Simpsons Showrunner Declares Series Will Never Have a Conventional Finale
The showrunner of The Simpsons has made a surprising revelation about the future of the iconic animated series, stating it will never have a traditional finale. Matt Selman, who oversees the long-running show, explained that if the series were to end, it would conclude with just another regular episode rather than a dramatic, wrap-up style conclusion.
Parody Episode as a Statement Against Finales
Selman pointed to an episode from about a year and a half ago that parodied series finales as evidence of this approach. "We jammed every possible series finale concept into one show," he said, "so that was sort of my way of saying we're never going to do a series finale." He told TheWrap that this episode "made fun of all the ideas of wrapping everything up or ending."
Should the show come to an end, Selman is adamant it won't feature a standard season finale. Instead, it would merely seem like just another episode with the Simpson family. "Probably a little Easter egg here and there, but no 'I'm going to miss this place,'" he added, emphasizing the show's episodic nature.
The Simpsons' Groundhog Day Structure
Selman elaborated on the show's format, stating that The Simpsons "isn't supposed to change" each week. "The characters reset every week. It's like Groundhog Day, but they don't know it – and they don't die that much," he remarked. This comment highlights the series' consistent, resetting narrative structure that has kept it fresh for decades.
Despite Selman's remarks about characters not dying frequently, the show has actually killed off several characters in recent years, adding a layer of irony to his statement.
Recent Character Deaths on The Simpsons
In November, The Simpsons killed off Alice Glick, the organist in Springfield's church, who died during a service led by Reverend Lovejoy. Alice Glick was introduced in season two episode 21, "Three Men and a Comic Book," which aired in 1991, and was originally voiced by Cloris Leachman. Tress MacNeille took over the role following Leachman's death in 2021.
Executive producer Tim Long confirmed Glick's death, telling People: "In a sense, Alice the organist will live forever, through the beautiful music she made. But in another, more important sense, yep, she's dead as a doornail."
The year before, The Simpsons killed off Larry the Barfly, a beloved character who had featured on the show since season 10. In response to viewer outcry, Long said: "I'm sorry if some fans are upset, but we really wanted to use Larry's death as a way to show that even the most peripheral people in our lives have dignity and worth, and that we really shouldn't take anyone for granted."
Speculation About the Show's Future
The Simpsons, which premiered in 1989, is currently on its 37th season and has aired over 800 episodes. There has been speculation that the forthcoming film, a sequel to 2007's The Simpsons Movie, could serve as a swansong for the series. However, Selman's comments suggest that even if the show ends, it will maintain its unique, low-key approach to conclusions.
Fans have long predicted the show's end, but Selman's insights reveal a deliberate strategy to avoid a traditional finale, keeping the series true to its episodic roots. This approach ensures that The Simpsons remains a timeless staple of television, with its legacy intact regardless of how it eventually concludes.
