As with all Negative Continuity tropes, The Simpsons uses this one a lot. Often they'll just go ahead and lampshade, and at least one episode ends with Lisa concluding there was no moral to learn, "just some things that happened". With the supporting characters, it's even more pronounced; Barney goes from "clean and sober" to "hopeless alcoholic" depending on the mood of the writer, Mr. Burns has learned to love his fellow man dozens of times, and even though he's learned to stand up for himself in every episode he's a featured player in, Principal Skinner never manages to move out of his mother's house. in this series.
- Lampshaded at least once in Mr. Burns's case:Burns: For me? Bobo? Smithers, I'm so happy. Something amazing has happened, I'm actually happy. Take a note! From now on, I'm only going to be good and kind to everyone.
Smithers: I'm sorry sir, I don't have a pencil.
Burns: Ehh, don't worry, I'm sure I'll remember it. - Multiple episodes (way too many to list) go as follows: Homer does something especially stupid and/or selfish. Marge gets so upset as to give both Homer and the audience the impression that she's wondering what she ever saw in him. Homer performs some Grand Romantic Gesture to make up for whatever it is. Marge learns that she genuinely loves Homer despite his faults, and Homer learns to put more effort into being a good husband... for a while.
- In one episode Mr. Burns describes himself as having "characteristic changes of heart". This leads to him befriending Homer and being a good person for much of the episode, then going right back to being evil at the end. As Homer notes, "I guess some people never change. Or, they quickly change and then quickly change back."
- Also lampshaded in "Homer Loves Flanders" where Homer came to genuinely like Ned Flanders. At the end of the episode Bart asks Lisa where the expected last-minute Face–Heel Turn event is that would reset the situation back to status quo. Lisa is stumped. Then comes one last scene with "one week later" caption where Homer suddenly loathes Flanders again, and Bart and Lisa give a content "things are back the way they should be" smile.
- Played for somewhat grimmer humor in "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious", where the family gets a Magical Nanny who teaches them to be polite, to keep house, and to enjoy work. Her efforts are initially successful, but the moment she tries to leave, the family quickly shifts back to their old ways, and she has to work even harder to try and right things. Eventually, they simply tell her that they're happy the way they are and they probably won't ever change, to which she declares them a lost cause and quits her job with relief.
- "Homer Goes to College" has a lot of fun with Homer's complete refusal to learn the lesson that he shouldn't treat college like an endless stream of Wacky Fratboy Hijinx. This culminates in the end of the episode, where he throws out several different morals, before Marge tells him to go back to college because he clearly learned nothing—to which Homer responds by declaring his intent to spend the next year partying and playing pranks as much as ever.
- The episode "Bart's Girlfriend", Reverend Lovejoy never really learns to discipline his daughter, and all Jessica learns is that she can manipulate boys into doing what she wants. Bart subverted this, by seemingly being suckered in again by Jessica into doing her chores, only planning to do a bad job to get Jessica in trouble.
- In "Duffless", he also repeatedly failed to learn the lesson "the cupcake is wired up to electricity, and if you touch it you will get a shock". Thereby proving that yes, he was dumber than a hamster.
- In "Krusty Gets Kancelled", when Krusty loses his show, he's destitute because he never saved for this kind of situation. After getting his show back, he buys a ruby to use as a clown nose.
