Origins
The Simpson Family originally appeared, crudely drawn, in a Life in Hell cartoon. They first appeared in animated form as shorts on the Tracey Ullman show, the first short Good Night airing on April 19, 1987. The Simpsons was converted, by a team of production companies that included what is now the Klasky-Csupo animation house, into a series for the Fox Network in 1989, and has run as a weekly show on that network ever since. Set in the fictional US town of Springfield and highly satirical of many facets of the stereotypical American way of life (including beer, fast food, television, and organized religion), The Simpsons was a massive hit, generating a huge popular following, and criticism from then-US President George H. W. Bush. In September of 1990, Barbara Bush said in an interview for People magazine that The Simpsons was the dumbest thing she'd ever seen. The writers also showed a love for cameo appearances by celebrities and extended pastiches of contemporary and classic movies, as well as subtle visual jokes showing a high regard for the sophistication of the audience.
Characters and Plot
The show's basic premise centers around the antics of the Simpsons family, which consists of Homer and Marge Simpson, and their three children, Bart, Lisa and Maggie (in order of age). Homer is a safety inspector at the Springfield Nuclear Powerplant and a generally well-meaning buffoon whose short attention span is often drawn to outrageous schemes and adventures. Marge is an intelligent and sophisticated- if not somewhat overzealous- housewife. Bart is a trouble-maker and classroom terror, while Lisa is a brainy student and jazz music fan who dreams of a better future.
The show also has a vast array of quirky supporting characters, many of whom are even more popular among fans than the five main characters.
The plots of most episodes focus on the adventures of one particular family member, frequently Homer . However the plots have never been very predictable or constant and tend to be very character-driven. Reccuring themes in episodes include:
- Homer attempting to make money in a get-rich-quick scheme.
- Marge attempting to move out of the home and find employment.
- Bart causing a large problem and attempting to fix it.
- Lisa embracing or advocating the merits of a particular political cause or group.
- The entire family going on vacation