Did A Classic Simpsons Episode Predict This Crisis In The UK?
"The Simpsons" has been entertaining audiences since 1989, with the critically acclaimed series covering a multitude of topics during its successful run. In that time, there have been plenty of jokes and references fans have probably missed over the years, and it's no surprise that even the most diehard "Simpsons" followers do not have every hilarious moment memorized. With hundreds of episodes to enjoy, there is no shortage of side-splitting hilarity, and sometimes the show's humor hits eerily close to reality.
It's no secret that the Emmy-winning series has addressed real-world problems over the years, like coping with depression and putting kids on behavioral medication. But what really sets the long-running animated comedy apart from the rest of the competition is "The Simpsons'" uncanny proficiency in predicting the future. Some worthwhile examples of the cartoon's eerie talent include Donald Trump becoming president of the United States in Season 11, Episode 17 ("Bart to the Future") and Disney's purchase of 20th Century Fox in Season 10, Episode 5 ("When You Dish Upon a Star"). They even predicted Lady Gaga's 2017 Superbowl Halftime show in 2012, during Season 23, Episode 22 ("Lisa Goes Gaga").
The animated sitcom's undeniable skills in this department never cease to amaze viewers, and its ability to portray events before they happen is something fans continue to notice over time. And it seems another excellent example has been found, as one episode may have actually predicted a real-world crisis in the U.K several years prior.
The Simpsons predicted the energy rate increase
In "The Simpsons" Season 24, Episode 10 ("A Test Before Trying"), Montgomery Burns (Harry Shearer) has hounds attack economists with percentages on their backs to decide how much the rates will rise regarding people's electricity bills. The vicious canines choose the 17% candidate, leading energy prices to rise to a crisis point in Springfield.
The TikTok channel @cartoonpredictions posted a video with the aforementioned clip from the episode, followed by an excerpt from the Office of National Statistics (via Twitter) that reads, "After the price cap rose in Oct 2021, consumer prices for gas and electricity rose by 17.1%." Once again, "The Simpsons" called it early, with several followers commenting their amazement. One TikTok user said, "The simpsons predictions boggles my brain more than [anything] else in this life! it's the only question I have. How do they do it?"
In an interview on the Brut YouTube channel, creator Matt Groening and showrunner Al Jean discussed the show's knack for predicting future events. Groening said, "We take the most unlikely, ridiculous, stupid, impossible, never-will-happen joke, and then it turns out that our imaginations aren't that imaginative." Jean then added, "I think that if you have a bunch of people who are smart, who are trying to predict the future, if you throw enough darts, enough darts hit the dartboard." After over 700 episodes, "The Simpsons" has accomplished enough for several lifetimes. It's no surprise the writers haven't needed a crystal ball to showcase scenarios, no matter how strange, well before they occur.