How Did David Foster Wallace, Hot Chip, And Animal Collective End Up On Last Sunday’s Episode Of The Simpsons?

How did a revered cultural commentator and two of the most notable music groups end up on last Sunday’s episode of The Simpsons? The title of The Simpsons episode that ran last Sunday was “The Totally Fun Thing That Bart Will Never Do Again,” an homage to one of American essayist and fiction writer David Foster Wallace’s more notable essays, “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again.” And just as Wallace’s essay goes, Bart — in an effort to escape an existential crisis brought on by the monotony of his school-boy life, convinces the Simpson family to go on what turns out to be a mundane cruise to somewhere cold. Adding to the homage, the episode features tracks from both Hot Chip and Animal Collective. The Simpsons is staying relevant!