Do You Think 'The Simpsons' Regrets Last Night's Arnold Palmer Joke?

Matt Miller
Updated

From Esquire

There's something weird about The Simpsons that has always given the show writers a weird kind of cartoon clairvoyance. The show has predicted, among other things, Alan Rickman and David Bowie's deaths, Star Wars and Alvin and the Chipmunks sequels in theaters together, President Donald Trump, and the plot of The Hangover. And somehow months ago they wrote an episode that included a joke about Arnold Palmer that would coincidentally air on the very day of his death.

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During last night's episode, hours after Palmer died of heart problems in a Pittsburgh hospital at the age of 87, The Simpsons aired an episode in which Homer jokes he's going to fill water guns with iced tea and lemonade and "Arnold Palmer" Lenny. The joke says the late golfing-and beverage-legend's name four times within 30 seconds. It's not a joke at Palmer's expense-if anything, it's a nice homage to his legacy. But, it still seems a little inconveniently timed.

"v v sorry to learn of death of Arnold Palmer what a giant," Simpsons showrunner Al Jean tweeted last night. "Of course I wish I could [cut the joke] but it's too late. One if the all-time greats in any sport."

Watch a clip of the joke below:

[h/t: Entertainment Weekly]

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