‘The Simpsons’ showrunner explains why they avoid politics: “Just watch 'South Park'”
The Simpsonsshowrunner Matt Selman has spoken toNMEabout why the cartoon avoids current political events, as well as the differences between his show andSouth Park. READ MORE:‘The Simpsons’ silly, subversive. . .
The Simpsonsshowrunner Matt Selman has spoken toNMEabout why the cartoon avoids current political events, as well as the differences between his show andSouth Park. READ MORE:‘The Simpsons’ silly, subversive video game legacy isn’t done yetThe beloved animated series has been on our screens since 1989, and while it has satirised world leaders in the past, including former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, it has stayed away from anything pointed at the currentDonald Trumpadministration. Speaking toNME’sAli Shutler ahead of a new collaboration with the mobile gameMonopoly GO!, Selman was asked why the show stays out of current events. “Just watchSouth Park,” he replied, before explaining the difficulty in covering anything too current. “It’s hard for us with our lead time [because episodes are written months in advance] but they can respond to the crisis of the day. ”Like The Simpsons,South Parkhas been on the air for decades, but takes a much more adult view of the world, andhas not shied away from making fun of the current US president. Far from being competitors, Selman says “I feel like the shows are complimentary. We tell stories about a family in the modern world, so we’ll show how politics affects them. We’re not backing away from what’s going on by any means. It’s a big deal to show how our divided country affects real people. ”“But we do it in a macro way,” he continued, “whereasSouth Parkdoes it in the smartest, sharpest way by tackling the unbelievable tragedy of the week. We’re never going to outSouth Park,South Park. ” You can readNME’sfull interview with Selmanhere, exploring the show’s video game legacy and enduring popularity. Recently,fans ofThe Simpsonspointed to a “prediction” related to Mexico’s World Cup performance that was thwarted by their recent loss to England. Elsewhere, long-time cast member Harry Shearer revealedhe has never watched the show, despite being in over 800 episodes.