Has it been 20 years already? Time flies when you are watching a great TV gem such as The Simpsons. I liked this series so much, especially when it started, that my first website was devoted to them! Parade has a nice article about this milestone, including an interview with executive producer Al Jean. Twenty years ago today (April 19, 1987), the world was introduced to the crazy and funny Simpsons thanks to a two-minute short featured on The Tracey Ullman Show. These sketches, created by Matt Groening, quickly gained in popularity and eventually paved the way to a half-hour sitcom.
The Simpsons' first full-length episode was "The Simpsons' Christmas Special," which gave FOX the highest ratings in the history of the network so far.
Two decades later, The Simpsons is still one of the best animated shows on TV. Since its first episode, the series has featured voices of many TV, movie, and music stars but also from influential people in the political world. Now holding the title of longest-running sitcom in history, The Simpsons airs in more than 45 languages around the world.
Thanks to its success worldwide, fans will finally be able to watch them in theatre when "The Simpsons Movie" hits the big screen in July 2007.
The Simpsons airs Sundays on FOX.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-19-2007 @ 5:16PM
David said...
Happy Birthday Simpsons!
You should have never lived this long.
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4-19-2007 @ 6:05PM
Viv said...
I can't say i wouldn't mind another 20 years of the simpsons.
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4-19-2007 @ 6:38PM
jeffy said...
This series should have died 10 years ago.
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4-19-2007 @ 7:42PM
Ted said...
Still better than 95% of what's on TV. People like David are miserable losers who have shitty senses of humor and spend their time thinking about the good ol' days that never existed.
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4-19-2007 @ 8:36PM
David said...
Wow Ted, you are a jackass who must be in middle school to find most of the shit that the Simpsons do now a days funny.
Look Homer acts like a dumbass and the rest of the family is hardy there! Let's laugh at how dumb Homer is because he's still smart than Ted! :rolleyes:
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4-19-2007 @ 9:08PM
AJ MacReady said...
Wow. Sounds like someone pissed in David's cornflakes this morning (maybe every day, judging from his demeanor). Ted is right - no true fan of the show (which I have been for these last 20 years) in his right mind would say that it is as good now as it was in its prime. Having said that, it is STILL better than most of the comedy on the airwaves. That is that. And just so you know David, I was in high school when it started, and still find it funny; sorry you don't. But hey - maybe According to Jim is on! Why don't you go check that out, as it sounds more like your speed.
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4-19-2007 @ 11:47PM
Chris said...
If the people who loved the show in the 90s were still watching The Simpsons would be in the top twenty shows each week.
They can still put out a half decent episode but really it is time to end it. It used to be the show that I could not miss, Sunday nights I had to get home or have the VCR ready or hope it was a rerun or be somewhere I could watch it. Every episode had to be watched. I would watch the syndicated episodes every weekday. Now I don't care if I miss it and when I do tune in its annoying to see what the show has become. If its a classic episode from season three to season nine I'll watch and enjoy it.
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4-20-2007 @ 12:33AM
Mike said...
Maybe Dvid should never have lived this long.
The Simpsons recent seasons' shows are still better than lauded crap like Entourage, Family Guy, EVERY reality show. Has the quality dipped? Absolutely. Even so, it's still better than all but a few sitcoms. I love "Curb Your Enthusiasm" but the repeats don't hold up to multiple viewings and I laugh out loud more during The Simpsons.
Letterman "used to be funnier", too. So what? This season of South Park seems weak. D'ya want cancel THAT, too?
Fans of "classic" Simpsons should buy (and read) ALL 3 of John Swartzwelder's hilarious novels. If you don't know John, you aren't a Simpsons fan.
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