Portal:The Simpsons
The Simpsons Portal
The family was conceived by Groening shortly before a pitch for a series of animated shorts with the 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 a three-season run, the sketch was developed into a half-hour prime-time show and was an early hit for Fox, becoming the first Fox series to land in the Top 30 ratings in a season.
Since its debut on December 17, 1989 and as of March 1, 2012, the show has broadcast 500 episodes, and the twenty-third season started airing on September 25, 2011. The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length film, was released in theaters worldwide on July 26 and July 27, 2007, and has grossed approximately US$526.2 million worldwide to date.
The Simpsons has won dozens of awards since it debuted as a series, including 24 Emmy Awards, 26 Annie Awards, and a Peabody Award. Time magazine's December 31, 1999 issue named it the twentieth century's best television series, and on January 14, 2000 it was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom, the longest-running American animated program and the longest-running American prime-time television series. Homer's annoyed grunt "D'oh!" has been adopted into the English lexicon, while The Simpsons has influenced many adult-oriented animated sitcoms.
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James L. Brooks has a cameo role in the fourteenth season episode, "A Star Is Born-Again". Brooks started his own production company Gracie Films in 1984, which produced The Tracey Ullman Show and The Simpsons.
Character quote
| “ | Well, you know how it is with cops. I'll be shot three days before retirement. In the business, we call it retirony. | ” |
Main Topics
Alf Clausen • Awards • Bart Simpson • Cast members • Chalkboard gag • Characters • Couch gag • Dan Castellaneta • Danny Elfman • Discography • D'oh! • DVDs • DVD boxsets • Episodes • Guest stars • Hank Azaria • Harry Shearer • History • Homer Simpson • James L. Brooks • Julie Kavner • Lisa Simpson • Maggie • Marge • Matt Groening • Mr. Burns • Nancy Cartwright • Opening sequence • Publications • Politics • Recurring jokes • Religion • Simpson family • Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire • The Simpsons Movie • The Simpsons shorts • The Simpsons Theme • Some Enchanted Evening • Springfield • The Tracey Ullman Show • Treehouse of Horror • Video games • Writers • Yeardley Smith
WikiProjects
Selected episode
"Treehouse of Horror VII" is the first episode of The Simpsons' eighth season and originally aired October 27, 1996. In the seventh annual Treehouse of Horror episode, Bart discovers his long-lost twin, Lisa grows a colony of small beings and Kang & Kodos take over the bodies of Bill Clinton and Bob Dole in order to win the 1996 Presidential election. It was written by Ken Keeler, Dan Greaney & David S. Cohen and directed by Mike B. Anderson. Phil Hartman provided the voice of Clinton.
Did you know...
- ...that the book The Psychology of The Simpsons uses this TV series to analyze topics in psychology including clinical psychology, cognition and Pavlovian conditioning?
- ...that when Dan Castellaneta was trying a voice for Groundskeeper Willie, he tried using a Spanish voice, and a "big dumb Swede" before using the voice of an angry Scotsman?
- ...that in 1992 Tracey Ullman filed a lawsuit claiming that her show was the source of The Simpsons success and therefore should receive a share of the show's profit although eventually the courts ruled in favor of the network?
News
- October 7, 2011: The Simpsons are renewed for two more seasons after the cast agreed to pay cuts. This will bring the show to a total of 25 seasons.
- July 14, 2011: The Simpsons receives three nominations at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards, for the episode "Angry Dad: The Movie", voice actor Dan Castellaneta and composer Alf Clausen. Clausen's nomination means he becomes the most nominated musician in Emmy history.
- June 23, 2011: It is confirmed that the show's 23rd season will begin on September 25, 2011.
- June 21, 2011: Matt Groening is announced as a recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.