| Matt Groening, created the animated sitcom, "The | | | | and for prime time viewing. In its time it has |
| Simpsons" for Fox Broadcasting Company. The | | | | certainly been a pioneering show if its type and |
| idea came from the lobby of James L. Brooks's | | | | still stands tall. In fact the Simpsons are so |
| office and that's how this popular adaptation of a | | | | respected that when South Park achieved |
| dysfunctional family came about. Even the | | | | success on television they aired an episode |
| characters were named after his own family | | | | "Simpsons Already Did It" as homage to its |
| members, with the exception of lead character | | | | predecessor. |
| Bart. | | | | The Simpsons have been awarded at many |
| On April 19, 1987, "The Simpsons" made their first | | | | occasions. Their booty consists of 23 Emmy |
| appearance as shorts in The Tracey Ullman Show. | | | | Awards, 24 Annie Awards and a Peabody Award. |
| When the initial submission was made, only basic | | | | The TIME magazines 1998 publication |
| sketches were handed in expecting they would be | | | | commemorating the 20th Century's greatest |
| refined in production stages but they were left as | | | | achievements in arts and entertainment, named |
| is and that's the reason why despite modification | | | | The Simpsons as the last century's best television |
| over the years the Simpsons still have a very | | | | series, along with naming Bart Simpson in the list |
| rudimentary façade. On December 17, 1989, | | | | of the century's 100 most influential people. |
| "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" was the | | | | Incidentally Bart was the only imaginary character |
| half-hour premiere show. | | | | on the list. At the turn of this century the |
| The Simpsons has been debated since the start | | | | Simpsons won a star on the Hollywood Walk of |
| with lead character Bart often going scot-free | | | | Fame. They have also been acclaimed as the |
| despite wrong doings and this portrayed him as a | | | | greatest television show of the 1990s, 2001's 100 |
| poor role model for youngsters. It's portrayal of | | | | Greatest Kids' TV shows, and 2005's 100 |
| the middle class American lifestyle symbolized by | | | | Greatest Cartoons. Homer Simpson has been |
| family members Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and | | | | recognized as the forerunner in 2001's 100 |
| Maggie Simpson. The backdrop of the show is the | | | | Greatest TV Characters. Other awards include |
| fictional town of Springfield, which is filled with | | | | the TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All |
| characters, and events that are an animated and | | | | Time, and a mention in the TIME's list of 100 Best |
| inspired from American society. Homer Simpson | | | | TV Shows of All Time. |
| the father is employed as a safety inspector at | | | | In 2004, they became the longest-running |
| Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Often his job is at | | | | American animated sitcom in the United States. |
| risk as a result of his casual and comic nature. His | | | | Regardless of criticism over the years, The |
| wife, Marge is a conventional American housewife | | | | Simpsons maintains a huge viewer base. The |
| and mother. Their 3 children are Bart, a | | | | shows first season enjoyed an average of 13.4 |
| ten-year-old menace, Lisa, an aware 8 year old | | | | million viewers, and the 17th season had an |
| activist and the baby Maggie, who hardly speaks | | | | average of 9.2 million viewers per episode, |
| but does communicate by sucking on a pacifier. | | | | respectively. The Simpsons Movie made $74 |
| They have a dog called Santa's Little Helper, and a | | | | million in its opening weekend in the US. |
| cat, called Snowball II. Over the years, the show | | | | In the end of the last century a number of US |
| has celebrated even ts but the characters have | | | | public schools banned 'The Simpsons' merchandise |
| not aged since the start of the show. | | | | and t-shirts. In spite of the ban, their merchandise |
| The Simpsons have influenced mainstream | | | | still continued to be popular and generated US$2 |
| society in more ways than one. Language and | | | | billion in revenue in its first 14 months of sales. |
| terms used in this animated sitcom has made its | | | | Their popularity paved the way for them in |
| transition into popular everyday vernacular. To the | | | | turning into a billion-dollar merchandizing industry. |
| extent that Homer Simpsons popular use of the | | | | Merchandise includes everything you can imagine, |
| expression 'D'oh!' is listed in the Oxford English | | | | from t-shirts to posters. The iconic characters |
| Dictionary without its apostrophe. Even the use of | | | | have inspired unique editions of board games, |
| the term 'excellent' pronounced as 'eexcelllent' in | | | | including Clue, Scrabble, Monopoly, Operation, and |
| the show is used by people around us. The term | | | | The Game of Life. Trivia and card games have |
| 'cheese-eating surrender monkeys"' referring to | | | | also been introduced. There are Simpsons comic |
| the French has been used by popularly by | | | | books and related publications, including 9 comic |
| conservative National Review columnist Jonah | | | | book series from Bongo Comics publication. The |
| Goldberg in 2003, when the French opposed the | | | | comics have also been made available in book |
| invasion of Iraq proposal. And soon it was popular | | | | form and there's episode guides too. There's |
| lingo amongst journalists. | | | | numerous soundtrack and other musical releases |
| The Simpsons is a legendary show in respect to | | | | including music that's' not been aired on the show. |
| prime time television programs. This is because | | | | You can purchase The Simpsons Movie DVDs and |
| initially animated shows were thought to be for | | | | DVD boxsets. You can buy video of episodes |
| kids and airing a complete animated program on | | | | that have been aired. Seasons one to ten have |
| prime time for universal viewing was a bold step. | | | | been released on DVD in many continents. You |
| Though thought to be an expensive idea, The | | | | can even buy The Simpsons video games. This |
| Simpsons were aired successfully because they | | | | includes The Simpsons, The Simpsons: Bart vs. |
| cut down on expenses by using Korean animation | | | | the Space Mutants, The Simpsons Road Rage, |
| studios for in-betweening, coloring, and filming. The | | | | The Simpsons Hit & Run and The Simpsons |
| success of The Simpsons show prompted many | | | | Game (2007). |
| others to start animated shows of this nature | | | | |