Matt Groening explains how The Simpsons predicts the future

Matt Groening, the creator of ‘The Simpsons’, has addressed the long-standing phenomenon of the animated series appearing to ‘predict the future’. During an appearance on the podcast ‘Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend’, Groening discussed how the show has frequently aligned with real-world events.

Notable examples cited by fans and discussed include Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the appearance of smartwatches and video calls in earlier seasons, and the US curling team winning Olympic gold. The series also famously featured a storyline in the year 2000 involving Lisa Simpson as President, which viewers later linked to the presidency of Donald Trump.

Groening explained that the perceived foresight is not due to ‘wizards’ or prophetic abilities, but rather a matter of volume. He suggested that the sheer number of jokes and storylines produced over many years increases the statistical likelihood of certain scenarios eventually occurring in reality.