The Simpsons renewed for two more seasons
LOS ANGELES (Heartland Newsfeed) — The Simpsons, one of the longest-running TV shows in history, is coming back for their 31st and 32nd seasons, according to an announcement from Fox Television Wednesday. The two-season extension will bring the show up to 713 episodes. Fox, according to a Deadline report, also secured deals with the long-running Sunday night cartoon, although no details were disclosed.
Ratings for its historic 30th season has been successful, with an average audience of 7.5 million viewers across all platforms. This is despite fans agreeing that show quality has been in decline for the past few years, but it has not detracted from the show and wider franchise remaining wildly popular.
We’ve got some eeeeeexcellllent news… #TheSimpsons has been renewed for Seasons 31 and 32! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UfijjrLZXa
— The Simpsons (@TheSimpsons) February 6, 2019
The show’s multi-decade run isn’t without issues and controversy. Comedian Hari Kondabolu explored Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the proprietor of the Kwik-E-Mart, as a character and pushed his inclusion in the show as stereotypical in his 2017 documentary, The Problem with Apu. Simpsons series creator Matt Groening responded to the so-called controversy and the documentary by stating in a USA Today interview covered by Gamespot “people love to pretend they’re offended.”
In addition to the TV series, there are theme park attractions related to the show, a wide range of merchandise like Duff beer and even released a film in 2007, The Simpsons Movie. The studio, 20th Century Fox/21st Century Fox, had green-lit a sequel to the film last year, but no current production activity has been done currently.
With Disney buying most of the assets from 20th Century Fox and 21st Century Fox from News Corporation, the company will assume ownership of the franchise once the deal is completed. What happens after Disney ownership becomes official will be unpredictable, but like many previous assets Disney has acquired, it may continue its downward spiral.
Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.
