Springfield Googolplex: The Movie Podcast for Fans of The Simpsons

Hey, that gum you like is finally back in style. That’s right! We’re kicking off another season of the Springfield Googolplex with the thrilling conclusion of “Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two” (S7E1) and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). Plus, we have a uniquely qualified guest to guide us through the Venn diagram of The Simpsons and Twin Peaks, the multitalented musician, writer and podcaster Allie Goertz! Also in this episode:• Is Fire Walk with Me the ultimate test of how expectations shape the movie experience?• Which Springfieldians would we cast as the various denizens of Twin Peaks?• Can we crack the symbolism of Twin Peaks, or does it even matter?• Our secret favorite movies that we always to justify have to peoplePlus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingNext time, Adam and Nate will catch up with Martin Scorsese’s After Hours (1985) on its 40th anniversary, alongside its parody in “Bart Sells His Soul” (S7E4).Featuring “The Becoming“ by Allie Goertz from her latest album, Peeled Back. For more of Allie’s work, check out the complete runs of her two podcasts, Round Springfield and Fire Talk With Me.For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.

In this bonus minisode, Nate and Adam give their bite-sized reviews of the recently released The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and how it stacks up against Superman. Our latest special summer episode covered the scandalous story of Roger Corman’s unreleased The Fantastic Four (1994), alongside Stan Lee’s guest star appearance in The Simpsons episode “I Am Furious (Yellow).” So with that in mind we ask, did the MCU break it or make it better?Lobby Chats are short bonus mini-episodes where Adam and Nate share their thoughts on new releases, what they’re watching besides movies parodied on The Simpsons, and more.For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network. 

With The Fantastic Four: First Steps in theaters this week, Nate and Adam felt inspired to cover the latest MCU blockbuster. But in the absence of a press pass, we decided to watch Roger Corman’s unreleased The Fantastic Four (1994) instead! We also revisit “I Am Furious (Yellow)” (S13E18), the most Marvel-icious episode of the classic era of The Simpsons.Also in this episode:• The behind-the-scenes Hollywood shenanigans that kept this film from seeing the light of day • Is Stan Lee one of the best guest stars ever on The Simpsons?• Roger Corman’s surprising influence on The Simpsons movie references• An ode to the golden era of internet cartoonsPlus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingWe will return with regular biweekly episodes in September. Until then, keep an eye out for more special one-off episodes and new articles on our blog.For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.

With the 36th season of The Simpsons recently wrapping up, we invited the current showrunner Matt Selman to sit down with us and talk all about the most recent season, its many movie parodies, his own relationship with the movies, and more. We even got a sneak preview of a few upcoming episodes of season 37!Also in this episode:• Why movie parodies on The Simpsons these days are longer, more elaborate, and more niche than ever• Is prestige TV displacing cinema as the parody of choice?• The most Simpsons-y part of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning• A lightning round about possible movie references in season 36 Plus, check out our blog for instructions on how to run a movie box office draft like The Simpsons writers roomWe will return with regular biweekly episodes in September. Until then, keep an eye out for more special one-off episodes and new articles on our blog.Watch season 36 of The Simpsons on Hulu and Disney+, including a new collection page and non-stop stream on Disney+.For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.

In our season finale, Adam and Nate celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of The Simpsons’ most famous season finales, “Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part One” (S6E25). To complement Mr. Burns’s fiendish scheme to block out the sun, we paired it with Goldfinger (1964), the James Bond movie that invented much of the formula that every later movie in the series either imitates or plays against.Also in this episode:• The brassy music of John Barry and Shirley Bassey that became synonymous with espionage and gadgetry• What set pieces hold up best, and why is the correct answer the industrial laser scene?•The imperceptible craft that pulls together the behind-the-scenes patchwork of this movie• Can James Bond survive his latest encounter with an ambitious bald billionaire?• Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further reading.Springfield Googolplex will return in September 2025 with the thrilling conclusion to “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” (S7E1), alongside a mystery movie pairing. In the meantime, we will be taking a break to produce our next season, but keep an eye out for a few very special summer episodes.For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.

What more can be said about Jaws (1975)? For the 50th anniversary of the original summer blockbuster, we invited filmmaker and podcaster Devan Scott to help us unpack how it quietly became one of the most referenced movies in the classic years of The Simpsons.Also in this episode:• The many parodies of Quint and his iconic introduction, including our Simpsons double feature, “The Joy of Sect” (S9E13)• A deep dive on the dolly zoom, from Hitchcock to Spielberg to The Simpsons• How Amity provides a template for the small-town politics of Springfield• Why does The Simpsons leave the climax of this movie untouched by parodies?• Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingNext time, for our season finale, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the most memorable Simpsons finales of all time, “Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part One” (S6E25) and its parody of Goldfinger (1964).For more of Devan Scott’s film content, check out the complete podcast How Would Lubitsch Do It? and his video essays on YouTube, or follow him on Bluesky, Letterboxd, and Instagram. Plus, check out Arrow Video’s new definitive 4K UHD release of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966), which Devan consulted on as part of a “weird Leone amateur brain trust.” (Nate has already pre-ordered.)For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.

Why does “Bart Gets Hit by a Car” (S2E10) show the episode title on screen at the beginning, unlike nearly every other episode of The Simpsons? We think we found an answer in The Fortune Cookie (1966), the very first pairing of longtime comedy duo Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. They’re the original odd couple! This forgotten movie provided the plot for this early episode of The Simpsons, and possibly much more.Also in this episode:• A classic example of “homage, French for theft”• How this movie may have inspired the origins of Lionel Hutz and Dr. Nick Riviera• When does Walter Matthau sound most like season 1 Homer in this movie?• Adam and Nate unwisely try to rewrite Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond, two masters of comedy writingPlus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingNext time, filmmaker and podcaster Devan Scott returns to discuss Jaws (1975) on its 50th anniversary, alongside its culty parody in “The Joy of Sect” (S9E13).For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.

Sean Baker’s movie had heart, but Football in the Groin had a football in the groin. Adam and Nate review the 97th Academy Awards, and compare their top five movies of 2024.Also in this episode:• The biggest surprises, snubs, and satisfying wins of the night• Does former Simpsons writer Conan O’Brien work as host of the Oscars?• A round-up of the night’s best Simpsons memes• A trivia game about the most reference Best Picture-winners on The Simpsons, fresh from the Simpsons Movie Reference Database Plus, check out our show notes for our top five lists, trivia answers, and more bonus contentNext time, we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming with The Fortune Cookie (1966), a Billy Wilder joint that had its plot stolen for The Simpsons episode “Bart Gets Hit By a Car” (S2E10).For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.

When Jay Sherman showed up as a guest judge for the Springfield Film Festival, it created the perfect platform for one of the most movie parody-packed episodes of The Simpsons ever. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of “A Star Is Burns” (S6E18), Adam and Nate explore an equally epic movie—Ben-Hur (1959)—as well as The Critic, an even more movie-saturated series developed by several Simpsons alumni.Also in this episode:• Is this movie actually as Christian as it seems, or is there very little meat in this gym mat?• Which actor is more Troy McClure-ish, Charlton Heston or Stephen Boyd?• Does the chariot race that launched a thousand homages hold up today?• Are the lepers in Ben-Hur as scary as Maude Flanders thinks?Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingNext time, Nate and Adam look back on our favorite movies of the year and recap the surprises, snubs, and the Simpsons-related host of the 97th Academy Awards. For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.

The year 1999 was a big one for film. Star Wars returned to the big screen, The Matrix changed action movies forever, and notorious producer Jon Peters finally got his giant spider in a movie.In our first episode of 2025, Nate and Adam revisit Peters’ and Barry Sonnenfeld’s notorious flop Wild Wild West (1999) and its eight-legged parody in “The Sweetest Apu” (S13E19). Is this movie as bad as you remember, or has Hollywood lowered our standards to meet it halfway? Let’s find out.Also in this episode:• One of the greatest Simpsons episodes of season 13• Special effects and production design that have aged like fine wine• Sexual politics that have aged like milk• Is this the height of the ‘90s trend of end-credits raps that summarize the plot?Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingNext time, Adam and Nate revisit the Simpsons-Critic crossover “A Star Is Burns” (S6E18) on its 30th anniversary and Mr. Burns’s rip-off of Ben-Hur (1959).For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network. 

For our annual Non-Denominational Holiday Fun Fest this year, we unwrap “Grift of the Magi” (S11E9)—the Simpsons episode that gave us the name of this special—and its climactic spoof of James Cameron’s The Terminator (1984). Podcaster and prolific Letterboxd reviewer Matt Lynch joins us to break down the greatest movie ever made about a son sending his father back in time to have sex with his mother. (Oh yeah, and save the world in the process.)Also in this episode:• The delicious stone soup of Cameron’s budget filmmaking and special effects• Is this a slasher movie? Does it simply borrow slasher tropes? Did those tropes exist in 1984?• How James Cameron makes corniness as well as Frank Capra• Why ‘90s kids saw T2: Judgment Day first, and why we need to break the cycle• Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingSpringfield Googolplex is taking a break for the holidays, but we will be back on February 18, 2025, with a new batch of episodes. In the meantime,  have a merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, a cwazy Kwanzaa, a tip top Tet, and a solemn and dignified Ramadan.For more of Matt Lynch, check out his popular Letterboxd profile, his thriller movie podcast The Suspense Is Killing Us, Scarecrow Video’s YouTube channel VIVA! Physical Media, or the massive library of Scarecrow Video itself and its awesome rent-by-mail program.For more Simpsons movie parody content, check out SpringfieldGoogolplex.com, or follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.

Remember that time when Homer became Mr. Burns’ prank monkey? Adam and Nate watch The Magic Christian (1969), an adaptation of Terry Southern’s satirical novel that inspired The Simpsons episode “Homer vs. Dignity” (S12E5). Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr punking rich Brits to prove that everyone has their price—how could you go wrong? Well, let us tell you.Also in this episode:• Terry Southern’s influence on The Simpsons, Stanley Kubrick, The Beatles and beyond• Is Peter Sellers’ talent as big as his ego? • The undeniable and underutilized magnetism of Ringo Starr• How this movie became a pop culture vortex in the careers of The Beatles, Monty Python, Yul Brynner, and Roman Polanski• Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingWe’ll be taking a brief hiatus, but for our Non-Denominational Holiday Fun Fest on December 17th, we’ll be back to revisit The Terminator (1984) and “Grift of the Magi” (S11E9) with “the villain of Letterboxd” Matt Lynch.Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network. Follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Letterboxd.

On our election day special in America, Nate and Adam invited filmmaker and podcaster Devan Scott (How Would Lubitsch Do It?) to dissect the painfully relevant political thriller All the President’s Men (1976) and its Simpsons send-up in “Sideshow Bob Roberts” (S6E5). Join us as we try to laugh through the nausea and exorcize the ghosts of elections past!Also in this episode:• The Simpsons’ surprisingly timeless satire of populism and corruption in American politics• Why they call cinematographer Gordon Willis the “Prince of Darkness” and why they shouldn’t• The delightful chemistry and realism of Robert Redford’s Woodward and Dustin Hoffman’s Bernstein• Is it a bad sign that a movie about a real-life government conspiracy orchestrated by one of the most corrupt presidents in American history makes us feel nostalgic about simpler times?• Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingNext time, Adam and Nate explore the film adaptation of Terry Southern’s cult classic novel, The Magic Christian (1969) and Homer and Mr. Burns’s reenactment in “Homer vs. Dignity” (S12E5). Peter Sellers. Ringo Starr. Elaborate practical jokes. Pow.For more of Devan Scott’s film content, check out the complete podcast How Would Lubitsch Do It? and his video essays on YouTube, or follow him on Twitter, Letterboxd, and Instagram.Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network. Follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Letterboxd.

Film critic and horror aficionado Dede Crimmins (That Shelf, Rue Morgue) is back to help Adam introduce Nate to Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) and its Simpsons parody in “Treehouse of Horror IV” (S5E5). Will they gush over Francis Ford Coppola’s bloody visual feast, or will his overly loyal adaptation leave them cold?Also in this episode:• The origin story of this film from Coppola’s time as a drama camp counselor• Can the scenery chewing of Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins allow us to forgive Keanu Reeves’ flat performance?• Coppola and his magician of a son Roman show how style over substance isn’t always a bad thing• Are movies that call for Tom Waits (or his lookalikes) a sub-genre?Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further reading.Next time, filmmaker and podcaster Devan Scott joins the podcast to discussAll the President’s Men and “Sideshow Bob Roberts” (S6E5) just in time for the scariest day of all—election day in America.For more of Dede Crimmins’ film reviews, check out her profile on Muck Rack or follow her on Twitter/X at @dedecrim.And a special thanks to Bill Watterson (not that Bill Watterson) for the updated typography in our album art this week!Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network. Follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Letterboxd.

Submitted for your approval, that twilighty movie about that zone. Film critic and podcaster Matthew Simpson joins Nate and Adam to unpack Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983), a cursed compilation of episode remakes from Rod Serling’s pioneering TV series directed by Stephen Spielberg, Joe Dante, George Miller, and Simpsons shudder John Landis. We also revisit The Simpsons’ own adaptations of two of the same Twilight Zone episodes in "Treehouse of Horror II" (S3E7) and "Treehouse of Horror IV" (S5E5).Also in this episode:• Matthew regails us with his quest to watch and rank every “Treehouse of Horror” segment• An ode to the horror anthology format, from Eerie Tales (1919) to Black Mirror (2011)• Nancy Cartwright gets sucked into a cartoon on TV for all eternity (oh, and that happens in the movie, too)• The on-set tragedy that led to new Hollywood safety standards and overshadows this movie’s legacy today• Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingNext time, returning guest Dede Crimmins joins the podcast as we delve even deeper into “Treehouse of Horror IV” (S5E5) and its parody of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). God bless Bonerland.For more of Matthew Simpson’s film reviews and journalism check out Stretched.ca or catch him every week on The Awesome Friday Podcast.Follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.

Adam and Nate dig into the backstory of The Simpsons character Gil Gunderson and his debut in “Realty Bites” (S9E9) by watching Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) for the first time. Does this real estate-based whodunnit live up to its reputation as one of the best movies of the 1990s? Also in this episode:• A superhero team-up of a cast led by the incomparable Jack Lemmon, one-time Simpsons guest star in “The Twisted World of Marge Simpson” (S8E11)• Is this Al Pacino’s last performance as a real human being? (Hooah!)• David Mamet’s snappy dialogue and brass balls• The Neo-Noir stylings of director James Foley, from Madonna music videos to Fear (1996) to Fifty Shades Darker (2017)• Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingNext time, as we enter into spooky season, Matthew Simpson joins the podcast to discuss the completely cursed Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) and its parodies in “Treehouse of Horror II” (S3E7) and “Treehouse of Horror IV” (S5E5). The frogurt is also cursed.Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network. Follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Letterboxd.

Bust out your telephoto lens, because this week we take a hard look at “Bart of Darkness” (S6E1) and Rear Window (1954) on its 70th anniversary. Nate and Adam are joined by That Shelf Managing Editor and Jeopardy champ Emma Badame to reminisce about baby’s first Alfred Hitchcock movie and the episode of The Simpsons that convinced us to do this podcast.Also in this episode:• The mystery references of this episode’s Hitchcockian climax• The insanely detailed set and sound design that take this movie from a “bottle episode” to a cinematic classic• Nate’s own Rear Window story and the ethics of neighborliness• Your epidermis is showing• Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingAfter a short break, we’ll be back on September 24, 2024, with Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) and a retrospective on Springfield’s favorite desperate salesman Ol’ Gil, starting with “Realty Bites” (S9E9).Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.Follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Letterboxd.

Former Simpsons writer and showrunner Bill Oakley (now founder of the Steamed Hams Society) joins Adam and Nate as they continue their double feature inspired by “22 Short Films About Springfield” (S7E21) with a rewatch of Pulp Fiction (1994) on its 30th anniversary.Also in this episode:• Bill discusses his Brett Kavanaugh-like taste in movies, including Pulp Fiction and Cold Turkey (1971), the process of piecing together “22 Short Films about Springfield,” and the shared pop culture DNA of The Simpsons and Quentin Tarantino• Bill also provides the behind-the-scenes story of what killed the Simpsons spinoff “Springfield”• When does a mixed-up timeline work on film, and when is it just a gimmick?• Quentin Tarantino’s homage (French for “theft”) of one of his favorite directors Sergio Leone• Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingNext time, That Shelf Managing Editor Emma Badame joins the podcast to revisit Alfred Hithcock’s Rear Window (1954) on its 70th anniversary, and its parody in “Bart of Darkness” (S6E1).“The Simpsons” Surf-Rock style theme performed by The Supersonicos.Follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Letterboxd.

This episode, Adam and Nate will definitely hit their CanCon quota as they review Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993), the namesake of perhaps their favorite Simpsons episode, “22 Short Films about Springfield” (S7E21). This unconventional biopic about eccentric pianist Glenn Gould achieved escape velocity to find its way beyond the Canadian film world and into American media, from Siskel & Ebert to The Simpsons.Also in this episode:• A statistical analysis of title parodies on The Simpsons (where some of the spiciest movie references live!)• How this movie deconstructs the biopic genre through a series of mixed-media shorts • Our most Canadian episode yet, featuring Heritage Minutes, the National Film Board, an appreciation of Colm Feore, and the Genies!• Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further readingNext time, former Simpsons and showrunner Bill Oakley joins Adam and Nate as they continue their celebration of “22 Short Films about Springfield” (S7E21) and its parody of Pulp Fiction (1994).Follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Letterboxd.

Adam and Nate are joined once again by current Simpsons writer and producer Michael Price to share one of his favorite movies of all time, Peter Bogdanovich’s What's Up, Doc? (1972). We unpack his top moments from the movie, its parody in “Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy” (S6E10), and how its timeless slapstick and farce has influenced The Simpsons at large.Also in this episode:• Mike Price talks about directing Bogdanovich on The Simpsons, possible movie references in season 36, the first episode of The Simpsons he ever watched, and more• The Bugs Bunny-like magnetism of Barbra Streisand• One of cinema’s best—and funniest—car chases of all time • Six degrees of Peter Bogdanovich: We’re wowed by his wildly connected careerPlus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, extra credit, and further readingNext time, Adam and Nate begin another double feature on a GOAT of a Simpsons episode “22 Short Films about Springfield” (S7E21) by deconstructing its namesake, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993).Follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Letterboxd.