The "Explosion of True Crime Media" (Episode: "The Springfield Connection", 1997)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "Explosion of True Crime Media" (Episode: "The Springfield Connection", 1997)

• What happened: The episode briefly touches on the rise of sensationalized crime reporting and media obsession with real-life mysteries.
• Reality: In the 2010s, the true crime genre exploded in popularity across podcasts, documentaries, and TV shows. Series like Making a Murderer and podcasts like Serial captivated global audiences and sparked ongoing public discussions about criminal justice.