The one instance in which a chalkboard gag wasn't Played for Laughs.
The Simpsons often dedicates episodes to deceased Special Guests who lent a voice in the series. (Note that for some reason, the dedications tend to be missing - seemingly intentionally - from the copies of the episodes on the DVD boxsets.)
- "Trash of the Titans" (the show's 200th episode) was dedicated to Linda McCartney, who appeared alongside her husband Paul in "Lisa the Vegetarian".
- FOX's 2018 airing of "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (the first episode in broadcast order) featured a dedication to Penny Marshall, who voiced Mrs. Botz in "Some Enchanted Evening" (the first episode in production order).
- One of the most elaborate dedications was the reairing of "Do the Bartman" in honor of song-cowriter Michael Jackson (with a dedication card at the end), which appeared before a repeat of "Wedding for Disaster".
- "Mona Leaves-a", the episode that dealt with the death of Homer's mother, was dedicated to the late mothers of Dan Castellaneta and Harry Shearer.
- Similarly, "Clown in the Dumps", which dealt with the death of Krusty's father, was dedicated to Dan's late father.
- "Bart the Mother", which was the last episode to feature Troy McClure, was dedicated to Phil Hartman.note Additionally, the second volume of the Simpsons episode guide, The Simpsons Forever!, featured a two-page section dedicated to Hartman's appearances as McClure. Hartman's characters (McClure and Lionel Hutz) were then retired to become non-speaking background characters, honoring his memory by never recasting the roles.
- Anne Bancroft died during the production of the season six DVD set, so its release of "Fear of Flying", in which Bancroft guest voiced Marge's psychiarist, has a new stinger tribute with words of acknowledgement and gratitude from then-showrunner David Mirkin. The tribute only appears when the episode is watched with the DVD Commentary turned on.
- "Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times" parodied the trope in its ending credits, dedicating the episode to everyone who died in the first six Star Wars movies, including Storm Troopers #5 and #22, "everyone on both Death Stars when they blew up", "whoever Jimmy Smits played"note and "unfortunately, not Jar-Jar Binks".
- "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" was dedicated to Michael P. Schoenbrun, executive in charge of production for Gracie Films.
- "Team Homer" is dedicated to Doris Grau. The episode featured her last performance as Lunchlady Doris.
- A worded tribute to her also appeared in Simpsons Comics #17.
- "Lost Verizon" featured a dedication to Paul Newman, who appeared as himself in "The Blunder Years".
- "Mother Simpson" is dedicated to Jackie Banks, an animation checker and scene planner.
- "Love Is A Many Strangled Thing" is dedicated to Elizabeth Taylor, who appeared as herself in "Krusty Gets Kancelled" and voiced Maggie in "Lisa's First Word".
- "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" is dedicated to Eartha Kitt, who makes a posthumous cameo in it.
- "Mommie Beerest" is dedicated to talk show host Johnny Carson, who appeared as himself in "Krusty Gets Kancelled".
- "Moonshine River" was dedicated to Andy Williams. It's worth noting that "Moon River" is Williams' Signature Song.
- "Dark Knight Court" was dedicated to guest star Janet Reno's brother Robert.
- "Sweets and Sour Marge" was dedicated to Ron Taylor, who provided the voice of Bleeding Gums Murphy in the episodes "Moaning Lisa" and "Round Springfield".
- In honor of Marcia Wallace, who played Edna Krabappel, Fox reaired the episode "The Ned-liest Catch" (they were originally going to reair the Season 3 episode "Bart the Lover") before the premiere of "Four Regrettings and a Funeral", which opened with Bart writing "We'll really miss you, Mrs. K" during the chalkboard gag. A more traditional memory card appears at the end. Ten episodes later, "The Man Who Grew Too Much" ended with Ned Flanders mourning Krabappel.
- Not a traditional card, but a caricature of writer Don Payne can be seen as an angel in the Special Edition Title for "White Christmas Blues" (the last episode he wrote) next to an angel of Mrs. Krabappel.
- "A Test Before Trying" was dedicated to Huell Howser, who had appeared as himself in "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?".
- "Super Franchise Me" was dedicated to Jan Hooks, who had the recurring role of Apu's wife Manjula.
- "The Princess Guide" was dedicated to Leonard Nimoy, who appeared as himself in "Marge vs. the Monorail" and "The Springfield Files".
- "A Hunka Hunka Burns in Love" was dedicated to George Harrison, who appeared as himself in "Homer's Barbershop Quartet".
- "Waiting for Duffman" was dedicated to series co-creator Sam Simon.
- "Love is in the N2-O2-Ar-CO2-Ne-He-CH4" was dedicated to David Kavner, father of Julie Kavner.
- "The Old Man and the Key" was dedicated to Lawrence Tierney, who played Detective Don Brodka in "Marge Be Not Proud".
- "Springfield Splendor" was dedicated to Tom Petty, who appeared as himself in "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation".
- "Homer is Where the Art Isn't" was dedicated to Stephen Hawking, who appeared as himself in "They Saved Lisa's Brain", "Don't Fear the Roofer", "Stop! Or My Dog Will Shoot" and "Elementary School Musical".
- "Lisa Gets the Blues" was dedicated to R. Lee Ermey, who played Colonel Leslie "Hap" Hapablap in "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming" and "Waiting for Duffman".
- "Werking Mom" was dedicated to Stan Lee, who appeared as himself in "I Am Furious Yellow," "Married to the Blob," and "The Caper Chase."
- "The Clown Stays in the Picture" was dedicated to production manager Trista Navarro.
- The episode "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" was dedicated to Luke Perry, who appeared in "Krusty Gets Kancelled".
- "The Way of the Dog" was dedicated to Little Richard, who appeared in "Special Edna".
- "Podcast News" was dedicated to Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek, who appeared in "Miracle on Evergreen Terrace" and "Penny-Wiseguys".
- "Wad Goals" was dedicated to David Richardson, who wrote the episode "Homer Loves Flanders".
- "Panic on the Streets of Springfield" was dedicated to animator and assistant director Edwin Aguilar, who died suddenly of a stroke the night before the episode aired and the next week's "Mother and Child Reunion" was dedicated to Olympia Dukakis who appeared as Zelda in "The Old Man and the Key".
- During the credits of the season 31 premiere, "The Winter Of Our Monetized Content", a tribute to the late producer Mike Mendel was included just before the Gracie Films Vanity Plate.
- "The Longest Marge" was dedicated to John Madden, who appeared as himself in "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday".
- A rerun of "Lisa's Belly" was dedicated to Betty White, who played herself in "Missionary: Impossible", airing on January 16, 2022, the day before what would have been her 100th birthday.
- The episode "Marge the Meanie" was dedicated to staff animator Ian Wilcox who died suddenly on April 30, 2022.
- "My Life as a Vlog" was dedicated to Chris Ledesma, who served as music editor for the first 33 seasons of the series.
- "McMansion & Wife" was dedicated to to Suzanne Somers, who appeared as herself in "The Day The Violence Died".
- "Murder, She Boat" was dedicated to Norman Lear, who appeared as himself in "Mr. Lisa's Opus".
