The Simpsons will be with us for at least four more years, but their recommission brings another episode count reduction.

Animation’s first family has been with us since 1989.

Now, according to news via Variety, their future is assured for four more years. This brings the show up to it’s 40th anniversary.

However, the new seasons will see a reduction in episode count. While the show has been producing more than 20 instalments a year since its second run, it reduced to 18 for each of the last two seasons. Now that number is set to shrink again.

Showrunner Matt Selman explains:

“We used to do 22 a year. For the next four [seasons], we’re doing 17 a year. Fifteen that will premiere in America on Fox, and then two exclusives on Disney+.” He adds “It’s still a full-time job.”

Series creator Matt Groening continues:

“Work has a way of expanding to fill the time available, but if you know that you have four seasons to think about, it changes how you approach storytelling.”

In the same Variety piece, Groening suggests he’s found a loophole to avoid work while splitting his time with Fox’s reboot of Futurama:

“The great thing about having more than one show to work on is I can tell the people at ‘Futurama’ I’m working on ‘The Simpsons,’ and the people at ‘The Simpsons’ that I’m working on ‘Futurama’.”

It’s a devious tactic worthy of Bart himself!

As well as being available via Disney+, where the show premieres, The Simpsons also airs on E4.