Original artwork, not a still
South Park, "Simpsons Already Did It" (2002)
Simpsons did it!
— South Park ‧ 1997
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It began as the writers' own exasperation and became the standard answer to any claim of originality: almost any gag, plot or situation, the joke goes, was somewhere on The Simpsons first. The episode is itself a polite concession, with Butters's breakdown and the Sea People's ending suggesting that everyone borrows, and the Simpsons team answered in kind. Fans now use the phrase for any idea that feels well-worn.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for South ParkShow the scene
In "The Simpsons Already Did It" (South Park, Season 6, aired 26 June 2002), Butters, in his evil alter ego Professor Chaos, keeps dreaming up schemes to wreak havoc on the town. Each time, his assistant Dougie points out that The Simpsons has already done it: blocking out the sun, beheading the town statue and more. Butters finally tries watching every episode to find an original plot, only to see an advert announcing that Bart is about to do the same thing that night. He has a breakdown and starts to see South Park drawn in Simpsons style.
Sources (2)
- South Park Archives: The Simpsons Already Did It (episode synopsis)Plot, Professor Chaos storylineReference checked
- Wikipedia: Simpsons Already Did ItProduction sectionReference checked
Context reviewed
