With the Harry Shearer flap under its belt, Fox’s The Simpsons returned to Comic-Con on Saturday with its eyes on season 27.
TV’s longest-running comedy will return in the fall, already renewed for its 28th season with all six of its voice actors having the option to sign on through an impressive 30th run. The animated series created by Matt Groening and from showrunner Al Jean has had a busy off-season, settling a contract dispute with Shearer that made headlines after the actor behind fan favorites including Mr. Burns threatened to leave the series. On top of that, the family comedy made headlines when rumors swirled that iconic couple Homer and Marge would divorce after Jean indicated the duo would legally separate in a season 27 episode. (More recently, The Simpsons skewered Donald Trump.)
The panel opened with clips debunking the divorce story as well as the Trump send-up before introducing Groening, Jean, executive producer Matt Selman, supervising director Mike Anderson, director David Silverman and voice star Nancy Cartwright (Bart, etc.). Cartwright enthusiastically made her Comic-Con debut dressed in Bartman’s mask and cape, running around the stage.
