The Surprising Way The Simpsons Could Finally End

"The Simpsons" has graced the small screen for more than three decades, which is a remarkable achievement for any show. In that time, the sitcom has broken records, won countless awards and paved the way for several other like-minded animated shows, including "Family Guy" and "Bob's Burgers," to emerge and captivate viewers in their own right. It's not hyperbolic to say that "The Simpsons" is a pop-culture institution, and with Seasons 33 and 34 officially greenlit (according to Deadline), viewers can expect to see Springfield's most popular family on the screen for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately, all things must come to an end at some point. While it's hard to imagine a television landscape that doesn't give us new episodes of "The Simpsons" to look forward to every year, the reality is that it's inevitable. The show's creators know this too, and they've even been toying with some ideas on how to say goodbye to the groundbreaking series when the time comes.

"The Simpsons" is a traditional family sitcom in many ways, but the show has never been opposed to exploring some out-there ideas throughout the years. The "Treehouse of Horror" specials always pack some supernatural treats, and Kang and Kodos Johnson have been known to invade Springfield every once in a while. We also can't forget about all of the times the show has been prophetic. Therefore, the wacky idea writer Al Jean has for the finale shouldn't surprise anyone.

When asked about how "The Simpsons" will end during the cast and crew's virtual panel at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, Jean revealed that one option is to return to the show's premiere episode. The idea behind it is that the characters have been existing in one never-ending loop all this time, and the cycle will continue. However, Matt Selman noted that the pressure to write a final episode would be "huge" and they haven't thought that far ahead, but he doesn't expect Disney to ever cancel the long-running series.