It's hard to keep a show interesting and fresh after even a couple of seasons, let alone 27 of them, and you can't fault The Simpsons for trying. According to a Variety interview with Simpsons executive producer Al Jean, TV's favorite dysfunctional family might become a broken home when Homer and Marge legally separate, at least for a little while.
When asked about what we can look forward to with The Simpsons 27th season, Jean describes how Homer's narcolepsy has been "an incredible strain on the marriage." After the two part ways, Homer ends up falling in love with his pharmacist, played by Girls star Lena Dunham. There's no word on whether this will be a permanent change or merely a story arc that lasts a few episodes (though my money is on the latter).
Other episodes will see the return of Spider-Pig (by far the best part of The Simpsons Movie), a cameo from Sideshow Bob, and a riff on the Richard Linklater-directed Boyhood, according to the interview.
Even after some setbacks, including the death of Marcia Wallace (the voice of Bart's teacher Edna Crabapple) and the departure of the inimitable Harry Shearer, The Simpsons continues to move forward, with nearly thirty years of episodes under its belt. While the show may not be as good as it once was during its heyday in the '90s, there's something impressive about how it can still wriggle its way into the public consciousness.
