10 Eerie Predictions The Simpsons Made That Came True

The Simpsons transcends the realm of television; it’s a powerful cultural influence. With its record-breaking run as the longest-lasting American animated series, sitcom, and scripted primetime TV show, it has provided endless laughter to countless generations by satirically portraying contemporary family life. The eccentric escapades of the Simpson clan – Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie – along with the bizarre characters residing in their hometown, Springfield, have earned the series critical acclaim for its blend of biting wit and genuine emotion. Furthermore, the show’s star-studded voice cast and iconic dialogue make it a cornerstone of modern pop culture.

The TV show is also recognized for its astonishing knack for foreshadowing future events. Some people attribute this to the talented writers who keep up with societal trends, allowing them to anticipate upcoming occurrences. However, when these predictions come true so frequently, it leads some viewers to wonder if there’s an element of mystique in the show’s creative process. Regardless of the explanation for the series’ prophetic abilities, there’s no denying the thrill fans get when they see The Simpsons accurately predicting real-world events, and some of the most memorable instances are highlighted here.

“Lisa’s Wedding” (S6, E19)

1995 marked the airing of an episode that offered a glimpse into a possible 2010 future for the Simpson family. While the technology depicted in this vision was far more advanced than what we had in reality during 2010, it did correctly predict video calling. This feature was also seen in numerous science fiction films and TV shows, but The Simpsons‘ prediction seems particularly on point. In 2010, Apple introduced FaceTime for their iPhones, making one wonder if Steve Jobs came up with this idea independently or was inspired by this episode.

“When You Wish Upon a Star” (S10, E5)

Homer accidentally discovers the private residence of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger, who were then married, situated close to Springfield as an escape from the relentless paparazzi in Hollywood. This group, including director Ron Howard, later hires Homer as their personal assistant. However, he carelessly reveals that celebrities reside within their town, causing a stir. As the episode concludes, we notice the exterior of 20th Century Fox Studios, marked with a sign indicating it’s a division of The Walt Disney Company. Eventually, in 2017, Disney acquired Fox for an impressive $52.4 billion.

“Bart to the Future” (S11, E17)

In this installment, we’re shown another possible future scenario for the Simpson clan, where Bart is striving to succeed as a rock artist and Lisa holds the presidency of the United States. During a session with her advisors, President Lisa mentions, “We’ve found ourselves in quite a financial predicament due to our predecessor, President Trump.” This prophecy materialized when Donald Trump was elected as the U.S. President in 2016. The episode titled “Bart to the Future” was created during Trump’s first attempt at securing the Reform Party nomination.

“You Don’t Have to Live Like a Referee” (S25, E16)

Following Lisa’s inspiring speech about viewing Homer as her hero due to his honesty and integrity, FIFA later selects him to officiate the World Cup in Brazil. However, Homer’s moral fiber is challenged when corrupt Brazilian gangsters attempt to bribe him to ensure Brazil’s victory in the championship. Remarkably, this storyline makes two accurate forecasts. Initially, it correctly foresaw Germany defeating Brazil in the 2014 World Cup. Secondly, it hinted at the scandalous events that unfolded during the tournament, which involved wire fraud, racketeering, and, as anticipated, bribery.

“Boy Meets Curl” (S21, E12)

Could it be advisable for spectators to regard “The Simpsons” as if it were a prophetic almanac like Grays Sports Almanac from “Back to the Future 2”? In this particular episode, Homer and Marge join a curling team along with Seymour Skinner and his mother Agnes. They compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and end up defeating Sweden, winning the gold medal for the U.S. Interestingly, an almost identical event occurred at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, when the U.S. also defeated Sweden in curling to take home the gold.

“The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace” (S10, E2)

As Homer nears middle age, he feels down because he believes he hasn’t achieved anything significant in life. However, inspired by Thomas Edison’s story, Homer decides to become an inventor as a way to make his mark. Transforming his basement into a lab, Homer conducts various experiments, some of which result in amusing explosions. Yet, there seems to be a touch of accidental brilliance in the equations scribbled on his chalkboard – they calculate the mass of the elusive Higgs-Boson particle, also known as the “God particle.” Given that many writers for The Simpsons hold advanced degrees in various fields, it was likely just a matter of time before they foreshadowed something worthy of a Nobel Prize.

“Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?” (S6, E19)

Due to his years spent at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant causing him to become sterile, Homer received $2,000 in compensation. This news piqued the interest of Homer’s half-brother, Herb, whose wealth had diminished due to Homer. To rectify his error, Herb persuaded Homer to invest this money in his invention: a gadget that translates baby babble for parents. Although it appeared a bizarre product idea in 1992, today there are numerous baby translator apps available, like Cry Translator, Baby Cry Analyzer, and Cappella.

“Elementary School Musical” (S22, E1)

The Elementary School’s Unexpected Night”

The story commences with Lisa and some of her scholarly peers from school pulling an all-nighter to catch the unveiling of the Nobel Prize laureates. To their astonishment, Krusty the Clown is one of the recipients, but his joy turns sour when he learns it’s a ruse to bring him to trial for his misconduct in Europe.

However, the most intriguing aspect of this episode revolves around the children’s predictions for that year’s winners; if you examine Milhouse’s choices, you will find MIT Professor Bengt Holmstrom listed among them. Although Holmstrom didn’t win the year the episode was released (2010), he did receive the Nobel Prize in 2016.

“Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish” (S2, E4)

Venturing by the stream close to Springfield’s Nuclear Power Plant one day, I stumbled upon a fascinating find – a three-eyed fish! This remarkable catch quickly drew attention from local media outlets. The discovery led to an investigation into the power plant, unveiling numerous costly violations that its proprietor, Mr. Burns, stubbornly refused to rectify. In a bid to alleviate the restrictions his plant faces, Burns even ran for governor! Interestingly enough, reality echoed the animated series when a three-eyed wolf fish was unearthed in Córdoba, Argentina – yes, you guessed it, right beside another nuclear power station.

“New Kid on the Block” (S4, E8)

In an extraordinary turn of events that mirrors a sitcom plotline, a man named Albert Flemming found himself in a legal battle with Golden Corral Corporation in 2017. This unfolded when he was ejected from their buffet restaurant after consuming over 50 pounds of food, despite not having finished his meal at their all-you-can-eat extravaganza. Frustrated by what he perceived as misleading advertising, Flemming took the corporation to court, demanding a compensation of $2 million. Remarkably, this incident occurred in Springfield, Massachusetts.

2025-01-20 01:40