The finale of ‘The Simpsons’ series wasn’t really the last episode

SPOILER ALERT: Details follow for Season 36, Episode 1 of “The Simpsons,” “Bart’s Birthday,” which aired September 29 on Fox.

“The Simpsons” kicked off its season 36 premiere on Sunday with what the show called its “series finale.” Hosted by an animated version of former ‘Simpsons’ writer Conan O’Brien, the episode opened with ‘The Simpsons’ characters and other notables entering a Dolby Theater-style venue (technically the ‘Dolby-Mucinex Theatre’) to celebrate the show’s premiere. end.

“It’s such an honor to be with all of you for the final episode of ‘The Simpsons,'” O’Brien said in his opening monologue. “I knew I was the right man for the job because I’ve hosted the final episode of three of my own shows and counting… Well, it’s true. Fox has decided to end The Simpsons. This show was such a special part of my early career, so being here means the world to me. Also. I left a sweater in the writers’ room in 1993. This is the only way I can get him back.

“This theater is packed with the many celebrities who have appeared on ‘The Simpsons’ over the years coming to say goodbye,” O’Brien continued. “And of course, we’ll also be joined by the stars of Fox’s many live-action hits.”

Reduced to one person: “Animal Control” star Joel McHale, sitting alone.

“Not many people know this, but Fox has been trying to put an end to it for years,” O’Brien added. “When the very first episode aired in 1989, viewers agreed on one thing: it wasn’t as funny as it used to be, and their expressions of hate could serve as a history of modern communications technology. Fox executives, unaccustomed to criticism of any kind, immediately caved to public pressure and decided to end “The Simpsons” in 1990.

O’Brien then showed what he said were the original clips of scenes from famous episodes of The Simpsons, such as 1990’s “Bart the Daredevil” and 2000’s “Little Big Mom,” in which Homer actually died. “Many now-classic episodes were originally intended to be series finales,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien revealed that the show’s writers used artificial intelligence to come up with what he believed was the script for the final episode, “Bart’s Birthday.” The script parodied some of the biggest clichés found in most series finales – with storyline-ending plots such as Mr. Burns dying, Principal Skinner retiring from Springfield Elementary (and moving to a new school in Sacramento, something ripe for a spin-off), Milhouse’s family moving to Atlanta, several characters getting married, Moe dropping out, and many characters shouting, “I’m going to miss this place!”

During the episode, an on-screen bug announced to viewers that they were watching the finale of ‘The Simpsons’ Series (this caused viewers who tuned in too late to realize it was all a joke) in the got confused. But Series Finale Bart became conscious, and at the end of the episode he returned home to learn he was turning 11 — something that never happened and can never happen on ‘The Simpsons’ — causing him to rebel and refuse to explode . his candles out. Homer went to strangle Bart, and the screen restarted – back to Bart turning 10 again. That put an end to all changes, and possibly the idea that “The Simpsons” was over.

It was a bold way to kick off season 36, considering “The Simpsons” isn’t coming to an end yet — but besides, the show hasn’t been picked up for a season 37 on Fox yet. And with new special “The Simpsons” episodes coming to Disney+ this fall, speculation is rife about the series’ future on Disney+.

In addition to O’Brien and McHale, participants included John Cena (who delivered Comic Book Guy’s baby), Danny DeVito, Seth Rogen, Mark Proksch, Amy Sedaris and Tom Hanks, who was very upset when he learned that this was not the was the series finale. finally.

The episode ended with scenes of “The Simpsons” characters parodying other famous series finales, including “The Sopranos,” “M*A*S*H,” “Mad Men,” “Mary Tyler Moore,” “Breaking Bad,” ‘ Frasier,” “Succession,” and “Newhart.”

Of course, fans knew this couldn’t possibly be the “series finale” of “The Simpsons,” as many episodes previously announced at San Diego Comic-Con are still coming this fall — including the 35th “Treehouse of Horror.” episode, which included a collaboration with Stoopid Buddy (“Robot Chicken”) to parody “Venom.” Also scheduled to air in November is a “second scary trilogy” that will focus on a trio of stories inspired by Ray Bradbury, called “Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes.” Next week’s episode, “Yellow Lotus,” is a parody of “The White Lotus.”