Watch 'The Simpsons' Extra-Long 'The Hobbit' Opening

The Simpsons producers are starting to key in on what brings extra viewers to the show on Sunday nights of late: long couch gags that recruit famous contributors or parody notable films. The guest appearance for the couch gag is hardly new — Bansky's crazy opening was done in 2010, for example. But this is the second big one we've seen in a month. Guillermo del Toro just did a great horror one, and now we've got an appropriately long extension of the Simpsons couch gag opening based around The Hobbit. Watch it below.

This one isn't nearly as good as the recent one by Guillermo del Toro, but the casting of Smaug is solid. And the Gollum bit is a good bit of sad comedy.

This will be the opening to the November 3 episode "4 Regrettings and a Funeral." That funeral will not be for the to-be-retired Edna Crabapple, following the passing of voice actor Marcia Wallace; nor will it be for the other "significant character" producers have promised to kill off this season.

The Simpsons was recently renewed for a 26th season.