I could write pages on this show but I’ll keep it short.
I’ve covered a lot of cartoons but this one is special. This Simpsons is probably my favorite of all time. It has influenced countless TV shows. This show appealed to young and older audiences alike.
The Simpsons was created by Matt Groening, who thought of the idea for the Simpsons in the lobby of James L. Brooks’s office. He named the characters after his own family members, substituting “Bart” for his own name. The family debuted as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987. In 1989, the shorts were spun off into the series The Simpsons which debuted on December 17, 1989.
The family members’ animated bodies have changed shape a bit since, but they have not aged much, aside from shows that looked into characters’ futures. In fact, most people would agree that Matt Groening’s goofy humor hasn’t gotten old either.
The town of Springfield has a cast of characters that really made the show. You get to know them weekly from Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Disco Stu, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Moe Szyslak, Marge, Lisa, and the list goes on.
Other shows such as Family Guy, American Dad, and South Park were influenced by The Simpsons but they are cruder and use more shock value. Nothing wrong with that but I always thought the Simpsons was more clever. The two cartoons that I have really liked since the Simpsons started are King of the Hill and Futurama, the later also created by Groening.
In the early stages, the show revolved around the young Bart Simpson’s trouble-causing antics, making it appeal to a younger crowd. Over the years, however, the writers, which have included Conan O’Brien, found viewers responded more to the father figure Homer Simpson, and he became the show’s main character.
In 2007, the family finally made its way to theaters in the Simpsons Movie.
The Simpsons have ran for 31 seasons and nearly 700 episodes (676 as of this writing). The show is the longest-running scripted series in TV history.
A few of the Catchphrases that have worked into our everyday life.
Don’t Have a Cow, Man
Eat My Shorts
Mmm, donuts
Release The Hounds
Hidely Ho…Okily Dokily
D’oh!
Woo Hoo!
Eeeeeeexcellent
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
I haven’t seen it for ages, years maybe, but quotes from The Simpsons still pop into my head on a weekly, even daily basis… At its peak probably the best show on TV
LikeLiked by 1 person
Their first 5 seasons were great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great show. I wish I had watched it more often.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very clever show….hardly ever vulgar like South Park can get.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a show I’ve never watched in first run, but I used to catch it all the time when I was on the road, usually leading into “King of the Hill,” which I was really waiting for. Groening also did a comic strip called “Life In Hell,” that ran in Creative Loafing (our local free weekly newspaper) that was really funny.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’ve seen that strip before…it is funny.
I like King of the Hill also
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was a big fan of ‘Life in hell’ before The simpsons, Groening’s brilliant in his socially-aware, intelligent humor. Never would’ve thought that it would last 30+ years, but the first 10-12 years were as funny as anything before or after on TV… one of those few shows where I can find new details or a new phrase in an episode I’ve seen 10 times and it stillmakes me laugh. Must admit haven’t seen a new one in the last 5 or so years, but more power to them! Last few I saw in early 2010’s were funny but rather recycled earlier show themes and jokes…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yea they are still funny but they have mined so many situations that it stopped being innovative and just a regular show now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, unfortunately have to agree… think they probably should have called it a day around when the movie came out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yea I think he wanted the record and I also read that Fox wants it to stay on so apparently it still draws the ratings.
LikeLike
Matt Groening’s humor is fantastic. Both my kids and I watched The Simpsons faithfully and we have a couple of Matt’s books based on “Life in Hell” and “Love is Hell.” Matt is a national treasure! I also love South Park but South Park is not family-friendly, imo, more adult-oriented humor. Family Guy has a maliciousness that I don’t care for. Seth McFarlane had better hope we don’t come face to face on the street. I’ll beat that boy down! King of the Hill is a wonderful show!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Groening’s humor is clever… but not malicious as you said…he doesn’t go for the easy laugh like Family Guy does. I think of King of the Hill the same way. It’s been a while since I watched King of the Hill…I need to do that again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Simpson’s could do no wrong in the early 90s. Perfect family TV
LikeLiked by 2 people
Every family is dysfunctional in some way and it was perfect in the first 5-10 seasons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed
LikeLike
I have a buddy who is a Simpsons fanatic! We always talked about the show. One of the things we both loved about the show was the music. There are so many great Simpsons Songs. One of my favorites is designated as my buddy’s Ring tone when he calls me. Remember the Stonecutter’s Song – We Do? 45 seconds of awesomeness!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember that! The one I remember also is Lisa’s Jazzman.
LikeLike
I rarely sit down and watch an episode of the Simpsons anymore, but it’s an institution for sure. I’m glad it’s still on. If I’m scrolling through channels, I’ll pause for the Simpsons and watch for a few moments and it always makes me happy. They’ve had so many famous people on the show, too; rock stars, etc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The first 5-10 seasons were great…now it’s good but it doesn’t rise to those seasons but I guess no one can for that long.
They have had everyone you are right. Paul, George, and Ringo plus about everyone else.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh…I’m pulling for your Chiefs… That quarterback is the most likable guy there is…how could anyone pull against him?
LikeLike
Awesome! They don’t even resemble the team that lost to the Titans early in the season; although I was nervous! I’m biased of course, but I agree about Mahomes. He makes it so exciting. I’m used to doing stuff around the house while a game is on. But with him, if I step away I miss something amazing, almost every time. I’m always darting back into the room to catch the replay.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The man can score at will…his personality is so upbeat and I saw him smiling while he was playing. That is rare…I know some baseball players who do that…who really enjoy what they are doing…it could be on a big stage or in the backyard…they wouldn’t care. He loves the game.
LikeLike
Yes, that run up the sideline to the end zone, good lord. Who gets away with that? He does love it out there, and it’s contagious.
LikeLiked by 1 person