The Unending Saga of ‘The Simpsons’
The current showrunner, Matt Selman, has declared that ‘The Simpsons’ will never conclude in a traditional manner. While other shows commute towards a definitive end, Selman emphasizes that when ‘The Simpsons’ wraps up, it will not be just another series finale. Instead, it appears the series has whimsically predicted its end—which is certainly a characteristic trait of this long-running show.
A Joke Wrapped in Clichés: The Alleged Finale
On September 29, 2024, Fox broadcast what seemed to be the final episode of ‘The Simpsons’. However, it was, in fact, the premiere of season 36, marking the 769th episode of the series—a brilliant twist on viewer expectations. Selman crafted this narrative shortly after the resolution of the WGA writers’ strike, cleverly posing the question: how and when will ‘The Simpsons’ truly end?
The episode featured HackGPT, a parody AI that analyzed every single episode of the series alongside other notable endings in television history to generate a so-called perfect closure. The results were a mix of TV clichés: Mr. Burns meets his demise, Moe shuts down his bar, Krusty cancels his show, Milhouse relocates to Atlanta, Skinner retires, and, remarkably, Maggie utters her first words. Conan O’Brien hosted this celebratory, satirical event alongside guest stars like Tom Hanks, Seth Rogen, and John Cena.
The Antifinal: A Statement of Intentions
During a recent interview, Selman articulated that this episode serves as a form of reboot, championing the idea that “we condensed all possible series finale concepts into a single episode, essentially stating that we will never create a conventional series finale.” This aligns with the backdrop of the WGA writers’ strike, a critical event highlighting the role of AI in scriptwriting. The episode itself masterfully satirizes how a mediocre screenwriter might approach a series conclusion, presenting a chaotic mashup of tired clichés. Its success is evidenced by its ranking as one of the highest-rated episodes on IMDB in recent years.
The Diagnosis of a Timeless Show
Structurally, ‘The Simpsons’ operates without a fixed canon. Selman maintains that a series that has aired for 37 years with perpetually youthful characters inherently cannot sustain a strict timeline. Instead, it utilizes a floating timeline, updating characters’ birth years as needed, so they consistently appear to age at a steady pace. As Selman put it, “Story and character should come first, with the rules of a universe that has none trailing far behind.”
Satire in the Age of AI
The anti-AI satire present in this faux finale reflects an increasingly relevant conversation. As legislation surrounding AI tools in creative industries continues to evolve, software like Sudowrite and ChatGPT is gaining traction. A July 2025 study indicated that these tools have become common for generating initial drafts and analyzing commercial viability. However, the implementation of such technology in scripted programming remains under various contractual restrictions.
The Road Ahead for Screenwriting
Industry professionals, such as screenwriter John August, express nuanced views on this development. While he sees value in AI for auxiliary tasks, he adamantly believes it cannot replace the creative writing process. These dilemmas highlight a future filled with uncertainty. Who knows? By the time ‘The Simpsons’ approaches its thousandth episode, the landscape of writing may look entirely different.