Fox’s long-running hit animated seriesThe Simpsonsairs a new episode tonight, “Grampy Can Ya Hear Me,” featured an unusual shout-out to another animated series, Adult Swim’s beloved showRick & Morty. LongtimeSimpsonsproducer Al Jean sent out a screenshot from the episode that features young Maggie holding up a bottle of szechuan sauce, an homage to a recentRick and Mortyepisode about McDonald’s discontinued szechuan sauce. This series is just the latest to be referenced inThe Simpsons, with the Season 29 premierereferencing Game of Thronesthroughout the episode.
After debuting blurry screen grab on Twitter,The Simpsonsshowrunner Al Jean responded to a fan, confirming that the szechuan sauce bottle in the screengrab was, “a little shout-out” toRick and Morty. TheRick and MortySeason 3 premiere referenced theszechuan saucethat McDonald’s created as a limited-time promotion tied to the Disney animated movieMulan. This actually lead to McDonald’s caving to public demand, bringing back the sauce for just one day only on October 7, along with creating 1,000 limited-edition, hand numbered, screen-printed posters for all 10 sauces in our legendary lineup, including Szechuan Sauce. Here’s what McDonald’s had to say about the sauce before its return on October 7.
“But, let’s really talk tender…we know they’re even better with sauce. We’re introducing an all-new Signature Sauce to perfectly pair with them. Ready to celebrate? We’re giving away 1,000 limited-edition, hand numbered, screen-printed posters for all 10 sauces in our legendary lineup, including Szechuan Sauce. That’s right, collectible art, worthy of the pop-culture status fans have given their favorite sauces. In addition, after nearly 20 years (and perhaps a bit of time travel) we’re even doing the impossible…On Oct 7, together with the collectible sauce-themed posters, we’re also giving away a one-time only, limited-edition, run of Szechuan Sauce in select restaurants. And when we say limited, we mean really, really limited! Click below to find out which restaurants will be giving away* the posters, and the select few of those that will also have the Szechuan Sauce on Oct 7. So mark your calendars. It’s time to show your flavor. Your passion. Show…you’re Obsauced.”
Fox has alreadyrenewed The Simpsonsfor the current Season 29 and Season 30, which will ensure the series will become the longest-running series of all time, breakingGunsmoke’s record of 635 episodes. WhileThe Simpsonshad already brokenGunsmoke’s record of 20 seasons long ago,Gunsmoke’s seasons were much longer, which is why it has takenThe Simpsonsanother 10 seasons to break the 635 episode mark, with the 30th Season taking the total up to 669 episodes. It hasn’t been confirmed if that will in fact be the final season ofThe Simpsons, but with the show’s place in the record books already set in stone, it wouldn’t be surprising.
The Simpsonshave been going through some unique changes, with the seriesfiring longtime composer Alf Clausenafter a whopping 27 seasons. Still, the hit series remains the anchor of Fox’s strong Sunday night lineup after nearly three decades, although it will be interesting to see if we start hearing about the show’s endgame soon. Take a look at these tweets fromAl Jean’s Twitterabout thisRick and Mortyshout-out.
