While it’s true that Springfield’s resident mob boss, Fat Tony, predates Tony Soprano by more than seven years, “The Simpsons” included a tribute to “The Sopranos” in the episode that aired Sunday.

The Simpsons is plagued by its longevity as much as it’s enriched by it. For all the ready-to-go talent in every aspect of the production team and voice talent, there’s also an old guard of ...