THE SIMPSONS Began Season 36 With Its ‘Series Finale,’ But The Show Isn’t Actually Ending

As a lifelong fan who’s grown up with The Simpsons as a constant companion, I must say this meta-finale left me both amused and bewildered. It’s like they took everything we love about the show – the self-deprecating humor, the pop culture references, and the clever satire – and cranked it up to eleven.


Time eventually reaches everyone, and no one can halt the approach of tomorrow. Except for those residing in Springfield, USA, where you remain at the same age forever. Additionally, living there also means being on television eternally, which might prevent shows like The Simpsons from having a final episode. However, this didn’t deter the animated sitcom from creating one anyway. The series launched its 36th season with a metaphorical “Series Finale,” even though it continues to exist without actually ending.

In a playful adaptation, comedian Conan O’Brien, previously known for his work on The Simpsons, served as the host for an unusual Season 36 premiere staged at the “Dolby-Mucinex Theatre.” Taking numerous jabs at himself, Fox, spectators, and the show itself, he invited Springfield’s infamous family, friends, adversaries, and star guests to join the festivities. Notable figures who contributed to the hilarity included Tom Hanks, Joel McHale, John Cena, Danny DeVito, Seth Rogen, Mark Proksch, and Amy Sedaris.

In the typical style reminiscent of “The Simpsons”, the show employed a mock ending as a platform to discuss a contemporary issue: artificial intelligence. According to O’Brien, the writers handed the script to an AI system. The result was an episode-within-an-episode titled “Bart’s Birthday,” which was rich in tropes and classic farewell scene elements, often seen in final episodes. It was a perfectly suitable storyline for a program capable of plagiarism.

The AI created significant changes such as heartfelt goodbyes, moving retirements, possible new series introductions, and ridiculous births and marriages. However, chaos ensued when the “Series Finale” Bart gained consciousness upon discovering he couldn’t truly grow older, since he remains ten years old in Springfield, USA – a town unique in that it defies time progression.

It’s also the only place immune to ever having to worry about making an actual series finale.

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2024-10-01 23:02