https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2OeSPvZe6g
The Simpsons is back for a record breaking 25th season tonight at 8p on Fox, and just like the characters, the show is ageless. But that doesn’t mean just because they don’t age that none of them will ever die. Tonight someone will bite the bullet (that is not a hint how they died…or is it?) and Springfield will never be the same.
Before we get to that, there’s a timeless Couch Gag done by Oscar nominated Don Hertzfeldt to open the show. Something that is so mesmerizing you don’t want to miss it, so make sure TV sets are tuned to Fox by 7:58p.
And time is something that The Simpsons know all about, and won’t mention again. Since the animated sitcom has been on the air for a quarter of century, there have been events that have been forecasted by it. As we know Lisa Simpson’s wedding date has come and gone and some say they almost predicted this year’s Super Bowl back in 2005. Earlier this week, I was on a conference call with Executive Producer, Al Jean, and I asked him about that. The EP, who has been with the show since day one, told us we will not be seeing the future on future episodes. In fact, he told us he was warned about dates a long, long time ago. He explained, “Brad Bird (Executive Consultant), when we did the first flashback to 1974, said you’re going to be sorry. Bugs Bunny was never locked into 1939, and now you’re going to be stuck with this. And we said oh, how long could the show last? Five, ten years? And he was right.†Twenty-Five years later this is something that they have a sense of humor about and we will see them making fun of being dateless in future episodes this season. Jean said, “the future is the future and the past is the past, and we will not do another show where we advance the time. We’ll stick to the continuity that we’ve described, as insane as it is. “
Now, it is time for the episode to start and the season begins with a Roast for Springfield’s favorite clown, Krusty. Although you wouldn’t know that by all the harsh things that Jeff Ross, Sarah Silverman and Carrot Top have to say about him. Their words hurt him so much; it will convince him to do something that will leave Springfield devastated.
But not as devastated as when one of their own dies. The episode that has been talked about for almost a year is finally here. Who will die is the biggest question the show has asked since “Who shot Mr. Burns?” almost 2 decades ago.
So who will it be? We know that it is a great character whose voice won an Emmy for the role. I would tell you more, but if I did, I would end up like said character. Jean did say that the person who dies tonight will stay dead. Since this is animation, the recently departed can come back in dreams or flashback.
Still not giving you a clue to who it is. But I will tell you their goodbye is a touching sweet one and so are the ramifications of their death for some of our residents.
There is a reason why The Simpsons is the longest running series on television, and has no foreseeable end date. It is because no matter how old it gets, it is still as fresh as when they were part of The Tracey Ullman Show way way way back when. So tune in tonight and every Sunday night for a show that is so popular that FXX recently dedicated 12 straights days to airing every episode of it and the network scored its highest ratings to date. If The Simpsons can do that with old episodes after 25 years, imagine what they can do with the new ones. You don’t want to miss a single one of them starting tonight.
