The Simpsons' Executive Producer Denies Homer Coma Fan Theory

A popular fan theory that no episodes of The Simpsons have actually happened within the show's continuity since 1993 is "intruguing, but false," according to series executive producer Al Jean.

Jean, who was one of theshow's writers when the episode featuring Homer's hospitalization was written, told TMZ, "It would mean back in 1993 we would presume the show was going on for years and years more and right before we left, threw this hidden monkey wrench in for all our successors," adding, "I'm afraid it goes with the 'Dead Bart' episode in the intriguing but false file."

The "Dead Bart" episode originated on the urban legends website Creepypasta, where a fan claimed that he was given a link to a website which contained a "lost" episode of The Simpsons in which Bart died and mourning his loss ruined the family.

The episode featuring Homer's hospitalization was 1993's "So It's Come To This: A Simpsons Clip Show," in which he's put in a coma by an exploding can of beer after an escalating prank war with Bart on April Fool's Day.