'Simpsons' Showrunner Addresses 'Unsettling' Futuristic Predictions

Following the sitcom’s landmark 800th episode, The Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman weighed in on the series’ enduring popularity and those “unsettling” futurustic predictions.

The Simpsons Hits Record 800th Episode

The show’s 800th episode, which aired on Sunday, Feb. 15, followed the Simpson clan to Pittsburgh, PA, where they run into Noah Wyle’s character from HBO’s The Pitt, Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch. Selman has written for The Simpsons since 1997, throughout most of its record-breaking 37-season run. (It’s currently the longest-running sitcom on TV). He credits that enduring success both to the show’s topical nature as well as younger viewers who have come to the show throughout the years. When the series became available on Disney+ in 2019 following Fox’s merger with Disney, “a whole new generation of younger fans fell in love with the show, and it became their favorite show,” the showrunner told The New York Post.

Selman Acknowledged 'Unsettling' Real-World Parallels

Of course, The Simpsons predicted the Disney/Fox merger years before it actually happened, along with a rash of other historical instances. “It’s unnerving,” Selman said of the real-world parallels. “It sort of makes you think maybe we live in a simulation, or something like that. But, I always say that the more unlikely thing would be that we never predicted anything. Because I consider these to be coincidences. And if there’s no coincidences, that’s very unlikely.”

But Selman allowed: “Although the coincidences that we did happen to predict are pretty freaky.”

As far as The Simpsons’ peaceful existence alongside that other cartoon behemoth, South Park, Selman isn’t worried that one will overtake the other. “We’re not doing shows as in-your-face and dark and smart and funny and brilliant as that, ripped from that day’s headlines,” he reflected. “We like to do shows that are ripped from like nine months ago’s headlines.” 

But Will the Show Go on for Another 800 Episodes?

But when it comes to the future, Selman was rather conservative in estimating the show’s future. When asked for how long he’d like to see the show continue, he responded: “I think a thousand is a good number. Let’s aim for a thousand. That’s a good, clean ending. But, I don’t know, that will probably be a decision above my pay grade. But, a thousand episodes would be great.”

Of course, it seems unlikely that The Simpsons will only produce another 200 episodes; but anything is possible. Regardless of the sitcom’s continued longevity, fans can expect quite a bit of America’s favorite yellow family in the coming years. In addition to its weekly Sunday night airing on FOX, a new Simpsons feature film is slated for theatrical release in July 2027. It will arrive exactly 20 years after The Simpsons Movie, the sitcom’s 2007 big-screen debut. The Simpsons Movie grossed nearly $530 million worldwide (plus an extra $100M in home video sales) against its $75M budget.