Matt Selman, the showrunner, has revealed fresh information about the upcoming season of The Simpsons, promising viewers that they will finally learn how the programme has been able to predict the future.
Selman highlighted his enthusiasm for season 34 and gave a sneak peek at what will happen next. Before revealing some details about the upcoming episodes, he mentioned a handful of the season’s guest stars, including Melissa McCarthy and Simu Liu. Selman specifically spoke about a conceptual episode that explains how The Simpsons know the future. The episode includes lots of crazy stuff, but it does offer an explanation of how The Simpsons can predict the future.
Homer, Marge, and their three kids, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, constitute the titular family, and the show follows their comedic antics. And while the show has become ingrained in popular culture thanks to catchphrases and instantly recognisable characters, The Simpsons is also well-known for its episodes that uncannily predicted future events. A 1994 episode with handheld communication devices employing autocorrect, a 1995 episode with smartwatches, and even a 1998 episode in which Disney owned 20th Century Fox are just a few predictions. Even six years prior to their win and Donald Trump’s election, The Simpsons correctly predicted the recipient of the Nobel Prize.
While many of the Simpsons’ predictions that came true, such as smartwatches and autocorrect, may be explained by well-written science fiction. One episode such as the 1993 Marge in Chains, which many believe foreshadowed the events of the Covid-19 pandemic since it depicts an unprecedented flu virus sweeping over Springfield, residents rioting for a cure, and another one with murder hornets, are harder to categorize. And while many people may dismiss the predictions as coincidences given their outstanding track record of accuracy, others are impressed with the show’s ability to anticipate the future.
When season 34 of The Simpsons premieres on 25 September, viewers will learn the precise reason how the show can predict the future or at the very least, the show’s humorous take on the concept. And even though the reasons presented in the show are probably comical, seeing the series confirm their famous predictions will no doubt excite viewers who have become fascinated by the idea. The Simpsons is still on air, so there may be more precise forecasts to come.