Many of us always assumed that The Simpsons would always be around.
For the best part of four decades, the folk of Springfield have been a cultural constant – a behemoth that would outlive us all.
With a second movie on the horizon and the show renewed up until at least 2029, it seems as though that might be the case.
But for viewers in the UK, The Simpsons has breathed its last. On Sky One, at least.
This weekend marked the final episode to ever air on the pay-television channel, with the season 16 episode Treehouse of Horror XV.
It was a low-key exit from television’s most colourful family, and one which sparked rage from fans, who decried it as [Comic Book Guy voice] the worst end to a television show’s tenure… ever.
As the credits rolled, viewers took to social media to share their their dismay at the lack of pomp and circumstance.
Describing the lack of fanfare as ‘disrespectful,’ X user dacoolboy_69 credited the show ‘making’ Sky, adding: ‘If it wasn’t for Simpsons, cable sales wouldn’t have boosted.’
‘So that’s the end of The Simpsons on Sky One is it? No fanfare, no commemoration, just a Halloween special ending with Homer screaming…’ said chrismeredith41.
BMTredinnick asked whether the broadcaster even knew it was the final episode, remarking: ‘No mention of it whatsoever.’
ScottyT1980 called it an ‘end of an era,’ while kw200102 said that the situation was ‘very sad.’
The Simpsons will, of course, live on with Disney Plus and Channel 4 re-runs, but Sky One is now a more desolate place without it.
The Simpsons first began airing daily on Sky One in September 1990.
This, it continued to do over the next 36 years, even after the cartoon was picked up by the BBC for license-paying viewers.
The Simpsons ran on BBC Two from November 1996 to May 2004, culminating with the mockumentary episode Behind the Laughter.
After being picked up by Channel 4, it continued to air in November that same year, with the season 12 episode A Tale of Two Springfields.
Here it remains, while brand new episodes continue to drop on the streaming service Disney Plus, as it’s done since 2020.
Meanwhile, a second feature length outing is expected in November 2027, titled The New Simpsons Movie.
But how much does The Simpsons have left in the tank?
According to Bart Simpson himself, Nancy Cartwright, it could end after 40 seasons.
Speaking to Michael Rosenbaum on his Inside of You podcast, Nancy said that she thinks the show coud tap out at its 40th series.
When asked whether she really believed that to be the case, she said ‘yeah,’ before clarifying that this was just her opinion.
New episodes of The Simpsons are streaming on Disney Plus, with older episodes also airing and streaming on Channel 4 in the UK.