The Simpsons Season 36 Kicks Off with Star-Studded Finale Parodies

The Simpsons is back, and it's serving up a hilarious dish of TV nostalgia! After a four-month break, America's favorite animated family returned to screens with a bang, kicking off their 36th season on September 29th. But here's the kicker – they're pretending it's their last hurrah!

Remember when The Simpsons first graced our TVs back in 1989? Well, they're still going strong, proving they're the ultimate marathon runners of the TV world. Since joining the Disney family in 2019 (yep, Mickey Mouse and Homer are practically cousins now), the show's been churning out seasons faster than Bart can say "Eat my shorts!"

Now, let's dive into the juicy details of this season opener. But fair warning – spoilers ahead!

A "Final" Farewell with a Twist

Picture this: Conan O'Brien, in all his animated glory, hosting The Simpsons' "final" episode. As our beloved Springfield residents file into the Dolby-Mucinex Theater (sounds fancy, right?), O'Brien drops this bombshell:

"Folks, Fox has decided to pull the plug on The Simpsons. But don't worry – they've been trying to do this since 1989!"

O'Brien, a former Simpsons writer himself, couldn't resist a playful jab: "I knew I was the right man for this job. After all, I've hosted the finale of three of my own shows!"

But wait, there's more! O'Brien treats viewers to a montage of "lost" finale scenes from classic episodes. Remember "Bart the Daredevil" from 1990? Or "Little Big Mom" from 2000 where Homer actually kicked the bucket? Turns out, these were all potential series finales. Talk about planning ahead!

Bart's Birthday Bash: A Finale Extravaganza

The episode's pièce de résistance? A segment called "Bart's Birthday," supposedly crafted by AI (wink, wink). This mini-finale had it all:

Mr. Burns finally meets his maker

Principal Skinner retires and moves to Sacramento (because why not?)

Milhouse's family packs up for Atlanta

Moe's Tavern closes its doors forever

And the kicker? Bart actually turns 11!

For a show where characters never age, that's practically earth-shattering!

A Star-Studded Sendoff

The Simpsons pulled out all the stops for this "finale," roping in a galaxy of stars. Alongside Conan, we saw Joel McHale, John Cena, Danny DeVito, Seth Rogen, Mark Proksch, Amy Sedaris, and even Tom Hanks. Talk about going out with a bang!

The cherry on top? A series of parodies paying homage to iconic TV finales. From The Sopranos to Breaking Bad, Mad Men to Succession, no classic was safe from The Simpsons' signature wit.

What's Next for Springfield?

Here's the million-dollar question: Is this really the end for The Simpsons? With no official word on Season 37, fans are left wondering. But let's be real – this show has more lives than Snowball II!

And remember, in the immortal words of Troy McClure, "That's the end of what we call 'The Simpsons.'"