A recent TVLine article highlights 15 surprising instances where The Simpsons foreshadowed real-world events, from political shifts to technological advancements. Spanning episodes since 1989, these coincidences have fueled ongoing discussions about the show's prescient writing. While some attribute it to luck or satire, others see patterns in the long-running animated series.
Overview of Predictions
The Simpsons, which premiered in 1989, has built a reputation for mirroring future events through its satirical lens. TVLine's compilation focuses on genuine-seeming forecasts, excluding obvious or inevitable scenarios like animal attacks in performances. Writers like Dan Greaney, who penned the 2000 episode 'Bart to the Future,' described ideas such as a Trump presidency as extensions of America's 'insane' trajectory, not deliberate prophecies.
Political and Cultural Hits
One standout is the 2000 prediction of Donald Trump's presidency, where Lisa inherits a budget crisis from 'President Trump.' This aired before Trump's 2016 win, echoing his earlier political explorations. Another is the 1999 episode 'When You Dish Upon a Star,' showing 20th Century Fox as a Disney division—20 years before the 2019 merger. The show continues to critique Disney despite the acquisition, including in Disney+ shorts.
Sports and Science Coincidences
In sports, the 2010 episode 'Boy Meets Curl' depicted the Simpsons winning Olympic curling gold against Sweden, mirroring the U.S. men's team's 2018 victory over the same opponent. Scientifically, a 1998 equation scribbled by Homer approximated the Higgs Boson mass, discovered in 2012. The 2010 episode 'Elementary School Musical' also listed Bengt Holmstrom as a Nobel economics contender, which he won in 2016.
Modern Parallels
Recent echoes include the 1993 episode 'Marge in Chains,' featuring an Asian flu and killer bees, akin to COVID-19 and murder hornets in 2020. Government surveillance gags from 1997 and 2007 foreshadowed 2013 NSA revelations via Edward Snowden. Architectural foresight appeared in 'Lisa's Wedding' (1995), with a skyline resembling London's Shard, completed in 2012. Other nods cover video calls like FaceTime, Super Bowl outcomes, and even gym mat ingredients in fast food.
These instances blend coincidence and cultural commentary, keeping The Simpsons relevant as fans speculate on future 'predictions.'