Also called Moe Throws Barney · Barney Comes Back · Moe and Barney Recurring Problem
Moe throws Barney out, turns away, and finds him already back inside. Label the unwanted thing, the attempted fix, and its return to show a problem that refuses to stay solved.
The middle panel is a brief moment of relief. The last panel cancels that relief by putting the same problem back where it started.
This works for repeated chores, returning bugs, or habits that resume immediately. The attempted fix should be clear enough for the return to feel frustratingly quick.
The scene comes from “The Seemingly Never-Ending Story,” a Simpsons episode first aired on March 12, 2006. Moe tosses Barney out of the tavern, only for Barney to reappear behind him almost immediately. [1]
A GIF of the scene was shared on Know Your Meme in June 2012. A three-panel version with object labels is documented on Memedroid in September 2017, followed by further Reddit variations in 2019. [1]
Moe’s attempt to remove Barney supplies the recurring-problem gag. [1]
An early documented upload preserves Barney’s immediate return. [1]
A Memedroid post gives the characters new roles. [1]
Reddit communities apply the sequence to more recurring problems. [1]
Label Moe and Barney in the top panel. Put the attempted fix in the empty area at the right of the middle panel, then label Barney again when he returns at the lower left.
The last label can repeat the first problem or name its replacement. Keep the returning Barney visible so the final panel delivers the reversal.
Original captions to try with this template.
Closing every tab briefly clears the browser before another collection starts.
The clean surface does not stay clean for long.
The developer’s moment of relief ends when the original bug returns.
References for this template. Example captions are original.
Identifies the Simpsons episode and documents GIFs and labeled versions of the scene.
