‘The Simpsons’ Renewal Through Season 40 Means the Long-Running Show Has To Face This Huge Issue -

The Simpsons is practically an institution in American comedy, as the groundbreaking animated series has become an essential part of any person’s cultural upbringing at this point. While The Simpsons started out as a parody of popular sitcoms, it steadily developed its own voice, leading to some of the greatest seasons in television history. Although many fans have complained that the show has continued to take drastic declines in quality, there has been no signs of slowing down, as The Simpsons has been renewed for four more seasons, which will bring it up to Season 40.

While it’s evident that the show may never quite reach the same heights of “Homer’s Enemy,” “Marge vs. The Monorail,” “Cape Feare,” or other classic episodes ever again, The Simpsons has managed to hold on to some cultural relevance in recent seasons, particularly compared to other adult animated shows like Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, and South Park, which are in much need of a creative reset. However, the biggest issue that The Simpsons will face in its next batch of seasons isn’t a creative problem but a practical one. The Simpsons will need to address its aging cast members and find suitable replacements if they can no longer perform their parts.

‘The Simpsons’ Needs To Cycle Out Its Vocal Cast

The Simpsons has stayed with its core cast of vocal actors since the show began, with Dan Castellaneta as Homer, Julie Kavner as Marge, Nancy Cartwright as Bart, and Yeardley Smith as Lisa. Occasionally, The Simpsons had changed a voice actor for a different reason; Harry Shearer stopped voicing Dr. Hibbert so that Kevin Michael Richardson, a black actor, could be cast in the role, and Hank Azaria stopped voicing Julio Franco so that the gay actor Tony Rodriguez could start playing the role. However, characters that are being recast simply because the actor can no longer play the role present a more serious challenge for the show to deal with; after Pamela Hayden announced that she was retiring from the show, the fate of Milhouse has been placed under increased scrutiny. Milhouse’s curious absence from the second half of season 36 suggests that the showrunners did not fully anticipate what it would look like to bring in a new voice for such a beloved character.

The issue of recasting is going to be more prominent in the coming years; Castellaneta is 67, Kavner is 74, Cartwright is 67, and Smith is 60. The strain that playing the characters has on their respective voices can be picked up on, even for those who aren’t well-versed in the lore of The Simpsons; compared to earlier seasons, the current version of Homer sounds much closer to that of his father, Abe. It would be one thing if The Simpsons were purposefully trying to acknowledge that the characters were growing older, but one of the reasons that it has stuck around in popular culture for so long is that the status quo has remained the same. In fact, it was only this season that Bart finally turned eleven years old, which was a major milestone for the show.

The Simpsons does not face any imminent concerns regarding cancellation, as season 36 ever lampooned the show’s consistent run by teasing how hard an actual conclusion would end up being. It thus becomes easier to compare The Simpsons to franchises like Looney Toons or The Mickey Mouse Club, which have existed for nearly a century because they have cycled out the main voice cast many times. In order to ensure that The Simpsons can move forward, the series creators will have to acknowledge that preserving the characters is more important than retaining the same actors. In fact, one of the reasons many longrunning franchises have been so popular for so long is that there is a generational connection that fans have with specific interpretations of the characters; while Kevin Conroy may be the one and only Batman for those that grew up in the 1990s, there is a younger generation that associated Jensen Ackles with the role.

10 Best Marge Quotes From ‘The Simpsons,’ Ranked

“I should say something reassuring and noncommittal.”

What Does the Future of ‘The Simpsons’ Look Like?

The Simpsons needs to gradually incorporate new voice actors into the roles so that viewers have time to adjust. If the show truly intends to keep going on, the possibility that its stars will either age out or retire is a reality that they will have to deal with sooner rather than later. While it may be awkward to introduce a new version of Homer in season 37 after Castellaneta has already voiced the character for almost four decades, it would be more challenging if an entirely new cast had to be added in quick succession. While a character like Lunchlady Doris could be retired from the show after her voice actress, Doris Glau, passed away, that possibility could not extend to any of the core characters; The Simpsons would simply not feel like itself if Homer, Marge, Maggie, Bart, and Lisa weren’t an active part of it.

Bringing in a new cast might help to add some life back into the series, which has been struggling within its past few seasons to argue for its existence. Although there is value in seeing how the show pays nostalgic homage to some of the best moments in prior seasons, the only way for The Simpsons to keep moving forward is to entice a younger generation with the characters. There is also an opportunity to add new characters to the mix; several icons of the show did not appear in the first season, such as Groundskeeper Willie, Hubert Wong, Dr. Velimirovic, Kirk Van Houten, Snake Jailbird, and Amber Simpson.

A younger, more versatile voice cast could also increase the multimedia possibilities of The Simpsons, as Disney is in no doubt looking to find ways to expand the franchise into other opportunities. Although there has been a string of shorts on Disney+, there is also the possibility of an increased role at the Disney parks, video games, and perhaps a sequel to The Simpsons Movie. While retiring the cast may be an uncomfortable reality, it is one that The Simpsons fans will have to accept.