Season 32 Information Thread

[Dark Homer]

Season 32 Information Thread

Welcome to the Season 32 Information Thread, where we keep track of news and information about the 2020-2021 season of The Simpsons. Keep in mind this information can change at any time.

Latest Updates

• 12/22: Werner Herzog guest starring in "Mother and Child Reunion"
• 12/13: Synopsis and guest stars for "Dad-feelings Limited;" detail on "The Star of Backstage"
• 12/7: New title, "A Serious Flanders;" "No Day But Yesterday" retitled "The Star of Backstage"
  

Upcoming Episodes

To discuss episodes that have already aired, please check out our Rate & Review archive.

QABF04 - Dad-feelings Limited - January 3, 2021

• Written by Ryan Koh. (Al Jean)
• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)
• Special time, 9:00 PM (TheFutonCritic)
• Synopsis: Comic Book Guy and his wife Kumiko debate having a baby and we learn his awesome origin story. Guest Voice Cast: Dan Aykroyd as Postage Stamp Fellow; Bob Balaban as Narrator; Jenny Yokobori as Kumiko (TheFutonCritic)

QABF05 - Diary Queen - January 10, 2021

• Written by Jeff Westbrook. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Matthew Nastuk. (Al Jean)
• Has a lot of Ned Flanders. (Al Jean)

QABF06 - Wad Goals

• Written by Brian Kelley. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Mike Polcino. (Al Jean)
• Not a Homer episode. (Al Jean)
• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)

QABF07 - Yokel Hero

• Written by Jeff Martin & Samantha Martin. (Al Jean)
• Cletus episode. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Rob Oliver. (Al Jean)
• Cletus becomes a country recording star accidentally. (Awards Daily)

QABF08 - Do PizzaBots Dream Of Electric Guitars

• Written by Michael Price. (Michael Price, Al Jean)
• Homer-centric episode. Professor Frink is briefly in it, but not Otto. (Michael Price)
• Features animatronics (as opposed to robots). (Michael Price)
• Directed by Jennifer Moeller. (Al Jean)
• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)
• JJ Abrams guest stars as himself (D23 Inside Disney podcast, 30:04, Al Jean)

QABF09 - Manger Things

• Written by Rob LaZebnik. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Steve Moore. (Al Jean)
• Will feature a couch gag from Bill Plympton. (ThatGuy3002, Al Jean)

QABF10 - Uncut Femmes (Al Jean)

• Written by Christine Nangle.(Al Jean)
• Marge plays a big part. (Al Jean)
• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)
• Michael Price: "There’s another really excellent episode that will be coming up this season that really gets into who Sarah Wiggum is – Chief Wiggum’s wife – a very peripheral character. She gets a very excellent spotlight episode coming up this season." (Forbes, Matt Selman via The B)

QABF11 - Burger Kings

• Written by Rob LaZebnik. (Al Jean)
• Krusty is in it. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Lance Kramer. (Al Jean)

QABF12 - Panic in the Streets of Springfield (Al Jean)

• Written by Tim Long. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Matthew Nastuk. (Al Jean)
• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)
• There will be a musical episode. (Al Jean)
• Benedict Cumberbatch guest starring as an aging Morrissey-type character in an episode with music written by Bret McKenzie. (D23 Inside Disney podcast, 27:36)

QABF13 - The Man from G.R.A.M.P.A.

• Written by Carolyn Omine. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Bob Anderson. (Al Jean)
• Stephen Fry guest stars as a spy who thinks Grampa is part of a spy ring. (D23 Inside Disney podcast, 29:20)

QABF14 - Mother and Child Reunion

• Written by J. Stewart Burns. (Al Jean)
• Originally titled "Senior Moment" with production code QABF09. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Tim Bailey. (Al Jean)
• Future-set episode. (Al Jean)
• Al Jean alluded to Werner Herzog making a return appearance (The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror at Paley Front Row 2020 panel, 29:49); later confirmed to be this episode. (Al Jean)

QABF15 - The Last Barfighter

• Written by Dan Vebber. (Al Jean)
• Hank Azaria: "We just did one yesterday where it’s a John Wick parody featuring Moe." (Awards Daily)
• Directed by Tim Bailey. (Al Jean)
• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)

QABF16 - Treehouse of Horror XXXII

• Written by John Frink. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Matt Faughnan. (Al Jean)
• Will parody Parasite. (Decider)

QABF17 - The Star of Backstage

• Originally titled "No Day But Yesterday." (WGA Directory)
• Written by Elisabeth Kiernan Averick. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Rob Oliver. (Al Jean)
• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)
• Musical episode.(Michael Price)

QABF18 - Bart's in Jail!

• Written by Nick Dahan. (Al Jean)
• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)
• Directed by Steven Dean Moore. (Al Jean)

QABF19 - The Wayz We Were

• Written by Joel H. Cohen. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Matthew Nastuk. (Al Jean)
• Not a flashback. (Al Jean)

QABF20 - Lisa's Belly

• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)
• Written by Juliet Kaufman. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Tim Bailey. (Tim Bailey)

QABF21 - A Serious Flanders

• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)
• Written by Cesar Mazariegos. (Al Jean)
• Directed by Debbie Mahan. (Al Jean)

QABF22

• Showrun by Matt Selman. (Matt Selman)

Loose Ends

• We might see the rumpus room. (Al Jean)
• Matt Selman is the showrunner for 12 episodes of production season 32. (Matt Selman via Szyslak100)
• 700th episode planned for March. (D23 Inside Disney podcast, 29:16)
• We see Lisa as president. (The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror at Paley Front Row 2020 panel, 24:15)
• Ruth Powers will return. (Al Jean)
• Al Jean said "stay tuned" in response to a fan saying Mrs. Krabappel "needs a proper send off." (Al Jean)
  

[Dark Homer]

Useful Resources

• The Copyright Office Catalog - Titles of upcoming episodes will show up here when they are copyrighted.
• Fox Flash - Fox's official resource for press releases and promotional images.
• The Futon Critic - Another source for press releases.
• Entertainment Weekly - Most exclusives show up here.
• The Springfield Shopper - A news blog from the maintainers of Wikisimpsons.

Many people who work on the show can be found on Twitter:

• Al Jean
• Matt Selman
• Chris Ledesma
• Megan Amram
• James L. Brooks
• Nancy Cartwright
• Joel H. Cohen
• John Frink
• Stephanie Gillis
• Brian Kelley
• Jon Kern
• Rob LaZebnik
• Tim Long
• Jeff Martin
• David Mirkin
• Carolyn Omine
• Michael Price
• Mike Reiss
• Mike Scully
• David Silverman
• Yeardley Smith
• Jeff Westbrook

Please be courteous when contacting them!

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Simpsons Forever! for creating the template for this thread way back in 2006, and thanks to the following members for helping keep the previous threads updated with the latest information: 20thCenturyBox, 6F01, biffwestwood, Brad Lascelle, Blobulle, ComicBookGal, Gran2, jbauer, LetsPlayNintendoITA, lionelhutz123, Matty, McClure, MDB, Nameless, OttoMann14, qwerasdf, Rutherford, SimpsonArgentina, simpsonsbart, Szyslak100, That Don Guy, The B, WeaselStomper, Wile E. the Brain, that guy who pesters Al Jean on Twitter, and everyone else who contributes over the next year!

[Prevostmas]

[Homer Samson]

Considering I started using this site for information about Season 31, I guess I'm back for the summer.

[orangemo]

Useful Resources

• The Copyright Office Catalog - Titles of upcoming episodes will show up here when they are copyrighted.
• Fox Flash - Fox's official resource for press releases and promotional images.
• The Futon Critic - Another source for press releases.
• Entertainment Weekly - Most exclusives show up here.
• The Springfield Shopper - A news blog from the maintainers of Wikisimpsons.

Many people who work on the show can be found on Twitter:

• Al Jean
• Matt Selman
• Chris Ledesma
• Megan Amram
• James L. Brooks
• Nancy Cartwright
• Joel H. Cohen
• John Frink
• Stephanie Gillis
• Brian Kelley
• Jon Kern
• Rob LaZebnik
• Tim Long
• Jeff Martin
• David Mirkin
• Carolyn Omine
• Michael Price
• Mike Reiss
• Mike Scully
• David Silverman
• Yeardley Smith
• Jeff Westbrook

Please be courteous when contacting them!

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Simpsons Forever! for creating the template for this thread way back in 2006, and thanks to the following members for helping keep the previous threads updated with the latest information: 20thCenturyBox, 6F01, biffwestwood, Brad Lascelle, Blobulle, ComicBookGal, Gran2, jbauer, LetsPlayNintendoITA, lionelhutz123, Matty, McClure, MDB, Nameless, OttoMann14, qwerasdf, Rutherford, SimpsonArgentina, simpsonsbart, Szyslak100, That Don Guy, The B, WeaselStomper, Wile E. the Brain, that guy who pesters Al Jean on Twitter, and everyone else who contributes over the next year!

Unrelated to this, I sent you a PM, not sure if you got back to me.

[MDB]

Considering I started using this site for information about Season 31, I guess I'm back for the summer.

I started at the end of season 23, so long ago.
Anyway, really looking forward to the new season. Really glad of Selman taking more responsibilities, especially because I enjoyed both "Go Big or Go Homer" and "The Miseducation of Lisa Simpson" which seem to be a little bit disliked around here, hopefully it also means that jean can do a better job with fewer episodes.

[bboynexus]

Selman appears to have forgone writing duties in favour of more showrunning. I'm personally fine with it if that is indeed the case.

[Brad Lascelle]

Selman appears to have forgone writing duties in favour of more showrunning. I'm personally fine with it if that is indeed the case.

That is the role where he excels these days.

Conversely, I want to see Al Jean write more scripts.
Especially if they wind up as good as I Won't Be Home for Christmas, Mr. Lisa's Opus or Daddicus Finch.

[The B]

Selman appears to have forgone writing duties in favour of more showrunning. I'm personally fine with it if that is indeed the case.

It came from Caffeine, didn't it? Was there something else interesting?

BTW, @Dark Homer forgot to add from Season 31 thread information about Matthew Nastuk directed QABF05 «Diary Queen»

[Szyslak100]

I really hope you can visit the R&R threads more often @MDB. I sustain you have too much to offer.

[J.J.Watts]

'The Road to Cincinnati' sounds the most promising, as long as they don't shoehorn the Simpsons in in a way that feels unnatural and forced.

[Brad Lascelle]

Biggest caveat keeping Road to Cincinnati from being successful is Westbrook penning the script.
Even having it be showrun by Selman doesn't necessarily mitigate that obstacle.

If they keep it largely grounded in reality (like Westbrook's two Nedna efforts), craft some fine road trip movie homages and, if they want to work in some other characters, maybe limit it to the unlikely tandem of Agnes and Shauna trying to track them down while on their own adventure, it could work out quite well.

This concept will get bonus points if they're so daring as to not have ANY of the Simpsons family appear at all.

[The B]

If they want to work in some other characters, maybe limit it to the unlikely tandem of Agnes and Shauna trying to track them down while on their own adventure, it could work out quite well.

Ha! Interesting idea...

This concept will get bonus points if they're so daring as to not have ANY of the Simpsons family appear at all.

For some reason, I don't believe it's impossible.

Actually, I can't immagine yet, in what way TRtC can turn (we know only a couple of sentences from Selman about it). So, wait a bit...

[orangemo]

“The Road to Cincinatti” is probably not going to be a good one since Westbrook was in charge of the script and his recent episodes tend to be the lowest ranked among fans here at nohomers. Even Phil Payton doesn’t like his episodes.

[CousinMerl]

They have some interesting titles and plots announced already. Off to a good start, it seems.

However, it really is too bad that 'Road To Cincinatti' is a Westbrook episode. The premise of an Skinner & Chalmers road trip made it sound quite intriguing and enjoyable but then they have one of the worst current writers attached to it (sigh). It certainly has an effect on my optimism for that one, but it could still turn out okay (though a slimmer chance for that now).

[Venomrabbit]

A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas? First I'm hearing of that one. Half feels like a joke on having a Christmas ep in may. (Also, 7 Beer Itch. Having three writers is a bit strange, wouldn't that make more sense for THOH?)

Overall... it seems some of the premises sound okay but the staff choice for a lot of them is a lot less inspiring... that and the show in recent seasons has a bad habit of good premises having terrible payoffs. So not really looking forward to it, doubly so off the heels of my least favourite season yet. On the bright side, no sign of my least favourite writer but I'll wait to be corrected about that, if there's one thing I do know it's that somebody up there hates me.

Also, lotta names I don't recognize. Admittedly I'm not hyper familiar with every writer ever but I'm pretty sure there's quite a few new faces. Guess that's another point of uncertainty for this season. It doesn't seem terrible so far but I'm not going to get my hopes up. Especially when all that does is jinx things.

[That Don Guy]

Here are the Fox NFL regular season doubleheader days for 2020:
September 13 (repeat), 27 (season premiere)
October 18
November 1, 15, 22
December 13 (Christmas episode), 27 (repeat)
January 3 (the last two times 1/3 was a Sunday, in 2010 and 2016, new episodes aired)

Here is when I think the "known" repeat/pre-emption days (after the season premiere, that is) will be:
World Series - MLB has not announced just when it will take place, but presumably there will be at least one game on a Sunday night
December 20
December 27
January 17 (I think either Fox or CBS will have a late NFL playoff game that night; I don't think Fox would air a new episode against it)
January 24 (either pre-empted for the NFC Championship Game, or a repeat against the AFC Championship Game on CBS)
January 31 (repeat against the Grammys on CBS - assuming they aren't moved)
February 7 (repeat against the Super Bowl on CBS)
February 28 (repeat against the Oscars on ABC - again, assuming they aren't moved)
March 28 (repeat - Palm Sunday)
April 4 (repeat - Easter)
This leaves 25 Sundays open for new episodes, although Fox will probably air the Miss Universe Pageant on a Sunday.

[MDB]

I really hope you can visit the R&R threads more often @MDB. I sustain you have too much to offer.

I really want to do reviews again, i don't seem to find the time though

[Szyslak100]

I really want to do reviews again, i don't seem to find the time though

Yeah, I supposed it was because of lack of time. I just feel that your presence (as well as @Tomacco's and some others that still watch the show and are aboard the forum) could mean a jump-in-quality in the R&R threads, even if your reviews must be short for lack of time or even if it is not for all episodes. Anyhow, thanks for answering.

[bboynexus]

On the bright side, no sign of my least favourite writer but I'll wait to be corrected about that, if there's one thing I do know it's that somebody up there hates me.

It doesn't seem terrible so far but I'm not going to get my hopes up. Especially when all that does is jinx things.

Why do you want everyone to know how miserable you are? Do you want someone to chat to?

[Venomrabbit]

Not with anyone from here.

All I'm doing is taking note of an incredibly obvious pattern. Every time I get hopeful for an ep, it gets dragged down, any time I get good news it's just setting me up for something terrible with such precise timing that it couldn't be worse if the staff was trying to spite me on purpose. Meanwhile between things like Barthood, Halloween of Horror and Highway to Well I go in with dread and it ends up being good. (I mean the latter to a way lesser extent but it's still the best written ep of last season) so uh, there's an obvious pattern going on and going in with a open negativity seems to be the only thing that ever helps my chances. *shrug*

[The B]

I'm glad to share new information here.
Instead of usually directing XX01, Steven Dean Moore directed The Voice Actor's Apprentice (QABF02)

[Brad Lascelle]

Just a quick update on Season 31's final numbers from a week ago...

1) The Way of the Dog - 4.40 out of 5 / IMDB = 7.4

2) Bart the Bad Guy - 4.00 out of 5 / IMDB = 7.3
3) Livin' La Pura Vida - 3.79 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.2
4) Thanksgiving of Horror - 3.78 out of 5 / IMDB = 7.2

5) The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds - 3.50 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.8
Maggie Simpson in: "Playdate with Destiny" - 3.50 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.7
6) Gorillas on the Mast - 3.47 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.1
7) Highway to Well - 3.42 out of 5 / IMDB = 7.0
8) The Fat Blue Line - 3.22 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.5
9) Screenless - 3.13 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.5

10) Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? - 2.94 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.4
11) Frinkcoin - 2.93 out of 5 / IMDB = 5.9
12) The Winter of Our Monetized Content - 2.93 out of 5 / IMDB = 5.6
13) The Miseducation of Lisa Simpson - 2.81 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.5
14) Bobby, It's Cold Outside - 2.78 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.7

15) Marge the Lumberjill - 2.53 out of 5 / IMDB = 5.2
16) Treehouse of Horror XXX - 2.52 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.9

17) The Incredible Lightness of Being a Baby - 2.29 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.2
18) Hail to the Teeth - 2.10 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.0
19) Better Off Ned - 2.05 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.5

20) Warrin' Priests - 1.82 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.0 (Part 1) / 5.6 (Part 2)
21) Go Big or Go Homer - 1.82 out of 5 / IMDB = 5.8

[Szyslak100]

4.40 / 5? Wow, that must be the highest average ever received for any HD episode.

There are some frequent users that didn't give it a rating yet. That rating may be dropped a bit in the next days.

[Brad Lascelle]

4.40 / 5? Wow, that must be the highest average ever received for any HD episode.

As of right now, it is... it's the best reviewed episode since Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind as far as our consensus rankings are concerned.
Although I suspect over time its final score will trend down closer to Halloween of Horror and Holidays of Future Passed levels... which both presently sit at a 4.28.

[CousinMerl]

I really didn't expect 'The Way of the Dog' to beat out 'Bart The Bad Guy' and get such a high score, but it is not such a big surprise in retrospect with how the episode turned out in the end. As said, the rating will likely subside as more will rate it, but I think it will remain one of the top rated episodes of the HD era.

It's sort of surprising that 'Hail To The Teeth' & 'Better Off Ned' didn't end up at the very bottom with how many are singling them out as the worst of the season but the two that did are also deserving of that spot.

[Venomrabbit]

From Carolyn Omine, right? Looking at her track record, she also had Halloween of Horror, Highway to Well (probably the best out of 31's eps that I'd watched yet) and a couple others I actually liked a fair bit. Granted not everything she does is a smash hit but seems like she's one of the extreme few that can still knock it out of the park here and there.
Probably not watching in time to affect the rating but maybe I'll go back and see it sometime.

... Come to think of it, I don't see Carolyn on any of the writing credits for this upcoming season...

[speedie]

"I, Carumbus" looks interesting.

[speedie]

Just a quick update on Season 31's final numbers from a week ago...

1) The Way of the Dog - 4.40 out of 5 / IMDB = 7.4

2) Bart the Bad Guy - 4.00 out of 5 / IMDB = 7.3
3) Livin' La Pura Vida - 3.79 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.2
4) Thanksgiving of Horror - 3.78 out of 5 / IMDB = 7.2

5) The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds - 3.50 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.8
Maggie Simpson in: "Playdate with Destiny" - 3.50 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.7
6) Gorillas on the Mast - 3.47 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.1
7) Highway to Well - 3.42 out of 5 / IMDB = 7.0
8) The Fat Blue Line - 3.22 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.5
9) Screenless - 3.13 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.5

10) Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? - 2.94 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.4
11) Frinkcoin - 2.93 out of 5 / IMDB = 5.9
12) The Winter of Our Monetized Content - 2.93 out of 5 / IMDB = 5.6
13) The Miseducation of Lisa Simpson - 2.81 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.5
14) Bobby, It's Cold Outside - 2.78 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.7

15) Marge the Lumberjill - 2.53 out of 5 / IMDB = 5.2
16) Treehouse of Horror XXX - 2.52 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.9

17) The Incredible Lightness of Being a Baby - 2.29 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.2
18) Hail to the Teeth - 2.10 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.0
19) Better Off Ned - 2.05 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.5

20) Warrin' Priests - 1.82 out of 5 / IMDB = 6.0 (Part 1) / 5.6 (Part 2)
21) Go Big or Go Homer - 1.82 out of 5 / IMDB = 5.8

Oof. For a two parter, Warrin Priests didn't do too well.

[Brad Lascelle]

It's a shame. Two-part episodes are something I'd like to see more of... largely to afford meaningful narratives to be mined to their full potential.

And yet they've only elected to go that route twice since Who Shot Mr. Burns?... once for a story where Burns is the protagonist alongside an entourage of celebrity rappers and the other for a self-insert story with oft-unused Reverend Lovejoy as a supporting main focused around religious engagement.

If you're going to break a long-established convention and push for two parts, you've got to have meaningful stakes, it should be focused around long-term characters and character relationships people are already invested in, they should not be wholly contingent upon a guest celebrity or writer and they should have lasting consequences that permeate throughout the series afterwards that give you the impression that, yeah, that was an event worthy of tentpole treatment.