On this day in 1989, The Simpsons made their full-time TV debut. The Simpsons first appeared in short skits on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987. Three years later, the family held its own against the most popular shows on television. Matt Groening created The Simpsons. Best known for his cartoon strip, “Life is Hell,” his Simpson family penetrated minds the world over with their screwball approach to life during the past 19 years.
The Simpsons has garnered its fair share of complaints over the years, coming from as high up as President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, yet the show has cemented its place in the pantheon of television immortals. The show is currently in its 20th season and is the longest running American sitcom on television, the longest running American animated program, and is tied with Gunsmoke as the longest running primetime television series.
The Simpsons airs on FOX, and you can watch full episodes at the Web site.
