If you were concerned that the impending merger between Disney and 21st Century Fox may have an impact on the future of 'The Simpsons', you can rest assured that there's plenty more antics from Homer and the gang yet to come.
Speaking yesterday (Aug 2) at the TCA press tour, Fox co-chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman were very much optimistic about the future of the longest-running primetime scripted series of all time, now in its 30th season.
"The Simpsons is so much a part of the brand, there's been such an incredible halo effect of that show and the other animated series that are on our Sunday night," Walden said. "There are no plans for them to go anywhere other than Fox."
While he added that although new seasons haven't officially been commissioned, early production work under way on "a couple years of episodes".
"Down the line, what kind of decision is made, I can't really speak of, but for the foreseeable future, there's so much upside and benefit to having a great, Emmy Award-winning, smart, provocative, quality show," she added. "There's no consideration of not ordering more Simpsons."
Newman concurred: "As long as we've all been in business, networks have licensed shows they don't have ownership of. It is challenging, and I anticipate it will be challenging on 'The Simpsons'.
"But as Dana said, 'The Simpsons' is so associated with Fox, and that association benefits both the network and the owner of the IP … I feel confident Disney and Fox are going to find a way to both have an interest in that show."
So yay? Or nay? While we would be gutted to see 'The Simpsons' cancelled, its heyday has long been over, but sure nowadays even it was cancelled, it would just be rebooted five minutes later.
Yep, there are only three certainties in this world: death, taxes, and 'The Simpsons'.