Simpsons celebrates 350th episode
New York, Apr 30

The 350th episode of The Simpsons will be screened in the US on Sunday, with the show’s producers keen to continue.

“I don’t see any end in sight,” creator Matt Groening said. “I want to get to 366 [shows] so we have one for every day of the year, including leap year.”

Writers are already working on the next series, its 17th – a TV sitcom record.

Groening said the animated hit would keep going as long as they could keep surprising viewers. “That’s what you’re looking for in television – surprise.”

He added he was “particularly proud” of recent episodes.

“I think they’re as sharp and surprising as anything we’ve done since the beginning of the show,” he said.

In the 350th episode, Ray Romano from US sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond guest stars as the voice of Homer Simpson’s new best friend.

The programme will be shown back-to-back with the 351st instalment, in which Albert Brooks voices a fitness camp instructor.

Almost 10 million viewers watch the show on the Fox network every Sunday.

The Simpsons cast, which includes Dan Castellaneta as Homer and Julie Kavner as Marge, have signed for three more series, according to executive producer Al Jean.