Words by Richard “Treats” Dryden/Illustration by Knotti Chris
The West Indies—specifically Jamaica—and its language, music, and fashion have played a part in The Simpsons, the TV’s longest-running sitcom ever, since its inception 25 years ago. The show’s creator Matt Groening has a well-known appreciation for Jamaican culture, having started his career as a music journalist covering reggae. He even named one of the show’s most beloved reoccurring characters, Dr. Julius Hibbert, after Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals. Meanwhile, Groening’s other sitcom, Futurama, featured a Jamaican main character, Hermes (albeit one with a horribly deficient attempt at a yardie accent).
On the heels of the FXX channel’s recent marathon airing of all 522 Simpsons episodes, and with the show’s 26th season set to kick off Sept. 28, here’s a look back at some of the greatest Caribbean moments in The Simpsons‘ illustrious history.