The "Super Bowl Ads" Becoming Cultural Events (Episode: "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment", 1991)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "Super Bowl Ads" Becoming Cultural Events (Episode: "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment", 1991)

• What happened: The episode features a subplot about how people go overboard with Super Bowl ads, satirizing the massive advertising frenzy that surrounds the event.
• Reality: By the 2000s, Super Bowl ads had become major cultural events in themselves, with advertisers spending millions on creative, viral ads, and the halftime show turning into a highly anticipated performance.