As The Simpsons kicks off its 37th season, the show’s co-showrunner has shed light on how this iconic animated series plans to continue tackling current events.
Unlike its contemporary, South Park, known for its rapid-fire production cycle that allows for episodes to be created in just seven days and recently garnered significant attention for its commentary on political figures, The Simpsons follows a more traditional production schedule. Scripts are typically written many months before an episode ever airs.
This long lead time naturally limits how immediately topical The Simpsons can be, a creative choice that co-showrunner Matt Selman confirms is intentional and unlikely to change.
“We’re not going to produce a major episode where the president visits Springfield,” Selman explained to Entertainment Weekly. “We’ve done that before, but it was with George Bush, long after he’d left office. We simply avoid heavily topical stories because the current political climate is so incredibly chaotic and unpredictable. Our focus is more on broader societal trends.”
The new season premiered with an episode titled ‘Thrifty Ways to Thieve Your Mother,’ which saw Marge reflecting on the 90s and Homer pondering the quick turnaround of movies to streaming services. As expected, the episode steered clear of any overtly provocative political humor.
“When you craft a show that won’t air for another ten months, it really alleviates the pressure,” Selman remarked. “Who can possibly predict what the world will be like in nearly a year? Even South Park, which produces its episodes weekly, struggles to keep up. Events unfold so rapidly and chaotically that it’s almost impossible to stay truly current.”
Selman went on to praise Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night television, stating, “Censorship truly stinks. But for The Simpsons, our core mission isn’t to react to every immediate crisis. Instead, we aim to tell stories about a town full of well-meaning, if somewhat foolish, characters navigating an ever-evolving world, where the world changes around them, but they, themselves, remain comfortingly constant.”
This season promises the traditional Treehouse of Horror special, featuring a segment that blends elements of Jaws and The Blob. Furthermore, The Simpsons is fast approaching its 800th episode, which Selman hinted will center on the family’s loyal dog, Santa’s Little Helper. “The dog gets fat,” he playfully revealed.
Selman concluded by expressing his hope that viewers across the nation, regardless of their political leanings, can find common ground in The Simpsons. He believes Springfield mirrors America itself: a place populated by fundamentally good people who are, at times, easily led astray. He added, “Whatever your definition of ‘misled’ is, you can readily apply that to our show.”
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor.