December 16, 2019

Tomorrow, December 17, marks 30 years since the animated situation comedy “The Simpsons” began its first season in 1989. The popular show is the longest-running series in television history. The series follows the comic adventures of the Simpsons, a blue-collar American family, and the many other colorful characters who live in the fictitious town of Springfield. The series began with a Christmas special, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” which was followed by 12 episodes that ran from January through May 1990. “The Simpsons” is known for its satire of popular culture and American society. The series and its contributors have won dozens of Emmy Awards.

The first episode of the first season of “The Simpsons” aired 30 years ago on Dec. 17, 1989. Credit: © Fox

The Simpson family—which never ages—consists of the dim-witted father, Homer (voice by Dan Castellaneta), who works in the town’s nuclear power plant; the devoted mother and housewife, Marge (voice by Julie Kavner); the mischievous 10-year-old, Bart (voice by Nancy Cartwright); the bright 8-year-old, Lisa (voice by Yeardley Smith); and the pacifier-sucking baby, Maggie. The series also frequently features celebrity guest voices and characters. Numerous talented writers have worked for the show over the years, including Al Jean, David Mirkin, Mike Reiss, and the television personality Conan O’Brien.

“The Simpsons” was created by the American cartoonist Matt Groening, who developed the series with the creative director Sam Simon and the producer James L. Brooks. The show began as a series of animated segments that were shown on the American television variety series “The Tracey Ullman Show” beginning in 1987. In 2007, The Simpsons Movie, an animated feature-length motion picture based on the series, was released.