Condign a worldwide phenomenon and redefining televised developed blitheness for an entire generation, The Simpsons ' reputation precedes itself in every manner. The iconic and inimitable characters have been a staple of American broadcasting since the premiere of the plan dorsum in 1989.

Get-go every bit uncomplicated cartoon short as part of the variety program The Tracey Ullman Show, the widespread appeal of the Springfield family garnered immediate popularity, and for over three decades has been airing new seasons consistently on the Play a trick on network, as well as streaming on Disney+ after Disney bought 20th Century Fox for over $71 billion. Though, like all shows, at some bespeak the fun must come to an end, and in the case of The Simpsons, just when is that ending going to exist, if ever? Has the fun already ended?

When it comes downwardly to it, everyone has their own opinions on when the animated juggernaut should (or should've) had its last curtain call. Nigh audiences aren't keeping up with the plan as often as they may have back during its peak in the '90s, and when the topic of The Simpsons appears in conversation, it'due south generally met with questions such equally, "Is that still on?" rather than discussing the latest episodes. Being ane of the longest-running boob tube series in history, the expectations of its eventual ending abound larger and larger with each consecutive flavor, just when exactly should that ultimate catastrophe be? What should it exist well-nigh? What practise the showrunners, the creator, and the fans think? Well don't have a moo-cow, human, we'll take a look and see.

What'southward New is Quondam

Momentum of the show's product continues to chug along every bit it always has, as the creative team behind the scenes has recently revealed they have no plans to cease the cartoon inside the near future. With the current count of Simpsons episodes sitting at above 700, it's hard to believe that there'south whatever subject left that the series hasn't already covered in some way. Though miraculously, current showrunner Al Jean has a concept that he feels would make a suitable catastrophe to the long-running comedy, and it brings us all the way back to 1989.

Bart and Homer as Santa in The Simpsons
20th Television

"Simpsons Roasting on an Open up Fire" was the very first episode of the programme, featuring the titular family unit going to a schoolhouse Christmas pageant. In attempting to create a cyclical nature to the show'south timeline (which admittedly seems to exist outside of time), Jean's idea would bring viewers dorsum to that very pageant. During an interview with Radio Times, Al Jean specified.

"There would exist an ending where they [the Simpsons] would exist going back to the Christmas pageant from the showtime episode, so that the whole series was a continuous loop — that's how I would finish it."

Equally one of several options speculated upon for The Simpsons' last episode, the idea would be a fun manner to leave audiences with a sense of cornball continuity, though it's ultimately lacking in a sense of finality. After tuning in to the show for decades, fans may expect a larger send-off to the characters, one that may wrap upward their individual arcs more than tightly, leaving each with a satisfying bespeak of conclusion. While dedicated viewers may not get much of a say in what ultimately becomes of the prove's stop, they certainly have thoughts on past episodes that would've served perfectly equally the serial finale.

Going Dorsum to the Future

With countless episodes to chose from, hardcore fans have already picked out their personal favorite potential endings to the beloved animated sitcom. While well-nigh deem the gilded age of the testify to be within the kickoff viii or nine seasons, ane of the most popular choices for a canonical final episode would have to get to season 23's "Holidays of Time to come Passed."

The Simpsons 30 years from now
20th Television

Being ane in a scattering of 'what if?' fourth dimension jump episodes throughout the series showing a non-canonical version of the Simpson's time to come, the holiday special is favored by many as a faithful and satisfying estimation of where the family would exist 30 years down the line. Giving each Simpson an entertaining and heartwarming conclusion to their character'southward private story, information technology'southward no wonder why fans have accounted the episode the unofficial catastrophe of the series. Though surprisingly enough, the reason the special may bring such 'finale' vibes is because it was potentially meant to be simply that.

During the writing of the episode, the show'southward network, Fox, was asking for the actors in the serial to take a 45% pay cut to their salaries. Lengthy negotiations at the time fabricated the hereafter of the program uncertain, and J. Stewart Burns, the scriptwriter for the episode, had created it to serve equally what could've been the true official end to the series. Eventual agreements were made, however, and the show would continue as ever with the holiday special serving as a stand-out moment in The Simpsons' itemize.

No End in Sight

Lets for a moment pretend what it would exist similar to have created what many consider to exist one of the top animated Television shows that would so go on to become a monstrous striking, making hundreds of millions of dollars a year in promotional cloth. The question would exist, when would you pull the plug? For some who consider information technology a matter of integrity, they may say yes, earlier on when the show is withal thought of positively, and before the franchise becomes drawn. Though The Simpsons' creator Matt Groening may run into things differently.

Matt Groening between The Simpsons
20th Television / AP

In a lengthy interview with The states Today, Groening answered many questions most his hitting series, one in particular on the concept of the show's cancellation. On the often-speculated topic, the cartoonist spoke briefly.

I don't meet any end in sight. It's always possible. (But) I alive in denial of expiry, much less the cancellation of The Simpsons.

Though a remark made in jest, information technology does signify that ending The Simpsons is not something on Groening'due south to-do listing anytime before long. With the evidence continuing to practice well with streaming equally 1 of the best TV series on Disney+, it's very likely the yellow family could go along airing new episodes long later its creators are around. The Simpsons could become like a much more expensive version of The Tonight Show, which is approaching seventy years on Tv set.

The Show Must Get On

Currently in its 33rd flavor and being renewed through its 34th, The Simpsons is confirmed to be on the air until at to the lowest degree 2023, but if history is annihilation to go past, it'll go on long after. Though every few years a rumor comes forth speculating that the show is catastrophe soon, each fourth dimension without fail the animated institution smashes through expectations, setting records as beingness the longest-running scripted American primetime show to date.

The Simpsons family watching TV
20th Television receiver

With a rumored 2d movie in talks according to the series' showrunner, the futurity is looking pretty stable for the animated family. It's hard to imagine a time when The Simpsons is no longer airing, and in an age of reboots and spin-offs being abundant for popular series, it's certain that even later on the long-awaited cancelation of the bear witness, we'll be seeing Springfield again in some form.

What fabricated The Simpsons stand out all those years ago may no longer be equally groundbreaking as it was during the era information technology debuted, simply it'due south notwithstanding responsible for setting the standard. Many sitcoms, blithe or not, have the show to give thanks for creating a new manner to portray a traditional American family unit, existence unafraid to embrace their dysfunctional nature. Whether the testify should've concluded years ago or years from now, there will always be a identify for The Simpsons among television receiver'south nearly iconic franchises; but try not to binge it all in i sitting.

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