Needham Writer Cracks the Jokes on Boston-Themed Episode of The Simpsons

Originally published Oct. 10, 2016.

NEEDHAM, MA — If it seemed like someone from Boston wrote the jokes on Sunday's episode of The Simpsons, that's because a Watertown executive producer and Needham writer were behind the family's visit to Boston.

Titled "The Town" Homer takes the family to the city for a hate-cation after discovering that Bart is a fan of Boston's football team the Boston Americans, rather than the Springfield Atoms. The episode was written by Needhan native Dave King and executive producer Matt Selman is originally from Watertown.

The episode is riddled with references ranging from a tribute to Larry Bird in the style of the Statue of Liberty, The City of Mayors known as Quinby instead of Quincy, and a shot of famous Bostonias during a parade towards the end of the episode.

While it's the first Boston episode, it's not the first time the city has been referenced on the show. Aerosmith has played Moe's, Mayor "Diamond" Joe Quimby seems to have a resemblance to certain president from Massachusetts, and when the Simpsons went to America town in the episode "Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo," they sat at the Massachusetts story as Homer said the stories about a man from Nantucket are greatly exaggerated.

Other connections to the area include former show writer and current talk show host Conan O'Brien, who grew up in Brookline.

Image via FOX