The Simpsons began in 1989 – but one scene has just changed everything (Picture: 20th Century Fox)
The Simpsons bosses just caused serious confusion over when Maggie was born in the newest episode, thanks largely to Jake from State Farm.
The hit animated show first hit our screens in December, 1989, with the 35-year anniversary of the pilot fast approaching.
Although Homer, Marge and co never seem to actually age in the long-running series, this should put their youngest child at around 36, as she was a year old when it began.
However, the creators left us more confused than ever thanks to the final scene in the latest season 36 instalment, Women in Shorts, as they appeared to make light of the characters’ ever-changing ages.
The episode featured a string of short films focusing on the women in Springfield, shining the spotlight on some of the residents we often forget.
Shortly before the credits rolled, they gave us a glimpse at Maggie’s ‘origin story’ thanks to a booming voiceover, who announced: ‘As a beginning, witness the rise of a legend.’
The family have remained the same age since the pilot episode (Picture: 20th Century Fox)
As a message flashed up, showing Marge and Homer in front of the TV exactly ‘one year, nine months ago’, the homemaker turned to her husband, informing him: ‘You know that Jake from State Farm kind of does it for me.’
Sensing her tone, he suggested: ‘Want to go upstairs?’
Although it was a throwaway scene, Jake from State Farm made his debut in those legendary TV adverts in 2011, meaning that Maggie couldn’t have been conceived before then.
While the commercial for the insurance company first aired in 2011, Kevin Mimm replaced Jake Stone as the star in 2020 and has become a household name in the US thanks to his efforts.
It was revealed that Maggie was conceived after Marge watched a State Farm advert (Picture: 20th Century Fox)
Jake from State Farm is officially in the Simpsons universe (Picture: Getty)
This puts Maggie’s conception at after 2011, which throws every timeline for the family way off, considering she was already born when the series debuted decades ago, before State Farm had ever even thought of their concept for Jake from State Farm.
Showrunner Matt Selman previously made headlines when he confirmed that they had to replace a very X-rated line in the recent Treehouse of Horror XXXV episode, concerning Homer, Marge and their bedroom antics.
The eagerly-anticipated Halloween special of season 36 aired at the beginning of this month and parodied Venom – as Homer went up against a pair of evil denim jeans.
What does that mean for the ages of everyone else…? (Picture: 20th Century Fox)
Unfortunately, Matt revealed that one particular quip had to be replaced, telling Metro and other press: ‘In this Denim episode, Homer is wearing the pants. The pants don’t want to leave Marge but Homer wants to hook up with Marge.
‘We cut to them in bed satisfied – the original line was, “That was the best dry humping of my life”. … But then we couldn’t say “dry humping,” but then sometimes the replacement is equally funny.
‘Marge [instead] goes, “That was the best outer course of my life.” That’s funnier, right?
One racy Homer and Marge joke had to be re-written (Picture: 20th Century Fox)
‘I feel like other shows actually can be edgy and dirty and weird so much better than we can.
‘Like Family Guy, or South Park, or Rick and Morty – we’re not going to out them them.
‘For me, it’s like, let’s do what we do … let’s just do emotional, observant, humanity based comedy, and satire.
‘Stuff that really made the show exciting in the beginning – and not try to out Family Guy Family Guy, because you’re never going to do it.’
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