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Wafric News - June 13, 2025

As political satire becomes a crowded space in American media, the creator of The Simpsons, Matt Groening, says the long-running animated series is steering clear of direct political humour — a deliberate decision to keep the show relevant, timeless, and connected to viewers across generations.

“We don’t do political humour because it’s very limited. It dates very quickly,” Groening told AFP during an appearance at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.

He pointed to the long production timeline — often six to nine months per episode — as a key reason for avoiding topical political content. “By the time an episode airs, any political joke could already feel outdated,” Groening explained.

While The Simpsons has at times poked fun at public figures like Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush, Groening emphasized that the writers prefer to focus on the enduring dynamics within the fictional family — Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie — rather than diving into the fast-moving and often toxic realm of U.S. politics.

Staying True to the Characters

Co-writer and executive producer Matt Selman echoed this sentiment, noting that the emotional core of the series is what has helped it resonate since its debut in 1989.

“We just have to stay true to our characters — their spirit and relationships,” Selman said. “When they confront the sadness of the world, audiences connect with that honesty.”

One recent episode tackled artificial intelligence, where a chatbot was asked to write the show’s finale — only to generate a jumble of clichés and recycled endings. It was, Selman said, a creative pushback against the idea of AI replacing human storytelling.

“That was our way of saying: not everything can be outsourced. Especially not the soul of a story,” he added.

No Sequel for Now, But Milestones Ahead

Despite fan anticipation, Groening confirmed there are no immediate plans for a sequel to The Simpsons Movie, which earned over $536 million worldwide after its 2007 release. “We’re still recovering from the first movie,” he joked. “And the truth is, we don’t have the time to make a movie and the show unless we want to work ourselves to death.”

Groening also cited environmental themes as a rich source of material for the writers — as seen in the movie, where Homer’s antics result in ecological disaster and Springfield is sealed in a dome. “The environment isn’t getting fixed any time soon,” he noted wryly.

As the series approaches its 800th episode, scheduled for early 2026, The Simpsons continues to be a global phenomenon. The show is available in 26 languages and broadcast in more than 100 countries, with audiences still tuning in to its blend of satire, absurdity, and family-driven storytelling.

By WafricNews Desk.

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