It’s a solid theory
It has been well-documented just how many times The Simpsons predicted the future throughout its run to date.
Some of the most notable examples of major real-life events apparently prophesied by the show include Donald Trump becoming president, Disney buying 20th Century Fox, the Siegfried and Roy tiger attack and most eerily, 9/11.
Al Jean – one of the first members of the original writing staff on the series – has addressed this in the past, offering a theory on how The Simpsons has been able to make such canny forecasts for the future.
In an interview in 2021, he told NME: “One of our writers, the guy whose episode predicted Donald Trump as president, said it best. ‘If you write 700 episodes, and you don’t predict anything, then you’re pretty bad. If you throw enough darts, you’re going to get some bullseyes.’”
Even so, some of the show’s alleged predictions have even taken Jean by surprise.
“The 9/11 one is so bizarre. In the World Trade Center episode, [‘The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson’], there was a brochure reading $9 a day with an 11 styled up like the towers,” he explained.
“That was in ’96, which was crazy, like this insane coincidence.”
However, Jean says that generally, The Simpsons’ writers’ forecasts for the future are “just educated guesses”.
“Stanley Kubrick made the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968 and there’s Zoom and iPads in it,” he told the outlet.
“But that’s because he had futurologists helping him construct what the world might look like in 30 years time.”
For a comprehensive rundown from JOE on The Simpsons’ predictions that came true, see here.
Related links:
- The definitive list of everything The Simpsons predicted that shockingly came true
- Matt Groening explains why the Simpsons are yellow
- Why Simpsons fans think 1998 episode predicted Stranger Things’ Vecna
- Amazing reason Maggie was scanned in the opening credits of The Simpsons has been revealed
