this applies to a lot of shows: american dad, spongebob squarepants, family guy, futurama…
frasier, the sopranos, married with children, the simpsons, apparently respect original broadcast date. Hope I’m not wrong.
It’s tiring: for example I find season 3 that covers years 2003 to 2006 and season 4 including episodes from years 2004 to 2008. Sometimes there are ‘spaces’ of several months within the same season (episode 3 was released in May 2012 and the next one, miraculously, in December 2012). Why don’t they package episodes following the logic order of years?
Who had this stupid idea and why?
Isn’t it the broadcasters often air them out of production order?
That’s probably the case, but I’m sure they get aired in a different order more often than you’d think.
I don’t have an answer for OP but, having worked in a TV show, I have seen episodes broadcasted in a different order from production. I have no idea why though since these decisions had nothing to do with my area.