The Simpsons Showrunner Declares No Series Finale After 800 Episodes

Matt Selman says the iconic animated series will continue indefinitely.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Nearly 40 years after its debut, The Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman has declared that the iconic animated series will never have a series finale, even after reaching the milestone of 800 episodes this weekend. Selman explained that the show's format is designed to reset each week without major changes, likening it to "Groundhog Day but they don't know it." He noted that the series already did a parody of a potential series finale, packing in "every possible series finale concept into one show" as a way to signal there are no plans to actually end the long-running program.

Why it matters

The Simpsons is one of the longest-running scripted television series of all time, having aired new episodes for nearly four decades. Selman's comments suggest the show's producers have no intention of bringing the series to a definitive conclusion, signaling that fans can expect Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie to continue their antics in Springfield for the foreseeable future.

The details

In a recent interview, Selman revealed that the show's format is designed to reset each week without major changes, likening it to the movie "Groundhog Day" where the characters don't realize they're stuck in a loop. He noted that the series already did a parody of a potential series finale, packing in "every possible series finale concept into one show" as a way to signal there are no plans to actually end the long-running program.

  • The Simpsons reached its 800th episode milestone this weekend.

The players

Matt Selman

The showrunner of The Simpsons, the long-running animated series that has aired new episodes for nearly 40 years.

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What they’re saying

“We did an episode about a year-and-a-half ago that was like a parody of the series finale. We jammed every possible series finale concept into one show, so that was sort of my way of saying we're never going to do a series finale.”

— Matt Selman, Showrunner (TheWrap)

The takeaway

The Simpsons has become an institution in American pop culture, and the showrunner's comments suggest the series will continue indefinitely, without any plans for a definitive ending. Fans can look forward to many more years of adventures in Springfield with the iconic Simpson family.