‘The Simpsons’ season 26 official; also, see latest ‘Treehouse of Horror’ opening

The Simpsons -For those of you who thought that “The Simpsons” would just go out with style after 25 seasons on the air, that is simply not going to be the case. Today, it was announced that Fox has renewed the hit animated comedy for a shocking 26th season, and that there is plenty more in the tank for Homer Simpson and the rest of the gang.

In a statement, network programming head Kevin Reilly had the following to say about bringing the show (which already has a record when it comes to longevity) back:

“For more than a quarter of a century, The Simpsons has captured the hearts and minds of fans in a way that transcends ages, languages and cultures. This groundbreaking series is not only the longest-running scripted show in television history, it’s one of the greatest sitcoms of our time, and I’m looking forward to yet another landmark season.”

Unlike some past seasons, there was really no drama when it came to renewal talks at all. At some point, the show seemed to be in big trouble when it came to a possible return, thanks mostly to contract negotiations with the series regular voice actors. However, everything seems to be in place now, and all parties involved recognize just how valuable the show is. It is a huge draw on network syndication, and there is talk about a cable network finally buying up the rights to the enormous catalog this year.

With this renewal, who knows how long the show could last? We’d like to see it go out on a milestone number (like maybe 30), but if the show continues to be as current and fresh with it’s story lines then we’d be happy to see it go on for 100 seasons. It’s rare that you find a show like “The Simpsons” that can continue to be as funny as it is 25 seasons later.

As for some of what is coming up on “The Simpsons” moving forward this year, the list is really rather long. There is going to be an Emmy-winning character that dies at some point next year, and you also have a crossover episode with “Family Guy” coming up.

Also, you can check out the “Treehouse of Horror” opening below, cultivated by director Guillermo del Toro.

Photo: Fox

Love TV? Be sure to like Matt & Jess on Facebook for more updates!