When a show has been on the air for a quarter century (and doesn’t have “Larry King” in the title), there are urges to completely change things up as much as possible. For The Simpsons, it’s even harder, considering its creative team has tried to do everything under the sun. At least twice. Well it looks like one of America’s favorite families is getting a huge shake-up, as Season 27 will feature a storyline where Marge and Homer are legally separated. Who will want get custody of Bart?
Longtime executive producer Al Jean recently spoke with Variety about the upcoming season, during which he shared how the Simpson couple’s most recent bout with marital woes will go, and it’s about as ridiculous as you’d imagine.
In the premiere, it’s discovered after all the years Homer has narcolepsy and it’s an incredible strain on the marriage. Homer and Marge legally separate, and Homer falls in love with his pharmacist, who’s voiced by Lena Dunham. We’ll have cameos from the other women from Girls.
You know you’re well within the realm of television comedy when a plotline revolves around a character having narcolepsy, but Homer has technically gone through situations that made far less sense. After all these years of “Homer and Marge fighting” episodes, it’s somewhat refreshing that they’ll actually take things to extremes, but it’s strange that narcolepsy will be the driving force, rather than the plethora of bumbling mistakes that Homer has made in the past 25 years. I mean, he got married to a floozy in Vegas at one point.
It’s also equally unbelievable that Homer would be able to fall in love with someone besides Marge at this point in their relationship. He’s come close to having affairs before, but those were mostly of a sexual nature rather than anything based on love. Lena Dunham’s pharmacist better be made out of donuts and beer if they want to justify that. Also, I do realize this is only a cartoon TV series.
Jean teases a few other episodes from Season 27, including the previously announced one where Sideshow Bob will get his biggest wish of killing Bart. One episode will feature Lisa striking a friendship with a homeless woman (played by Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon) who is an amazing singer, as heard through Natalie Maines’ voice. Bart is getting a flashback/flash-forward installment that is inspired by Boyhood. And in a further-in-the-future tease, apparently Homer will once again be voting for President in a way that works against his wishes. Whoda thunk it?
Season 27 of The Simpsons is set to debut this fall, with or without the vocal talents of Harry Shearer. Homer better start looking for a good lawyer.
