Image courtesy of Everett Collection
Published Jul 1, 2026, 6:01 PM EDT
Cathal Gunning has been writing about movies, television, culture, and politics online and in print since 2017. He worked as a Senior Editor in Adbusters Media Foundation from 2018-2019 and wrote for WhatCulture in early 2020. He has been a Senior Features Writer for ScreenRant since 2020.
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The revelation that the next Disney+ streaming special from The Simpsons will be a spoof of an acclaimed Netflix series proves that the show’s new era provides it with exciting avenues for experimentation going forward. The Simpsons might hold more world records than any other show on TV, if for no reason other than its sheer longevity. With over 37 seasons and 800 episodes, as well as a 2007 theatrical movie and a sequel on the way, The Simpsons is the longest-running US scripted prime-time TV series in history.
The Simpsons is also the longest-running sitcom in American TV history and the longest-running animated comedy ever, comfortably outdoing major competitors like Family Guy and Paramount’s massive hit South Park. However, all is not rosy in the world of Springfield. Although seasons 2–34 of The Simpsons featured between 20 and 25 episodes apiece, the show's output has been reduced to only 18 new episodes per season as of 2024's season 35.
To make matters worse for longtime TV viewers, four of each new season’s episodes are released as Disney+ exclusives instead of airing on Fox as part of the show’s regularly scheduled programming. This means that each new season of The Simpsons airs a mere 14 episodes each, a much shorter run that marks an unwelcome change for many fans. Fortunately, The Simpsons can make up for this with new specials that spoof streaming shows like Netflix’s iconic sci-fi anthology Black Mirror or the mystery series Ripley.
The Simpsons Can Spoof Streaming Shows With Its New Format Shift
It is a shame that viewers who don’t subscribe to Disney+ won’t be able to access these specials, but the streaming exclusives justify their existence with the show’s increased ability to experiment with its format. The next two Disney+ specials, July’s “Simpsley” and August’s “Yellow Mirror,” see the show spoof major streaming titles from Netflix without needing to justify its divergence from the typical formula of The Simpsons.
Since its inception, The Simpsons has always parodied popular movies and shows. One of the best episodes of The Simpsons is a spoof of Scorsese’s 1990 thriller Cape Fear, but these parodies always need to be grounded in the reality of the show itself. Setting up these plots can waste valuable screen time, a problem that reared its head in season 37, episode 13, “Separance.” Fortunately, the new streaming specials allow the series to focus on parodying recognizable streaming titles without the framing devices the show usually requires.
The Simpsons’ New Era Is Arriving Just In Time
Image courtesy of Everett Collection“Yellow Mirror” and “Simpsley” are set to spoof both the incredibly famous Black Mirror and, interestingly enough, the critically acclaimed but unfairly forgotten 2024 psychological thriller Ripley, with the Ripley spoof even committing to a full black-and-white aesthetic shift. This makes the show’s parody of the underrated adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley all the more immersive, and it is hard to imagine the show pulling off such a strange premise in an ordinary episode of season 37.
Season 37’s reviews and fan response were a lot less enthusiastic than the unexpected acclaim that seasons 34–36 received, so it is fair to surmise that The Simpsons is overdue for a creative change. In recent years, the show has been at its best when telling more offbeat, surreal stories, but the worst episodes of The Simpsons season 37 felt compelled to play it safe with anodyne social satire and plots that centered on minor supporting characters like Superintendent Chalmers.
Thus, these streaming specials could be a lifeline for a TV institution that has lost its spark. By spoofing streaming shows without getting caught up in the show’s own existing canon, The Simpsons can refresh its storytelling and offer viewers something timely, fun, and original in 2026.
Release Date December 17, 1989
Network FOX
Showrunner Al Jean
Directors Steven Dean Moore, Mark Kirkland, Rob Oliver, Michael Polcino, Mike B. Anderson, Chris Clements, Wes Archer, Timothy Bailey, Lance Kramer, Nancy Kruse, Matthew Faughnan, Chuck Sheetz, Rich Moore, Jeffrey Lynch, Pete Michels, Susie Dietter, Raymond S. Persi, Carlos Baeza, Dominic Polcino, Lauren MacMullan, Michael Marcantel, Neil Affleck, Swinton O. Scott III, Jennifer Moeller
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Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)
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Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
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