The Simpsons Explores Carl's Racial Identity
After 34 seasons, Carl Carlson is finally getting in touch with his roots. Sunday’s episode of The Simpsons (Fox, 8/7c) sets Homer’s coworker on a journey of discovery when a new relationship with a Black woman makes him curious about his own own heritage.
“It’s a more direct conversation of race than we’re used to having on The Simpsons,” acknowledges writer Loni Steele Sosthand, but it’s also long overdue. Carl was voiced by white actor Hank Azaria for the first 32 seasons of the show, and was only recently replaced by Black actor Alex Désert.

After 34 seasons, Carl Carlson is finally getting in touch with his roots. Sunday’s episode of The Simpsons (Fox, 8/7c) sets Homer’s coworker on a journey of discovery when a new relationship with a Black woman makes him curious about his own own heritage.
“It’s a more direct conversation of race than we’re used to having on The Simpsons,” acknowledges writer Loni Steele Sosthand, but it’s also long overdue. Carl was voiced by white actor Hank Azaria for the first 32 seasons of the show, and was only recently replaced by Black actor Alex Désert.