The Simpsons Showrunner Admits He’s ‘in Super Denial’ About This Inevitable Aspect of the Show (Exclusive)

Eventually, all good things come to an end — even The Simpsons.

After the long-running animated series aired what it dubbed a “series finale” episode for its season 36 premiere on Sept. 29, thinking about what the end of the show would actually look like feels like the natural course of action. However, something that could also change the trajectory of the series is if one of its primary cast members suddenly died.

“That I’m in super denial about,” showrunner and executive producer Matt Selman tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“I don’t think about it, so I’m just going to not think about that,” he adds. “But certainly, it’s just if the show ever does a last episode.”

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer have rounded out The Simpsons‘ primary voice cast since its 1989 debut. The satirical series, created by Matt Groening, follows the adventures of a working-class family in the fictional town of Springfield.

The show is now just four years shy from its milestone 40th season and Selman has been around for 27 seasons, beginning as a writer in 1997. Given his history with the show, the 52-year-old does have one proposal for if the series were to ever end on its own time.

“I just hope it’s just a regular episode with no Winky Winky stuff at all,” he explains. “Just a great family story, just like a classic story that’s just funny and involves the whole family and doesn’t feel like it needs to wrap up anything or change anything or tie anything up or be magic or talk to the audience directly.”

Thinking specifically of the “series finale” 36th season premiere that just aired, Selman doesn’t think a big to-do is necessary to close out the show. “We did that. We just did that. We covered it. Check that off the list,” he adds.

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The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.