The Simpsons EP Teases 800th Episode & Clarifies the Show’s Stance on Politics

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is gearing up for its 37th season. Considering the show’s history of addressing current events, the executive producer recently explained how the animated sitcom plans to approach modern political issues.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Matt Selman discussed if The Simpsons will handle politics in a way similar to other shows. He explained that the show’s long production timeline-about 10 months from writing to airing-actually *relieves* some pressure. “Who knows what things will be like in 10 months?” he said. He pointed out that even South Park, which creates episodes in just a week, struggles to stay current with events.

Things keep happening quickly, even faster than they can keep up with. And, you know, and I’m happy to see him back on television. Censorship is terrible. What can I say? Censorship sucks,” Selman continued. “But it’s not our goal to constantly react to current events. It’s more about a town full of well-meaning, but somewhat clueless, people trying to navigate a world that’s constantly evolving, even though the characters themselves don’t really grow or change. The world around them is what shifts.”

Selman shared some thoughts on the show reaching its 800th episode. He explained, “The key is to create stories that feel fresh, as if they’re from a show that hasn’t been on for 37 seasons.” He added, “We also need to avoid repeating old ideas or making episodes that lack character or don’t offer anything new. One way to achieve this is to explore Springfield and its residents more thoroughly – the funny, heartwarming, melancholic, and even foolish people who live there.”

According to Selman, the premiere feels like a traditional Simpsons episode, featuring a storyline focused on the relationship between Lisa and Marge, alongside a more comedic plot involving Homer and Bart. He described it as a very funny and well-made episode. He emphasized that, for any show, the most crucial aspect is the development of its characters. Following that, it’s important to provide viewers with something fresh and new – and that originality often comes from drawing inspiration from real-life events. That’s what we aim to do, he explained.

The Simpsons Season 37 Addresses The Rise of Streaming Services

I just watched the latest episode of The Simpsons, Season 37, Episode 1, “Thrifty Ways to Thieve Your Mother,” and it was hilarious! Marge totally got caught up in a wave of ’90s nostalgia – it seriously felt like a Dawson’s Creek episode! And Lisa? She went on a full-blown treasure hunt through Mom’s closet with her friends Devin and Vidalia, looking for some amazing finds. Meanwhile, Homer was completely glued to Clincher, this Reacher-esque thriller that had him hooked. Honestly, the whole family decided to skip going to the movies because the film they wanted is coming to streaming in a few days anyway!

When questioned about whether the show’s concept involved criticizing streaming services, Selman was quick to clarify, stating, “I don’t think it’s anti-streaming.” The Executive Producer then explained the episode’s central idea. “One of the first things the episode highlights is how quickly movies released in theaters become available on television,” he said. “That’s contributed to diminishing something I really enjoyed growing up – people going to the movies and sharing an experience together, rather than being distracted by their phones.”

The Simpsons Season 37 premieres Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.

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2025-09-29 17:12