55 Times “The Simpsons” Predicted the Future, and How Right They Were!
Right Next to Big Ben – Season 6, Episode 19
It is no surprise that the skylines of major cities and towns appear in films and series. However, some viewers noticed a few differences between reality and animation when the London skyline was featured in “The Simpsons,” with an extra building that wasn’t there in 1995.
To add to the controversy, a similar building, The Shard, was built in the same position in 2012. We are left to wonder if the architects borrowed the idea from the cartoon or whether the writers knew it would happen.
Next: Lady Gaga enters in style
Three-Eyed Fish – Season 2, Episode 4
The fight against climate change has taken full effect in most parts of the world, with all means being used to sensitize people. This is why Blinky, the famous three-eyed fish in “The Simpsons,” has been used by major publications in commentary against nuclear waste and mutation.
In the show, the adorable fish was a victim of the Springfield power plant. Interestingly, two decades later, fishermen in Argentina caught a similar wolffish in a reservoir near a nuclear plant. That should have been enough warning to step up anti-radiation efforts.
Next: What if I’m allergic to horse meat?
Horse Meat or Beef? – Season 5, Episode 19
In season five of “The Simpsons,” a quick scene showed lunch lady Doris adding horse parts to the usual Springfield Elementary lunch. It may have been something to crack our ribs, but did she know how much of a trailblazer she would be?
Most of us tend to stick to one type of meat: pork, beef, or chicken. However, some adventurous individuals try new things, but who thought horse meat would be found in a third of beef products in Ireland? Well, it happened in 2013, just as Doris had predicted.
Next: Put on some clothes, David!
Clothing Michelangelo’s David – Season 2, Episode 9
Statues are considered part of history and culture at face value. However, no statue has attracted more controversy than the unclothed Michelangelo’s David statue in Italy. In 2016, a Russian campaign called for clothing to cover it.
Interestingly, a similar scene was included in a previous episode of “The Simpsons,” where Springfielders demonstrated the statue exposing the nether regions. While the statue hasn’t been dressed in jeans yet, as we saw in the sitcom, it was still an interesting prediction of the future.
Next: Should have watched Mantecore closely after the prediction!
White Tiger Inevitably Mauls Roy – Season 5, Episode 10
Siegfried and Roy were arguably the most dynamic entertainment and magician duo for over four decades, since 1967. After meeting on a ship, they started performing together in ships, theaters, and clubs, building a reputation using big, white cats to perform their stunts.
In 2003, however, it was clear that the duo risked a lot after Roy was mauled by his white tiger, Mantecore, live on stage. Anyone who watched “The Simpsons” must have been reminded of the same scene in the show two decades before.
Next: Pro-golfer down. How did they know?
Golfer Arnold Palmer Dies – Season 28, Episode 1
Arnold Palmer will be remembered as one of the most brilliant professional golfers ever. However, apart from his social influence on golf, he is renowned for living a long and healthy life well into his late 80s until he died in 2016.
With Arnold’s death, the world had lost a major golf icon, but to anyone who had watched “The Simpsons'” latest episode released just hours before his death, it was yet another prediction by the show come true. Now that was impressively close!
Next: Daenerys Targaryen and King’s Landing
Havoc on King’s Landing – Season 29, Episode 1
“Game of Thrones” is one of the most popular television series. Before the last episode aired in 2019, most of its fans spent time trying to predict its numerous twists and turns. While most of them ended up being wrong, Homer wasn’t.
A scene in “The Simpsons” portrayed how Kings Landing in fantasy sci-fi would be destroyed. Homer revived a fiery reptile that killed thousands, similar to what Daenerys Targaryen would do in the last season of “Game of Thrones” almost two years later.
Next: Don’t say we didn’t warn you
Ferrets as Poodles Scam – Season 13, Episode 22
Every animation has one villain who is always looking to cause trouble. In “The Simpsons,” it had to be Fat Tony, not considering the family’s stubborn children. His tricks never meant well for the residents, but he went too far when he tried to sell ferrets as poodles.
The scene was laughable, and we never thought anyone would try it in real life, except someone did! A bunch of criminals in Argentina tried to make money using the trick, but like Fat Tony, they were arrested. They should have known better.
Next: Homer is not so dumb
Higgs Boson Equation Solved – Season 8, Episode 1
Homer was often viewed as the least intelligent character in “The Simpsons.” However, he had his bright moments, such as in season 8, when he was seen solving some complex mathematical equations in between donuts. Contrary to everyone’s expectations, something came of it.
The equation was the Higgs-Boson Equation, which scientists had been trying to solve since the ’60s. We wonder how the show’s writers knew that the equation was about to be proven, as in 2013, it was confirmed. Maybe they had an inside tip.
Next: FIFA corruption out in the open
FIFA Corruption Scandal – Season 25, Episode 16
Soccer seems to be and is supposed to be a clean and harmless sport, so it was a surprise when the FIFA scandal was exposed in May 2015, leading to the arrests of over fourteen top officials. While most people wouldn’t have seen it coming, any Simpsons fan had seen that plot before.
In a scene released a year before the scandal, Homer had been approached by a fictional international organization wanting him to be a referee on their side, but he declined. By now, we have confidence in the animation’s predictions, unlike FIFA.
Next: No snakes among humans
Whacking Day in Florida – Season 4, Episode 14
Homer may not be the smartest, but he knows how to have fun. In season 4, while on holiday, he engaged in a sport involving killing snakes, which he was so good at. While no one thought anything like this would happen in real life, it did.
What better place to kill snakes for fun than Florida, where they are in large numbers? The Floridians called the special game The Python Challenge, as they thought the snakes had no right to be there. Who do they think they are?
Next: That isn’t supposed to be there
Right Next to Big Ben – Season 6, Episode 19
It is no surprise that the skylines of major cities and towns appear in films and series. However, some viewers noticed a few differences between reality and animation when the London skyline was featured in “The Simpsons,” with an extra building that wasn’t there in 1995.
To add to the controversy, a similar building, The Shard, was built in the same position in 2012. We are left to wonder if the architects borrowed the idea from the cartoon or whether the writers knew it would happen.
Next: Lady Gaga enters in style
Lady Gaga’s Stylish Super Bowl Entrance – Season 23, Episode 22
Lady Gaga appeared surprisedly in “The Simpsons” in 2012, where she performed at the Super Bowl halftime show. She made a grand entrance dangling from there, and while it was not a surprise, it would be five years later when it happened in real life.
The Super Bowl is one of the most attended events, and the halftime show is one many people look out for. In 2017, Lady Gaga was invited to perform, and she made the exact same dangling entrance “The Simpsons” predicted, to the surprise of many.
Next: The newest plant in town
The Invention of the Tomacco Plant – Season 11, Episode 5
The advancement in technology has led to a revolution in agricultural practices, hence why grafting is not uncommon. However, that was not the case in 1999, when a combination of Homer’s imagination and nuclear energy resulted in a new crop known as tomacco.
We can’t even imagine the taste of the plant, and we’re relieved that it was just a cartoon. However, one man, Rob Baur, managed to graft the combination. As “The Simpsons” had predicted, the idea never caught on. After all, who would buy the stinky produce?
Next: Not so new sport in America
America Triumphs Over Sweden in Curling – Season 21, Episode 12
America has one of the best sporting facilities for almost every sport there is to engage in. However, few people had heard of curling until the U.S. National Curling Team defeated Sweden 10-7 to clinch gold in 2018. However, fans of “The Simpsons” had seen that somewhere.
In season 21, released in 2009, the animation predicted the outcome, with Sweden also losing to the U.S. in a final. It seems Matt Groening and his team knew something we didn’t know about the sport.
Next: We knew who the Nobel Prize was going to
Bengt Holmström for the Nobel Prize – Season 22, Episode 1
Not everyone follows up on the numerous awards worldwide unless they are interested in the field. However, the Nobel Prize is one of the fanciest and often makes headlines in the news, and in 2016, MIT Professor Bengt Holmström bagged the award.
We wonder if Bengt knew that “The Simpsons” had predicted his win six years earlier. Lisa had argued with her classmates about the winner, and the betting card had his name on it. At least someone gave him a heads-up.
Next: Yard Simulator on Oculus gear?
Virtual Reality Goggles – Season 9, Episode 12
One of our most advanced technologies is virtual reality, which was just a fantasy a few years ago. When VR goggles went mainstream, it was like a dream come true or a prediction come true for “The Simpsons” fans.
It’s unbelievable how the animation writers were able to guess the exact design of the oculus gear in season 9, released in 1997. In the scene, characters were playing yard simulators, which is not exactly what we would use the gear for, but we are still left with many unanswered questions.
Next: Stopping the wrecking ball
You must be logged in to post a comment Login