Change is in the air for The Simpsons, with one of the animated show’s creative minds stepping down behind the scenes. Al Jean, writer and showrunner of The Simpsons, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that next week’s episode will be the last one that he will showrun… at least for now.
“Thank you for watching @TheSimpsons tonight … next week the last (Simpsons) episode I’ll showrun (at least for now) although as always I’m still thrilled to work on the show,” Al Jean wrote after Sunday’s episode of The Simpsons aired. “11/2 an episode by a brilliant new director and a writer I am never satisfied with …”
Jean ended his time as The Simpsons showrunner with the episode titled “Men Behaving Manly,” where Homer and Bart attend Man Camp and Boys Camp, respectively.
The Simpsons Loses Showrunner After 20 Years
Homer Simpson wearing glasses and reading a book at his desk at the power plant in The SimpsonsImage via FOX
Al Jean has been a writer on The Simpsons since its inception back in 1989, where he held that role for its first two seasons. The third season of The Simpsons saw Jean promoted to co-showrunner alongside Mike Reiss. Season 13 is when Al Jean became the sole showrunner, a position he held for more than 20 years.
Many fans of The Simpsons flooded Al Jean’s X feed to share their reactions to the news that he would no longer be the showrunner. “What a run! Thank you for all the laughs from the top,” one comment reads, with another fan stating, “Thanks for all the hard work over the years!”
Henry Gilbert of the Talking Simpsons podcast speculated on Bluesky that Jean may stay on The Simpsons in a different capacity, writing, “Sounds like he’ll still be involved as a writer producer like David Mirkin or Mike Reiss, but Matt Selman will be sole showrunner now. End of an era.”
The Simpsons Announces New Movie
Bart and Homer Simpson ride a motorcycle with a giant ball of fire behind themImage via 20th Century Studios
We’re into Season 37 of The Simpsons, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. A new season isn’t the only exciting news the franchise delivered to fans this year. September also saw the official announcement that The Simpsons Movie is getting a sequel, slated for release on July 23, 2027.
An official title for the sequel was not revealed, but we know that it follows the release of The Simpsons Movie from 2007. Fans will have waited 20 years to see The Simpsons Family back on the big screen.
The announcement came with social media posts that displayed Homer’s hand raising a donut with sprinkles in the shape of the Number 2 on it. The image also has the phrase, “Homer’s Coming Back For Seconds” and is signed by The Simpsons creator Matt Groening.
The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Release Date
December 17, 1989
Network
FOX
Directors
Steven Dean Moore, Mark Kirkland, Rob Oliver, Michael Polcino, Mike B. Anderson, Chris Clements, Wes Archer, Timothy Bailey, Lance Kramer, Nancy Kruse, Matthew Faughnan, Chuck Sheetz, Rich Moore, Jeffrey Lynch, Pete Michels, Susie Dietter, Raymond S. Persi, Carlos Baeza, Dominic Polcino, Lauren MacMullan, Michael Marcantel, Neil Affleck, Swinton O. Scott III, Jennifer Moeller
Writers
J. Stewart Burns, Michael Price, Brian Kelley, Bill Odenkirk, Dan Vebber, Kevin Curran, Stephanie Gillis, Dan Castellaneta, Deb Lacusta, Billy Kimball, Jessica Conrad, Cesar Mazariegos, Daniel Chun, Jennifer Crittenden, Conan O’Brien, Valentina Garza, Elisabeth Kiernan Averick, Christine Nangle, Broti Gupta, Loni Steele Sosthand, Megan Amram, Bob Kushell, David Isaacs, David Mandel
Franchise(s)
The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta
Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)
Julie Kavner
Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)