So no quickly cobbled together Halloween trivia or the like for todays list, we come close to the end of ‘James Bond’ week and offer up 6 references to Bond from Simpsons episodes. There are countless choices that could be included, from entire episodes to coy one liners. Bond at its best demands a willing acceptance of formula, the Simpsons acknowledge this and spoof this, ripping on the conventions that are the hallmarks of the series.

6. The Secret War of Lisa Simpson

Bart is on firing range. He shoots five times. Four are direct hits, the fifth lands on the elementary school. His instructor says “you missed the last one” and Bart says “Did I?”. This is just like the scene in Moonraker where a hit-man is in a tree, and Bond shoots him, replying “Did I?” when told he missed the target he was supposed to hit.

5. Lisa’s Wedding

4. Homer Defined

When Homer stops the nuclear meltdown, the timer stops on 007, just like in Goldfinger.

3. Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie

Lisa sees a television advert for the upcoming Itchy and Scratchy Movie, calling Bart in from the kitchen, where Bart had been melting a plastic James Bond doll in the microwave, while gently stroking Snowball II and chuckling.

2. The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular

The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular was a clip show of “rare footage and deleted scenes” from previous episodes. Segments included a robotic Richard Simmons, an alternate ending to the Who Shot Mr. Burns episodes, and a deleted scene from the episode where Mr. Burns opens a casino in Springfield.

In this deleted scene, is a blackjack dealer at a table where Bond and a mix of Blofeld and Largo are playing cards. Standing behind them are Simpsons versions of Oddjob and Jaws. As Homer deals, the following dialogue takes place:

Bond: What’s this card? “Rules for Draw and Stud Poker”?

Blofeld: What a pity, Mr. Bond. [Odd Job and Jaws grab Bond and drag him out]

Bond: But…but it’s Homer’s fault! I didn’t lose. I never lose! Well, at least tell me the details of your plot for world domination.

1. You Only Move Twice

You Only Move Twice, which first aired on November 3, 1996, is the most famous of all Bond/Simpsons spoofs. In the episode, which is in part a spoof of You Only Live Twice, The Simpsons move to Cypress Creek when Homer accepts a job at the GLOBEX Corporation. However, what Homer doesn’t know is that GLOBEX is actually a front for for Hank Scorpio’s organization that is bent on world domination. 

A few days into his tenure at GLOBEX, Bond is at a vending machine while Scorpio has his nemesis, James Bont, strapped down to a deadly Goldfinger-esque laser table. Using a coin in his pocket, Bont splits the laser beam in four directions to free himself, fires a hidden gas cartridge from his suit jacket and begins to run away. However, after hearing Scorpio’s yell, Homer takes a break from purchasing snacks to tackle Bont, at which point the guards just shoot him. A few scenes later, when Homer goes to find Scorpio to submit his resignation, he finds Hank in the middle of a massive army fight between his goons and the army. The whole scene is taken straight out of the end of You Only Live Twice, though Bond does not play a part. Finally, as the end credits roll a woman sings a classic Bondian theme song about Scorpio. The tone of the episode is brilliant - the villains success, Homers non-chalant reactions to whats going on around him are all executed well.