What the heck happened to 'The Simpsons'?

For 34 years, Homer Simpson strangled his son Bart as a part of the show’s gag.

However, in the third episode this season, that changed when Homer and Marge paid their new neighbor a visit.

When the new neighbor noted how firm Homer’s handshake was, Homer replied, “See, Marge, strangling the boy paid off. Just kidding, I don’t do that any more. Times have changed.”

This isn’t the only change “The Simpsons” producers have made in recent years, including the recasting of certain characters that the woke mob took offense to.

Lauren Chen believes all the changes being made to the show have turned it into “a shadow of its former self.”

“Homer strangling Bart is just such an iconic part of the show,” Chen says, as most viewers understood it as just a joke. “It’s just one of the show’s many classic gags.”

Chen notes that the entire point of "The Simpsons" “was that it was supposed to be almost a caricature, a representation of all the unflattering aspects of family life that back in the day TV shows wouldn’t actually show.”

This includes things like Homer’s alcoholism.

“The joke instead is look at how flawed ‘The Simpsons’ are, especially contrasted with, at the time, the picture-perfect families that were on other TV shows.”

Times have changed, however, and now breaking the mold consists of actually showing happy families.

“Nowadays, if you want to actually think outside the box, you’d put a family that does happily love each other and get along on TV,” Chen says.

Want more from Lauren Chen?

To enjoy more of Lauren’s pro-liberty, pro-logic, and pro-market commentary on social and political issues, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.