‘The Simpsons’ to reduce number of episodes per season moving forward
The Simpsons will have fewer episodes per season moving forward, with the producer of the show confirming the reduction in a series order that will take the show beyond 40 seasons.
The animated show has been a pop culture staple ever since it debuted in 1989. The latest season order will take the show to its 40th anniversary, with four seasons commissioned taking it to the 2028-29 season. However, while the show usually runs for over 20 episodes per season, in future that will be shorter.
“We used to do 22 a year. For the next four (seasons), we’re doing 17 a year,” writer and producer Matt Selman explained to Variety. “Fifteen that will premiere in America on Fox, and then two exclusives on Disney+. It’s still a full-time job”.
Although the first season ran for just 13 episodes, at the comedy’s peak in the mid-90s seasons had as much as 25 episodes each. For the majority of the seasons since then it has been 22, although the Hollywood writers’ strikes meant season 35 had 18.
Despite its longevity, The Simpsons still remains popular with fans, with the latest season peaking at 3Million viewers for episode 11, titled Bottle Episode. In addition to the TV it has also spawned many spin-offs including a variety of video games, a theme park, and 2007’s The Simpsons Movie.
Season 36 of The Simpsons ended in May of this year, with the next season anticipated to debut in late September. The show airs on Disney+ in The UK, with repeats on E4 and Sky.
Recently, creator Matt Groening revealed which character he based on himself, saying during an award acceptance speech at an animation festival: “I’ll let you into a little secret, Je suis Milhouse (I am Millhouse)”. Fans also mourned the passing of Alf Clausen, long-time composer on the show.
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Victoria Luxford
NME
