# The Simpsons season 36

The thirty-sixth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons premiered on the Fox network on September 29, 2024. This is the second of two seasons ordered by Fox. It is produced by Gracie Films and 20th Television Animation. The primary showrunner for the season is Matt Selman.

## Voice cast and characters
### Main cast

* Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Groundskeeper Willie, Blue-Haired Lawyer, Hans Moleman, Krusty the Clown, Barney Gumble, Sideshow Mel, Grampa Simpson, Kodos, Mayor Quimby, Rich Texan, Gil Gunderson, Squeaky-Voiced Teen, Mr. Teeny, Santa's Little Helper, Ugolin, additional voices
* Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson, Patty and Selma Bouvier
* Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, Maggie Simpson, Todd Flanders, additional voices
* Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson
* Hank Azaria as Superintendent Chalmers, Comic Book Guy, Kirk Van Houten, Duffman, Moe Szyslak, Raphael, Professor Frink, Dr. Nick Riviera, Chief Wiggum, Captain McCallister, Nick Callahan, Luigi Risotto, Old Jewish Man, Chazz Busby, Mr. Costington, Snake, Disco Stu, Coach Krupt, additional voices
* Harry Shearer as Principal Skinner, Ned Flanders, Waylon Smithers, Mr. Burns, Kent Brockman, Lenny Leonard, Kang, Reverend Lovejoy, Dewey Largo, Otto Mann, Rainier Wolfcastle, Jasper Beardley, Officer Eddie, Geoffrey, Cesar, additional voices

### Supporting cast

* Pamela Hayden as Milhouse Van Houten, Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, additional voices. This is the last season to feature Hayden's voice, which features in episodes 1–7 and the Disney+ specials; she retired from acting after the 35th production season concluded.
* Tress MacNeille as Agnes Skinner, Lindsay Naegle, Shauna Chalmers, Mama Risotto, Lunchlady Dora, Mrs. Muntz, Brunella Pommelhorst, Miss Springfield, Mrs. Vanderbilt, additional voices
* Kevin Michael Richardson as Dr. Hibbert, Judge Roy Snyder, additional voices
* Kimberly Brooks as Janey Powell, additional voices
* Grey DeLisle as Malibu Stacy, Wendell Borton, Martin Prince additional voices
* Alex Désert as Carl Carlson, Officer Lou, Fausto, additional voices
* Chris Edgerly as Rod Flanders, additional voices
* Dawnn Lewis as Bernice Hibbert, additional voices
* Tony Rodríguez as Julio
* Maggie Roswell as Luann Van Houten, Elizabeth Hoover, Helen Lovejoy, additional voices
* Jenny Yokobori as Kumiko Albertson, additional voices

### Guest cast

Guest stars announced for the season include former series writer Conan O'Brien, John Cena, Danny DeVito, Tom Hanks, and Andy Serkis.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 769 | 1 | "Bart's Birthday" | Rob Oliver | Jessica Conrad | September 29, 2024 (2024-9-29) | 35ABF15 | 1.08 |
| Conan O'Brien hosts the "series finale" of The Simpsons, in which the finale itself is generated by an AI machine called HackGPT. In the finale, Bart's 11th birthday approaches and he realizes that Springfield is changing around him: Principal Skinner leaves for Sacramento with Groundskeeper Willie, Mr. Burns passes away and his fortune is given to the power plant employees, Comic Book Guy and his wife Kumiko's baby is born, with John Cena assisting with the delivery, Moe's Tavern closes, Nelson's father and the real Seymour Skinner return, Krusty the Clown ends his show, and Chief Wiggum joins the Chicago Police Department, as well as various marriages and deaths. Bart gains sentience within the finale and tries to resist the changes. Guest stars: John Cena as himself, Danny DeVito as Herbert Powell, Tom Hanks as himself, Joel McHale as himself, Conan O'Brien as himself, Mark Proksch as Hack-GPT, Seth Rogen as himself, Amy Sedaris as Maggie Simpson (speaking voice) ||||||||
| 770 | 2 | "The Yellow Lotus" | Matthew Faughnan | Loni Steele Sosthand | October 6, 2024 (2024-10-6) | 35ABF08 | 0.89 |
| The Simpsons go to a fancy resort intended for Springfield's elite for a vacation, thanks to Homer buying timeshares back when Marge was pregnant with Bart. But when they discover he was scammed and are thrown out only 20 minutes later, the family squat in a room designated for the luggage of a rich newly-wed named Tasha, whose new husband is Sideshow Bob. Guest stars: Chloe Fineman as Tasha, Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob, Jay Pharoah as Drederick Tatum, and Kara Talve singing the "Yellow Lotus Theme" ||||||||
| 771 | 3 | "Desperately Seeking Lisa" | Matthew Nastuk | Tim Long | October 20, 2024 (2024-10-20) | 35ABF18 | 2.02 |
| Sick of hearing Lisa complaining about Springfield, Marge sends her off with Patty and Selma to Capital City. There, Lisa meets some of the city’s urbane artists who invite her to join them at a party where like-minded individuals gather. Lisa decides that this culture is her future instead of Springfield and is swept away into a surreal journey through Capital City’s art and drama scene only to soon discover things aren't as they seem. Guest stars: Griffin Dunne as Cockroach Actor, Richard E. Grant as Julian and British voice, Tracy Letts as Himself, Molly Shannon as Katya ||||||||
| 772 | 4 | "Shoddy Heat" | Gabriel DeFrancesco | Jeff Westbrook | October 27, 2024 (2024-10-27) | 35ABF16 | 0.98 |
| The Springfield Police Department unearths a coffin with two corpses in it that also contains a business card of Grampa Simpson’s from the 1980s during his brief stint as a private investigator. While Grampa tries to avoid his past, a curious Lisa pushes him to reopen the cold case that caused in the disappearance of his partner Billy and involved both Agnes Skinner and Mr. Burns. Guest star: Topher Grace as William "Billy" O'Donnell ||||||||
| 773 | 5 | "Treehouse of Horror XXXV" | Timothy Bailey | Rob LaZebnik & Dan Vebber & Matt Selman | November 3, 2024 (2024-11-3) | 35ABF13 | 3.18 |
| A series of scary stories are prefaced by "Cottage of Terror", a Mexican-themed opening animated by Jorge R. Gutierrez: "The Information Rage": Bart and Lisa find themselves having to put their differences aside as built up political divisiveness and rage manifests as two giant monsters and it is up to the Simpson siblings to save Springfield. "The Fall of the House of Monty": On the day after Thanksgiving, Victorian-era Mr. Burns becomes a victim of his own greed and cruelty as the dead workers from his corn syrup factory rise up and seek revenge on their former boss. "Denim": In a parody of Venom, Homer comes into contact with a pair of sentient extraterrestrial denim pants that quickly bond with him, only to refuse to leave him when he needs it the most. Guest stars: Juan Carlos Enriquez, Jorge R. Gutierrez and Tim Yoon sing "Jarabe Tapatío" and Rob LaZebnik as Spit-Takers Anonymous Guy ||||||||
| 774 | 6 | "Women in Shorts" | Kevin Hart | Christine Nangle | November 10, 2024 (2024-11-10) | 35ABF17 | 0.83 |
| An assortment of stories involving the female residents of Springfield like Luann Van Houten, Malibu Stacy, Mrs. Muntz, Marge, Patty and Selma, Bernice Hibbert, Mama Risotto, Lunchlady Dora, Lisa, Agnes Skinner, Helen Lovejoy, and Rayshelle Peyton. Parodies include Barbie, West Side Story, The Nanny, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Guest stars: Ruth Reichl as herself, Kerry Washington as Rayshelle Payton, Christine Nangle as Mom Goods Manager, Renee Ridgeley as Dr. Wendy Sage ||||||||
| 775 | 7 | "Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes" | Debbie Bruce Mahan | Jessica Conrad | November 24, 2024 (2024-11-24) | 35ABF14 | 2.69 |
| In an ode to the works of Ray Bradbury, the Simpson family attend a carnival where Lisa meets an individual known as The Illustrated Man who uses his tattoos to weave various stories for her. A 1950s Bart hears what he thinks are the screams of a woman buried alive in the woods only to discover nobody will believe him. A retro-future version of Superintendent Chalmers is convinced by Carl to use a replacement robot duplicate of himself to avoid spending time with Skinner. Homer is part of a law enforcement team set in a police-state future Springfield where consuming any media that isn't considered as prestige television is illegal. Guest star: Andy Serkis as Siegfried Blaze and The Illustrated Man ||||||||
| 776 | 8 | "Convenience Airways" | Rob Oliver | Loni Steele Sosthand | December 8, 2024 (2024-12-8) | 36ABF01 | 1.70 |
| The Simpsons mention at a Congressional hearing about the time when they were trapped on a flight with the most unruly passengers in America, some of which they know. They soon find that each of its passengers are slowly disappearing. Guest stars: Kate Berlant as Stressed Woman, John Early as Joel, Jay Pharoah as Drederick Tatum, John Pirruccello as Warren Wingspan ||||||||
| 777 | 9 | "Homer and Her Sisters" | Matthew Nastuk | Nick Dahan | December 15, 2024 (2024-12-15) | 36ABF03 | 1.47 |
| Animosity between Marge's sisters Patty and Selma and Homer peaks when he ruins Patty and Selma's birthday escape room experience. Meanwhile, Krusty is told by his Aunt Sadie Krustofsky to stop being an elitist celebrity and connect with his crew. When Aunt Sadie's tough love approach gets her Aunt Sadie own personal improvement show, Marge uses it to try and bring Homer and her sisters together as well as some other people. Guest stars: Ike Barinholtz as Wayne the Grip, Susie Essman as Aunt Sadie Krustofsky, Jay Pharoah as Drederick Tatum ||||||||
| 778 | – | "O C'mon All Ye Faithful" | Debbie Bruce Mahan | Carolyn Omine | December 17, 2024 (2024-12-17) | 35ABF21 | N/A |
| 779 | – | "O C'mon All Ye Faithful" | Matthew Faughnan | Carolyn Omine | December 17, 2024 (2024-12-17) | 35ABF22 | N/A |
| Mentalist Derren Brown comes to Springfield to bring some Christmas cheer back to the town. He unintentionally makes Homer believe he is Santa. When Flanders becomes jealous of Homer's celebrity, he has a crisis of faith. Guest stars: Derren Brown as himself, Patti LaBelle as herself, Pentatonix as themselves ||||||||
| 780 | 10 | "The Man Who Flew Too Much" | Steven Dean Moore | Al Jean | December 22, 2024 (2024-12-22) | 36ABF02 | 0.91 |
| The Pin Pals get back together and travel to Capital City to attend their first ever state bowling championship only for the helicopter to crash on the way there. While Marge and the kids worry, Homer, Barney, Moe, Carl, Ned Flanders and Pin Pal newcomer Fausto try to survive the harsh natural elements of a frozen mountainside as they attempt the arduous journey back home. Guest star: Glenn Close as Mona J. Simpson ||||||||
| 781 | 11 | "Bottle Episode" | Gabriel DeFrancesco | Rob LaZebnik & Johnny LaZebnik | December 29, 2024 (2024-12-29) | 36ABF04 | 3.31 |
| Smithers asks Homer to take care of a million dollar bottle of Gevrey-Chambertin wine once owned by Napoleon to be delivered to Mr. Burns. But while Homer initially succeeds, Marge unknowingly uses the wine to spice up some stew. Homer suggests they try to cover it up so with Professor Frink's help Smithers and Marge create a fake replica of the wine. When it fools Burns and his rich friends, Marge and Smithers decide to replicate more expensive wine to profit the poor instead of the rich. Guest star: Robert Parker as himself Note: This episode was dedicated in memory of former series writer William "Billy" Wright who died on December 16, 2024. ||||||||
| 782 | – | "The Past and the Furious" | Mike Frank Polcino | Rob LaZebnik | February 12, 2025 (2025-2-12) | 35ABF19 | N/A |
| In an alternate reality where all plant life in Springfield is abolished, Lisa travels back in time to stop a young Montgomery Burns from becoming a heartless tycoon. Guest star: Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Monty B. ||||||||
| 783 | 12 | "The Flandshees of Innersimpson" | TBA | Dan Vebber | March 30, 2025 (2025-3-30) | 36ABF05 | TBD |
* ↑ Episodes without an episode number within the season constitute exclusive episodes commissioned and released by Disney+.
Another episode expected to be released in this season on Disney+ is "Yellow Planet".

## Production

In January 2023, it was announced that the series had been renewed for the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth seasons. Executive producer Matt Selman continued his role as primary showrunner, a role he had since the thirty-third season. Selman had previously been the showrunner for several episodes each season since the twenty-third season. Executive producer Al Jean also served as showrunner for several episodes this season.
In July 2024, at San Diego Comic-Con, Selman recorded the screaming of the Simpsons panel audience to be used in the season's Treehouse of Horror episode. In addition, a followup episode to the seventh season episode "22 Short Films About Springfield" was announced. A second Treehouse of Horror episode is also planned to be broadcast this season, titled "Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes". The episode will feature three segments parodying stories by Ray Bradbury. Series creator Matt Groening stated that Bradbury criticized the show in the press after the series premiered because it borrowed from an episode of The Twilight Zone that he wrote. The season contains 11 holdover episodes from the previous season.
In August 2024, at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, it was announced that four episodes would premiere exclusively on Disney+. Selman said that for both the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth production seasons, 18 episodes were ordered by Fox and 4 episodes were ordered by Disney. One of the episodes was a two-part Christmas special entitled "O C'mon All Ye Faithful", with two other episodes "The Past and the Furious" and "Yellow Planet" also being planned to premiere on the streaming network. Selman said that the producers have agreed to most of Disney's asks for collaboration such as the real-time Simpsons animated version of the December 9, 2024 presentation of Monday Night Football. He also noted that the cross-promotional efforts required cooperation with Fox since the network controlled the show's social media accounts.
In November 2024, it was announced that Pamela Hayden, who had been the voice of Milhouse and several other characters since 1989, would be retiring from voice acting, and her final acting credit on the Fox broadcasts would be for "Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes". Fox says that recasting for her characters would "begin in the near future". Hayden continued to feature in the Disney+ episodes as part of this season.

## Reception

Writers Rob and Johnny LaZebnik were nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Animation at the 77th Writers Guild of America Awards for their script for "Bottle Episode". Writer Jessica Conrad was nominated for the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production at the 52nd Annie Awards for her script for "Bart's Birthday".