As 'The Simpsons' has already reached its 800th episode on Fox, one question hangs in the air: how will the longest-running animated series in history ever end? The answer, according to showrunner Matt Selman, is simple: it won't end in a traditional way. In a recent interview with The Wrap, Selman was adamant about his philosophy regarding a possible ending. “The show isn't meant to end,” he stated, dismissing the idea of ??a sentimental finale. In fact, the team already teased that possibility in the season 36 premiere, an episode titled “Bart's Birthday.” What was the episode about? That episode, hosted by former writer Conan O'Brien, functioned as a parody of series finales. “We incorporated every possible series finale concept into one episode,” Selman explained. “We did a series finale in the middle of the show that mocked all the ideas of ending it all.” In the plot, an artificial intelligence called HackGPT generated a ridiculous ending that included Mr. Burns' death, the closing of Moe's Tavern, and Maggie's final speech, among other absurd moments. Selman had already shared this stance with the New York Post when the episode aired: "Doing a sentimental, cheesy series finale, like most shows do, would be silly. So we did one that was, let's say, over the top." But what would happen if the network decided to end the series? Selman is clear on this. "If the series ended, there wouldn't be a finale; it would be a normal episode with the family. Probably some small hidden detail, but nothing like 'I'm going to miss this place,'" he told The Wrap. For him, the essence of the show is its ability to constantly reinvent itself. "The show isn't supposed to change. The characters are rebooted every week. It's like Groundhog Day, but they don't know it, and they don't die that often." This flexibility also extends to the show's continuity. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly last October, Selman confessed to not worrying about altering the chronology. "I think the story and the characters should come first, and the rules of a cinematic universe for a show that doesn't have them should take a distant second place. It's just a kind of silly show! So I like everything.Everything happened and didn't happen with the same level of historical accuracy.” As the yellow family approaches its 800th episode, it will do so with a grand celebration. The episode, titled “Irrational Treasure,” takes the Simpsons to Philadelphia and features guest voices from Quinta Brunson, Kevin Bacon, Questlove, and Noah Wyle, among others, as well as a special musical performance by Boyz II Men The episode premiered today, February 15, at 8 pm ET/PT on Fox.