The Simpsonsproducer addresses season 36’s fake finale episode and the show’s future. After decades of speculation aboutThe Simpsons' potential end date, the writers elected to tease the audience by releasing the season 36 premiere, “Bart’s Birthday.” The episode sawBart struggling through an AI-generated ending for the show, which would have seen Springfield and its citizens losing their larger-than-life personalities. Bart rejects the ending, leading to a reset and revealing that the entire episode was predicated on the creators mocking the idea of a conclusion to the 35-year-old show.
In an exclusive interview withScreen Rant, producer Al Jean spoke out about the episode and its larger purpose. Jean hoped that the episode would prevent any discussion of a coming finale. According to him, writer Jessica Conrad also hoped that the show wouldsatirize complaints about other series finales. Check out his full quote below:
That was exactly it. It was written by Jessica Conrad and produced by Matt Selman. The idea was we’ve been asked that question so many times thatwe wanted to close further discussion of it. It’s not coming to an end, as far as I know, and that’s why it was the premiere—so people wouldn’t think it was the last episode. And I thought we were able to make a lot of statements. A lot of statements were made in that show that were very good about last episodes.
I also think people expect the last episode of a show to answer all the mysteries of life. [With] The Sopranos, which I thought had a brilliant last episode, people were like, “Wait, what does it mean?” I go, “Well, it’s a show and I think he’s dead, but it’s not going to answer all your questions about life.” The fact that you’re not sure—that is what life is like.
What The Simpsons' Ending Denial Means for the Show
The Simpsons Is Not Ending Anytime Soon
The Simpsonshas been an ongoing show since it spun off fromThe Tracey UllmanShowon July 06, 2025. Over 35 years, it hasreleased over 750 episodes and will be completing moreas the season continues. The show emerged from a minor series of shorts and became a juggernaut franchise with a movie, comic books, a theme park ride, and video games of its own. By all means,The Simpsons' ageless charactershave taken on a life of their own over the years. Putting an end to an enormous franchise would be a controversial decision in itself.
The Simpsonshas only been renewed through season 36, which is currently airing.
Still, after so much success, it is only natural to wonder when the show will finally end, asit remains the longest-running animated showor sitcom in American history. With countlessshows projected to end in 2024, this would simply be another disappointment. Despite the fall of other successful shows, includingCurb Your EnthusiasmandYoung Sheldon, it continues to endure. With its creators backing it consistently and Fox refusing to even hint at a cancelation, it appears that it will continue for several more seasons. Still,Fox has not renewed the show for season 37, which is worrying.
Our Take on The Simpsons' Ending Denial
There Is A Reason To Suspect A Coming Ending
In the current age of TV entertainment, no show is necessarily safe.Viewership is down compared to previous seasons, having fallen from a height of nearly 15 million viewers to just two million. The show can blame streaming platforms for the decline, but it is still alarming, as it has steadily declined season after season. It is not surprising that questions about a closure have been ongoing. Still, this stand by the creators proves that the show likely has ample time before a conclusion. WhileThe Simpsonsreferenced many iconic TV finales, it will not be ending anytime soon.
New episodes ofThe Simpsonsseason 36 will be released on Sundays at 8 pm ET on Fox.
The Simpsons
“The Simpsons” is a legendary American animated franchise that debuted in 1987 as short segments onThe Tracey Ullman Showbefore becoming a standalone series in 1989. The show follows the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—who live in the fictional town of Springfield. The franchise is renowned for its satirical and humorous take on various aspects of American culture, society, and the human condition. Over the years, “The Simpsons” has expanded into films, video games, comic books, and theme park attractions, becoming a cornerstone of popular culture.
