Plots
The plots of many episodes focus on the adventures of one particular family member, frequently Homer. However the plots have never been particularly predictable or constant and tend to be very character-driven. Recurring themes ("stock") in episodes include:
- Homer gets a new job (Simpson writers had Homer count 30 of them in a recent episode but the actual list is far longer) or attempts to make money in a get-rich-quick scheme.
- Marge attempts to escape the monotony of keeping house by finding employment or taking up a hobby.
- Homer and Marge break up, then get back together.
- Bart causes a large problem and attempts to fix it, cover it up, or ignore it entirely.
- Lisa embraces or advocates the merits of a particular political cause or group.
- The entire family goes on vacation in which Homer or Bart gets in some sort of trouble. These episodes are canonically introduced by Homer saying "The Simpsons are going to ---!" Although sometimes this is used as misdirection. (Because of these vacations the entire family has been to every continent on Earth with the exception of Antarctica, prompting Homer to exclaim that all he has to do now is "kill a penguin".)
- Grampa Simpson needs help sorting out issues from his past and calls upon the main Simpson family.
- Sideshow Bob attempts to kill Bart.
- The episode is a clip show.
- The episode is a Halloween special: see Treehouse of Horror
- The episode focuses on the problems of a secondary or tertiary character, such as Apu Nahasapeemapetilon or Krusty the Clown, which are usually solved with the help of a member of the Simpson family.