One of the hallmarks of a successful TV series is of how long it has been on the air. However, there are many which have been running for an exceptionally long time. Shows such as Law & Order and Gunsmoke have been running for around 20 seasons, however, there is one show which dwarfs these stats and stands at the top on its own. With around 30 seasons and counting, this show is none other than the Simpsons.
The Simpsons
Beginning in 1989, the Simpsons was created by Matt Groening, hailing from the Fox Broadcasting Company. Since the first air date on December 17, 1989, the Simpsons is 641 episodes long, with the first 10 ten seasons receiving critical acclaim.
Setting
The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield, which to this day, has never been allocated a US state, however, some have pointed out clues alluding to it being located in the state of Oregon. The geography of Springfield consists of deserts, coastlines, farmlands, mountains and much more, according to the episode’s storyline.
Story
The story of the show follows the main character, Homer Simpson, who works in a nuclear plant. He strives to lead his family through working-class life, however, he struggles in this endeavor, given that they seldom listen to him. He also deals with certain situations which are routinely encountered by the average man, however, the show gives a satirical twist on these scenarios. The show makes use of a floating timeline’, meaning that episodes occur in the year of production, however, the characters in the series do not age.
Main Characters
The main character and star of the show are Homer Simpson (voiced by Dan Castellaneta). Homer is depicted as an average, working-class father, who shows a lack of intelligence, laziness and explosive bouts of anger. His wife, Marge Simpson, is an average housewife and mother, who usually deals with everyday situations with calmness and wisdom, however, at times her workload and stress can lead her to act irrationally.
Homer and Marge are parents to three children: Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson. Bart is a rebellious, mischievous and gong-ho child, who likes to show his disdain for authority. Despite this, he remains very popular at school with his classmates, which is probably down to his over-enthusiastic nature. Lisa is depicted as a very clever and studious child, who has idealistic ideas and shows great wisdom in many a situation. Finally, Maggie is a normal baby, who at times throws a spanner in the works of many characters throughout the show.
Awards
The Simpsons are the holder of numerous awards and accolades. These include a staggering 31 Primetime Emmy Awards and 30 Annie Awards. In 1999, the Time magazine gave the Simpsons the exemplary title of being the greatest TV show of the century. Similarly, TV Guide named the show as the greatest cartoon ever.
The Simpsons popularity is worldwide. In fact, it is probably a rarity to find anyone who hasn’t heard of the Simpsons, given that it has been running for almost 30 years.