Former Showrunner Reveals ‘The Simpsons’ Almost Had A Spin-off

Skinner & Super

The Simpsons, the world’s longest-running scripted TV program, once had plans for a spin-off series, according to former showrunner Josh Weinstein.

In an interview with Digital Spy, Weinstein revealed that the show would have focused on Springfield’s other, non-Simpson Family townspeople, and was considered back in the mid-1990s after the success of “22 Short Films About Springfield.”

“That was a great episode and that actually spurred an idea that never came to reality,” Weinstein said. “We had been talking to Matt Groening about a Simpsons spinoff called Springfield that would focus on all the other characters in town.”

“We felt at that time – around season seven – that we all knew the family so well, so let’s start exploring all these great side-characters. It would be a chance to tell full stories about these other characters, but that never happened. I think it could’ve been great, but everyone was so busy at the time.”

Still, in the 18-or-so years since this idea was conceived, The Simpsons has managed to experiment with stories based on a wide range of different characters, making the idea of Springfield a reality without having to create a separate entity.

Everybody wins!

[via Digital Spy]