Updated March 15, 2017 16:57:56

If you didn't catch it when it first aired in 1992, you've probably seen it on repeat a dozen times since.

You know the one: Bart and Lisa are unwittingly sent to a nightmarish summer camp known as "the krustiest place on Earth", and Homer and Marge have such a great time while they're away that Homer's hair starts growing back.

It's an iconic early episode in the canon of one of the most successful television series of all time. And tonight, 25 years later, the sequel to Kamp Krusty will air on Australian screens.

Yep, it seems The Simpsons is doing sequels now — and they've got over 600 episodes in the back catalogue to draw from.

You might have mixed feelings about that. There's the prospect of revisiting your favourite episodes (yes!) and the worry that any sequels would just taint the show's golden era (no!).

Well, you'll be relieved to know that Kamp Krustier has been written by the same man who wrote the original, David M Stern — and it's his first episode since 1999.

It got us thinking about which other golden-era episodes deserve sequels (or even prequels).

Episodes that need a sequel

Bart vs Australia (1995)

We'll start with the obvious one. Bart pretends to be from the "International Drainage Commission" and calls a random house in Australia to ask which way the water in the toilet drains.

The call is reverse-charged and the Australian family gets a bill for 900 dollarydoos. Hilarious.

Then, the US State Department sends the Simpsons to Australia to apologise and Bart is sentenced to a kick in the butt from a giant boot.

It's well time the show gave Australia another visit — perhaps Chris Lilley could do a few voices, or the Hemsworths could be roped in for a cameo.

"Disparaging the boot is a bootable offence. It's one of their proudest traditions" - US ambassador

Much Apu About Nothing (1996)

In this episode, Springfield votes overwhelming to have all illegal immigrants deported, and Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu is only able to stay because he passes a citizenship test (Groundskeeper Willie isn't so lucky).

You'd think a follow-up would be pretty topical given the political goings-on in America currently.

"Will someone please think of the children?" - Helen Lovejoy

You Only Move Twice (1996)

This is the one where the Simpsons move to Cypress Creek after Homer gets a job at Globex Corporation.

Not ringing any bells? Homer's boss at that company is one of the greatest characters of all time: criminal mastermind Hank Scorpio.

While Scorpio plots to conquer the east coast and takes down a secret agent named Mr Bont, Homer remains blissfully unaware... despite all of this happening right in front of his eyes.

Who wouldn't want to know what happened to Scorpio and the east coast following his successful takeover? And what of the Denver Broncos who are given to the Simpsons as a gift, how does that work out exactly?

"Don't do that. My butt is for sitting, not for kissing" - Hank Scorpio

Two Bad Neighbours (1996)

When former President George HW Bush moves into the house across from the Simpsons and spanks Bart for shredding his memoirs, Homer is outraged.

Their neighbourhood dispute escalates dramatically — first Homer sends bottle rockets through George's window, then he tries to release locusts into his home.

There's so many ways that this story could be expanded. Why not have the Obamas move across the road? (Or the Clintons or the younger Bushes?)

"Just happy to be here among good, average people with no particular hopes or dreams" - George HW Bush

Homer's Phobia (1997)

In this episode, Homer tries to sell a civil war antique to a dealer named John before finding out it's actually just an alcohol bottle shaped like a figurine.

Nevertheless, Homer takes a liking to John but fails to register that he's gay. When he does find out, he doesn't approve and fears that Bart too is gay.

John regains Homer's approval when he saves him from a reindeer by scaring it off with a Japanese Santa Claus robot. Homer then tells his son that he's free to live his life as he chooses.

This episode initially didn't get past the censors at Fox, but upon release it was recognised for its anti-homophobic message. It'd be interesting to see a sequel that addresses transphobia.

"Homer, I won your respect, and all I had to do was save your life. Now, if every gay man could just do the same, you'd be set" - John

Episodes that need a prequel

Bart to the Future (2000)

OK, we've actually only got one episode on this list. This one is set in a future in which Lisa has become president. But it's become famous more recently for its casual premonition that Donald Trump had been president in the meantime.

We need a prequel which fills the gaps... What did the rest of Trump's presidency look like? How did he change the world?

You never know, The Simpsons might just predict the future for a second time.

Topics: television, united-states

First posted March 15, 2017 15:25:47