You know you made a good TV show when 552 episodes in, people are still watching with as much fervor (and fandom) as before. But with The Simpsons officially 25 years playing on television (the pilot episode aired on December 1989) the marathon comes as no shock on being what the Washington Post notes as the longest-running marathon in TV ever to be made: 12 days and 12 nights of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, and the shenanigans that the yellow-skinned family always seem to find themselves in.
But how will you survive 12 days and nights watching the same show over and over again?
The Simpsons writers gave viewers tips, and Entertainment Weekly published it on their website. Here is EW's "The Simpsons Marathon Survival Guide":
15. After every episode, make sure to thank Jebus.
14. Eat some donuts, smoke some Tomacco, and drink a flaming Moe.
13. Practice saying "this is when the show started going downhill," starting midway through the first episode.
12. DRINKING GAME: Drink a beer every time Homer drinks a beer.
11. Stretch for at least 20 minutes before doing the Bartman.
10. Every time Homer and Marge "snuggle," think how nice it would be if you had any kind of human relationship.
9. Every time Homer and Marge fight, be thankful you don't have any kind of human relationship.
8. WASHINGTON AND COLORADO RESIDENTS ONLY: During Episode 420, you know what to do.
7. Take a quick break during "Deep Space Homer" to welcome our new insect overlords.
6. Remember: you can sing along to the Stonecutters song, but you'll never understand why Steve Guttenberg was a star
5. Every time Maggie does something cute, think about how you could be spending time with your own children instead of watching the Simpsons marathon.
4. When Marge takes on something-whether it's the monorail or cartoon violence-don't side against her. You'll be sorry.
3. If you get depressed midway through the marathon, remember: "You are Lisa Simpson." (Lisa Simpson only.)
2. Keep your TV room stocked with alcohol, the cause of (and solution to) all of life's problems.
1. Follow Homer's lead and steal cable-you'll get the whole marathon for free!
Who knows, keeping these tips in mind may make you last longer than the brave souls who watched the show for more than 86 hours straight for the FXX contest a while back. (Check out their post-marathon interview here).
So are you ready to be the ultimate couch potato for 12 days and nights of our favorite Springfield family?
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