'The Simpsons' Is the Latest Show To Get a Podcast From One of Its Stars

Podcasts went from radio shows meant to be played on your iPod to a global medium that anyone can do (if they want). People may not listen, but you can make a podcast if you have a smartphone. Their DIY nature is what made them so fun in the earlier days. I don’t know who the first celebrity to start a podcast was, but now the space is overrun with famous folks. The shows became a way for people to connect with their audiences, especially during lockdown, when it felt like podcasts quadrupled. Still, not every actor is going to make for an interesting show, so many have needed a hook. That’s where rewatch podcasts come in.

A podcast built around a TV show or series of movies is not a new concept. Watchalong podcasts have existed for years; they were usually just hosted by fans of the prospective shows and movies. Eventually, the stars of those shows began hosting podcasts, where they discussed the episodes in detail from the perspective of having been involved. I became a big fan of Office Ladies (and just kind of fell off naturally as ya sometimes do), a rewatch show about The Office hosted by stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey. That show’s popularity made the trend explode, and now, many shows have a dedicated podcast hosted by their former stars or creatives.

So, only makes sense that one of the biggest shows ever follows suit. The Simpsons will be getting a podcast, though it doesn’t sound as traditional as some of the others. While going episode by episode would give the show plenty of material, it will take a different approach. Longtime Bart voice actor Nancy Cartwright will host the podcast, which is called Simpsons Declassified. Variety offered this description: “Each episode will explore the show’s most jaw-dropping predictions and long-running conspiracies, joined by guest stars, writers, directors and celebrities who reveal their favorite fan theories, hot takes and secrets from inside Springfield.”

Cartwright said that the podcast has been in the works for four years and will include interviews with writers, actors, and everyone in between. It’s the kind of idea I’m surprised hasn’t come up before. That being said, most of the voice actors behind The Simpsons seem content in recent years to do the show and little else, save for a few passion projects. They are obscenely wealthy at this point, so ideally, they’re only doing things they want to do, and this podcast will fall in that category.

This is going to be an appointment podcast for me. I friggin love The Simpsons, and since Disney+ killed the need for more physically released seasons (and the commentaries that came with them), this will be one of the best ways to get inside stories about the legendary show. It recently got renewed through its 40th season (good lord), plenty of stories are left to be told.

I’m also now wondering what big show will follow the watch-along podcast trend next. What’s missing, save for things so new it’s too soon to look back at them or so old the stars may not even know what a podcast is? What show would you like to see a podcast for?