'The Simpsons' extends its record run with two more seasons, whether you want them or not
Fox isn't ready to let go of The Simpsons, even if a growing number of longtime fans are.
The show, which is already TV's longest ever for a primetime scripted series, will continue for at least two more seasons. Fox confirmed its commitment on Wednesday to delivering Season 31 and 32 of The Simpsons, bringing the overall episode total to 713.
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This means that 20th Century Fox holdings like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and all of the network's other programming should be in the hands of Disney by the time the renewal question comes up again. The acquisition process that began in 2017 is expected to be completed by mid-2019.
According to Deadline, the cast is also signed on to return for two seasons -- though that hasn't been officially confirmed.
The Simpsons will celebrate its 30th birthday in December, with the series first episode having aired on Dec. 17, 1989. It enjoyed a strong run through the '90s and early '00s, though its popularity has slipped in recent years, most recently due to ongoing controversy.
Much of it came to a head around the 2017 release of Hari Kondabolu's documentary, The Problem With Apu. In the film, Kondabolu explored the history of the once-popular Kwik-E-Mart proprietor voiced by Hank Azaria, and the lingering impact his heavily caricatured Indian stereotype had on Indian-Americans who grew in the midst of the show's cultural dominance.
While many felt that Kondabolu had tapped into a worthwhile and important line of dialogue, the show's creators haven't responded nearly as well. Much of the ill will directed toward The Simpsons in recent times stems from the creative minds behind the show apparently not hearing or reasonably engaging with the criticism.
Topics The Simpsons
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
