WhileThe Simpsonsseason 36 is arriving at a critical high point for the sitcom, the long-running show has another issue to tackle.The Simpsonswill never replicate the critical success of the show’s Golden Age. Running from seasons 3 to 10-12, the Golden Age ofThe Simpsonsis one of the most influential eras of television comedy in the history of the medium. The style pioneered byThe Simpsonsduring this era helped reshape the landscape of sitcom writing. However, this doesn’t mean thatThe Simpsonsseason 36is doomed to endure bad reviews upon its release.
On the contrary,The Simpsonshas enjoyed something of a critical revival in recent years. While everything after season 12 was universally agreed to be a step-down from the show’s Golden Age, seasons 30-33 were particularly dismal. This resulted in a change in the show’s writing style during season 34, prioritizing character development over the sheer number of jokes. As a result of this shift,The Simpsonsseasons 34 and 35 earned the show’s best reviews in years.The Simpsonsseason 35’s worst episodeproved some problems remain, but the show’s critical standing has broadly been improved.
I’m Very Confused By The Simpsons Season 36’s Retcons
Even with the show’s ever-changing canon and continuity, I can’t see how The Simpsons season 36 is going to pull off one of its weirdest storylines.
The Simpsons Season 35 Saw Its Ratings Drop (Again) Despite Critical Success
The Classic Sitcom’s Viewership Has Gradually Waned For Years
Despite this bit of positive news,The Simpsonsseason 36 still has another problem to face.The ratings ofThe Simpsonshave been declining steadily for years now, from an average viewership of 5 million in 2013’s season 25 down to a mere 2 million in season 35. Although the show commanded a viewership of 27.8 million in its first season, it is scarcely fair to compare this 1989 season with the show’s recent output.The Simpsonshas been on the air for 35 years and, in that time, the contours of the television industry have changed immeasurably.
The Simpsonsmaintaining only 40% of its 2013 viewership is concerning.
That said,The Simpsonsmaintaining only 40% of its 2013 viewership is concerning.The Simpsonsseason 36’s competitors, fromBob’s BurgerstoFamily Guy, have also struggled to hold onto their audience shares in recent years. This could be seen as a good thing for the series, since it meansThe Simpsonsisn’t uniquely impacted by disinterested viewers changing the channel. However, the longevity ofThe Simpsonsis both a blessing and a curse here. UnlikeFamily GuyandBob’s Burgers,The Simpsonshas been around since the ‘80s. Viewers can hardly imagine the show’s potential future cancelation.
The Simpsons Season 36 Is Likely To Struggle With Declining Ratings
The Unprecedented Longevity of The Simpsons Doesn’t Help
Ironically,The Simpsonsbeing a pop culture touchstone arguably makes the show more vulnerable to cancelation. Viewers are less likely to tune into a show that seems like it will never die, let alone fight for its renewal. SinceThe Simpsonsseems too big to fail, this view doesn’t inspire a devoted fan base to protect its future. When season 34 boasted an even smaller average viewership of only 1.83 million, this could be an issue.The Simpsonsseason 36’s Christmas episodemight be a nostalgic, family-oriented special that could reignite interest, but its weekly outings are another story.
The season 35 premiere earned 3.58 million viewers, only for the next three outings to barely attract more than 1 million viewers.
A glance overThe Simpsonsseason 35’s ratings proves that event episodes are central to the show’s future. The season premiere earned 3.58 million viewers, only for the next three outings to barely attract more than 1 million viewers apiece. Season 34, episode 5, “Treehouse of Horror XXXIV,” earned a massive 4.38 million, but the show’s viewers dropped to beneath 2 million for the next two episodes. Episode 10, “Do The Wrong Thing,” managed a season-high of 5.41 million, but its December 24th air date was pivotal to its success. The following eight episodes failed to earn even 1 million viewers.
Low Ratings Make The Simpsons Season 36’s Divisive Change Easier
The Simpsons Could Graduate To Disney+ With Its Smaller Audience
Until now, every episode ofThe Simpsonshas been broadcast on television. The show began producing Disney+ exclusive shorts after Fox’s merger with Disney, but these were mostly used to promote the MCU andStar Wars. The shorts were never essential viewing for fans and none of them were close to a full episode’s runtime. Thus, the choice to release season 36’s two-part Christmas special on Disney+ could be a sign of things to come. With a dwindling viewership but a loyal fan base,The Simpsonsis the sort of intellectual property that could sway viewers to pay for the subscription service.
Could The Simpsons Ever Be Canceled?
How Much Longer Will The Show Run For?
Even as the show’s 36th season begins to migrate online,it is tough to imagineThe Simpsonsever getting canceled. The show may gradually ease its way onto Disney+, although the rest of Fox’s animation lineup does not boast significantly better ratings than the series. IfThe Simpsonswere to be canceled, this would likely come after a complete transition to Disney+ and would be unlikely to preclude the possibility of future specials and shorts.The Simpsonsremains one of Disney’s most recognizable brands, even if the show doesn’t seem like a competitor to blockbuster franchises like the MCU.
The Simpsonsseason 36 is set to premiere on June 23, 2025.
After somany great episodes ofThe Simpsons, it seems as if the show could never end. However, its gradually declining ratings are a real problem and its shift to Disney+ shouldn’t come as a major surprise. Despite its legendary Golden Age and its current critical resurgence,The Simpsonsis still a TV show at the end of the day. The series is a pop culture staple, but it is also the subject of the fickle whims of TV executives and audiences. As such, viewers should prepare for the possibility ofThe Simpsonsending someday, even this fate still feels far off.
