The Simpsons

The Simpsons has been entertaining television audiences for 23 seasons and over 500 episodes over two decades. To say that it is a television institution would be an understatement, considering that it is the the longest-running American sitcom of all time. The show has been consistently funny over the years, although some people believe that it reached its peak in the 1990s and early 2000s. Regardless, this animated comedy masterpiece and its beloved characters have been able to make people laugh for a long time.

The show started out small as a feature on the Tracey Ullman Show in 1987. At that time, the characters looked and sounded much different than they do today, but the basic sensibilities of the show were installed at this time. After appearing on Ullman's show in the capacity of short, animated films, The Simpsons was finally given its own half-hour time slot on Sunday nights. It soon became a major hit for the FOX television network, and it earned praise from critics, as well.

The show was created by comedic animator and cartoonist Matt Groening who developed his original idea with legendary producer James L. Brooks. Groening named the characters after members of his own family, but he substituted the name of Bart for his own when naming the show's breakout character. Groening came up with the idea in the lobby of Brooks' office after Brooks requested ideas for animated short films, and the idea that Groening conjured so quickly that day has stuck for much longer than the creator ever thought possible.

The show follows the Simpsons family as its members deal with everyday concerns and situations. The heads of the family are beer-loving bumbler Homer and his wife, the beehive-hairdo-wearing Marge. At ten years old, the trouble-making Bart is the couple's oldest child. Lisa is the intelligent, thoughtful and aware eight year old daughter, and Maggie is the family's infant daughter, known for communicating solely through her pacifier. One of the wonders of the show is that the characters never age, even though the world has changed significantly since the program's debut. This allows each character to remain more or less static and dependable, which is one of the show's many strengths.

Throughout its long run, the show has been able to keep its talented voice-acting staff amazingly intact. Stars like Hank Azaria, Dan Castellaneta, Yeardley Smith, Julie Kavner and Harry Shearer have provided many of the voices for the show for nearly its entire run, and they have come to define the program's tone as much as anything or anyone else. In fact, the show would likely end its run if other voice actors were required to fill in for any of these stars.

The Simpsons holds a unique place in television history even as it continues to entertain audiences on Sunday nights with new episodes. Though it started small, it has blossomed into a genuine classic that is a favorite around the world. There will probably never be a show like The Simpsons again, but there will surely be imitators, even long after the show airs its last installment.