Is The Simpsons Ending? Exploring the Season 36 ‘Series Finale’ Episode
The premiere of The Simpsons’ Season 36 had a surprising twist that left many questioning the show’s future. Despite the amazing finale, Springfield’s iconic family seems to have more adventures ahead.
The Season 36 premiere of The Simpsons, titled Bart’s Birthday, aired on September 29, 2024, and started with an unexpected twist. The episode was presented as a series finale, hosted by a cartoon version of former Simpsons writer Conan O’Brien.
Opening at the Dolby-Mucinex Theatre, O’Brien poked fun at Fox’s decision to end the show. “It’s such an honor to be here for the series finale of The Simpsons,” he said, setting the tone for the humor to come.
He mentioned how The Simpsons played a significant role in his early career. “This show was a special part of my early career, so being here means the world to me,” O’Brien shared. Making a joke about leaving a sweater in the writer’s room in 1993, he remarked that this was his last chance to retrieve it.
The show paid homage to The Simpsons’ long history, with O’Brien teasing Fox’s numerous attempts to end the show over the years, dating back to its debut in 1989. He introduced various guest stars, including Joel McHale, who referenced the network’s other live-action programs.
In a humorous twist, O’Brien mentioned that the episode’s script was written by artificial intelligence. Titled Bart’s Birthday, the story played on common series finale cliches to poke fun at the tradition.
Main characters experienced significant changes. Mr. Burns passed away, Milhouse’s family relocated to Atlanta, and Principal Skinner retired with plans to teach at a new school in Sacramento. These events were purposely misleading to viewers who might have believed it was the actual end of the show.
One of the standout moments was Bart realizing he was turning 11 years old, a significant change since Bart had always been 10 throughout the series.
Refusing to blow out his candles, Bart didn’t want to grow up. Homer, in typical fashion, tried to strangle Bart, but the screen reset, bringing Bart back to his usual age of ten, and everything returned to normal.
Despite the elaborate series finale setup, The Simpsons has not ended yet according to Variety. Fox has not officially renewed the show for a 37th season, but new episodes are on the way, including the highly anticipated 35th annual Treehouse of Horror Halloween episode. This year, The Simpsons will collaborate with Stoopid Buddy Studios, known for Robot Chicken, to parody the Marvel character Venom.
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