The Ultimate List: 7 Simpsons Characters Who Just Received Major, Shocking Updates In Season 36
The Simpsons, a cultural juggernaut now in its fourth decade, continues to evolve its massive cast of characters, proving that even after 36 seasons, the residents of Springfield still have secrets to reveal and changes to undergo. As of late 2025, the show is not resting on its laurels; it is actively making significant, sometimes controversial, updates to its most beloved—and peripheral—figures.
This article dives deep into the most recent, fresh developments from Season 36 (2024–2025), spotlighting the major character shifts, voice actor recasting, and celebrity cameos that are redefining the world of Homer, Marge, Bart, and the entire chaotic town of Springfield. Prepare to be surprised by which 34-year-old character just got a total makeover, and who is stepping into a new, older role.
The Core Five: Complete Character Profiles and Biographies
The heart of The Simpsons universe remains the titular family. Despite the show's floating timeline, each member maintains a consistent, iconic profile, which serves as the anchor for every new storyline. Here is a quick profile of the main characters (the core entities) who continue to drive the show.
- Homer Jay Simpson: The patriarch of the family, known for his laziness, gluttony, and low intelligence, yet possessing a surprising depth of love for his family. He works as a Safety Inspector at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. His catchphrase, "D'oh!", is globally recognized.
- Marjorie "Marge" Bouvier Simpson: The long-suffering, yet devoted, matriarch. Marge is the moral center of the family, easily identified by her towering blue beehive hairdo. She is typically a homemaker, balancing the chaos created by her husband and son.
- Bartholomew "Bart" JoJo Simpson: The ten-year-old main troublemaker and oldest child. Bart is rebellious, misunderstood, and prone to pranks. His alter-egos include "El Barto" and "Bartman." He is eternally a fourth-grader.
- Lisa Marie Simpson: The highly intelligent, eight-year-old middle child. Lisa is the family's intellectual, moral, and often political conscience. She is a vegetarian, a Buddhist, and an accomplished jazz saxophone player.
- Margaret "Maggie" Lenny Simpson: The youngest child, perpetually a baby. Maggie communicates mostly through pacifier sucking and is often the subject of silent, yet profound, gags. She has shown flashes of genius and heroic action despite her age.
Major Character Makeovers and Voice Actor Changes in Season 36
The longevity of The Simpsons means continuous adaptation is necessary, especially concerning cultural sensitivity and the passing of original cast members. Season 36 has delivered some of the most significant character-specific updates in years, ensuring the show remains fresh and relevant.
The Squeaky-Voiced Teen's Shocking Makeover
In a surprising development, a long-running peripheral character—the ubiquitous Squeaky-Voiced Teen (Jeremy Freedman)—received a total makeover in a Season 36 episode. The character, who is perpetually a teenager working various dead-end jobs across Springfield, was given a rare spotlight episode. This change continues a trend of the show giving depth and sometimes permanent changes to minor Springfield residents, similar to the evolution of Comic Book Guy's storyline.
Milhouse Van Houten Gets a New Voice for the Future
One of the most talked-about updates involves Bart's best friend, Milhouse Van Houten. While Pamela Hayden remains the primary voice actor for the character, singer Kelly Macleod is set to make her debut as Milhouse in a Season 36 finale episode. However, this isn't the Milhouse you know; Macleod will be voicing a much older version of the character, exploring a potential future timeline. This creative use of new talent for future-timeline versions of characters is a fresh way to handle the show’s non-aging status quo.
Lindsay Lohan Voices Maggie Simpson
In a major celebrity casting announcement, actress Lindsay Lohan was confirmed to voice Maggie Simpson in an upcoming episode. While Maggie famously does not speak, this cameo continues the tradition of the show utilizing famous voices for special, often non-speaking, roles or for fantasy sequences where the baby does talk. This high-profile casting keeps the show in the news and introduces a new generation to one of the show's most silent, yet expressive, characters.
The Evolving Landscape of Springfield's Supporting Cast
Beyond the main family, the show's commitment to modern relevance is most evident in the changes to its vast supporting cast, which includes hundreds of recurring characters (or "entities") that give Springfield its unique flavor. The show's writers have been actively revising character histories and recasting roles to reflect modern cultural standards.
Recasting for Representation and Diversity
A significant, ongoing shift is the show’s policy of no longer using white actors to voice non-white characters. This has led to the recasting of several key roles over the last few seasons, ensuring true representation. This commitment is part of a broader industry trend but has been a major talking point for The Simpsons specifically, affecting characters like Carl Carlson and Dr. Hibbert.
Historical Retcons and New Character Lore
Season 36 has also introduced subtle but major changes to the established lore of several long-time Springfield residents, giving them new backstories or ignoring previous ones:
- Sideshow Bob: His storyline in the new season appears to ignore the existence of his previous wife, suggesting a subtle retcon to his criminal history.
- Abe Simpson (Grampa): New episodes have explored an updated backstory for Homer's father, suggesting he was once a private investigator, adding a layer of unexpected history to the character.
- Nick Callahan: A recurring, minor character has been given a new look and a completely different job, demonstrating the writers' willingness to adjust even the most established background figures to serve new narratives.
- Patty and Selma Bouvier: Marge's chain-smoking sisters also underwent a major change, with one of them receiving a significant makeover in a recent season, further demonstrating the show’s willingness to update the visual identities of its oldest characters.
Topical Authority: The Vast Ecosystem of Springfield
The strength of The Simpsons lies in its deep bench of characters. The sheer volume of recurring entities—estimated to be over 500—allows the show to comment on nearly every facet of modern life. This topical authority is built on the foundation of a recognizable community, including figures like:
- Ned Flanders: Homer's overly religious, annoyingly perfect neighbor.
- Mr. Burns (Charles Montgomery Burns): Homer’s greedy, elderly boss and owner of the Nuclear Power Plant.
- Waylon Smithers: Mr. Burns’ sycophantic, devoted assistant.
- Principal Seymour Skinner: The long-suffering principal of Springfield Elementary School.
- Krusty the Clown (Herschel Krustofsky): Bart's idol and the cynical, chain-smoking children's entertainer.
- Moe Szyslak: The grumpy, perpetually unlucky owner and bartender of Moe's Tavern.
- Chief Clancy Wiggum: Springfield’s incompetent Police Chief.
- Barney Gumble: Springfield's town drunk and Homer's best friend.
- Comic Book Guy (Jeff Albertson): The cynical, overweight owner of The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop.
- Apu Nahasapeemapetilon: The former owner of the Kwik-E-Mart (a character whose voice role was famously recast).
- Sideshow Mel: Krusty's sidekick, known for his bone in his hair.
- Dr. Hibbert: The family's cheerful, chuckling doctor (a character whose voice was also recast).
These recurring figures, from the lovable doof Homer Simpson to the nerdy nice guy Ned Flanders, are the reason the show can pivot from a family sitcom to a political satire to a deep dive into character psychology, all within the same season. The continuous updates and recasting decisions in Season 36 are clear signals that the show’s creators are committed to maintaining this vast, dynamic ecosystem for years to come.
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