The Simpsons’ Playful Take on the NFT Craze
The iconic show The Simpsons returned with its latest annual Halloween special, titled “Treehouse of Horror,” cleverly incorporating the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into its storyline. The episode takes a playful approach to critique the digital trend that has become a cultural phenomenon.
The Blockchain Quest
In this episode, Marge embarks on a thrilling quest through the blockchain to save Bart, who has been transformed into a living NFT by Homer. The first chapter of the episode, titled “Wild Barts Can’t Be Token,” cleverly references the NFTs and the hyped and overpriced market surrounding them.
“Remember how we were always saying we wish Bart was less fungible?” Homer says to Marge, highlighting Bart’s NFT worth of $1.5 million.
The show goes on to showcase various prominent NFTs, including Beeple’s creations and the Bored Ape Yacht Club, contrasting them with less recognized picture for proof collections (PFPs). This portrayal emphasizes the fluctuating worth and speculative nature within the NFT market.
The Simpsons and Cryptocurrency
This is not the first time The Simpsons has introduced viewers to concepts related to cryptocurrency and blockchain. In a 2020 episode titled “Frinkcoin,” featuring Jim Parsons, the show introduced the idea of cryptocurrency and distributed ledgers. The episode humorously sings, “Each day I’m closer, to being the cash of the future. Not in your wallet, I’m in your computer!”
Continuing with its trend of referencing current trends, the episode “The King of Nice” aired in October 2022 and made a playful nod to NFTs. Krusty, a character in the show, is forced to take unwanted gigs because he lost all his money in “NFTs” (in this case, Non-Funny TV shows).
The popularity and hype surrounding NFTs have even influenced the crypto market itself. The Homer Simpson meme coin (SIMPSON) saw an incredible surge of 30,000% within just 24 hours in July, and its price has been steadily rising throughout the year.
