Fans of The Simpsons may notice one big change in the show recently - and it's to do with Homer's relationship with his son Bart.
The family has been a mainstay of after-school viewing since the show began in December 1989, with kids and adults alike tuning in to see the latest antics of our favorite dysfunctional fictional family.
From Lisa and her sax, to Marge's grumble, there are some things that will never change... but one thing that has, is Homer habitually strangling Bart when he gets frustrated with his actions.
Viewers have become accustomed to seeing Homer exclaim: "Why you little!", before wrapping his hand around his 10-year-old son's neck and choking him until his eyes bulged out, but as times have changed, so has this part of the show.
The reason for the subtle change is explained in a new episode from season 35 of the show, titled 'McMansion & Wife'.
In this episode a new family arrives on Evergreen Terrace, and as Homer introduces himself to Thayer, the new character remarks about the Simpson's patriarch's strong handshake.
Homer responds: "See, Marge, strangling the boy paid off. Just kidding, I don't do that anymore. Times have changed."
It's not the first time Homer strangling Bart has been addressed in the series, however, as there was an episode titled 'Love Is A Many Strangled Thing' way back in season 22.
In it, Homer sees a therapist, Dr Zander, who tries to make him see why strangling his son is so wrong, with the episode synopsis explaining: "Dr Zander's friend, the towering basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, teaches Homer what it feels like 'to be young, small, and terrified' by strangling him mercilessly all the time, even going as far as letting his friends strangle Homer as well.
"Unfortunately, the therapy works too well and Homer can no longer strangle Bart, even when the boy misbehaves, because he is traumatized by the therapeutic session."
Homer's questionable parenting technique apparently came about because the show's creator, Matt Groening, wanted to showcase the dad's rage without spanking his children, and thought strangling Bart would be so unrealistic it would be funny.
The gag was overlooked for several years, but given how much attitudes have changed over the almost four decades that The Simpsons has aired, it was time to retire this particular gag, too.
Fans were pleased with the change, writing on Twitter: "I just found out that, after over 30 years, The Simpsons has finally retired their long-running gag of Homer strangling Bart. Took them long enough lmao."
Others added: "I knew my man Homer was gonna learn. He's a smart fella," and: "Took him 36 years but he finally learned."
One commented: "good, if he did that one more time i think BART might have become DEAD," while another added: "Yeah I watch every new episode and never realized until that joke."
