Vice President Kamala Harrisshocked those who were in attendance at the San Diego Comic-Con presentation forThe Simpsonsin Ballroom 20 this afternoon,appearing in a pre-recorded video messageto those on hand to celebrate the long-running animated sitcom. Harris is, of course, the Democratic hopeful who will face off against Republican choice –and convicted felon–Donald Trump, come November in what is already shaping up to be a heated race for the White House, following the news that President Joe Biden would not be seeking re-election.
SimpsonscreatorMatt Groeningwas on hand to discuss the series (viaDeadline), and the upcoming 35thTreehouse of HorrorHalloween episode which will feature a parody ofVenom(aptly titledDenim), in what is being described as an exploration of “Homer’s deep relationship with a simple symbiotic pair of jeans.” It was then that Groening introduced the final clip of the afternoon, which was from what he called a “super fan.”
The Simpsons
Fans were shocked when the VP came on screen, erupting in glorious applause at the sight oftheir possible future president.“We must move forward, not backward; upward, not forward; and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom,“Harris said, quoting a line fromTreehouse of Horror VIIwhich aired back in 1996 just ahead of the election between Bob Dole and Bill Clinton, which Clinton ultimately won. This gained even more applause from the raucous crowd,who left the panel with smiles on their faces.
Joke’s on Them. It Was an Old Clip
What many in attendance might not have realized this afternoon is this: the pre-recorded message from Harris was actually recorded in 2013 by a group of students at the University of Chicago who were given the assignment to have an elected official speak a line fromThe Simpsons. The clip resurfaced online recently following the news that Biden would be throwing his support behind his VP in her quest for the presidency, and apparently Groening thought it would be a good idea to show the clip given that Harrisis a self-professed fan of the show.
It’s just another connection that Harris has toThe Simpsons, as fans have been pointing out that the series could have predicted her White House win come November. A photo showing Lisa Simpson from the episode ‘Bart to the Future’ which aired back in 2000 eerily resembles a recent picture of Harris from 2021, with both wearing purple suits, pearl necklaces, and matching pearl earrings.Simpsonsmainstay Al Jean, a former writer and showrunner on the series, said that if true,it’s a “prediction” he’s proud to be a part of.
The Best ‘Simpsons’ Predictions That Actually Came True
The Simpsons have offered top tier satire for over 30 years, and sometimes those jokes became reality. Here are the best predictions yet.
Whether old or new,Simpsonsfans were obviously pleased to see Harris on screen this afternoon at SDCC, and have much more to celebrate in regard to the show, as it was also revealed during the con that a new wave of toys and collectiblesfrom JAKKS Pacific and Disguisewill soon be available to pre-order for a fall release. In the immortal words of Bart Simpson, “¡Ay, caramba!”
The Simpsonsis available to stream on Hulu.
