The Simpsons

American animated sitcom

The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Bart Simpson, Lisa Simpson, and Maggie Simpson. The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield and parodies American culture, society, television, and many aspects of the human condition.

History

The series was conceived by Matt Groening shortly before a solicitation for a series of animated shorts with producer James L. Brooks. Groening created a dysfunctional family and named the characters after members of his own family, substituting Bart for his own name. The shorts became a part of The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987. After three seasons, the sketch was developed into a half-hour prime time show and became Fox's first series to land in the Top 30 ratings in a season (1989–90).

Characters

The show includes a large array of recurring characters. The main family consists of:

• Homer Simpson: The bumbling father who works as a safety inspector at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant.
• Marge Simpson: The well-meaning and patient wife and mother.
• Bart Simpson: The mischievous, rebellious, and underachieving 10-year-old son.
• Lisa Simpson: The intelligent, passionate, and often moralistic 8-year-old daughter.
• Maggie Simpson: The baby of the family who rarely speaks but is often seen with her pacifier.

Setting

The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield, which acts as a complete universe in which the characters can explore the issues faced by modern society. The town has many recurring locations such as the Kwik-E-Mart, Moe's Tavern, Springfield Elementary School, and the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant.

Cultural Impact

The Simpsons has had a significant impact on popular culture and has influenced many other animated series. The show has won dozens of awards since it debuted as a series, including 34 Primetime Emmy Awards, 34 Annie Awards, and a Peabody Award. Time magazine named it the 20th century's best television series, and Bart Simpson was named one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century.

Merchandise and Media

The success of The Simpsons has led to a wide variety of merchandise, including The Simpsons Movie, which was released in 2007, video games, comic books, and theme park attractions. The show has also spawned a number of catchphrases and neologisms, such as Homer's exclamation "D'oh!".

See also

• List of The Simpsons episodes
• List of The Simpsons characters
• The Simpsons Movie
• The Simpsons shorts
• Springfield (The Simpsons)

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