Difference between revisions of "Planet of the Apes"

Latest revision as of 09:19, April 12, 2026

This article is about the real-world sci-fi film franchise. For the in-universe film, see Planet of the Apes (film).

For the musical, starring Troy McClure, see Stop the Planet of the Apes I Want to Get Off.

Planet of the Apes is a science fiction media franchise. It began with the 1963 novel by French author Pierre Boulle. In 1968, the novel was adapted into an American science fiction film starring Charlton Heston and Kim Hunter, which spawned four sequels, one in each year from 1970 to 1973. Some of the films were adapted into comic books and novels, and the 70s films also spawned two short-lived television series (one live-action, one animated) which appeared in 1974 and 1975.

A remake film directed by Tim Burton appeared in 2001, but didn't generate enough interest to give rise to any sequels. The franchise was rebooted in 2011 with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, with sequels appearing in 2014 and 2017. The Burton film and the 2010s series have spawned video games as well as novels and comics, both adaptions of the films and additional works that expand on the storyline of the movies.

The Planet of the Apes franchise has been referenced several times on The Simpsons, in episodes, special presentations, and comic books.

References to Planet of the Apes in The Simpsons[edit]

Episodes[edit]

Picture Season Episode number Episode name Reference 5 85 "Rosebud" At the end of the episode, Mr. Burns is shown in a futuristic setting where apes control the world and have enslaved human beings, among them clones of Homer. 96 "Deep Space Homer" During a NASA pre-mission press conference, Homer says he hopes they won't send him and Barney to "that dreaded Planet of the Apes". Then he realizes the plot twist of the movie and mimics Taylor's breakdown (portrayed by Charlton Heston) near the end, by falling to his knees and crying. 6 104 "Bart of Darkness" The title of the Itchy & Scratchy cartoon "Planet of the Aches" is a pun on Planet of the Apes. Also, in the title card image, Scratchy is costumed as a gorilla, riding on horseback and about to lasso Itchy, in a sight gag on a scene from early in the 1968 film where apes on horseback round up and capture humans. 110 "Bart's Girlfriend" The opening scene, where the kids are playing Cowboys and Indians and are interrupted by the parents capturing them and dragging them off to assorted family activities, is a parody of the scene from the 1968 film where apes on horseback round up and capture humans. (The 2001 film has a very similar scene, but the episode cannot be construed as a reference to it because the episode first aired in 1994.) 7 147 "A Fish Called Selma" Troy McClure stars in a musical based on Planet of the Apes called Stop the Planet of the Apes I Want to Get Off. 8 175 "In Marge We Trust" The Sunday after Reverend Lovejoy rescues Ned from the "Baboon County USA" exhibit at the Springfield Zoo, the sermon topic at the First Church of Springfield is "Conquest of the County of the Apes", a reference to Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, the fourth film of the 1970s series. 9 197 "Simpson Tide" Planet of the Donuts is a reference to Planet of the Apes. Roddy McDonut is a reference to actor Roddy McDowall who played Cornelius and Caesar. 11 239 "Saddlesore Galactica" During the Springfield Derby, the other jockeys gang up on Bart, and Duncan retaliates by attacking the jockeys. Announcer Trevor Denman notes the turn of events, saying, "In a bizarre twist, a horse is abusing a jockey!" Denman then asks, "Might this be the start of a terrifying Planet of the Horses?" 242 "Pygmoelian" Back in Moe's "acting days", Helen Morehouse booted him during his audition because he was too ugly. Morehouse wanted "Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island ugly, not Cornelius on The Planet of the Apes ugly." 12 265 "Simpson Safari" One of the pictures in Joan Bushwell's "Serious Research" book is a still from Planet of the Apes. 15 327 "The Ziff Who Came to Dinner" When Homer takes the kids to see The Re-Deadening at Springfield Googolplex Theatres, one of the other films being shown is Return to Ape Valley, a parody of Return to the Planet of the Apes. 330 "My Big Fat Geek Wedding" One of the attendees at the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con is dressed as a character from Planet of the Apes. 21 456 "Stealing First Base" The montage of famous kissing scenes, seen when Nikki McKenna performs CPR on Bart, includes a scene from Planet of the Apes in which Taylor and Zira kiss. 25 548 "Days of Future Future" In the future, one of the women's pictures in Bart's "Little Black eBook" is of Zira. 26 571 "The Kids Are All Fight" Bart says that the family's story is a tragedy, like Planet of the Apes. He then says that the real tragedy is that Hollywood keeps making more Planet of the Apes movies. 28 600 "Treehouse of Horror XXVII" The couch gag, an edited clip from Planet of the Couches, is a parody of Planet of the Apes. 29 620 "Springfield Splendor" Restroom of the Apes is a reference to Planet of the Apes. Also, several people are dressed as characters. 30 654 "101 Mitigations" At the Comic Con, several people are dressed as characters from Planet of the Apes. 31 666 "Treehouse of Horror XXX" While in Mr. Teeny's body, Homer roots for the apes in Planet of the Apes. 667 "Gorillas on the Mast" One of the gorilla "sanctuaries" mentions making a "Planet of the Apes". 682 "Warrin' Priests: Part Two" Homer said that he went to a Planet of the Apes marathon, including the Tim Burton one. 32 691 "Three Dreams Denied" Cosplayers are seen dressed as apes.

Specials[edit]

Picture Name Reference Planet of the Couches The couch gag is a parody of Planet of the Apes.

Comics[edit]

Picture Comic issue Story name Reference Simpsons Comics Simpsons Comics #41 Bart Simpson and the Krusty Brand Fun Factory Abraham Simpson is attacked by a group of cyborg monkeys. He says they don't scare him, and "If Chuck Heston can whip your butts, so can I!", referencing Charlton Heston's having played Taylor the astronaut in the 1970s movie series. Simpsons Comics #54 Tanks for Nothing When Abe is offered his choice of items in a government warehouse, he looks at a prototype time machine. A bedraggled and disheveled version of Abe appears inside the machine and says, "Trust me, you don't want to try this machine!" Just after that, a gorilla wearing a uniform and carrying a whip appears in the machine. The gorilla grabs the alternate Abe by his shirt and says, "Come along slave!" The gorilla and the alternate Abe then vanish inside the time machine. Simpsons Comics #73 Day of the Nerd When Cornelius Morgan's collection is destroyed, he screams "You blew it up! You maniacs! Damn you! Damn you all to hell!". Simpsons Comics #137 The Last Fat Man Comic Book Guy mentions Taylor in Planet of the Apes and Neville in I Am Legend (specifying the novel only, not the film), when he says that he refused to see the apocalyptic warning signs. The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror #3 The Immigration of the Body Snatchers When Springfield is invaded by multiple alien species, it is revealed that apes have also inherited the Earth. An ape then warns everyone that "To Serve Man" is a cookbook (a reference to The Twilight Zone). The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror #21 The Left Behinders! When Professor Frink increases the intelligence of apes, they revolt and enslave Springfield. The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Hoodoo Voodoo Brouhaha Planet of the Apus The film advert is a reference to Planet of the Apes. Comic Book Guy's Best Costumes Ever - Part 2 Comic Book Guy dressed up as Dr. Zaius at Ape-Con 2002. Bart Simpson Bart Simpson #1 Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind When Lisa is playing with her dolls, she finds that Bart has pranked Malibu Stacy by switching her head for a monkey's head and exclaims in dismay, "A Planet of the Apes head on Malibu Stacy?" Bart Simpson #40 Easy Writer Someone is seen dressed as an ape. Simpsons Comics One-Shot Wonders Chief Wiggum's Felonious Funnies #1 Future Cop! In his dream of being a cop in the future, Chief Wiggum is partnered with an ape named Officer Cornelius, a reference to Doctor Cornelius from the 1970s film series. Wiggum later disintegrates Cornelius because "He joined the rebel apes and tried to overthrow humanity."

Video games[edit]

Picture Game Reference The Simpsons: Tapped Out During the Terwilligers content update, when Lisa sets the mutant vegetables free, Milhouse says, "It's the Dawn of the Planet of the Grapes", a reference to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the second film in the 2010s series.

Books[edit]

Picture Book Reference Bartman: The Hero's Handbook The Super Apes' Guide to Total Global Takeover & Destruction of Mankind features Hank Scorpio looking at a buried Statue of Liberty.

Twitter[edit]

Common Cast and Crew[edit]

Cast[edit]

Picture Name Role in Planet of the Apes Role on The Simpsons Brian Cox Played John Landon in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Voiced Costas Becker in the two-part episode "A Serious Flanders". Woody Harrelson Played Colonel J. Wesley McCullough in War for the Planet of the Apes. Voiced Woody Boyd, his character from Cheers, in "Fear of Flying". John Lithgow Played Charles Rodman in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Voiced himself in "I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say D'oh". Andy Serkis Voice of Caesar in the reboot series. Voiced Cleanie in "Dude, Where's My Ranch?", and The Illustrated Man and Siegfried Blaze in "Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes".

Crew[edit]

Picture Name Role in Planet of the Apes Role on The Simpsons Danny Elfman Composed the music for the 2001 film. Composed the Simpsons theme song. Michael Giacchino Composed the music for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes. Composed additional music for the Medal of Homer level for The Simpsons Game and composed the song "World's Worst Internet Troll" for the season 32 episode "Do PizzaBots Dream of Electric Guitars?".

External links[edit]

• Apes Take Over FOX Animation at YouTube
• Planet of the Apes franchise at Wikipedia