The Untold Secrets Behind The Simpsons' 34-Year Spinoff Drought

Summary

The cultural impact of The Simpsons is unmatched, making it difficult for any spinoff to recreate its success and influence.

Given the decline in quality and creativity of The Simpsons, it seems unlikely that a spinoff of the show could thrive at this point. The saturating market already contains numerous imitations and spinoffs inspired by The Simpsons, thereby making it challenging for a new spinoff to distinguish itself.

Despite being on the air for over 30 years, The Simpsons has not yet produced a spinoff. However, there are several compelling reasons for this. The show has had a significant impact on television, redefining the network sitcom with its clever and cynical humor, and proving that animation can appeal to more than just children. The series achieved tremendous commercial success, particularly during its "Golden Age" from seasons 3-12, and garnered some of the best reviews in television history. The Simpsons essentially pioneered the adult animated sitcom subgenre, which has thrived since its debut in 1989.

Interestingly, while there have been proposals and developments for spinoffs of The Simpsons, none have materialized. While a live-action adaptation of the show would face practical limitations, spinoffs centered around the supporting characters in the town of Springfield have been considered. In fact, there was an episode in season 7 titled "22 Short Films About Springfield" that delved into the lives of many of these characters. However, for various reasons, including cancellation, these spinoff ideas never came to fruition.

5 No Simpsons Spinoff Could Recreate Its Impact

No other animated sitcom has been able to match the cultural influence of The Simpsons. The series that came closest, the more controversial and daring South Park, even paid homage to the earlier success with a sarcastic tribute: season 6, episode 7, "Simpsons Already Did It." Despite initial production challenges such as recasting two of The Simpsons' supporting characters shortly after the series began, the show found immediate success. The Simpsons received critical acclaim and commercial success from the start, and its unique style has greatly influenced the animated sitcom genre in the years that followed. As a result, any potential spinoff would struggle to even come close to replicating this level of impact.

Complicating matters is the fact that The Simpsons is currently not at its peak after 34 years. The show experienced a decline in critical reception starting around season 13, although the decline was not as steep as some critics have suggested. Nonetheless, the show has not had the necessary creative energy to sustain a spinoff since then. Season 34 of The Simpsons marked a significant improvement in critical terms, but the show still has a long way to go in order to regain its original acclaim, let alone venture into another related series.

4 The Simpsons Had Endless Imitators

The impact of The Simpsons on television comedy writing was significant, both on a macro level by changing viewer expectations and on a micro level by influencing television schedules. Once The Simpsons proved to be a tremendous success, numerous imitators flooded the airwaves. In the early '90s, shows like Capitol Critters, Fish Police, and Family Dog attempted to replicate its success but were short-lived or poorly received. However, in the late '90s, Family Guy and King of the Hill emerged as more successful and derivative shows, albeit with unique tones and styles. Over the years, numerous other shows, including American Dad, The Cleveland Show, Bob’s Burgers, F Is for Family, Solar Opposites, and Rick and Morty, have utilized variations of the dysfunctional family premise, demonstrating the subgenre's saturation. Thus, any spinoff from The Simpsons would simply add to an already overcrowded category that was created by The Simpsons itself.

3 The Simpsons Relies On Its Supporting Cast Too Much

The reason why The Simpsons could not have a spinoff centering around the residents of Springfield is because the main show heavily relies on its extensive supporting cast to maintain its freshness. It would be challenging for a spinoff to remove too many characters from Springfield or focus solely on the stories of supporting stars, as The Simpsons has depended on these characters for numerous plotlines throughout its years on air. For instance, in episodes like "Moe Goes from Rags to Riches" from season 23, episode 12, the involvement of the Simpson family members is barely significant. Despite the fact that The Simpsons has recast various characters over the decades, the show still heavily relies on its supporting cast, making it impractical to pursue a spinoff.

2 The Simpsons Movie Drew Creative Focus

During the first fifteen years of The Simpsons, the show did not have any spinoff movies. Consequently, the writers dedicated their efforts to developing the movie instead of creating spinoffs. This decision proved to be fruitful as The Simpsons Movie, released in 2007, received positive reviews, was adored by fans, and became one of the most financially successful traditional animated movies in Hollywood's history. However, this approach came at a cost for the series. The lack of spinoffs meant that numerous storylines, characters, and jokes were channeled into The Simpsons Movie, preventing the show from exploring new possibilities.

1 The Simpsons Spawned Other TV Shows

The former writers of The Simpsons ventured out to create shows such as Mission Hill, The Critic, and Duncanville, while the show's creators themselves pursued projects like Futurama and Disenchantment. This left little opportunity for a spinoff, especially since many of these writers were still actively involved with The Simpsons as producers, directors, or occasional writers. Consequently, The Simpsons never spawned a spinoff due to the fact that its most talented writers were occupied with other endeavors. While the concept of a spinoff set in Springfield may have sounded appealing, it would not have offered the same creative freedom as their own individual projects.

By working on shows like Mission Hill, former writers of The Simpsons were able to explore different narratives that wouldn't have fit within the confines of a family comedy. With Futurama and Disenchantment, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen had the opportunity to parody science fiction and fantasy genres without having to compromise the more down-to-earth world of The Simpsons. Thus, the creators were better off focusing on projects that were not directly linked to their most successful creation. Nothing could replicate the triumph of The Simpsons, and any spinoff would have inevitably lived in the shadow of its immensely popular and critically acclaimed predecessor.