The Simpsons showrunner spills the beans on shocking series finale

The long-running animated series, The Simpsons, continues to entertain audiences with its wit and satire as it progresses through its 36th season. There has been ongoing speculation about how the show will eventually conclude, particularly after a spoof finale episode aired earlier this year that humorously tackled the challenge of writing a meaningful conclusion to a show that seems never-ending. Showrunner Matt Selman expressed sentiments about the finale being a daunting task, stating that many suggestions for a final episode borrow from clichés of other series endings. He believes instead that the show's best closure might be simply selecting an existing episode as the last, emphasizing that the characters within do not age. Selman articulated strong opinions against producing a sentimental or typical series finale, labeling it as unnecessary and unoriginal. He stated, "To do a sappy crappo series finale, like most other shows do, would be so lame," reflecting on the uniqueness of The Simpsons, which has maintained its charm while not adhering strictly to conventional storytelling tropes. Selman humorously mentioned that ideas for the ending should not mimic other series that have concluded, leading him to imagine a unique parody of A Christmas Carol featuring Mr. Burns as Scrooge. The anticipation of how an iconic show like The Simpsons will wrap up is coupled with creative pressures from both the fans and its writers. Carolyn Omine, a fellow writer on the show, noted that the evolving nature of the series makes it difficult to settle on a definitive ending. She highlighted that fans have diverse opinions on what the finale should be, complicating the decision-making process. This reflects broader themes in television where series finales can often disappoint fans who hold certain expectations based on personal investment in the characters and storylines. As The Simpsons continues to garner a dedicated viewership, the prospect of its eventual conclusion looms large in both the production and audience mindsets. Discussions surrounding its ending suggest a yearning not just for closure, but for a final moment that resonates with the series' core themes of family, humor, and absurdity. The writers stand keenly aware that the conclusion must feel authentic to its legacy while also being a testament to the absurdly comedic lens through which it has depicted family life and societal norms for over three decades. Thus, the show’s ultimate fate may have as much to do with its core identity and audience expectations as it does with the creative deliberations of the team behind it.