Even after decades, the cultural imprint of ‘The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening is undeniable. He once recounted an incident at an airport’s TSA line where, as he unpacked his luggage for secondary screening, he heard a child mimic the iconic ‘Ha-ha!’ laugh of Nelson Muntz. This moment, whether coincidental or a knowing jab, perfectly illustrates the widespread recognition of his groundbreaking work.
Groening, in a recent interview, mused on whether the child’s laugh was mere imitation or a cheeky acknowledgment of his presence. Regardless, the encounter speaks volumes about the lasting legacy and omnipresent nature of ‘The Simpsons.’
Approaching its 39th anniversary since its initial debut on Fox’s ‘The Tracey Ullman Show,’ ‘The Simpsons’ is set to air its milestone 800th episode, ‘Irrational Treasure,’ this Sunday – a day that also marks Groening’s 72nd birthday. In a recent discussion, Groening delved into the show’s evolution, personal connections to its characters, and why he believes the series is far from over.
He emphatically stated, ‘I’m not going to be the guy that says it’s over.’
It’s important to note that this interview occurred prior to recent reports highlighting similarities between a 2000 ‘Simpsons’ episode and Jeffrey Epstein’s island. A representative for Groening declined to comment on the episode or Groening’s previously revealed associations with Epstein from unsealed 2019 court documents.
The following are edited highlights from that conversation.
The 800th ‘Simpsons’ episode, titled ‘Irrational Treasure,’ features classic Homer antics, seen here joyriding a luggage cart through a hotel room while Marge calmly pets a dog amidst the chaos. As the show nears its 40-year mark, Groening reflected on the constant refinement required: ‘You would think that by this time, we must get it right every time. It’s amazing we still need to tweak things.’
Why do you think “The Simpsons” has lasted so long?
When asked about the secret to ‘The Simpsons’ longevity, Groening pointed to its versatility as a ‘forum for different comedy styles.’ He explained that the show’s continuous reinvention and the crew’s dedication to surprising themselves and the audience, rather than sticking to his initially milder vision, have been key to keeping it fresh and on air.
What is your role these days?
Regarding his current involvement, Groening humorously described it as extensive ‘custodial cleanup work,’ focusing on maintaining design consistency across backgrounds, characters, and props. He emphasized that despite the show’s long run, ‘It’s amazing we still need to tweak things.’ He underscored that ‘The Simpsons’ is fundamentally a massive collaborative effort, driven by many talented individuals striving for peak comedic effect.
What do you say to people who say “The Simpsons” peaked 30 years ago?
To critics who claim ‘The Simpsons’ peaked decades ago, Groening retorted that humor is subjective, and that those who say the show isn’t good anymore ‘are not watching the show!’ He highlighted the incredible ambition of the animators and writers in recent years, constantly striving for originality and surprise for both the creators and the audience.
The show has been part of the culture for so long, it is easy to forget how bizarre the original character designs are.
Acknowledging the unique, almost bizarre nature of the original character designs, Groening agreed with the sentiment that truly memorable cartoon characters are recognizable in silhouette, much like Mickey Mouse. This principle guided his creation of Bart, Homer, Lisa, Maggie, and Marge. Early renditions of the Simpson family, from their debut on ‘The Tracey Ullman Show,’ showcased cruder, spikier designs, a stark contrast to their polished current look. It was original animator David Silverman who meticulously defined the characters’ visual rules, even counting the precise number of spikes on Bart’s head (it’s nine!).
Bart probably has a place on the Mount Rushmore of cartoon characters next to Mickey. With Bugs Bunny and SpongeBob, perhaps.
He appreciated the comparison of Bart to cartoon legends like Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, and SpongeBob, attributing much of the characters’ distinctiveness to original animator David Silverman. Groening recalled how Silverman meticulously codified the designs, even specifying the exact number of Bart’s iconic head spikes — nine, to be precise.
And Gyorgi Peluce’s colors.
Groening also praised Gyorgi Peluce, the ‘amazing pioneer’ who chose the signature yellow hue for his black-and-white drawings, a choice that ‘worked perfectly’ for the iconic family.
Were you ever taken aback by the phenomenal success of the show?
The show’s global phenomenon genuinely surprised Groening, particularly its ‘intense devotion in Central and South America,’ recalling being recognized amidst ‘Simpsons graffiti’ in Buenos Aires. He humorously recounted outfitting a guest bedroom entirely with ‘Simpsons’ merchandise, noting that guests ‘would only stay one night and then find a reason to leave.’
You rarely wrote for the show. Was there tension between you and the writers in the early years?
Despite his limited writing for the show, Groening admitted there was early tension with the writers. He described the demanding schedule of TV comedy and animation as a ‘recipe for insanity,’ explaining that long hours and the show’s sudden, massive success contributed to a period where ‘we were all a little nuts.’
You wanted to do a live-action Krusty the Clown spinoff at one point. What happened there?
Groening once envisioned a live-action Krusty the Clown spinoff, starring Dan Castellaneta. Fox questioned the live-action aspect, and although Groening suggested an animated version, a deal never materialized. He believes the immense profitability of the original ‘Simpsons’ has ironically prevented any spinoffs, as ‘Too many people have dollar signs in their eyes.’
You named your son Homer — after your father rather than the character. That must have resulted in some interesting conversations.
Groening shared amusing anecdotes about naming his son Homer, after his own father, not the character. When his son was a baby, telling people his name often elicited laughter, a testament to the character’s fame.
He clarified that the naming was an attempt to honor his father, who was ‘nothing like Homer’ – instead, a brilliant, athletic WWII pilot and filmmaker, a true inspiration. The only aspect of Homer Simpson that bothered his father was when the character was unkind to Marge, recalling a Season 5 episode where Homer made Marge carry a flat tire through the desert, prompting his father’s serious disapproval. This disapproval stemmed from moments like a memorable Season 5 episode where Homer made Marge carry a flat tire through the desert, a character flaw Groening’s father found genuinely upsetting.
That would be “Homer’s Barbershop Quartet,” from Season 5.
When reminded of ‘Homer’s Barbershop Quartet’ from Season 5, Groening admitted he used to have all episodes memorized. Now, however, creating new content causes older episodes to ‘squeeze… out of my brain,’ allowing him to watch them with fresh surprise.
He described the unique experience of seeing his drawings animate, speak, and perform actions he didn’t even write himself. It’s ‘what it’s like to be God and give people free will,’ he mused.
The show has now been on for more than half your life. Will it run forever?
Having dedicated over half his life to ‘The Simpsons,’ Groening cautiously avoided predicting its end. He recalled a previous instance where suggesting the show was ‘closer to the end than the beginning’ led to erroneous ‘canceled’ headlines. Now, he simply states, ‘there is no end in sight. We’re still having a good time.’
Groening enjoys that his projects ‘don’t seem to end,’ citing ‘The Simpsons” continuous run and ‘Futurama”s multiple revivals. He finds the unpredictable nature of his work ‘always surprising.’
What’s the next meaningful milestone for you?
When asked about his next significant milestone, Groening playfully responded that he’s ‘trying to figure out what my epitaph is going to be on my gravestone. There’s still that to come.’