The Simpsons have always been known for predicting the future – but is there a secret plan behind it? Showrunner Matt Selman finally reveals the mystery behind the cult series’ prophecies.
The list of global events that The Simpsons allegedly predicted has become quite long with 36 seasons and nearly 800 episodes. According to showrunner Selman, this is not magic. In an interview with People, he explains, “If you say enough things, some of them will inevitably match reality. That’s the mathematics.” And furthermore, Selman believes that by writing so much about the “stupidity of humanity,” one can also predict future stupidity quite well.
What truly annoys the creators: fake images on the internet showing scenes that never appeared in the series but circulate as “predictions.” Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of this on the internet, especially with the rise of AI tools that are now easy to use. In an article by the BBC, you can see three such examples. A small reminder once again to always fact-check as a user whether the content is even real. Nonetheless, let’s take a closer look at ten predictions from The Simpsons.
Trump Becomes President
Predicted: 2000 – Season 11, Episode 17
Came True: 2016
In the episode “Bart to the Future,” we see a future where Lisa is the President of the USA and mentions inheriting a “financial mess from President Trump.” This episode was originally just a reference to Trump’s previous attempt to run as a Reform Party candidate. In 2016, the joke became a bitter reality.
Tiger Attack on Roy
Predicted: 1993 – Season 5, Episode 10
Came True: 2003
In the episode “$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling),” Siegfried & Roy’s Simpsons counterparts are attacked by their own white tiger. Ten years later, Roy Horn was indeed attacked and seriously injured by a white Bengal tiger. It should be common knowledge that a wild animal is not a toy.
Disney Buys Fox
Predicted: 1998 – Season 10, Episode 5
Came True: 2019
In “When You Dish Upon a Star,” it is shown how 20th Century Fox becomes a “Division of Walt Disney Co.” A small joke that became a reality 21 years later when Disney bought 21st Century Fox for $52 billion.
FIFA Scandal and Germany’s World Cup Win
Predicted: 2014 – Season 25, Episode 16
Came True: 2014 and 2015
In the episode, Homer is recruited as a World Cup referee due to massive corruption in FIFA. Germany ends up winning the World Cup. In 2015, FIFA was indeed shaken by a massive corruption scandal – and yes, Germany also won the World Cup.
Discovery of the Higgs-Boson Particle
Predicted: 1998 – Season 10, Episode 2
Came True: 2012
In the episode “The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace,” we see Homer as a budding inventor in front of a chalkboard with a complex mathematical equation. What seemed like a funny background gag at the time turned out to be almost prophetic years later. The equation on the board came remarkably close to the actual mass of the Higgs-Boson particle, which was experimentally proven in 2012.
There is a plausible explanation for this: The Simpsons writer David X. Cohen, who has a degree in physics himself, deliberately included the equation in the episode. It was an educated guess based on the scientific knowledge of the time. It wasn’t as random as it seems. Nonetheless, it’s impressive that Homer Simpson was one of the first TV characters to hint at such an important physical phenomenon – years before it became known to the world.
The Simpsons and Self-Isolation
Predicted: 1992 – Season 4, Episode 12
Came True: 2020
In the episode “Marge Gets a Job,” Mr. Burns is shown living in complete isolation out of paranoia to protect himself from potential diseases. Decades later, in 2020, self-isolation became a sad reality for many people during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The idea of isolating oneself from an invisible threat seemed exaggerated and absurd in the 90s. However, during the pandemic, isolation became a necessity to prevent the spread of the virus.
Malfunctioning Voting Machines
Predicted: 2008 – Season 20, Episode 4
Came True: 2012
In the “Treehouse of Horror XIX” episode, Homer tries to vote for Barack Obama, but the voting machine keeps registering his vote for John McCain. Four years later, a viral video surfaced showing this exact problem – this time with Mitt Romney and Obama.
The Three-Eyed Fish
Predicted: 1990 – Season 2, Episode 4
Came True: 2011
Blinky, the three-eyed fish from the series, was long seen as a metaphor for pollution. In 2011, a three-eyed fish was actually caught near a nuclear power plant in Argentina.
Beatles Respond to Fan Mail
Predicted: 1991 – Season 2, Episode 18
Came True: 2013
Marge receives a response from Ringo Starr to her fan mail after decades in the series. In reality, two women in Essex received a response from Paul McCartney to a mixtape they had sent him 50 years earlier.
Horse Meat in Food
Predicted: 1994 – Season 5, Episode 19
Came True: 2013
In an episode, Lunchlady Doris is seen mixing horse meat into the children’s food. Fast forward to 2013 when it was discovered that many beef products in Europe actually contained horse meat.
What Only Happened Thanks to The Simpsons
Autocorrect
Predicted: 1994 – Season 6, Episode 8
Okay, it’s nonsense to say that we owe the lousy autocorrect function to The Simpsons. But the phrase “Eat up, Martha” from the episode “Lisa on Ice” became a running joke among Apple engineers as they worked on the iPhone’s autocorrect. In reality, the bully Dolph typed “Beat up Martin” into his Apple Newton as a reminder.
Cypress Hill Plays with the London Symphony Orchestra
Predicted: 1996 – Season 7, Episode 24
Came True: 2024
In the episode “Homerpalooza,” Cypress Hill accidentally hires the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) for their performance of “Insane in the Brain” at a music festival. What seemed like an absurd joke at the time became a reality almost 30 years later. On July 10, 2024, Cypress Hill actually performed at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London, accompanied by the LSO. The classic “Insane in the Brain” was performed in an epic orchestral version. Cypress Hill member B-Real told the BBC, “Since that Simpsons episode aired back then, we have talked about actually doing it. Now it’s something very special for us.”
Coincidence or Foresight?
Whether by chance, a keen insight into humanity, or simply a very long runtime – The Simpsons manage to predict things that surprise us time and time again. Whether it’s political events or bizarre coincidences, the series has been holding a mirror to us for decades. Even though Matt Selman has demystified the magic a bit, one thing is certain: as long as the world keeps turning, The Simpsons will likely make a few more predictions.
In conclusion, The Simpsons have proven to be more than just a cartoon show – they have become a cultural phenomenon that continues to surprise and entertain audiences with their uncanny ability to foresee future events. Whether it’s political outcomes, technological advancements, or social trends, The Simpsons have left an indelible mark on popular culture and will likely continue to do so for years to come.