The Simpsons Isn't Changing to 'Do Big Topical Things' Like South Park, 'Cause the Topical is So Chaotic and Nuts'

The Simpsons' co-showrunner has discussed however the long-running bid volition proceed to dainty topical issues, arsenic its 37th play begins.

Unlike chap animated bid South Park — which has antecedently aired episodes made from scratch successful conscionable 7 days, and enjoyed immense ratings this play aft featuring notable disapproval of President Trump — The Simpsons is made utilizing a much accepted model, with scripts written months earlier episodes are broadcast.

This means The Simpsons has ever been constricted successful however topical it tin beryllium — and there's seemingly nary tendency for this to change, according to co-showrunner Matt Selman.

"We're not gonna bash a large amusement wherever the president comes to town. We did bash that, but helium was George Bush and he'd been retired of bureau for rather immoderate time," Selman told Entertainment Weekly. "And, you know, we conscionable don't bash large topical things, 'cause the topical is truthful chaotic and nuts. So we person to look astatine the bigger trends."

The Simpsons' latest play began past nighttime with "Thrifty Ways to Thieve Your Mother," successful which Marge reminisces astir the '90s, portion Homer reflects connected the gait of movies ending up connected streaming platforms. (In different words, unsurprisingly, President Trump's genitalia was kept retired of sight.)

"When you constitute a amusement that doesn't travel retired until 10 months aft you constitute it, it benignant of takes the unit off, due to the fact that who knows what the f*** we're gonna beryllium looking astatine successful 10 months," Selman said. "South Park, they marque their amusement successful a week, and adjacent they can't enactment up to day connected things. More brainsick s*** goes down faster than adjacent they tin bash it.

"And you know, Jimmy Kimmel's great," Selman continued, referencing the chat amusement host's little suspension by Disney bosses, "and I'm gladsome helium is backmost connected TV. Censorship sucks. What tin I say? Censorship sucks. But it's not our ngo connection to respond to the situation of the moment. It's much astir a municipality of good-natured dum-dums dealing with a changing world, yet our characters ne'er truly change. The satellite changes astir them."

Upcoming episodes this play volition see the series' yearly Treehouse of Horror special, which includes a conception that mixes Jaws with The Blob. The Simpsons volition besides soon scope its landmark 800th episode, which Selman teases volition absorption connected Santa's Little Helper, the family's beloved dog. "It involves the dog," helium said. "The canine gets fat."

"Ideally, I would similar to deliberation that radical connected some sides of our divided federation tin ticker The Simpsons and consciousness that, similar America, Springfield is simply a municipality of radical who are good, but easy misled," Selman concluded. "Whatever your explanation of misled is, you tin use that to the show."

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social