While many longtime Simpsons fans have lost interest in the show, it seems Fox may be giving everyone a reason to tune back in this week.
Twenty-five years ago, now-famous comedy writer Judd Apatow wrote and submitted a script for a Simpsons' episode. This week that episode will finally be made and broadcast.
"I was 22, a huge fan of The Simpsons, and hoping for a TV writing career," Apatow told TV Guide about why he wrote the script so long ago. "At the time I was a fledgling standup comic, and people said, 'If you want to write for sitcoms, you need to do spec scripts.'"
"Only six episodes of The Simpsons had aired at that point, but I tried to copy the style and did a spec script where Homer gets hypnotized and thinks he's a 10-year-old. He has such a great time being Bart's friend that he doesn't want to become an adult again."
Apatow didn't receive any response from The Simpsons producers at the time. It wasn't until one of them heard Apatow mention the script during a recent interview that he finally was able to get the episode made.
When TV Guide asked what would have happened had they accepted the show 25 years ago, he said things likely would have turned out differently.
"I'd have worked my way into a staff position—if they'd have me—and would have never left," he said. "Seriously, I'd still be there! And I would be a very happy man."