The Simpsons show will return to its usual Sunday spot almost after six weeks.
It will mark the fresh start of a new animation block. (Photo Credit: X)
Popular animated series like Rick and Morty, The Simpsons, Batman, Gravity Falls, Dragon Ball Z, Family Guy, SpongeBob SquarePants, Adventure Time, and many others have kept not only the kids but also many of us hooked to the screens. But what if the timings that are set for your favourite animated series are being shaken up? Things like this happened with the Fox broadcasting channel. For the first time in over 30 years, Fox will not kick start their Sunday animation block with The Simpsons. Although the set-up is just for six weeks, the change in the timings of the longest-running scripted primetime series in American TV history has already stirred social media.
According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, Fox has decided to give a break to The Simpsons from its 8 PM slot for February and March. Its place on the network’s Sunday animation block has been secured by the second longest-running animated series – Family Guy. Seth MacFarlane’s show’s 23rd season will be premiering, since February 16.
Following Family Guy, many other shows and series will also debut or continue their current seasons on Sunday. It will mark the fresh start of a new animation block. The much-anticipated second season of Grimsburg featuring Jon Hamm will follow Family Guy’s next time slot of 8:30 PM. In the same line with this, The Great North will launch its fifth season at 9 PM that night. For those unaware, one of the episodes of The Great North showcasing the Tobin family’s journey was aired on the weekend before Christmas. Meanwhile, Krapopolis will continue at its spot of 9:30 PM.
It’s interesting to note that The Simpsons didn’t begin Fox’s Sunday animation block in the show’s fifth season in 1993-94. Afterwards, during the fall of 1994, it gained its position of 8 PM slot. Since then, it has been aired at the same time every weekend. Finally, after almost 31 years, the animated series was sidelined from its usual spot.
It has been making the viewers doubt that the series is coming to an end. However, nothing of that sort has been announced yet by the makers. For those unaware, Universal Basic Guys, which followed The Simpsons in the same fall, wrapped up its 13-episode first season in December. It has already been set for an upcoming second season. As per some reports, The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers are all nearing the end in the spring. The Hollywood Reporter report revealed that Fox has not made any renewal decisions with the three.
Again on March 30, The Simpsons will return to its usual 8 PM Sunday berth while Family Guy gliding a half-hour to 8:30 PM. The 9 o’clock slots will remain the same. The changes in the Fox animation block will also sideline Bob’s Burgers for a while.
