The Simpsons season 34

The thirty-fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons aired on Fox from September 25, 2022 to May 21, 2023. The season consisted of twenty-two episodes. This was the second of two seasons ordered by Fox. It was produced by Gracie Films and 20th Television Animation. The primary showrunner for the season was Matt Selman. The series was renewed for seasons 35 and 36 on January 26, 2023.

Episodes this season won two Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Animated Program. It also won one Writers Guild of America Award and was nominated for another one. It was also nominated for one Annie Award.

Main cast

 * Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Mayor Quimby, Louie, Frankie the Squealer, Rich Texan, Sideshow Mel, Gil Gunderson, Grampa Simpson, Santa's Little Helper, Blue-Haired Lawyer, Groundskeeper Willie, Hans Moleman, Krusty the Clown, Barney Gumble, Kodos, Squeaky-Voiced Teen, Arnie Pye and various others
 * Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier and Selma Bouvier
 * Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson, Maggie Simpson, Todd Flanders, Nelson Muntz, Kearney Zzyzwicz, Ralph Wiggum and various others
 * Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson and Lisa impersonating Malibu Stacy dolls
 * Hank Azaria as Johnny Tightlips, Luigi Risotto, Moe Szyslak, Gabbo, Chief Wiggum, Superintendent Chalmers, Comic Book Guy, Kirk Van Houten, Cletus Spuckler, Captain McCallister, Professor Frink, Raphael, Snake, Duffman, Disco Stu, Gareth Prince, Old Jewish Man, Mr. Costington and various others
 * Harry Shearer as Legs, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Lenny Leonard, Reverend Lovejoy, Kent Brockman, Otto Mann, Officer Eddie, Dewey Largo, Kang, Mr. Burns, Rainier Wolfcastle, Jasper Beardsly, Clancy Bouvier and various others

Supporting cast

 * Pamela Hayden as Milhouse Van Houten, Rod Flanders, Jimbo Jones, Birthday Spuckler, Gloria Prince and various others
 * Tress MacNeille as Agnes Skinner, Lunchlady Dora, Lindsey Naegle, Crazy Cat Lady, Dolph Shapiro, Mrs. Muntz, Brunella Pommelhorst, Dubya Spuckler, Shauna Chalmers, Miss Springfield, Mrs. Vanderbilt and various others
 * Kevin Michael Richardson as Dr. Hibbert, Anger Watkins and various others
 * Kimberly Brooks as Janey Powell, Lewis Clark and various others
 * Grey DeLisle as Martin Prince, Sherri and Terri, Wendell Borton and various others
 * Alex Désert as Carl Carlson, Officer Lou and various others
 * Chris Edgerly as additional characters
 * Dawnn Lewis as Bernice Hibbert, Opal, Naima and various others
 * Jonathan Lipow as various animals
 * Eric Lopez as Bumblebee Man and various others
 * Melanie Minichino as Segment Producer #3 ("The King of Nice")
 * Tony Rodríguez as Julio
 * Maggie Roswell as Helen Lovejoy, Miss Hoover, Luann Van Houten, Maude Flanders and various others
 * Jenny Yokobori as Mascot Convention Attendee ("From Beer to Paternity"), Truth-Anne ("Game Done Changed") and Mackenzie ("Fan-ily Feud")

Production
This season and the previous season were ordered in March 2021. Seven episodes were holdovers from the previous season. Executive producer Matt Selman continued his role as primary showrunner from the previous season. Executive producer Al Jean was also showrunner for several episodes this season. This season featured the first episodes of the series written by Broti Gupta.

This season is the first to feature two Treehouse of Horror episodes focused on Halloween. The twenty-seventh season featured an in-universe episode in addition to the traditional episode while the thirty-first season featured an additional Thanksgiving episode. This season featured a parody of the 2017 supernatural horror film It and its 2019 sequel It Chapter Two, followed by the traditional anthology episode the following week. For the parody episode, "Not It", the producers held a contest where viewers could submit Pennywise/Krusty the Clown-themed artwork to be displayed over the end credits.

Short
In celebration of May the 4th (aka Star Wars Day), Disney+ released a promotional short called Rogue Not Quite One starring Maggie Simpson and Grogu from the television series The Mandalorian. It is the second official Star Wars-themed crossover short; the first was 2021's The Force Awakens from Its Nap.

Viewing figures
For the 2022-2023 television season, the season earned a 0.65 rating in the 18-49 demographic, which was the 43rd best performing show. It averaged 2.1 million viewers, which was the 98th best performing show.

Critical response
John Schwarz of Bubbleblabber gave the season a 7.5 out of 10. He had concerns about new actors voicing roles played by previous actors but highlighted Kerry Washington as Rayshelle Peyton and Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony. He also thought the input of new writers led to higher quality episodes.

Controversy
Due to criticism from China, the episode "One Angry Lisa" is not available on Disney+ in Hong Kong. The episode contains the line: "Behold the wonders of China. Bitcoin mines, forced labor camps where children make smartphones." This is not the first episode to be removed from Disney+ in Hong Kong: The sixteenth season episode "Goo Goo Gai Pan" was taken down shortly after the service's launch in 2021 owing to references to the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

Awards and nominations
At the 75th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the episode "Treehouse of Horror XXXIII" won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. Animator Nik Ranieri won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for his work in "Lisa the Boy Scout".

At the 76th Writers Guild of America Awards, writer Loni Steele Sosthand won the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Animation for her script for "Carl Carlson Rides Again". Writer Tim Long was nominated for the same award for his script for "Homer's Adventures Through the Windshield Glass".

At the 50th Annie Awards, the episode "Treehouse of Horror XXXIII" was nominated for Best General Audience Animated Television Broadcast Production.