Did you spot all these Doctor Who references in The Simpsons?
Doctor Who is far more than a TV show, it has over the past 60 years become a cultural phenomenon across the globe which transcends the genre of science fiction and has crept into many areas of the creative world. From movies and television to literature and comic books, there are very few places that you can’t find some Whovian influences if you scratch beneath the surface. And so, therefore, it’s no great surprise that one of the greatest satirical animations of all time, The Simpsons, has played homage to Doctor Who throughout the years.
But did you spot all of these references hidden in Matt Groening’s brilliant series about the adventures of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie? Well, why not check these out while you wait for the 60th-anniversary specials starring David Tennant in November and Doctor Who season 14 starring Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson later this year?
And if you’ve seen all these, perhaps check out all the references to Doctor Who in Futurama, and the time Red Dwarf paid homage to the show.
Doctor Who references in The Simpsons
Sideshow Bob’s Last Gleaming
Season 7 episode 9
First broadcast in 1995, this episode sees an animated version of what looks like the Fourth Doctor turning up in the episode alongside some other famous names from television.
Mayored to the Mob
Season 10 episode 9
First screened in December 1998, this episode once again features the familiar Fourth Doctor-alike signing autographs next to a TARDIS at a fan convention.
Treehouse of Horror X
Season 11 episode 4
The traditional Halloween special from the animated show in 1999 featured the familiar form of the Doctor on this occasion sealed in plastic by Comic Book Guy , once again looking quite a lot like the Fourth Doctor.
Holidays of Future Passed
Season 23 episode 9
This 2011 glimpse at the future sees blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Dalek policemen patrolling the streets in England. Look at the bottom right of the picture below… can you see it?
Love is a Many-Splintered Thing
Season 24 episode 12
No sign of the Doctor himself in this episode of The Simpsons from 2013, but you do get treated to the sight of a quite bizarre musical scene featuring the TARDIS, so definitely worth looking up for the Whovians.
Diggs
Season 25 episode 12
Diggs is a 2014 episode of The Simpsons guest starring Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe. But look carefully at the cast on Diggs’ arm when he gets injured and you’ll spot a familiar spaceship name – yep, that says The TARDIS.
- Love Doctor Who? Get all the latest Doctor Who news and views from Screen OD
- Looking for some entertainment? Have you tried our general knowledge quiz questions and answers yet? Or browse all the Screen OD quizzes.
- Want to supercharge your streaming? Take a look at our guide to Netflix secret codes for TV and movie fans
- Love TV and movies? Try Screen OD on YouTube...
