Hank Azaria Thinks ‘The Simpsons’ Could Trudge on for 40 Seasons

When did The Simpsons lose its magic touch? “Around Season 11” seems to be the consensus among the show’s fervent followers, although that mileage varies by a season or three in either direction. So what are the show’s superfans going to think of Hank Azaria’s latest musings that the show could last nearly 30 seasons past its glory years?

"You know, we’re doing seasons 35 and 36,” Azaria told People. “I would guess that it would probably go to 40. It seems to be doing well."

Of course, the definition of “doing well” has changed in recent years, admits Azaria, the guy who has voiced Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy and other prominent Springfieldians since 1989. “But whatever the standards are now, we seem to be doing well,” he says. “People still enjoy making it. They seem to want the show. So I imagine we keep going. The voices don’t really age. So we can keep doing it. And the animation doesn’t age. The animation does get better — and quicker."

Maybe the show isn’t a Nielsen ratings juggernaut anymore, but that doesn’t mean The Simpsons is no longer a valuable property. After all, the most-watched series on Disney+ isn’t Loki, The Mandalorian or Rennervations. Nope, The Simpsons is the streamer’s most popular series “by far,” reports The Wrap. How popular? Take the average series demand and multiply it by 52.75. D’oh! The fact that Disney+ offers 33 seasons’ worth of Homer content just gives viewers more to binge, even if the devout believe the past 20 seasons or so are subpar. 

So yeah, 40 seasons. It’s going to happen. And if The Simpsons ends any sooner, it won’t be because Azaria walks away. “Well, I’d be silly to leave,” he says, “because they pay me.”