After 37 seasons and countless cultural moments, “The Simpsons” just hit a milestone that seemed impossible back in 1989: 800 episodes.
But don’t expect Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie to ride off into the sunset anytime soon.
Showrunner Matt Selman recently revealed that America’s favorite animated family will never get a proper series finale—and they’ve already parodied the very concept.
Here’s what keeps Springfield spinning after nearly four decades on air.
Why “The Simpsons” Will Never Have a Real Finale
Selman told TheWrap that the show actually already did a series finale—sort of.
We did an episode about a year-and-a-half ago that was like a parody of the series finale. We jammed every possible series finale concept into one show, so that was sort of my way of saying we’re never going to do a series finale.
Instead of wrapping everything up with emotional goodbyes and character resolutions, the team mocked those conventions entirely. It was their way of declaring that Springfield exists outside traditional storytelling rules.
If the show ever does end, Selman says it won’t be dramatic.
If the show ever did end, there’s no finale, it would just be a regular episode that has the family in it. Probably a little Easter egg here and there, but no ‘I’m going to miss this place.’
Groundhog Day Without the Learning Curve
What makes “The Simpsons” so enduring? Nothing ever really changes.
Selman compared the show to “Groundhog Day,” except the characters don’t realize they’re stuck in an endless loop—and they rarely face permanent consequences.
The show isn’t supposed to change. The characters reset every week. It’s like Groundhog Day but they don’t know it—and they don’t die that much.
Season 37, Episode 14—titled “Irrational Treasure”—marks Fox’s 800th episode since the Matt Groening creation debuted as shorts on “The Tracey Ullman Show” in December 1989.
What Actually Sticks in Springfield?
While most storylines reset weekly, some changes have become permanent fixtures in Springfield’s canon.
- Lisa’s vegetarianism (introduced in a 1995 episode featuring Paul McCartney)
- Patty coming out as gay
- Maude Flanders’ death
Beyond these rare exceptions, everything else remains fluid—or as Selman puts it, “silly.”
We don’t really have a Show Bible. Only a few things have been kind of sticky, but most other deaths and job changes and stuff are pretty fluid. That’s just part of the silly nature of the show.
He even laughed at headlines proclaiming major character developments—like “Duffman Quit His Job”—only for those storylines to vanish by next week.
The Secret Formula: Making 800 Mini-Movies
For Selman, who joined as a writer in 1997 and became sole showrunner in 2024, every episode needs to stand alone.
We just want to make every separate episode its own amazing little mini movie that stands on its own and is original from the other 799.
That quest for originality after nearly 800 episodes? He calls it a “hard challenge” but a “really fun challenge.”
Over his nearly 30-year tenure, Selman has won six Emmys. He became executive producer in 2005, co-showrunner in 2021, and took sole control in 2024.
Predicting the Future (Without Trying)
“The Simpsons” has become legendary for seemingly forecasting real-world events—from Donald Trump’s presidency to smartwatches to the Disney-Fox merger.
But according to Selman, prediction isn’t the goal.
We never try to predict anything. We just know that people are silly and make bad decisions, and the people in Springfield are easily misled and are kind of Ding-Dongs.
The secret? Human nature doesn’t change. History repeats itself because people remain “good at heart” but can still be “misled into making bad choices.”
By studying history, humanity, and culture, writers tap into universal patterns that feel prophetic when they resurface years later.
The Luckiest Ding-Dongs in Show Business
Selman acknowledges the rare privilege of working on a show with complete creative freedom.
We’re just the luckiest writer Ding-Dongs in the world. I just don’t want to screw it up.
He also noted how fortunate longtime staffers feel, especially given recent upheaval across entertainment.
Some people are still here, some people went on to do other things—the ones who stayed probably feel pretty good about that decision, given what happened to the rest of show business.
For Selman and his team, every day presents the same question: How do we honor these characters while staying funny, original, and emotional?
What’s Next for Springfield?
“The Simpsons” continues airing Sundays on Fox before streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
With no plans to stop and no finale on the horizon, Homer’s next “D’oh!” could come in Season 38, 48, or beyond.
After all, in Springfield, tomorrow always looks exactly like yesterday—and that’s exactly how fans like it.