© REUTERS / Phil McCarten
(New York, NY) – For years, TV fans have marveled at the seemingly prophetic nature of ‘The Simpsons’ writers. The comedic, cartoon sitcom has accurately predicted historical events previously — including perhaps most famously when President Donald Trump rode the escalator down at Trump Tower, announcing his bid for the White House in 2016.
So what’s the latest instances of ‘The Simpsons’ crystal ball coming to fruition. Fans are pointing to the prediction of deep space tourism in an 1994 episode, AI taking over jobs in a 2012 entry, and even a “super flu” outbreak in 1993 — when the episode “Marge in Chains” depicting the “Osaka Flu” spreading from Japan. The thought is our recent spike in flu numbers was foreshadowed by that one. Of course people also used that ’93 episode to say the show predicted COVID a few years ago.
All of that also serves as a good reminder, with the show on the air since the late 1980s, there’s been a lot of chances for episodes to “predict” future events.
Technology and it’s relentless advance is a good theme of sorts when you map the arc of the TV show. For example, a 2001 episode (which was season 13) showed the Simpson family living in a voice-controlled “smart home” that turned menacing. Meanwhile, 8 in every 10 US home currently have smart devices.
What about the aliens? Are they among us? They are if the ‘Simpsons’ are to be believed. In a 1997 episode titled “the Springfield Files,” Homer spots an extraterrestrial, something FBI agents then investigated. Fans have linked that to ongoing theories about alien life. But are these all just coincidences that are often caught up in satire?
With the recent arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, some worry the planet could be spiraling toward “WWIII.” There’s a Simpsons episode for that — several, in fact. There’s a 1987 short where Homer thinks World War 3 has started, then a 1995 episode referenced a similar future conflict — while 2005’s “Thank God, It’s Doomsday” played up fears of the apocalypse.
“D’oh!” As Homer might say. But it’s a good excuse to enjoy his favorite snacks — beer and donuts. If it’s the end of the world as we know it, who needs to worry about the 2026 diet?
