The History of The Simpsons: The Complete History of the Most Beloved American Family on Television

The Simpsons is arguably television’s most beloved family. The Simpsons is the longest running American sitcom and the longest running American animated television program of all time. The Simpsons made their television debut on April 19, 1987 on the Tracey Ullman Show, in a cartoon short called “Good Night”. 

The Simpsons creator, Matt Groening first conceived the idea of The Simpsons while in a office lobby. The initial appearance of the Simpson family were drawn poorly, Groening said this was due to the fact that he couldn’t draw well and the animators traced over his drawings.

The Simpsons was truly an alternative animated television show to all of the other cartoons being put out at the time. The Simpsons features a family living in a small town called Springfield, the U.S. state of the town is unknown. The family is made up of Homer Simpson, who is the man of the house, he is an overweight safety inspector at the towns power plant, he often gives bad advice. 

Marge Simpson is Homer’s wife and the lady of the house, she is a stay at home mother and she is the rational one who tries to keep peace in her crazy home. Bart Simpson is Homer and Marge’s 10 year old son, he’s always in trouble at school and at home. Lisa Simpson, is Bart’s little sister, she’s a philosophical free thinking 8 year old who loves to play the saxophone and solve the worlds problems. Maggie is the youngest daughter of Homer and Marge and never speaks, she communicates by sucking her pacifier.

Many people liked The Simpsons shorts on the Tracey Ullman show, so in 1989 The Simpsons was made into a 30 minute television show. On December 17, 1989 The Simpsons premiered on the FOX broadcasting network as a Christmas special, it was entitled Simpsons roasting on an open fire. The Simpsons was the FOX network’s first genuine hit television series, it was FOX’s first show that appeared in the top thirty highest rated shows of the season. Several episodes of the Simpsons have been watched by audiences exceeding 20 million viewers and sometimes even 30 million.