32 Of The Most Wholesome Things That Occurred On The Simpsons

31 years and 684 episodes have never felt so short. Because when it comes to the ups and downs of life in Springfield, generations have been glued to the screens for possibly one of the few sitcoms, if not the only one, that doesn't spark opinionated arguments and is foolproof to watch during family dinners.

But apart from keeping the humor bar right up in the clouds since it aired in 1989, the Simpsons have also given us some very human lessons. So scroll down through the most wholesome moments that hit us harder than we’d like to admit, proving there’s a real heart beneath that yellow world.

And if you’re a real Simpsonado, don’t forget to check out our previous posts on 35 of the wittiest signs found in the show and 109 Simpsons jokes from later seasons, because I guess you don’t need reasoning for obvious things.

#1 Pranks Done Right

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#2 The Nicest Thing Ever Said

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#3 Validating Feelings

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Few shows have influenced an entire generation, culture and television combined, more than The Simpsons. The show has convinced people that animation can be for adults, and most importantly, that it can be profitable to run at prime time. Hence, the show is now the longest-running scripted prime time television series since it began airing on Fox Network back on December 17, 1989.

The Simpsons’ long-lasting momentum was very well described by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane: “As far as I'm concerned, they basically re-invented the wheel. They created what is in many ways—you could classify it as—a wholly new medium."

#4 Seeing Both Sides

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#5 A Father's Love

For those who don't know the story behind this:

Before Maggie was born, Homer Simpson worked at the Nuclear Plant because he needed the money to pay for all the debt. Once Homer Simpson finally payed the debt he quit his job to work at his dream job at the bowling alley. When Homer Simpson found out that Marge was pregnant with Maggie, he became depressed that he had to quit his job at the bowling alley because the salary couldn't support them. When Homer Simpson begged Mr. Burns for his old life back, he put a plaque that reads "Don't Forget: You're Here Forever." When Maggie was born, Homer instantly fell in love with her. When Lisa asked Homer where did all Maggie's baby pictures went, Homer explains that he keeps it where he needs it the most

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#6 Mutual Respect

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One pop culture historian and writer, Christopher Irving, said that The Simpsons managed to make referential and satirical humor go mainstream simply by being a good show.

“It's that simple: the pastiche, parody, and inclusion of pop culture isn't what the show is built around—the show is built around relationships, which is what makes the Simpsons themselves believable enough to love." But due to the abundance of references, the show resonated with a very diverse audience.

#7 Wholesome Moment

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#8 When Marge Responded To Barbara Bush's Criticism

Barbara Bush once called The Simpsons "the dumbest thing I've ever seen" during an interview. She got a letter from "deeply hurt" Marge

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#9 Wholesome Moment

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The question remains whether The Simpsons has became an icon in its own accord and will generate the same effect to younger audiences that are no longer in time with pop culture references.

But British cultural historian Christopher Cook is convinced the yellow world is not leaving our hearts anytime soon. “There’ll be PhDs and ‘guides’ galore to help people through The Simpsons. The future generations will want to unravel the programmes and understand their referencing,” he told the BBC.

#10 Best Friends

#11 Their Response To USWNT

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#12 When Homer Temporarily Becomes Smart

"When Homer is temporarily smart and can communicate with Lisa on an intellectual level... and then he gets the surgery reversed and goes back to lovable, dumb Homer. Before he goes back in for surgery he leaves a letter to Lisa that says, 'I'm taking the coward's way out. But before I do, I just wanted to say being smart made me appreciate just how amazing you really are.'

Gets me every time!"

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#13 Sweet Marge

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#14 When Bart Writes A Song For Lisa

"When Bart writes a song for Lisa for her birthday to make up for always forgetting about her. It's an adorable brother-sister moment and reminds me of my brother every time.

Lisa, it's your birthday.

God bless you this day.

You gave me the gift of a little sister,

And I'm proud of you today.

Lisa, it's your birthday.

Happy birthday, Lisa.

Lisa, it's your birthday.

Happy birthday, Lisa."

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#15 Tough Love

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#16 Lisa The Iconoclast

"When no one in town believes Lisa, and Homer says he does, then tells Lisa, 'You’re always right about this type of thing, and for once, I want in on the ground floor'."

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#17 Can't Stop The Tears

You know, I always felt you were the best thing my name ever got attached to... I just want you to know I've always been proud of you. You're my greatest accomplishment and you did it all yourself. You helped me understand my own wife better and taught me to be a better person.

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#18 Making Friends

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#19 Mother Simpson

"Homer sitting on the hood of his car and looking at the stars after helping Mona go back into hiding and they just play that heartbreaking song over the credits. It's not fair, man!"

- Erin Murray

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#20 "Make Room For Lisa" - Season 10

"Lisa has decided that she and Homer are too different to connect, but they attempt to to have spiritual journeys to better understand each other. When Lisa experiences their relationship from Homer's point of view and sees that even though her father is boorish and crass, he does loads of things that he hates just to make Lisa happy because he loves her."

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#21 When Homer Goes Bald Again

"When Homer grows hair then loses it again and questions Marge about loving him even if he's 'bald and fat', she holds him in her arms while she sings 'You are so beautiful' to a weepy Homer. It gets me every single damn time."

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#22 Homer Still Appreciating Marge, Even Though She Doesn't Remember Him

"When Homer and Marge separate because she has amnesia and then she starts dating. One of her dates rejects her because she tells him she's amnesic and has three children. Upon seeing this, Homer comes up and tells him that she is the most beautiful and kind woman he will ever meet and he should really date her. He still leaves and Marge falls in love with Homer again."

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#23 Bart Owns A Bike Shop And Pulls Down The Shutters With Paintings Of Lisa That He Painted

What about the ep Bart hood, where lisa gets annoyed cuz bart is jealous of her makes out that they dont get along but at the end bart owns a bike shop and pulls down the shutters with paintings of her that he painted

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#24 Making His Son Proud

Homer wanting to do something nice for Bart took beatings in Robot Wars because he did not want to disappoint Bart after making him think he built a functional robot...

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#25 A Totally Fun Thing That Bart Will Never Do Again

"When Bart's older and laying in bed with all these photos around him of cherished memories as 'Winter's Love' by Animal Collective plays. UGLY CRIED."

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#26 Bart The Mother Episode

"The part where they are trying to kill his lizards and Marge tries to convince him to turn them over and Bart says, 'Everyone thinks they're monsters, but I raised them, and I love them! I know that's hard to understand' and begins to cry. Inside that is exactly how Marge feels about Bart and lets him escape with the lizards. Very touching!"

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#27 Homer Dad's Good Intentions

"When Grandpa tells the story of Homer's dog Bongo. In order to save him from Mr. Burns, Abe sends him away to a farm but Homer can never visit or keep him again. Homer didn't understand and was furious at Abe, especially well into adulthood. Also Homer thought that Bongo would forget about him until Abe showed him a photo from years later of Bongo sleeping on Homer's old sweater, never forgetting about him. It made me cry, I know what it's like to have a dog be threatened with death after it protects you."

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#28 Maggie's First Word

"At the end when Homer puts Maggie to bed and tells her he hopes she never says a word because once kids start talking they only argue. After he leaves she says 'daddy'. Something about that moment always makes me tear up."

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#29 You Are Lisa Simpson

While Albert Brooks as Hank Scorpio and Glenn Close as Mona Simpson are in the running for “Greatest Simpsons Guest Star”, one must also make the case for Dustin Hoffman, who voiced Lisa’s substitute teacher, Mr. Bergstrom. When Ms. Hoover gets Lyme disease, Mr. Bergstrom takes over and instantly wins Lisa’s affections.

Mr. Bergstrom is a teacher who actually cares and one that Lisa is desperate to impress. Unfortunately, Ms. Hoover returns sooner than expected, leaving Lisa to race first to Mr. Bergstrom’s apartment and then to the train station where he is leaving for another job. In an effort to comfort her, he gives Lisa a note and explains: “Whenever you feel like your alone and there’s nobody you can rely on, this is all you need to know.”

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#30 Wholesome Moment

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#31 Seeing Mr. Burns Weep Over The Loss Of His Beloved Bobo

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#32 Bart’s Christmas Present

One of the all-around best episodes of The Simpsons — we’re talking the origins of Thrillhouse, Lee Carvallo’s Putting Challenge, and “Get ’em ma” — “Marge Be Not Proud” sees Bart denied the chance to purchase the ultra-violent video game Bonestorm. Encouraged by Jimbo and Nelson, Bart shoplifts the cartridge from the Try-N-Save. After being caught by a security guard, Bart is told never to return to the store.

Of course, Marge immediately takes the family to the Try-N-Save to get their Christmas photo taken, which leads to Bart ruining the photo and Homer and Marge learning about his crime. Marge decides she should give Bart more distance, in turn causing Bart to realize that he actually really misses her motherly gestures like singing him the “sleepy train” song.

In the episode’s climax, Homer and Marge chase down Bart when he comes home with a new bulge under his jacket. As it turns out, he’s gone back to the Try-N-Save once more to get a respectable photo taken, which is then affixed to the family portrait. That image of Bart’s photo in its own frame stuck atop the photo of the other Simpsons perfectly encapsulates the dysfunctional but loving nature of TV’s favorite family.

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