Week 14’s Monday Night Football game won’t exactly be a marquee matchup, but fans can look forward to a unique twist: a Simpsons-themed broadcast. (Yeah, THAT Simpsons.)
This unconventional pairing of football and Springfield humor locks the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys into their primetime slot, even though ESPN might prefer a different matchup.
The game, set for Dec. 9, will be simulcast on ESPN+ and Disney+ as part of a special Simpsons production.
The broadcast will feature live game action animated in real-time, with players transformed into Springfield-inspired characters.
Homer Simpson will coach the Cowboys, furthering his long-standing dream of owning the team, while Bart Simpson takes charge of the Bengals, led by quarterback Joe Burrow.
This follows Disney’s foray into alternative broadcasts, like the previous Toy Story Funday Football event.
According to reports, ESPN cannot “flex” out of this game due to the significant work already invested in the Simpsons production.
The presentation will include voice actors from the beloved show, pre-recorded content from its creators, and tracking technology to bring the game to animated life.
Adding to the spectacle, players from both teams will appear in pre-recorded segments interacting with Simpsons characters.
High-profile personalities like Peyton and Eli Manning, along with Stephen A. Smith will also join the broadcast in animated form.
For those lamenting the less-than-stellar matchup, alternative scheduling wasn’t an option.
ESPN’s hands were tied, not just by the Simpsons broadcast but by Week 14’s already packed primetime slate. The Detroit Lions face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football, while the Kansas City Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football, leaving little room for maneuvering.
Plus, we all know even a bad Cowboys team will still draw ratings. On the other side, no matter how ugly their record gets, the Bengals remain one of the more fun teams to watch in the league.
In other words, the situation could certainly be worse for ESPN.
Both the Cowboys and The Simpsons were cultural icons of the 1990s, and many might say their peak popularity lies in that era.
What are your thoughts on The Simpsons of all things keeping the less-than-perfect matchup locked in primetime?
More importantly, what does Jerry Jones have to do at the end of the season to fix the mess in Dallas???
