The Simpsons references have always been one of the cornerstones of the internet. It's not surprising that a show so referential would spawn that kind of behavior in its most ardent fans. One Simpsons reference has gone beyond being a beloved in-joke and become a full blown meme: "Steamed Hams." Thanks to pop culture, it's come back around to being referenced on the show.
In Season 31, Episode 8, "The Road To Cincinnati," Principal Seymour Skinner and Superintendent Gary Chalmers pass by a restaurant called Steamed Hams during their 800 mile drive to a teacher's convention. It's appropriate that the reference would be made in an episode that revolves around the duo's odd couple chemistry, with Skinner finally earning Chalmer's respect after years of being on his bad side.
The Steamed Hams restaurant is a nod to a past interaction between the two characters. The segment was part of a Season 7 episode that took a break from the show's usual format. Instead of following the lives of the Simpsons family, "22 Short Stories About Springfield" was an anthology episode that split the spotlight between the titular family and many other residents of Springfield. The episode's title and inspiration was one of the show's highbrow references to the film, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, where each segment featured a different member of the cast.
The "Skinner and the Superintendent" segment had a sitcom style intro, complete with a theme song explaining its premise. Skinner invited his boss Chalmers to his home for lunch. Unfortunately for him, he overcooked the roast he was going to serve. Inspiration struck when he looked out his kitchen window and spied a Krusty Burger fast food joint. He decided he would disguise the fast food as his own cooking to replace the inedible roast. As he's sneaking out the kitchen window to grab the burgers, Chalmers walks in on him, forcing Skinner to cobble together the first of many harebrained explanations for his bizarre actions. In this case, he claimed he was stretching his calves on the window sill. He then explains that the smoke coming from his oven is actually steam from steamed clams, and this scene directly leads to the birth of the "Steamed Hams" meme.
When Skinner serves Chalmers the Krusty Burger hamburgers, the Superintendent is understandably confused about what happened to the clams he was told were steaming. Skinner corrects his boss, telling him that he actually said they were having steamed hams, which is what he calls hamburgers.
Chalmers doesn't quite buy Skinner's steamed hams claim, saying that the food looks like hamburgers from Krusty Burger. The Principal attempts to deflect the Superintendents suspicions, which leads to Skinners hilarious series of explanations, including trying to pass off the phrase "steamed hams" as part of the regional dialect of Albany, New York.
As Skinner tries to send Chalmers on his way, the peak absurdity of the segment happens. Chalmers notices the raging fire in the kitchen caused by the burnt roast Skinner never took care of. Skinner claims that it's nothing to worry about; it's just the Aurora Borealis.
Chalmers rapidly runs through all of the reasons why that's ridiculous, and Skinner just replies with a simple "yes." The Superintendent genuinely asks to see it before being turned down flat by the panicked Principal. As the pair says their goodbyes, and the fire spreads to the rest of the house, Chalmers concludes that Skinner is an "odd fellow," but he does know how to steam a ham.
The segment has become a popular meme because it's easily exploitable. A search on YouTube yields everything from a Guitar Hero homage to Jeff Goldblum playing the part of Skinner. Beyond being so easily malleable, the enduring appeal of "Steamed Hams" speaks to the quality of The Simpsons at its best.