The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening as a satirical parody of the middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its titular family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie.
The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield and it lampoons many aspects of the human condition, as well as American culture, society as a whole, and television itself.
The series originally premiered in the USA on Fox on 17 December, 1989.
The Simpsons originally premiered in South Africa on M-Net. It later aired on DStv's M-Net Series, Vuzu and Comedy Central channels, and on TopTV's Fox Entertainment. When Fox Entertainment became FOX in 2013 it began simulcasting in HD on DStv.
Season 25 premiered on Vuzu on Tuesday 20 May 2014, at 17h00. New episodes broadcast daily, on weekdays. There are 22 episodes in the 25th season.
Synopsis
The Simpsons is an animated comedy series revolving around one perfectly dysfunctional family, the Simpsons.
Homer (Dad), Marge (Mom), Bart (Kid #1), Lisa (Kid #2) and Maggie (Kid #2.5) live in Springfield, State Unknown, where Homer barely and incredibly holds down a job at Montgomery Burns' nuclear power plant.
Springfield consists of every kind of person imaginable, from Ned Flanders, Homer's ar-diddly-arch-nemesis, to Krusty the Clown, children's TV star and subtance abuser.
There's Mo, the suicidal bartender, and Barney, who once had a beer IV drip inserted to keep up with demand. There's Apu, the Indian shop-keeper, as well as countless other stereotypes.
Each episode usually has one or more special guest appearances by celebrities who don't mind poking fun at themselves.
The Simpsons famously debuted on The Tracey Ullman Show, way back in 1987, and was created by Matt Groening. It is currently produced by Matt, James L. Brookes, and Al Jean, who is also at the head of the writing team.
History
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.
The season 18 finale, which aired in the USA on May 20, 2007, was the show’s 400th episode, and 2007 marked the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons franchise.
The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length film, was released in theatres worldwide on July 26 and July 27, 2007, and has grossed well over $520-million worldwide to date.
The Simpsons has won dozens of awards since it debuted as a series, including 23 Emmy Awards, 26 Annie Awards and a Peabody Award.
Time magazine's December 31, 1999 issue named it the 20th 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 and the longest-running American animated program.
Homer's annoyed grunt "D'oh!" has been adopted into the English lexicon, while The Simpsons has influenced many adult-oriented animated sitcoms.
Cast and Characters
Dan Castellaneta
Homer Simpson
Abraham Simpson
Krusty the Clown
Barney Gumble
Groundskeeper Willie
Mayor Quimby
Hans Moleman
Sideshow Mel
Itchy
Kodos
Gil Gunderson
Squeaky Voiced Teen
Blue-Haired Lawyer
Rich Texan
Louie
Bill
Arnie Pie
Mr. Teeny
Yes Guy
Scott Christian
Assistant Superintendent Leopold
Rabbi Krustofski
Charlie
Gary
Santa's Little Helper
Frankie the Squealer
Julie Kavner
Marge Simpson
Patty Bouvier
Selma Bouvier
Jacqueline Bouvier
Nancy Cartwright
Bart Simpson
Nelson Muntz
Todd Flanders
Ralph Wiggum
Kearney
Database
Wendell Borton
Lewis
Yeardley Smith
Lisa Simpson
Hank Azaria
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
Moe Szyslak
Clancy Wiggum
Comic Book Guy
Lou
Carl Carlson
Dr. Nick Riviera
Snake Jailbird
Professor Frink
Kirk Van Houten
Luigi Risotto
Bumblebee Man
Captain Horatio McCallister
Superintendent Chalmers
Cletus Spuckler
Disco Stu
Duffman
Crazy Old Man
Drederick Tatum
Legs
Wiseguy
Akira
Doug
Johnny Tightlips
Harry Shearer
Montgomery Burns
Waylon Smithers
Ned Flanders
Seymour Skinner
Otto Mann
Lenny Leonard
Reverend Timothy Lovejoy
Julius Hibbert
Kent Brockman
Jasper Beardley
Eddie
Rainier Wolfcastle
Scratchy
Marty
Dr. Marvin Monroe
Kang
Herman
Dewey Largo
Judge Snyder
Sanjay Nahasapeemapetilon
Benjamin
Jebediah Springfield
God
Guest Appearances
There have been hundreds of famous people who have appeared as themselves on The Simpsons. Some of them are:
Larry King
Ringo Starr
Tom Jones
Hugh Hefner
Elizabeth Taylor
Buzz Aldrin
Alec Baldwin
Mark Hamill
Stephen Hawking
Mel Gibson
Mulder & Scully
Others have played characters in the Simpsons:
Danny De Vito - Homer's half-brother
Martin Sheen - the Real Principal Skinner
Winona Ryder - a classmate of Lisa's
Lisa Kudrow - another classmate of Lisa's
There have also been musical guest appearances by (amongst others):
Elton John
Aerosmith
Sting
Cypress Hill
The Smashing Pumpkins
U2
Red Hot Chili Peppers