‘The Simpsons’ airs ‘series finale’ episode created by AI

Is “The Simpsons” over?

The long-running animated sitcom sequence confused viewers when it aired what the present dubbed its “sequence finale” when Season 36 premiered on Sunday.

The episode, titled “Bart’s Birthday,” opened with an animated model of Conan O’Brien, who used to put in writing for the present, internet hosting a gala with animated celebrities.

“It’s such an honor to be with you all for the sequence finale of ‘The Simpsons,’” O’Brien stated to the group. “I knew I used to be the appropriate man for the job as a result of I’ve hosted the final episode of three of my very own exhibits, and counting.”

“Nicely, it’s true. Fox has determined to finish the Simpsons,” O’Brien continued. “This present was such a particular a part of my early profession, so being right here means the world to me. Additionally. I left a sweater within the author’s room in 1993 and that is the one approach they’ll let me get it again.”

After claiming Fox “has been making an attempt to finish” the present for years, O’Brien confirmed clips from what he stated have been unaired sequence finale scenes from “basic episodes,” like 1990’s “Bart the Daredevil” and 2000’s “Little Huge Mother.

O’Brien then offered the Season 36 premiere and revealed its large twist — the episode was created utilizing AI and entails totally different dramatic moments that attempt to wrap up the present.

Mr. Burns dying, Moe’s shutting down and Principal Skinner retiring have been among the many AI-created scenes that hilariously performed out throughout the episode.

There have been additionally animated re-creations of the ultimate scenes from well-liked exhibits like “Recreation of Thrones,” “Succession,” “The Sopranos,” “Breaking Dangerous” and “Frasier.”

On the finish of the episode, Bart snaps out of the AI phantasm, which noticed him turning 11 regardless of being 10 for the reason that present’s begin. As soon as Bart is sentient once more, the fake “sequence finale” involves an finish.

The present’s AI storyline left followers perplexed however they ultimately realized the present wasn’t really ending.

“I legit thought this was the sequence finale till I noticed it was all a joke XD However nonetheless this was an excellent and humorous season 36 premiere! Beloved all of the references!” one fan wrote on X (previously Twitter).

“I DEFINITELY FELL FOR THAT “SERIES FINALE” ON-SCREEN GRAPHIC!” one other particular person tweeted.

“Tonight’s premiere — not sequence finale — of @TheSimpsons was freaking sensible!!! Nice work, author Jessica Conrad!” a unique tweet learn.

“The Simpsons” aired its first episode on Dec. 17, 1989.

The sequence was created by Matt Groening and its present voice forged contains Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson), Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson), Nancy Cartwright (Bart and Maggie Simpson), Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson) and Hank Azaria (varied characters).

Groening, 70, addressed the potential finish to the sequence in a 2021 interview with USA Immediately.

“My commonplace reply is there’s no finish in sight as a result of anytime I speculate on the present ending, the individuals who work on it and diehard followers get very upset,” he stated. “So, I all the time say there’s no finish in sight.”

Season 37 of “The Simpsons” has but to be introduced.