogs of Springfield assert their dominance by threatening the people.
Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes
Cast
Dan Castellaneta
Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)
Julie Kavner
Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
Nancy Cartwright
Bart Simpson / Nelson Muntz / Ralph Wiggum (voice)
Yeardley Smith
Lisa Simpson (voice)
Hank Azaria
Moe Szyslak / Chief Wiggum / Apu / Comic Book Guy / Carl (voice)
Harry Shearer
Ned Flanders / Mr. Burns / Smithers / Skinner / Lenny (voice)
