Warning: Spoilers for The Simpsons season 34, episode 8.While The Simpsons season 34 features a lot of celebrity cameos, the new episodes have managed to avoid an issue that plagued the show for years. The Simpsons season 34 has upended a lot of the familiar conventions that the show had relied upon in the past, and as a result, the animated sitcom is feeling fresher than it has in some time. Abandoning elements of The Simpsons' formula that didn't work has allowed season 34 to surprise viewers and, at its best, offer some solid storylines for Springfield’s most famous family.
The Simpsons season 34, episode 7, “From Beer to Paternity,” avoided the topical satire that The Simpsons became reliant on in season 33 and felt more timeless as a result. Similarly, while The Simpsons season 34, episode 8, “Step Brother from the Same Planet,” featured blockbuster star Melissa McCarthy, the celebrity was not just playing herself. By getting McCarthy to play an original character with a central role in the episode’s plot, The Simpsons turned what could have been some attention-seeking stunt casting into an effective cameo role. This justified McCarthy’s presence in the episode while also strengthening its storyline.
Melissa McCarthy’s Simpsons Character Explained
In The Simpsons season 34, episode 8, “Step Brother from the Same Planet,” Melissa McCarthy plays Calvin, the young adopted son of Grampa’s latest love interest, Blythe (Carol Kane). Calvin is a sweet kid with an interest in taxidermy, but Homer instantly takes an intense dislike to the child when he sees how well Grampa treats him. This leads to a recurring Simpsons ing character problem as Homer insists that he doesn’t know why Grampa treats him so poorly despite earlier episodes repeatedly delving into the causes of this neglect. However, while Homer and Grampa’s plot might be overly familiar, this doesn't stop McCarthy’s cameo from being a success for The Simpsons.
Why The Simpsons Season 34’s Celebrity Cameos Work
Since The Simpsons is a famous cultural institution, the show can effectively take its pick when it comes to guest stars. Many major celebrities would love to appear on The Simpsons, meaning they will take even momentary roles that amount to little more than a glorified name-drop. Jason Momoa, for instance, appeared for a few seconds as himself in an episode of The Simpsons that barely utilized his talents. This is a major problem for modern Simpsons episodes since the availability of major A-list stars means the series doesn’t need to woo talent, and therefore it can get away with this sort of pointless cameo.
In contrast, Melissa McCarthy’s cameo was a success because The Simpsons wrote a character for the actor that suited her comedic skills. This was part of a positive trend as — other than Drew Barrymore’s wasted appearance — all The Simpsons season 34’s visiting celebrities, including Carol Kane, Aubrey Plaza, McCarthy, and Anna Faris, played original characters who served a purpose in the episode’s plot. This marks a change from The Simpsons season 33, which featured a TikTok star playing herself, Nicholas Braun as his Succession character, and six other guest stars all crammed into one episode. The Simpsons season 34’s McCarthy cameo proved the show can still value cameos, provided they have a purpose.
New episodes of The Simpsons air on Fox on Sundays.