How does The Simpsons keep 'predicting' the future with such uncanny accuracy?

The answer

The Simpsons, which premiered on December 17, 1989, has seemingly predicted dozens of future events - including Donald Trump's presidency ('Bart to the Future,' 2000), Disney acquiring 20th Century Fox ('When You Dish Upon a Star,' 1998), the discovery of the Higgs boson particle (1998 episode where Homer writes an equation on a blackboard), and video calls on smartwatches. The show's writing staff, which has included numerous Harvard mathematics and science graduates, offers a simple explanation: over 750+ episodes spanning 35+ years, covering every conceivable satirical topic, statistical probability guarantees some will align with reality. Writer Al Jean has noted that for every 'prediction' that came true, hundreds of absurd plotlines didn't. Additionally, the show's satire often extrapolates current trends to logical conclusions, which sometimes materialize. Confirmation bias also plays a role - viewers remember hits and forget misses.