Although it may not seem like it,The Simpsonswill eventually end, and the sitcom’s showrunner has begrudgingly weighed in on what a finale would look like and how it would subvert certain expectations of the genre.Matt Selman’s conditions for ending the showseem to be pretty straightforward, but they’re also a brilliant way for the legendary sitcom to conclude on its own terms. Topping the list of thelongest-running sitcoms of all time,The Simpsons' final episode could go several ways, but the showrunner has strong opinions on which avenues should be explored and which should be ignored.
The corecast ofThe Simpsonshas remained largely unchanged since the show’s 1989 debut, although a few unfortunate losses and other circumstances have resulted in certain characters being shelved or respectfully killed off. Matt Groening’s flagship show of his animation empire has had so many storylines and iconic guest stars that ending the story in the space of a single episode seems like an impossible task. Luckily,Selman doesn’t seem to be concerned with meeting certain expectations.
The Simpsons’ Series Finale Should Really Be Just A Regular Episode
Matt Selman’s comments about making a “great family story” sound perfect
Speaking withPeople,Matt Selman has confirmed he doesn’t want to do anything specialwhen the time comes to write a final installment ofThe Simpsons. Instead, he just wants to be an unremarkable installment, albeit one that involves every member of the sitcom’s titular family. While this may sound like a fairly underwhelming way to end such an impressive run on TV, approaching it any other way would be borderline impossible. WithThe Simpsonsseason 36 currently airing, there would be a lot of lore to include in a 20-minute run-time.
“I just hope it’s just a regular episode with no Winky Winky stuff at all. Just a great family story, just like a classic story that’s just funny and involves the whole family and doesn’t feel like it needs to wrap up anything or change anything or tie anything up or be magic or talk to the audience directly.”
The Simpsonshas broken its formula several times throughout its decades-long run. For instance, theHalloween anthology episodesdon’t impact the main canon of the show, nor do the parody and spoof installments that pop up from time to time. That being said, these deviations from the show’s blueprint have returned so often that they have becomeSimpsonstropes themselves. Therefore,the purest way to end the show would be to do what Selman suggestsand just make a “regular episode,” with no pressure to do something that will blow people away.
Sitcom Finales Have Become Way Too Safe And Predictable
The Simpsons finale can avoid some of sitcoms' biggest tropes
When a sitcom is lucky enough to end on its own terms rather than being canceled, there is a certain framework that has emerged throughout the beloved genre’s history. A sitcom’s final episode has largely become something of a box-ticking exercise.Common ways of wrapping up a sitcom have boiled down to just a handful of possibilities, which makes watching them a little less rewarding - even if they can still be unavoidably emotional.
This safe and proven way of writing a sitcom finale script has long-saturated the genre - as Selman implied in his comments.
Althoughsome sitcoms cast this formulaic finale approach aside, it’s still generally adhered to. For instance, there can often be a big, life-changing event that means the main cast can’t stay together anymore. Included in these important occasions are marriage, the birth of a child, a new job/promotion, or simply just moving further away from the sitcom’s main setting. Occasionally, a character can die - but this is less common. Regardless, this safe and proven way of writing a sitcom finale script has long-saturated the genre - as Selman implied in his comments.
A “Winky Winky” Finale Would Never Work For The Simpsons
The Simpsons has gone on for too long to have a self-aware finale
Selman’s comment about talking to the audience is particularly salient.Time doesn’t pass in the world ofThe Simpsonsin quite the same wayas in live-action sitcoms. Although the calendar year does change in the world of the show, and things like new pieces of technology are introduced, none of the characters age. So, the often-used trope of sitcom characters hitting certain milestones and using those as a stopping point for the story wouldn’t make any sense forThe Simpsons, and engineering that kind of moment wouldn’t feel very authentic.
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Because of the lack of any notable character progression, none of the residents of Springfield are particularly primed for a life-changing event suitable enough to end the sitcom traditionally. Homer and Marge are still married, and none of the kids are old enough to even leave home - let alone settle down and start their own families. While some of this has been glimpsed in future timelines, they’re largely seen as non-canon. So,The Simpsons' finale episode should just do what it always has done - spend time with the main characters and imply their lives will never end.
The Simpsons
Cast
The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
