If the characters on “The Simpsons” aged in real time, Bart would now be the age his father Homer is on the show. (FOX)

If the characters on “The Simpsons” aged in real time, Bart would now be the age his father Homer is on the show. (FOX)

‘Simpsons’ writer freaks out the internet over Bart’s real age

After 32 seasons, Bart is now the age Homer was when the show started. So now we’re all feeling old.

  • By Brian Niemietz New York Daily News
  • Sunday, February 2, 2020 1:30am
  • Life

D’oh!

“The Simpsons” writer Al Jean blew a lot of minds this week by tweeting that if the characters on his animated comedy aged, the bratty child character Bart would now be the age his father Homer is on the show.

“If Homer is 39 he was born in 1980 which is when we said Bart was born,” Jean, 59, tweeted Monday.

Making matter worse, Bart’s birthday is Feb. 23, meaning that in three weeks, technically, he’ll be older in actual years than his dopey dad is on the long-running comedy. Instead, Bart will turn 10 on his birthday, as he does every year.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Jean’s Twitter followers have spent the week ruminating about how old that makes them and how old it would make the other characters on the show.

“When the show premiered I was 5 years older than Bart,” tweeted Simpsons fan Brad C. “Now I’m 5 years older than Homer!”

One astonished fan realized Homer is holding back the years, but he can not.

“How did I get to be older than Homer Simpson?” asked Tom Williams.

The official Twitter account belonging to “The Simpsons” pondered that question.

“Honestly, how did you even get older?” that verified account asked.

Chris Spendlove tried to nail down the chronology.

“(Homer) was 38 the whole time and Bart was 10 but Marge got pregnant right after high school … ?”

Gabby Hayes tweeted “Can’t do the math, head going to explode … “

Tweeting at Jean and the show itself, Rocky Buckland offered a couple theories on how the program’s characters stay the same age.

“Ambient radiation from the Nuclear plant has rendered most of Springfield functionally immortal, or at least stunted aging. Some residents die of accidents or tumors, or just move away,” he wrote. “That, or Homer is God and he’s preserving Springfield in a pocket of time forever.”

Simpsons fan Rachel Antolovic tweeted that she doesn’t mind growing old with the show.

“When The Simpsons started on Fox, I was the same age as Bart. I turned 39 a month and a half ago, so I’m Homers age. My fingers are crossed that the show lasts long enough for me to say that I’ll be the same age as Grandpa.”

Grandpa Abraham Simpson is 83, according to Simpsonsfandom.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The Musical Mountaineers perform at Everett’s McCollum Park on June 14, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Adopt A Stream Foundation)
Photo courtesy of Adopt A Stream Foundation
The Musical Mountaineers perform at Everett’s McCollum Park on June 14.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

Audi SQ8 Wows In Motion Or At Rest. Photo provided by Audi America MediaCenter.
2025 Audi SQ8 Is A Luxury, Hot Rod, SUV

500 Horsepower and 4.0-Second, 0-To-60 MPH Speed

Nedra Vranish, left, and Karen Thordarson, right browse colorful glass flowers at Fuse4U during Sorticulture on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett’s Sorticulture festival starts Friday

Festivities will include art classes, garden vendors and live music.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Ellis Johnson, 16, left, and brother Garrett Johnson, 13, take a breather after trying to find enough water to skim board on without sinking into the sand during opening day of Jetty Island on Friday, July 5, 2019 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Epic ways to spice up your summer

Your ultimate guide to adventure, fun and reader-approved favorites!

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

People walk during low tide at Picnic Point Park on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Beach cleanup planned for Picnic Point in Edmonds

Snohomish Marine Resources Committee and Washington State University Beach Watchers host volunteer event at Picnic Point.

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Ian Terry / The Herald

Rose Freeman (center) and Anastasia Allison play atop Sauk Mountain near Concrete on Thursday, Oct. 5. The pair play violin and piano together at sunrise across the Cascades under the name, The Musical Mountaineers.

Photo taken on 10052017
Adopt A Stream Foundation hosts summer concert on June 14

The concert is part of the nonprofit’s effort to raise $1.5 million for a new Sustainable Ecosystem Lab.

Edie Carroll trims plants at Baker's Acres Nursery during Sorticulture on Friday, June 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sorticulture, Everett’s garden festival, is in full swing

The festival will go through Sunday evening and has over 120 local and regional vendors.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.