The Simpsons Showrunner Reacts To The Series Prediction Of Russia-Ukraine Conflict
The Simpsons showrunner had some interesting thoughts about the show predicting the Russia-Ukraine conflict years ago.
Throughout its three-decade run, The Simpsons has made some very eerie predictions about real-world events. In various episodes, the animated series saw Richard Branson jetting off into space, Donald Trump’s presidency, Lady Gaga’s SuperBowl performance, and even Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox. Most recently, eagle-eyed fans pointed out that the show also foresaw the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The prediction occurs in a 1998 episode of The Simpsons called Simpson Tide. After losing his job and joining the U.S Navy, Homer accidentally fires the sub captain out of the vessel into Russian waters during a military exercise. This is followed by a sequence where Russia reveals that the Soviet Union never really dissolved. Tanks and troops descend on the streets, as the Berlin Wall is resurrected and Lenin is brought back to life from his glass coffin.
Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s orders to attack Ukraine on Thursday, The Simpsons clip was shared widely on social media. Check out the scene below:
Now, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Al Jean offered his take on The Simpsons’ glimpse into the future, describing the prediction as more the norm. “In terms of predictions, there are two kinds. The trivial, like Don Mattingly getting in trouble for his hair in Homer at The Bat. And there are predictions like this,” he told the publication. “I was born in 1961, so 30 years of my life were lived with the specter of the Soviet Union. This is sadly more the norm than it is a prediction. We just figured things were going to be bad.”
He added that historical aggression never really goes away, and you have to be super vigilant. In 1998, when The Simpsons episode aired, it was perhaps the zenith of U.S-Russia relations. But ever since Russian President Vladimir Putin took office almost everyone has made it clear that he’s a bad guy. And bad things are going to happen. “This is the kind of prediction, where we reference something that has happened, happening again – we hope it wouldn’t, but sadly, it does,” he said.
Although creatives behind The Simpsons refer to their prophetic storytelling as educated guesses, they’ve had a pretty accurate track record in their 33 season run. Created by Matt Groening in the 1980s, the series is a satirical depiction of American life. Set in the fictional town of Springfield, the story follows The Simpson family while parodying American culture, society, television, and the human condition.
In 1987, The Simpsons family appeared in a series of sketches on The Tracey Ullman Show. After three seasons, the shorts were developed into a half-hour prime time show and became Fox’s first series to land in the Top 30 ratings in its first season. Since its debut in 1989, The Simpsons has been the longest-running animated series, longest-running sitcom, and the longest-running scripted primetime television series in terms of seasons and number of episodes.
In 2007, The Simpsons Movie hit theaters worldwide, earning over $527 million at the global box office. A follow-up to the feature-length film has been in development since 2018. The series has also inspired several comic books, video games, novels, and other related media, as well as a billion-dollar merchandising industry.
The Simpsons voice cast features the talents of Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Julie Kavner as his wife Marge, Nancy Cartwright as Bart, and Yeardley Smith as Lisa. The series also showcases a slew of Hollywood’s biggest stars lending their voice to various characters on the show. The 33rd season of the animated comedy is currently airing on Fox.
