When Fox aired the first half-hour episode of The Simpsons on December 17, 1989, nobody could have predicted it would become a socio-cultural phenomenon still thriving decades later. The brainchild of Matt Groening, this animated sitcom brought to life a quirky, lovable family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—who would soon become household names around the world.
Before getting its own show, the Simpson family got its start in 1987 as a collection of animated shorts featured on The Tracey Ullman Show. The leap to a standalone series kicked off with "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," a debut episode that immediately showcased the offbeat humor and satirical storytelling audiences would come to associate with the program.
What followed was nothing short of remarkable. The Simpsons went on to become the longest-running primetime scripted series on American television, racking up an impressive haul of recognition along the way—dozens of Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and even a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But awards only tell part of the story. The show carved out its legacy through razor-sharp social commentary, a parade of iconic guest stars, and catchphrases that embedded themselves permanently in popular culture.
Fun Facts:
- The Simpsons holds the Guinness World Record for the "Most Guest Stars Featured in a TV Series."
- Bart Simpson's "Eat my shorts!" catchphrase became a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s.
- The show predicted several real-world events, including smartwatches, autocorrect fails, and even a Super Bowl winner!
- The Simpsons has been translated into dozens of languages, making it a global hit.
- The characters are yellow to make them instantly recognizable while flipping through channels.