The Simpsons‘ brought back one of their classic jokes for a fun modern remix. The long-running animated show has provided plenty of memorable gags over the years, with “The Yellow Lotus” referencing multiple jokes from past seasons. Nominally a parody of The White Lotus that uses the concept for optimal humor, “The Yellow Lotus” includes new takes on Homer backing into the hedge and gags about Mr. Burns’ vicious hounds.

The episode’s best call-back has to do with Sideshow Bob. Played by Kelsey Grammer (and not noticeably aging) since season 1, Bob has become one of The Simpsons‘ most memorable and enduring guest stars. A frequent foe of Bart and the rest of the family, Sideshow Bob returns in The Simpsons‘ White Lotus parody alongside a new spouse. This sets him up to repeat one of his most famous moments in the show, albeit in a fresh new way that also feels reminiscent of another classic Golden Age gag.

The Simpsons Season 36 Has A Great Update On Sideshow Bob’s Rake Gag

The Collapsible Rake, Explained

The Simpsons‘ second episode of season 36, “The Yellow Lotus,” includes a pretty clever update to Sideshow Bob’s rake gag. Now more or less synonymous with the character, the sight of Bob stepping on a rake and hitting himself in the face was one of the most iconic gags in season 5’s “Cape Fear.” This has been referenced and recreated several times since then, including in season 36. “The Yellow Lotus” brings Bob back as the husband of the wealthy Tasha, and reveals he’s made a small fortune off his rake design.

The collapsible rake is specifically designed so it is harder to step on it and bonk yourself on the head. It’s a clever design that has seemingly earned Bob wealth of his own. However, it still has its flaws, as Bob highlights when he tries to show off how it can’t reach your head by stepping on it. Instead, the collapsed rake handle is now the perfect height to smack someone right in the groin. It’s a big broad physical gag that works perfectly well, thanks to the fluid animation and nature of the physical comedy.

Why Sideshow Bob’s Rake Gag Is Still One Of The Simpsons’ Most Iconic Jokes

The Rake Gag Was Born Out Of Desperation

The rake gag remains one of the best gags in The Simpsons‘ potentially 37-season long run. Originally added to “Cape Feare” as a means of making sure the episode reached the minium length for broadcast, the rake gag saw an exhausted Sideshow Bob unwittingly step into a circle of rakes. Taking a few steps forward, he’d knock it up and hit himself in the face. Turning around to walk away while grumbling, Bob stepped on another rake, repeating the gag. This continued in the same way for an extended period, the sheer length of the joke serving as the true punch-line.

Sideshow Bob Episodes Of The Simpsons
Season

Krusty Gets Busted
1

Black Widower
3

Cape Feare
5

Sideshow Bob Roberts
6

Sideshow Bob’s Last Gleamin
7

Brother From Another Series
8

Day of the Jackanapes
12

The Great Louse Detective
14

The Italian Bob
17

Funeral for a Fiend
19

The Bob Next Door
21

The Man Who Grew Too Much
25

Treehouse of Horror XXVI
27

Gone Boy
29

Bobby, It’s Cold Outside
31

Treehouse of Horror XXXIV
35

The idea was to have a hilarious joke, repeat it so much that it stopped being funny, only for the repetition to circle back around and become even more humorous. Coming amid the show’s “Golden Age,” the rake gag stands the test of time thanks to the sheer commitment the show made to the bit. It’s a quietly absurd gag, while also giving the perpetually intellectual Sideshow Bob a bit of pure slapstick comedy directed at him. It’s since become a definitive joke of the series, and is frequently referenced by other Sideshow Bob episodes.

Sideshow Bob’s Season 36 Rake Gag Is A Reminder Of Another Classic The Simpsons Joke

The Latest Rake Joke Fuses The Gag With Another Golden Age Favorite

There’s actually another “Golden Age” episode gag that feels reminiscent of Bob’s latest rake-related mishap. Bob being hit in the groin recalls season 6’s “A Star is Burns,” which saw Jay Sherman from The Critic crossover into Springfield to help judge a film festival. One of that episode’s best gags came courtesy of Hans Moleman’s submission to the festival, a short film titled “Man Getting Hit By Football” that consisted entirely of Moleman taking a football to the crotch. Similar to Bob being struck by the miniature rake, it’s a moment of pure slapstick.

“Man Getting Hit By Football” becomes an unexpected finalist in the festival thanks to a perpetually amused Homer, and later goes on to inspire an Academy Award-winning adaptation starring George C. Scott. It’s such a simple silly gag, taken to an artistic extreme. Both the football and rake jokes highlight The Simpsons‘ long-standing balance of broad humor and clever scripting that has carried through decades of the show. The Simpsons‘ latest rake gag is a great little reflection of the approach to comedy that’s always made The Simpsons special.