The Simpsons airs its 800th episode on February 15, marking a significant milestone for the long-running animated series. Voice actress Yeardley Smith credits the show with providing the resources to recover from a severe 2016 injury. Executive producer Matt Selman discusses the show's elastic continuity and evolving storytelling.
The Simpsons, produced by 20th TV Animation, will air its 800th episode, titled "Irrational Treasure," on Fox on February 15 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the 801st episode the same night. The milestone comes as the series, renewed through Season 40, continues to explore fresh narratives while maintaining its core appeal.
Yeardley Smith, who voices Lisa Simpson, revealed in a Variety interview that the show helped her survive a 2016 accident where she fell down stairs and broke her neck. "I separated my C5 and C6 [spinal level] like a cigar cutter, and my spinal cord was threaded up through and almost snapped. I almost died," Smith said. Having completed 600 episodes by then, she benefited from good health insurance and a financial cushion, allowing over a year of dedicated recovery. "I recognize what a luxury that is, how extraordinarily fortunate I am to have been able to do that," she added. The role also enabled her to launch a production company behind the podcast "Small Town Dicks."
Nancy Cartwright, voice of Bart Simpson, described the show's profound personal impact. "Until it really comes to an end, it’s so much a part of the fabric of my life," she said, noting it allowed her to raise a family, write books, perform one-woman shows, and start a nonprofit.
Under new sole showrunner Matt Selman, the series has revitalized its storytelling, including parodies of current culture like "Severance," tech billionaires, and K-pop. Selman describes the continuity as "elastic," allowing resets between episodes. Internet memes about character changes, such as Marge being dead or Homer no longer strangling Bart, amuse but do not reflect permanent shifts. "When it’s funny, Homer should still strangle Bart," Selman stated.
Episode 800 features Marge taking Santa’s Little Helper to a Philadelphia dog show, leading to a conspiracy plot inspired by "National Treasure," with guests including Quinta Brunson, Kevin Bacon, Boyz II Men, Questlove, and Noah Wyle. Episode 801, "Homer? A Cracker Bro?," explores Kirk van Houten’s experience off bipolar medication, guest-starring R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. "It’s still ‘The Simpsons,’ but mental illness is real. How can we do a story about it that’s empathetic, but also funny?" Selman asked.
Creator Matt Groening praised Selman’s fresh approach and noted the show’s streaming availability on Disney+ has bolstered its reach. A second movie is in development, and Groening envisions reaching 1,000 episodes. The full run streams next day on Hulu.