The Season 36 premiere of “The Simpsons” started off with a bang, as the show jokingly declared it as the “series finale.” Hosted by animated Conan O’Brien, the episode featured a star-studded gathering at the Dolby-Mucinex Theatre to bid farewell to the iconic show.
O’Brien poked fun at Fox’s previous attempts to end the show over the years, citing viewer dissatisfaction since the very first episode in 1989. He revealed original cuts of scenes from famous episodes that were initially conceived as series finales.
The episode titled “Bart’s Birthday” was scripted using artificial intelligence and parodied typical series finale cliches. Characters like Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, and Milhouse underwent significant changes, with many characters getting married and expressing sentimentality for Springfield.
A meta twist occurred when Series Finale Bart became sentient and rebelled against turning 11, a milestone that had never happened in the show. The episode ended with a reboot, bringing Bart back to being 10 and hinting that “The Simpsons” may never truly end.
The star-studded episode featured guest appearances from John Cena, Danny DeVito, Seth Rogen, and Tom Hanks, who was disappointed to learn that it wasn’t actually the series finale. The characters also parodied famous series finales like “The Sopranos” and “Breaking Bad” in a humorous homage.
Despite the faux series finale, fans can look forward to upcoming episodes in Season 36, including the 35th “Treehouse of Horror” episode and a special trilogy inspired by Ray Bradbury. The show continues to entertain audiences with its unique brand of humor and satire, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating what’s next for the residents of Springfield.
