The Simpsons season 32 explained

Season Number:32
Bgcolor:
  1. 00A5BB
Showrunner:
Num Episodes:22
Network:Fox
Episode List:List of The Simpsons episodes

The thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons premiered on Fox on September 27, 2020,[1] and ended on May 23, 2021. On February 6, 2019, the season was ordered along with the previous season.[2] It was produced by Gracie Films and 20th Television. This season contained twenty-two episodes.[3] It includes the series' 700th episode "Manger Things". In March 2021, the series was renewed for a thirty-third and thirty-fourth season.

Animator Nik Ranieri won an Emmy Award for his work in "Wad Goals", and the episode "The Dad-Feelings Limited" was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. Three writers were nominated for Writers Guild of America Awards.

Episodes

See also: List of The Simpsons episodes.

Voice cast & characters

See main article: List of The Simpsons characters.

Main cast

Supporting cast

Notes

David Harbour, Olivia Colman, Ben Platt, Hannibal Buress, and Michael Palin guest starred during the season.[4] Series regular Yeardley Smith also played herself.[5]

Production

Development

This season and the previous season were ordered in February 2019.[6] Seven episodes were holdovers from the previous season.[7] [6] The season was produced by Gracie Films and was the only season co-produced by 20th Television, which was renamed from 20th Century Fox Television.[8] [9] Executive producer Al Jean continued his role as primary showrunner, a role he had since the thirteenth season.[10] [11] Executive producer Matt Selman was also the showrunner for several episodes, a role he performed since the twenty-third season.[12] Commenting on the series reaching 700 episodes this season, Jean stated that the show needed to change with the times so that present-day issues could be addressed.[13]

This season featured the first episodes of the series written by Cesar Mazariegos and Jessica Conrad.[14] [15] It also featured the first episode written by David X. Cohen since 1998 [16] [17] and the first episode written by Nell Scovell since the second season.[18] Furthermore, it featured the only episodes written by David Cryan,[19] Julia Prescott,[20] and Danielle Weisberg,[21] and the only episode co-written by Samantha Martin.[22]

The season was produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted many other television productions, but left animated production largely unaffected. Executive producer James L. Brooks encouraged the staff to begin working from their homes in early March 2020, before California's stay-at-home order was declared. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in late March 2020, showrunner Al Jean stated, "Production hasn't skipped a day or lost a beat." At that point seven episodes for the season, including the Treehouse of Horror episode, were already completed, and they had started reading the remainder of the twenty-two total. Jean also stated that "we're a little ahead of where we usually are."[23] Production was conducted using video conferencing, and studios were installed in the actors’ homes for voice recording. Producers decided not to address the pandemic other than during a segment of the Treehouse of Horror episode and a line spoken in the 700th episode.[13]

The series had a panel at the 2020 San Diego Comic-Con, which was marketed as "Comic-Con@Home", to promote the season, with Jean, Matt Selman, David Silverman, Carolyn Omine, and Mike B. Anderson on the panel, with cast member Yeardley Smith serving as moderator.[24]

Casting

In the wake of the George Floyd protests, the series announced on June 26, 2020, that "Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters."[25] This followed Mike Henry stating that he would no longer voice the African-American character Cleveland Brown on fellow Fox animated series Family Guy, and Jenny Slate and Kristen Bell's announcement that they would no longer voice mixed-race characters on Big Mouth and Central Park, respectively, in response to the race riots. It also followed series regular Hank Azaria's January 2020 announcement that he would no longer voice the Indian character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons.[26] Series regular Harry Shearer was not fully in agreement with the decision, stating that "the job of the actor is to play someone who they're not".[27]

On September 24, 2020, it was announced that Alex Désert would voice Carl Carlson in the first episode of the season, taking over from Azaria who voiced the character since the first season.[28] On October 11, 2020, Jean announced that Eric Lopez would begin voicing Bumblebee Man in the episode "Now Museum, Now You Don't" instead of Azaria, who had provided the voice of the character since his introduction in season four.[29] On December 10, 2020, the official logline on FOXFLASH for the episode "The Dad-Feelings Limited" revealed that Kumiko would be voiced by Jenny Yokobori instead of Tress MacNeille, who had voiced the character since her introduction in the season twenty-five episode "Married to the Blob."[30] In the episode "Uncut Femmes", the character of Julio was recast to Tony Rodriguez. On February 22, 2021, it was announced that beginning with "Wad Goals", voice actor Kevin Michael Richardson, who joined the show since Season 21 as different minor characters, would replace Harry Shearer as Dr. Hibbert.[31]

Release

The season aired on Sundays during the 2020–21 television season as part of Fox's Animation Domination programming block, along with Bless the Harts, Bob's Burgers, The Great North and Family Guy. One day after an episode aired on Fox, it was also made available on Hulu.[32] It was made available for streaming in the US on Disney+ on September 29, 2021.[33] and in the UK on November 3, 2021.

Reception

Ratings

For the 2020-2021 television season, the season earned a 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic, which was the 59th best performing show. It averaged 2.36 million viewers, which was the 117th best performing show.[34]

Critical response

Jesse Bereta of Bubbleblabber gave the season an 8.5 out of 10. He thought the first half of the season featured more creative episodes while the later half featured some repeated plots. He felt the overall quality of the episodes were improving under the management of Disney.[35]

Awards and nominations

At the 73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, animator Nik Ranieri won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation as Lead Character Layout for the episode "Wad Goals".[36] The episode "The Dad-Feelings Limited" was nominated for Outstanding Animated Program. [37]

At the 73rd Writers Guild of America Awards, writers Cesar Mazariegos, Danielle Weisberg, and Jessica Conrad were individually nominated for the .[38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hipes. Patrick. July 22, 2020. Fox Sets Fall Premiere Dates For The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, Bless The Harts. July 22, 2020. Deadline Hollywood. July 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200722194532/https://deadline.com/2020/07/the-simpsons-2020-premiere-dates-family-guy-bobs-burgers-bless-the-harts-fox-1202992116/. live.
  2. Web site: FOX Renews "The Simpsons" for Unprecedented 31st and 32nd Seasons. February 6, 2019. July 8, 2020. The Futon Critic. August 6, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240806034250/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/02/06/fox-renews-the-simpsons-for-unprecedented-31st-and-32nd-seasons-717112/20190206fox01/. live.
  3. Al. Jean. Al Jean. AlJean. 1275869803425628161. Same 22. June 24, 2020. July 8, 2020.
  4. Web site: N'Duka. Amanda. July 25, 2020. 'The Simpsons': Ben Platt, Hannibal Buress & More Tapped As Guest Stars For Season 32 – Comic-Con@Home. August 6, 2020. Deadline. July 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200727055003/https://deadline.com/2020/07/the-simpsons-ben-platt-hannibal-buress-guest-stars-season-32-comic-conhome-1202995035/. live.
  5. Web site: Simpsons First Look: A True Crime Story Brings the 'Real' Lisa Simpson to Town. Andy. Swift. 13 November 2020. TVLine. November 10, 2023. March 7, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210307121054/https://tvline.com/2020/11/13/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-6-yeardley-smith-guest-star/. live.
  6. Web site: Joe. Otterson. February 6, 2019. 'The Simpsons' Renewed for Season 31 and 32 at Fox. Variety. June 30, 2024. February 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190206231513/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/the-simpsons-renewed-season-31-32-fox-1203130108/. live.
  7. Web site: Elizabeth. Wagmeister. November 4, 2016. 'The Simpsons' Makes TV History, Renewed for Record-Breaking 29th and 30th Seasons. Variety. June 21, 2024. August 14, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240814040627/https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/the-simpsons-renewed-season-29-season-30-fox-1201909858/. live.
  8. Web site: Nellie. Andreeva. March 3, 2021. 'The Simpsons' Renewed For Seasons 33 & 34 By Fox. Deadline Hollywood. July 4, 2024. August 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210814015140/https://deadline.com/2021/03/the-simpsons-renewed-season-33-34-fox-1234705714/. live.
  9. Web site: Peter. White. March 30, 2021. Disney Launches 20th Television Animation, Promotes Veteran Exec Marci Proietto To Run New Unit Responsible For 'The Simpsons' & 'Family Guy'. Deadline Hollywood. July 4, 2024. May 31, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220531133756/https://deadline.com/2021/03/disney-launches-20th-television-animation-promotes-marci-proietto-the-simpsons-family-guy-1234723503/. live.
  10. Web site: Nellie. Andreeva. April 30, 2020. 'The Simpsons' Showrunner Al Jean Signs With Gersh. Deadline Hollywood. May 31, 2024. May 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240526035718/https://deadline.com/2020/04/the-simpsons-showrunner-al-jean-signs-gersh-2-1202922457/. live.
  11. Web site: Josh. Weiss. May 4, 2021. 'Simpsons' showrunner Al Jean on trying to capture 'the whole history' of Star Wars in that surprise May the 4th Disney+ short. Syfy. July 4, 2024. May 23, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240523020021/https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-simpsons-al-jean-star-wars-day-interview. live.
  12. Web site: Jesse David. Fox. June 5, 2023. 'The Simpsons' Is Good Again. Vulture. June 16, 2024. June 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230610163536/https://www.vulture.com/article/the-simpsons-is-good-again.html. live.
  13. Web site: Michael. Schneider. March 19, 2021. 'The Simpsons' at 700 Episodes: Producer Al Jean on Whether They'll Make It to 1,000. Variety. July 4, 2024. June 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230612022937/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/the-simpsons-700-episodes-clip-al-jean-1234934371/. live.
  14. Web site: 2020-10-05. Jesse. Bereta. Review: The Simpsons "I Carumbus". September 9, 2023. Bubbleblabber. en-US. August 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240805021118/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2020/10/review-the-simpsons-i-carumbus/. live.
  15. Web site: Jesse. Bereta. 2020-12-14. Review: The Simpsons "A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas". September 10, 2023. Bubbleblabber. en-US. August 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240805032114/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2020/12/review-the-simpsons-a-springfield-summer-christmas-for-christmas/. live.
  16. Cohen, David X. (2007). Commentary for "Treehouse of Horror IX", in The Simpsons: The Complete Tenth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
  17. Web site: Swift . Andy . Simpsons First Look: A True Crime Story Brings the 'Real' Lisa Simpson to Town . November 13, 2020 . . November 16, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210307121054/https://tvline.com/2020/11/13/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-6-yeardley-smith-guest-star/ . March 7, 2021.
  18. Web site: Jesse. Bereta. Review: The Simpsons "Sorry Not Sorry". 2021-01-01. Bubbleblabber. 7 December 2020. March 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210319131645/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/review-the-simpsons-sorry-not-sorry/. live.
  19. Web site: 'Simpson, eh?' GTA man writes episode for long-running show after pitching executive producer on Twitter. August 16, 2020. Garbutt. Herb. Toronto Star. August 17, 2020. August 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200818063613/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2020/08/16/simpson-eh-gta-man-writes-episode-for-long-running-show-after-pitching-executive-producer-on-twitter.html. live.
  20. Web site: Making The Case For Still Watching 'The Simpsons' After 30-Plus Seasons. April 18, 2020. Kurp. Josh. Uproxx. September 10, 2023. May 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200518205129/https://uproxx.com/tv/case-for-still-watching-the-simpsons/. live.
  21. Web site: Review: The Simpsons "Three Dreams Denied". November 23, 2020. Bereta. Jesse. Bubbleblabber. September 10, 2023. August 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240805022336/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2020/11/review-the-simpsons-three-dreams-denied/. live.
  22. Web site: Warner. Sam. March 8, 2021. 'The Simpsons" latest episode was written by now-adult child who inspired 'Baby On Board' song. September 11, 2023. NME. January 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220122171949/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/tv/the-simpsons-latest-episode-written-now-adult-child-inspired-baby-on-board-song-2896412. live.
  23. Web site: Lesley. Goldberg. Animated Series Adapt to Keep Production Going Amid Industry-Wide Shutdown. April 22, 2020. The Hollywood Reporter. 25 March 2020. April 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200411063623/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/animated-series-adapt-keep-production-going-industry-wide-shutdown-1286340. live.
  24. Web site: Choe. Brandon. June 24, 2020. Comic-Con@Home: Disney TV Studios Sets Panel Slate With 'Bob's Burgers', 'Family Guy', 'Simpsons', More. July 8, 2020. Deadline Hollywood. July 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200703081848/https://deadline.com/2020/06/comic-con-at-home-disney-television-panels-bobs-burgers-family-guy-simpsons-1202968741/. live.
  25. Web site: TV show 'The Simpsons' ditches using white voices for characters of color. Reuters. July 4, 2024.
  26. Web site: Petski. Denise. June 26, 2020. 'The Simpsons' Will No Longer Have White Actors Voice Non-White Characters. July 8, 2020. Deadline. June 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200627190303/https://deadline.com/2020/06/the-simpsons-will-no-longer-have-white-actors-voice-non-white-characters-1202971437/. live.
  27. Web site: Evans. Greg. August 4, 2020. 'The Simpsons' Actor Harry Shearer Not In Sync With Show's Decision To Stop Hiring White Actors For Characters Of Color. August 4, 2020. Deadline. en. August 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200804225641/https://deadline.com/2020/08/the-simpsons-harry-shearer-casting-decision-white-actors-julius-hibbert-hank-azaria-1203003482/. live.
  28. Web site: Schneider. Michael. September 24, 2020. 'The Simpsons' Season Premiere: Here's Who Took Over Carl's Voice From Hank Azaria (EXCLUSIVE). September 24, 2020. Variety. September 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200924233315/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/the-simpsons-carl-voice-alex-desert-hank-azaria-1234782691/. live.
  29. 1315279320235925509. Al. Jean. Al Jean. AlJean. .@TheSimpsons And a warm Simpsons welcome to Eric Lopez! . October 11, 2020. 11 October 2020.
  30. Web site: (SI-3204) "The Dad-Feelings Limited". December 10, 2020. The Futon Critic.
  31. Web site: Maas. Jennifer. February 22, 2021. 'The Simpsons': White Voice Actor Harry Shearer Won't Voice Black Character Dr Hibbert Anymore. February 22, 2021. TheWrap. February 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210222202058/https://www.thewrap.com/the-simpsons-dr-hibbert-harry-shearer-white-wont-voice-kevin-michael-richardson/. live.
  32. Web site: Drury. Sharareh. September 6, 2020. Hulu's New Releases Coming in September 2020. September 8, 2020. The Hollywood Reporter. September 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200907104233/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/hulu-september-2020-new-releases-movies-tv. live.
  33. Web site: Milakovic . Robert . "The Simpsons" Season 32 Gets a Release Date on Disney+ and Teaser Trailer . Fiction Horizon . 10 September 2021 . September 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210910223545/https://fictionhorizon.com/the-simpsons-season-32-gets-a-release-date-on-disney-and-teaser-trailer/ . live .
  34. Web site: Rick. Porter. June 8, 2021. 2020-21 TV Ratings: Complete 7-Day Ratings for Broadcast Network Series. The Hollywood Reporter. July 4, 2024. June 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210609002528/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2020-21-tv-ratings-every-network-show-ranked-1234964854/. live.
  35. Web site: Jesse. Bereta. May 31, 2021. Season Review: The Simpsons Season 32. Bubbleblabber. July 4, 2024.
  36. Web site: Nik Ranieri. Television Academy. 2021-09-24. September 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210924203309/https://www.emmys.com/bios/nik-ranieri. live.
  37. Web site: 'Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal' Wins Best Animated Series at the 2021 Emmy Awards. IndieWire. Ben. Travers. September 12, 2021. June 11, 2023. July 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220726002923/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/09/primal-wins-emmy-best-animated-series-genndy-tartakovsky-adult-swim-1234663863/. live.
  38. Web site: March 21, 2021. Cynthia. Littleton. Matt. Donnelly. 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,' 'Promising Young Woman' Win at Writers Guild Awards 2021. June 19, 2023. Variety. en-US. April 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210415164437/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/wga-awards-winners-2021-writers-guild-1234935361/. live.