The Simpsons Season Premiere Coincidentally Includes Arnold Palmer Joke
Images via FoxSomething strange happened on The Simpsons last night. During the show’s season 28 premiere, it had a moment of clairvoyance that feels more than a little eerie in retrospect. The moment came when the show told a joke about Arnold Palmer that was awkwardly timed, to say the least.
The famed golfer died on Sunday at the age of 87 in Pittsburgh due to heart problems, and The Simpsons aired its episode (produced months earlier) that very evening. The joke did not come at the late golfer’s expense—it was actually a reference to the iced tea and lemonade drink that bears his name. Homer was planning to “Arnold Palmer” Lenny, you see.
The show managed to drop Palmer’s name four times in a 30 second period, which is amazing in its timing if nothing else. In response to the poor timing of the joke, showrunner Al Jean tweeted, “v v sorry to learn of death of Arnold Palmer what a giant.” Jean also mentioned that he would have cut the joke if he had had the time to do so.