The Simpsons (season 32)

The thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons premiered on Fox on September 27, 2020.[1] The season contains twenty-two episodes.[2] On February 6, 2019, the season was ordered along with the previous season.[3]

The Simpsons
Season 32
Digital purchase image featuring Bleeding Gums Murphy
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes11
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseSeptember 27, 2020 (2020-09-27) 
present
Season chronology

Production

The season was produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted many other television productions, but left animated production largely unaffected. Executive producer James L. Brooks encouraged the staff to begin working from their homes in early March 2020, before California's stay-at-home order was declared. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in late March 2020, showrunner Al Jean stated, "Production hasn't skipped a day or lost a beat." At that point seven episodes for the season, including the Treehouse of Horror episode, were already completed, and they had started reading the other twenty-two. Jean also stated that "we're a little ahead of where we usually are."[4] The series had a panel at the 2020 San Diego Comic-Con, which was marketed as "Comic-Con@Home", to promote the season, with Jean, Matt Selman, David Silverman, Carolyn Omine, and Mike B. Anderson on the panel, with series regular Yeardley Smith serving as moderator.[5]

Casting

On June 26, 2020, it was stated that "Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters." This follows Mike Henry stating that he will no longer voice the African-American character Cleveland Brown on fellow Fox animated series Family Guy, and Jenny Slate and Kristen Bell's announcement that they will no longer voice mixed-race characters on Big Mouth and Central Park, respectively, in the wake of the George Floyd protests. It also follows series regular Hank Azaria's January 2020 announcement that he will no longer voice the Indian character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons.[6] Series regular Harry Shearer was not fully in agreement with the decision, stating that "the job of the actor is to play someone who they're not".[7] On September 24, 2020, it was announced that Alex Désert would voice Carl Carlson in the first episode of the season, taking over from Azaria who voiced the character since the first season.[8] On October 11, 2020, Jean announced that Eric Lopez would begin voicing Bumblebee Man in the episode "Now Museum, Now You Don't" instead of Azaria, who had provided the voice of the character since his introduction in season four.[9] On December 10, 2020 the synopsis for episode "The Dad-Feelings Limited" revealed that Kumiko would be voiced by Jenny Yokobori instead of Tress MacNeille, who had voiced the character since her introduction in the season twenty-five episode "Married to the Blob."[10]

Guest-stars

David Harbour, Olivia Colman, Ben Platt, Hannibal Buress and Michael Palin are all set to guest-star during the season.[11] Series regular Yeardley Smith also played herself.[12]

Release

The season premiered on September 27, 2020.[1] The season will air Sundays during the 2020–21 television season as part of Fox's Animation Domination programming block, along with Bless the Harts, Bob's Burgers, and Family Guy. One day after an episode airs on Fox, it will also be made available on Hulu.[13]

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date[14]Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
6851"Undercover Burns"Bob AndersonDavid CryanSeptember 27, 2020 (2020-09-27)ZABF194.44[15]

Mr. Burns discovers that his employees do not like him very much, because of his pompous ways. Smithers decides to helps a distraught Mr. Burns go undercover as a man named Fred Kranepool. Initially determined to punish disloyal employees, the plant employees grow to like "Fred", causing Mr. Burns to want to adopt that personality permanently. Smithers is forced to expose his boss, causing Mr. Burns to revert to his former tyrannical personality.

Guest stars: David Harbour as Mr. Burns' undercover persona Fred Kranepool and Phil Rosenthal as himself
6862"I, Carumbus"Rob OliverCesar MazariegosOctober 4, 2020 (2020-10-04)ZABF181.51[16]

While the Simpson family visit a museum exhibit on Ancient Rome, Marge chastises a bored Homer for his lack of ambition when he admits to shirking chances for promotion. The curator overhears the squabble and begins to relay the tale of Obeseus the Wide (Homer), a gladiator who went on to become a powerful Roman senator, only to be usurped by his own son (Bart).

Guest star: Joe Mantegna as Gordus Antonius (Fat Tony) and Michael Palin as the Curator
6873"Now Museum, Now You Don't"Timothy BaileyDan GreaneyOctober 11, 2020 (2020-10-11)ZABF211.36[17]

While sick, Lisa reads a book about Western art, and imagines her family as famous painters.

  • "Lisanardo da Vinci": Lisa imagines herself as Leonardo da Vinci, the painter and inventor.
  • "1863 France": After initially being picked on by the other students, a French impressionist (Bart) receives praise from a stranger for his work and he earns the respect of the other students.
  • "Frida Kahlo": Shortly after Diego Rivera (Homer) and Frida (Marge) are married, Diego has them move to America, where John D. Rockefeller has Diego paint a mural at the Rockefeller Center, while Frida is left out, causing friction in their marriage.
6884"Treehouse of Horror XXXI"Steven Dean MooreJulia PrescottNovember 1, 2020 (2020-11-01)[lower-alpha 1]ZABF174.93[20]

A Treehouse of Horror episode that consists of four segments, a short intro based on the 2020 United States presidential election and the three usual main segments.

  • "2020 Election": During Election Day, everyone is voting who will be the next president of the United States, except for Homer who does not vote. Later on Inauguration Day, the entire city of Springfield is in chaos.
  • "Toy Gory": Bart is gored by his own toys as revenge for treating them so badly.
  • "Into the Homerverse": Homer accidentally mistakes a machine at the nuclear plant for a vending machine and when he inserts a coin into it, multiple different versions of himself from different dimensions come through a portal.
  • "Be Nine, Rewind": Lisa gets stuck in a time loop on her ninth birthday in which she dies each time.

Guest star: Ben Mankiewicz as himself

6895"The 7 Beer Itch"Michael PolcinoTeleplay by: Joel H. Cohen & John Frink
Story by: Al Jean
November 8, 2020 (2020-11-08)ZABF151.74[21]

A beautiful English woman named Lily comes to Springfield and becomes enamored with Homer as the rest of the family vacations in New England.

Guest stars: Olivia Colman as Lily, Robin Atkin Downes and Brian George as Various Englishmen
6906"Podcast News"Matthew FaughnanDavid X. CohenNovember 15, 2020 (2020-11-15)ZABF223.50[22]

When Marge and Lisa get addicted to true-crime podcasts, they feel like the experts when Grampa is accused of murdering his new girlfriend, Vivienne. At the same time, Kent Brockman makes a podcast of his own about the occurrence entitled "Guilty Grampa".

Guest stars: Morgan Fairchild as Vivienne St. Charmaine, Christine Nangle as Tabitha Shingle, and Stellan Skarsgård as himself

Note: This episode was dedicated in memory of Alex Trebek who previously guest starred as himself in the episodes "Miracle on Evergreen Terrace" and "Penny-Wiseguys." Regular cast member Yeardley Smith also appears in a cameo as herself (the host of the podcast Small Town Dicks)
6917"Three Dreams Denied"Steven Dean MooreDanielle WeisbergNovember 22, 2020 (2020-11-22)QABF024.41[23]

Comic Book Guy attends the Comicalooza convention, planning to present the ultimate audience question with hopes he will be hired by Marvel Comics. Meanwhile, Lisa develops a crush on a new kid named Blake who also plays the saxophone but isn't what he seems. Bart is hired as a voice-over actor for a new cartoon show, only to become embarrassed by the role where he has been cast as a princess.

Guest stars: Dawnn Lewis as Stewardess, Ben Platt as Blake and Paul Rudd as himself
6928"The Road to Cincinnati"Matthew NastukJeff WestbrookNovember 29, 2020 (2020-11-29)ZABF201.63[24]

When Superintendent Chalmers is selected to give the keynote speech at an administrator's convention in Cincinnati, Principal Skinner takes some advice from Bart and replaces favored Principal Finch as his superior's plus-one, hoping he can get to know Chalmers better during their 800-mile journey to get there.

Guest stars: Jason Bateman as himself and Hannibal Buress as Principal Finch
6939"Sorry Not Sorry"Rob OliverNell ScovellDecember 6, 2020 (2020-12-06)QABF011.66[25]

When Lisa's "Who Inspires You?" project results in the same B- grade as every other student in her class, she becomes angered with Miss Hoover and calls her a hack. When Lisa refuses to apologize she is sent to detention. When her stubbornness only makes matters worse, she is encouraged to try and understand things from her teacher's point of view.

Guest stars: Christine Nangle as Ms. Timberwood, Ariana Piknjac and Ella Piknjac performing the end titles theme
69410"A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas"Timothy BaileyJessica ConradDecember 13, 2020 (2020-12-13)QABF033.92[26]

Aspiring Heartmark Channel film producer Mary Tannenbaum is sent to Springfield to help sort out problems with a Christmas movie being filmed there during Summer. Mary stays with the Simpsons where Heartmark fan Marge assertively tries to befriend her, Homer tries to profit from the film, Lisa follows Mary with her own camera to film a behind-the-scenes documentary and Bart becomes bitter when he has to give up his room for film crew. Meanwhile, Mary forms an odd rapport with Seymour Skinner after the two make a deal so that her film doesn't interfere with his Lettuce and Tomato Festival.

Guest stars: Ellie Kemper as Mary Tannenbaum, Richard Kind as the director, and Chris Parnell as Mary Tannenbaum's fiancé
69511"The Dad-Feelings Limited"Chris ClementsRyan KohJanuary 3, 2021 (2021-01-03)QABF041.89[27]

Homer and Marge team up with Comic Book Guy and his wife Kumiko to win a trivia contest. After spending time with Maggie, Kumiko decides she wants to have a baby, only for her husband to disagree. But just as Comic Book Guy begins to come around on the matter, the pressure to offer emotional support to a distressed Bart and Lisa sees him fleeing his wife and problems back to his family home.

Guest stars: Dan Aykroyd as Postage Stamp Fellow, Bob Balaban as the narrator, and Jenny Yokobori as Kumiko Albertson
69612"Diary Queen"[28]Matthew Nastuk[29]Jeff Westbrook[28]February 14, 2021 (2021-02-14)[30][lower-alpha 2]QABF05[28]TBD
Guest star: Marcia Wallace as Edna Krabappel[32]
69713"Wad Goals"[33]Michael Polcino[34]Brian Kelley[33]February 21, 2021 (2021-02-21)[30]QABF06[33]TBD
Guest star: Stephen Root as Bildorf[35]
69814"Yokel Hero"[36]Rob Oliver[37]Jeff & Samantha Martin[36]February 28, 2021 (2021-02-28)[38][lower-alpha 3]QABF07[36]TBD
69915"Do PizzaBots Dream of Electric Guitars?"[40]Jennifer Moeller[41]Michael Price[40]March 7, 2021 (2021-03-07)[38][lower-alpha 3]QABF08[40]TBD
Guest star: J. J. Abrams as himself[42][43]
70016"Manger Things"[44]Steven Dean Moore[45]Rob LaZebnik[44]March 21, 2021 (2021-03-21)[39]QABF09[44]TBD
70117"Uncut Femmes"[46]Chris Clements[47]Christine Nangle[46]March 28, 2021 (2021-03-28)[48]QABF10[46]TBD
70218"Burger Kings"[49]Lance Kramer[50]Rob LaZebnik[49]April 11, 2021 (2021-04-11)[48]QABF11[49]TBD
70319"Panic in the Streets of Springfield"[51]Matthew Nastuk[52]Tim Long[53]April 18, 2021 (2021-04-18)[48]QABF12[51]TBD
Guest star: Benedict Cumberbatch as an aging Morrissey-type character[42]
TBATBA"Mother and Child Reunion"[54]Jennifer Moeller[55]J. Stewart Burns[54]May 9, 2021 (2021-05-09)[56]QABF14[44]TBD
Guest star: Werner Herzog[57]
  1. This episode was originally scheduled to air on October 18, 2020,[14] but was preempted by game seven of the 2020 National League Championship Series.[18] However, the episode was screened on October 14, 2020, at "Paley Front Row: Simpsons Treehouse of Horror," a panel discussion hosted by Decider, Paley Center for Media, and Fox.[19] Citytv in Canada aired the episode on its originally intended air date.
  2. This episode was originally scheduled to air on January 10, 2021, but was preempted by the NFL playoffs.[31]
  3. "Yokel Hero" and "Do PizzaBots Dream of Electric Guitars?" were originally scheduled to air on March 7 and 14, 2021 respectively, but were moved up a week due to the preemption of the 63rd Grammy Awards.[39]

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of The Simpsons
No. Title Air dateRating
(18–49)
Viewers
(millions)
DVR
(18–49)
DVR viewers
(millions)
Total
(18–49)
Total viewers
(millions)
1 "Undercover Burns" September 27, 20201.74.44[15]0.20.351.94.80[58]
2 "I, Carumbus" October 4, 20200.51.51[16]0.10.290.61.80[59]
3 "Now Museum, Now You Don't" October 11, 20200.51.36[17]N/AN/AN/AN/A
4 "Treehouse of Horror XXXI" November 1, 20201.74.93[20]0.30.542.05.48[60]
5 "The 7 Beer Itch" November 8, 20200.71.74[21]0.10.310.82.05[61]
6 "Podcast News" November 15, 20201.33.50[22]0.10.351.43.86[62]
7 "Three Dreams Denied" November 22, 20201.54.41[23]TBDTBDTBDTBD
8 "The Road to Cincinnati" November 29, 20200.61.63[24]TBDTBDTBDTBD
9 "Sorry Not Sorry" December 6, 20200.61.66[25]TBDTBDTBDTBD
10 "A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas" December 13, 20201.33.92[26]TBDTBDTBDTBD
11 "The Dad-Feelings Limited" January 3, 20210.61.89[27]TBDTBDTBDTBD

References

  1. Hipes, Patrick (July 22, 2020). "Fox Sets Fall Premiere Dates For The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, Bless The Harts". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  2. @AlJean (June 24, 2020). "Same 22" (Tweet). Retrieved July 8, 2020 via Twitter.
  3. "FOX Renews "The Simpsons" for Unprecedented 31st and 32nd Seasons". The Futon Critic. February 6, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  4. "Animated Series Adapt to Keep Production Going Amid Industry-Wide Shutdown". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  5. Choe, Brandon (June 24, 2020). "Comic-Con@Home: Disney TV Studios Sets Panel Slate With 'Bob's Burgers', 'Family Guy', 'Simpsons', More". Deadline. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  6. Petski, Denise (June 26, 2020). "'The Simpsons' Will No Longer Have White Actors Voice Non-White Characters". Deadline. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  7. Evans, Greg (August 4, 2020). "'The Simpsons' Actor Harry Shearer Not In Sync With Show's Decision To Stop Hiring White Actors For Characters Of Color". Deadline. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  8. Schneider, Michael (September 24, 2020). "'The Simpsons' Season Premiere: Here's Who Took Over Carl's Voice From Hank Azaria (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  9. "Al Jean". Twitter. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  10. "(SI-3204) "The Dad-Feelings Limited"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  11. N'Duka, Amanda (July 25, 2020). "'The Simpsons': Ben Platt, Hannibal Buress & More Tapped As Guest Stars For Season 32 – Comic-Con@Home". Deadline. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  12. https://tvline.com/2020/11/13/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-6-yeardley-smith-guest-star/
  13. Drury, Sharareh (September 6, 2020). "Hulu's New Releases Coming in September 2020". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. "Simpsons, The (FOX)". The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  15. Metcalf, Mitch (September 29, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.27.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  16. Metcalf, Mitch (October 6, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.4.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  17. Metcalf, Mitch (October 13, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.11.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  18. @TheSimpsons (October 18, 2020). "Not today. Postponement is due to Game 7 of the NLCS" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2020 via Twitter.
  19. Graham, Mark (October 7, 2020). "Decider, FOX, and The Paley Center for Media Team Up To Present 'Paley Front Row: Simpsons Treehouse of Horror'". Decider. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  20. Metcalf, Mitch (November 3, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.1.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  21. Metcalf, Mitch (November 10, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.8.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  22. Metcalf, Mitch (November 17, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.15.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  23. Metcalf, Mitch (November 24, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.2.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  24. Metcalf, Mitch (December 2, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.29.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  25. Metcalf, Mitch (December 8, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.6.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  26. Metcalf, Mitch (December 15, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.13.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  27. Metcalf, Mitch (January 6, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.3.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  28. Al Jean on Twitter - "Diary Queen"
  29. Al Jean's Twitter - "Diary Queen Director"
  30. Al Jean's Twitter - "Diary Queen and Wad Goals air date"
  31. Diary Queen Delayed
  32. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20210122fox16/
  33. Al Jean's Twitter - "Wad Goals"
  34. Wad Goals Director
  35. FutonCritic - "Wad Goals"
  36. Al Jean's Twitter - "Yokel Hero Script"
  37. Al Jean's Twitter - "Yokel Hero Director"
  38. Al Jean's Twitter - "Yokel Hero new Air Date"
  39. Al Jean's Twitter - "Yokel Hero, Do PizzaBots Dream of Electric Guitars? and Manger Things Air Dates"
  40. Al Jean's Twitter - "Do PizzaBots Dream of Electric Guitars? Writer"
  41. Al Jean's Twitter - "Do PizzaBots Dream of Electric Guitars? Director"
  42. D23 Inside Disney Episode 58
  43. Al Jean's Twitter - "Do PizzaBots Dream of Electric Guitars? J.J. Abrams"
  44. Manger Things
  45. Manger Things Director
  46. Al Jean's Twitter - "Uncut Femmes"
  47. Al Jean's Twitter - "Uncut Femmes Director"
  48. Al Jean's Twitter - "Uncut Femmes, Burger Kings, Panic in the Streets of Springfield Air Dates"
  49. Al Jean's Twitter - "Burger Kings"
  50. Al Jean's Twitter - "Burger Kings Director"
  51. Al Jean's Twitter - "Panic in the Streets of Springfield"
  52. [https://twitter.com/LPNintendoITA/status/1294322258127785992 Al Jean's Twitter - "Panic in the Streets of Springfield Director"
  53. Al Jean's Twitter - "Panic in the Streets of Springfield Writer"
  54. Mother and Child Reunion
  55. Al Jean's Twitter - "Mother and Child Reunion Director"
  56. MACR
  57. Mother and Child Reunion Guest Star
  58. Thorne, Will (October 6, 2020). "Live+7 Ratings for Premiere Week: 'Masked Singer' and Football Dominate". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  59. Thorne, Will (October 13, 2020). "Live+7 Ratings for Week of Sept. 28: 'Masked Singer' Almost Catches Presidential Debate". Variety. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  60. Thorne, Will (November 10, 2020). "Live+7 Ratings for Week of Oct. 26: 'This Is Us' Premiere Grows 86% to Top Delayed Charts". Variety. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  61. Thorne, Will (November 17, 2020). "Live+7 Ratings for Week of Nov. 2: 'The Good Doctor' Premiere Adds 4.5 Million Viewers". Variety. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  62. Thorne, Will (November 24, 2020). "Live+7 Ratings for Week of Nov. 9: 'This Is Us' and 'Grey's Anatomy' Tussle at the Top". Variety. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
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