The Simpsons has long been a staple of American television, entertaining audiences for almost 35 years with its satirical humor and relatable characters. However, the recent Season 36 premiere of the iconic animated sitcom sent shockwaves through the fan community with a surprising twist: a seemingly definitive “series finale” episode. But was this truly the end for the beloved family from Springfield? Read on to discover whether the episode served as a poignant conclusion for the beloved series or was merely a clever hoax designed to keep viewers on their toes.
The Simpsons Season 36 Premiere: A Real or Fake-out Finale
The Simpsons left fans bewildered and uncertain when it unexpectedly aired what it called a “series finale” during its Season 36 premiere on Sunday, September 29th. In a meta-twist, the episode, titled Bart’s Birthday, featured a guest appearance from Conan O’Brien, a former writer for the series, who announced the show’s supposed cancellation.
“It’s such an honor to be with you all for the series finale of The Simpsons,” O’Brien said to the crowd at a gala attended by various celebrities. “I knew I was the right man for the job because I’ve hosted the last episode of three of my own shows, and counting.”
“Well, it’s true. Fox has decided to end the Simpsons,” O’Brien continued. “This show was such a special part of my early career, so being here means the world to me. Also. I left a sweater in the writer’s room in 1993 and this is the only way they’ll let me get it back.”
After humorously claiming that Fox had been “trying to end” the show for years, O’Brien showcased clips he claimed were unaired scenes from classic episodes like 1990’s Bart the Daredevil and 2000’s Little Big Mom, further enhancing the illusion that the series was coming to an end. However, the true twist came when he revealed that the entire episode was generated using artificial intelligence (AI), leading to unexpected and dramatic moments designed to wrap up various storylines.
Among the AI-created scenarios were Mr. Burns dying, Moe’s Tavern shutting down, and Principal Skinner retiring. The episode also included animated parodies of iconic final scenes from popular series such as Game of Thrones, Succession, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and Frasier.
As the episode concluded, Bart snapped out of the AI-induced illusion, which had humorously aged him to 11 years old despite him being 10 since the show’s inception. Once Bart regained his awareness, the faux “series finale” came to a close.
How Did the Viewers React to The Simpsons’ Faux Series Finale?
The viewers’ reactions to The Simpsons’ faux series finale during the Season 36 premiere were a mix of confusion, amusement, and appreciation for the clever twist. You can check out some of the fan reactions in the social media posts below:
“I legit thought this was the series finale until I realized it was all a joke XD But still this was a great and funny season 36 premiere! Loved all the references!” a fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“I DEFINITELY FELL FOR THAT ‘SERIES FINALE’ ON-SCREEN GRAPHIC!” another viewer shared.
Another person commented, “This is one of my favourite episodes. Loved the celebrity appearances, and tributes to the old episodes. What an amazing episode, can’t wait for S36 E2.”
“Tonight’s premiere — not series finale — of @TheSimpsons was freaking brilliant!!! Great work, writer Jessica Conrad!” an amazed fan wrote in another post. “Which brings me to this: #TheSimpsons won’t last forever — we’ve all made our peace with that. But NEVER DOUBT this show’s ability to crank out gold-level s—t.”
The Future of The Simpsons: When Will It Finally Conclude?
Created by Matt Groening, The Simpsons aired its first episode on December 17th, 1989. The show has featured several voice actors over the years, but its current voice cast includes Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson), Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson), Nancy Cartwright (Bart and Maggie Simpson), Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson) and Hank Azaria (various characters).
The question of when the long-running animated series will finally come to an end remains a topic of much speculation. In an interview with USA Today back in 2021, Groening said that he’s “standard answer” to questions of when the show will conclude is “there’s no end in sight because anytime I speculate on the show ending, the people who work on it and diehard fans get very upset. So, I always say there’s no end in sight.”
As of now, Season 37 of The Simpsons has not been officially announced, leaving fans to wonder whether Springfield’s adventures will continue for many years to come. While the show’s longevity is a testament to its enduring popularity, the possibility of a future finale remains a bittersweet prospect for many devoted viewers.
New episodes of The Simpsons air on Sundays at 8 PM ET/PT on FOX. In addition to the regular Sunday episodes, four exclusive episodes are set to premiere on Disney+, starting with a Christmas special titled O C’mon All Ye Faithful on December 17th.