Matt Groening on Reaching 500 Episodes

The Simpsons aired its 500th episode in North America last night.  Today, the Los Angeles Times posted a Q&A with Matt Groening on reaching 500 episodes.

In the interview, Matt talks about the criticism on the internet from fans (something the 500th episode acknowledged at the very end).

“I love it, people feeling that they can participate in something, I think that’s great. The ones who are the most passionate are generally the most critical. I attempted once to have a conversation with them via an interview with the Onion, I think, in which I talked about how in any long-running pop culture enterprise it’s hard to keep up with the audience’s memory of their favorite experience, because you can never have that first time, first impression again. They got out the knives after I said that. And I really think that there is something about our culture, and maybe all cultures, where you want to be behind the new thing, the thing that’s struggling, the thing that’s on its way up. There’s nothing more fun than watching a comedian come out of nowhere and capture the nation’s attention. And then a couple of years later when they’re onstage in a leather tuxedo, you go, “Eh.” ”

Matt also talks about the show’s production, getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Iran banning Simpsons toys.  You can catch the full article HERE.