The Simpsons showrunner reveals the one important character they are putting a lot of attention on

The Simpsons, the longest-running American sitcom, was first released on 17th December 1989. Created by Matt Groening and developed with James L. Brooks and Sam Simon, the show follows the quirky lives of the Simpson family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, in the fictional town of Springfield. Renewed for four more seasons after its 36th season, The Simpsons remains a popular show even today.

Though the series has had its ups and downs over the decades, recent seasons have been praised for focusing more on character-driven episodes. This new creative decision seems to be working. According to showrunner Matt Selman, much of that success is due to a renewed spotlight on Marge Simpson, voiced by Julie Kavner.

Focus on Marge in The Simpsons storytelling

In some past seasons, Marge often played the calm, sensible counterpart to the wild character Homer. While she has always been a central part of the family, she wasn’t typically the star of the season. That has shifted in recent years.

Showrunner Matt Selman recently spoke about this change in an interview with ScreenRant, saying:

"I feel like one character we have really been writing well for these days is Marge. I love Marge. I love Julie Kavner... I feel like we've done really good strong stuff for Marge lately. I think in the old days, people used to not want to write for Marge because she wasn't as funny as Homer and wasn't as silly, it wasn’t as balls out crazy where you could do anything. Like, she wasn't the comedy engine, that's Homer. But she’s a great Emotion Engine, and even more so than Homer. If Marge cares about something, I think the audience cares about something, that same thing. I'm really happy with some of the Marge stuff we've done in recent seasons.”

Selman’s words show how Marge has gone from a background character to a main one in The Simpsons’ storytelling recently. Her emotional depth gives episodes more meaning. This change has helped the show feel more grounded, even after over three decades on air.

Recent episodes reflect this shift. In season thirty-five, episode two, titled A Mid-Childhood Night’s Dream, Marge struggles with the idea that her children are growing up and may not need her anymore. The story highlights a quiet fear that many parents have, making it relatable. Later on in the same season, episode thirteen, Clan of the Cave Mom, explores Marge’s imagination and desire for connection. Then in episode fourteen, Night of the Living Wage, she becomes a ghost kitchen worker and union leader, dealing with modern labor struggles. These episodes show different sides of Marge including her fears, her dreams, and her strength.

Even in the season thirty-six finale, which featured a possible future timeline where Marge dies, the show used her character to explore deeper emotional arcs and the lasting impact of family. These stories prove that Marge is more than just the 'mom'. She’s a layered, complex character who can carry a range of emotions and has multiple stories revolving around her.

As The Simpsons prepares for season thirty-seven, this renewed attention on Marge seems to be of help. With the show recently renewed for four more seasons of fifteen episodes each, there's plenty of room for her character to grow even further.

By putting Marge in the spotlight, the show is prioritizing emotional storytelling that keeps long-time fans entertained and invites new viewers. Even after 790 episodes, The Simpsons is showing that it still has fresh stories to tell, especially when it explores characters like Marge, who has more depth now than ever before.

The Simpsons is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

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