The Simpsons creator reveals grim reality behind show’s end

36 seasons and 790 episodes in, the creator of The Simpsons has revealed what it will take for him to end the show.

36 years and 790 episodes later, The Simpsons is still going, with the show about to enter its 37th season on-air.

The animated series’ longevity has left some wondering over the years exactly what would make those behind it decide it’s time to call it a day.

As reported by Variety, The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening revealed what it would take during a recent appearance at San Diego Comic-Con to promote the next season of the show.

“I honestly thought 36 [seasons] was where we were going to end it,” he confessed, before revealing that there is “no end in sight. We’re going to keep going. We’re going to go until somebody dies.”

By “somebody,” he presumably means one of the show’s core cast, who have voiced The Simpsons and other key characters in the show ever since it premiered way back in 1989 (and beyond – The Simpsons originated as animated sketches on The Tracey Ullman show in 1987).

Some of those performers are certainly getting on: At 81, Harry Shearer – voice of multiple characters including Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy and Principal Skinner – is the oldest key cast member.

Homer and Marge stay the same, but the actors who voice them are now well past retirement age. Picture: SUPPLIED

Julie Kavner, who voices Marge Simpson, is now 74 years old, while Marge’s TV children are now voiced by women hovering around retirement age: Nancy Cartwright, who voices Bart, is 67, while the voice of Lisa, Yeardley Smith, is 61.

The voice actors’ advanced ages have caused occasional upsets among casual viewers, who’ve been shocked to hear just how old some of their favourite characters sound on the show nowadays.

One clip went viral in December 2023, racking up more than 10 million views on social media as people expressed their shock at what Marge sounds like nowadays (hear for yourself in the video at the top of this story).

“Why does marge sound like patty and selma?” one person asked, referring to the character’s chain-smoking sisters.

Bart and Lisa, now voiced by two actors in their 60s.

Months later, another clip from the show went viral for all the wrong reasons, with casual fans shocked to hear what Mr Burns (voiced by Shearer) sounds like nowadays.

One viewer who watched the clip urged those behind The Simpsons to “let the show rest in peace”.

“Burns’ voice is just brutal man. Let these people retire in peace,” said one fan.

One key voice actor has called time on the show recently: Pamela Hayden, who voiced Bart’s best friend Milhouse among dozens of other characters, announced in November last year that she was quitting aged 70 to “pursue other creative outlets.” Hayden’s voice had featured across almost 700 episodes of the series.

Originally published as The Simpsons creator reveals grim reality behind show’s end