When the TV breaks, Marge and Homer entertain the kids with the story of how they first met.
Flashback structure yields 69 jokes in 22 minutes, but nostalgic charm outweighs comedic punch.
Directed by David Silverman · Written by Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Sam Simon
WAR
4.1
Wins Above Replacement
“The Way We Was” ranks #220 of 226 The Simpsons episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 69.9 — Mixed. The episode packs 69 scored jokes at 4.0 per minute, averaging 6.2 on craft and 6.0 on impact, with Young Homer landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Oh, son, don't overreach! Go for the dented car, the dead-end job, the less attractive girl!
Fifty-five? That's ridiculous! Sure, it'll save a few lives, but millions will be late!
-What? -Another day of detention! -Let's get together. -Two days! -What's your name? -Homer. -Three days! -J. Simpson. -Five! -It was worth it! Six days!
Who needs that? I'm never going to England. Let's smoke.
Usually when I have a thought, there's others. Something says yes and no. This time, it's only yes.
All Jokes — 69 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Do you have to sit so close? It'll hurt your eyes.
Our next movie is McBain... a shoot-them-up, splatter-fest from the Hollywood cookie cutter.
That makes two of us.
McBain Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Are we talking about the same movie? McBain was a nonstop roller coaster of chills, thrills, spills and kills.
Bart Irony/Sarcasm Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch That movie stinks like your creepy apartment.
Lisa Character Comedy Setup/Punchline I love watching the bald guy argue with the fat tub of lard.
Homer Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy ★ Rewatch All right, all right. Time for Dr. TV to perform a little surgery!
Homer Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Looks like you lost the patient, doc.
Bart Callback Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Callback Shut up. Cheap Chinese TV, why'd I ever buy it?
Homer Character Comedy Reaction Beat You're staring at a dot.
Lisa Setup/Punchline Observational She's right! She's right! Oh, how I miss TV!
Homer Escalation Character Comedy Dear God, give me one channel!
Homer Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch You lie!
Homer Reaction Beat Character Comedy I ain't loving it.
Bart Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy D'oh!
Homer Character Comedy Reaction Beat ★ Rewatch Gross.
Lisa Reaction Beat Character Comedy Who needs that? I'm never going to England. Let's smoke.
Not if I have to do heavy lifting or math.
Boy, you don't gain a pound. It's my metabolism. I'm one of the lucky ones.
Well, if it isn't Simpson and Gumble, Springfield's Cheech and Chong.
I wouldn't go if you were Elliott Gould!
Estelle Setup/Punchline Observational There's gotta be a girl nobody wants to take.
Barney Setup/Punchline Dark/Subversive -Hey, would you like to go--? -She's mine!
-So what are you in for? -I'm a political prisoner.
Every day, I show up, act like me and they slap me in here.
Homer Observational Character Comedy ★ Rewatch -What? -Another day of detention! -Let's get together. -Two days! -What's your name? -Homer. -Three days! -J. Simpson. -Five! -It was worth it! Six days!
-But, Dad, I don't drink-- -Cut the crap! 'I collect the cans.'
Oh, son, don't overreach! Go for the dented car, the dead-end job, the less attractive girl!
I met this girl, Marge, and I wanna force her to like me.
Me? I'm gonna drink a lot of beer and stay out all night!
Me, in a nuclear power plant. Kaboom!
I'll take that, stinkpot! Just warming up, Mrs. Bloominstein.
Fifty-five? That's ridiculous! Sure, it'll save a few lives, but millions will be late!
-Ignoramus? -It means I'm stupid, doesn't it? -Stupidity is different. -Not to me.
You may not remember me. I mooned for rebuttal.
I'm not asking you to like me or let me touch your goodies. Just be fair.
I think if he applies himself, trains real hard, he could go another foot.
I had him for four years. Solid 'C' student. Made a lamp last year.
He's all things to men and maybe to a lucky gal. Wanna go to prom with me?
Barney Setup/Punchline Misdirection French? What a coincidence! Just the subject I'm having trouble with.
-Why, you cagey old dog! -Great story. Work, damn you, work!
Uh-oh, a zit. No problemo.
-Why is there make-out music on? -It helps me study.
You're telling me new stuff and minutes later, it's still there.
Homer Character Comedy Observational When I see you forming vowels and continents--
You're dear and honest and open, without a trace of pretension.
My tux will have the widest lapels and the highest platform shoes.
I'm not in any French class. This was a brilliant scheme to get to know you.
Homer J. Simpson, I hate you!
I know this story doesn't end with you telling it to us.
Lisa Meta/Self-Referential Observational They married, had kids and bought a cheap TV.
Bart Deadpan/Understatement Callback Callback This may not be an appropriate forum for what I'm about to put forth... but would you go to the prom with me?
-Couldn't we just use rouge for this? -Ladies pinch. Whores use rouge.
That's what you get when you don't put out.
Patty Setup/Punchline Dark/Subversive Wait a second. If he's your date, who are you?
I paid for this car, tuxedo and the two dinners! We're going to the prom!
Wait a second, is that a bong? You have asthma? All right, move along.
-I thought you dropped out. -You wish, Dondalinger. -That's Mr. Dondalinger.
Hello, classmates. Instead of voting for an athletic hero or pretty boy... you have elected me, your intellectual superior, as your king.
Usually when I have a thought, there's others. Something says yes and no. This time, it's only yes.
-No, it's okay. I'm broke. I'll walk. -Yeah, why spoil a perfect evening?
All right! All right! I'll walk in the mud!
Homer Escalation Character Comedy Once you stop this car, I'm gonna hug you and kiss you... and I'll never let you go.
Homer Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Top Episodes — The Simpsons
