"'There Is No End in Sight'...The Longest-Running US Animated Sitcom 'The Simpsons' Surpasses 800 Episodes"

From Short Animated Segments to the Longest-Running Prime-Time Series
Creator: "A Variety of Jokes and Constant Reinvention Are the Secret"

The Simpsons, the longest-running animated sitcom in the United States, has reached its 800th broadcast episode.

Citing the New York Times (NYT) and entertainment outlet Deadline, Yonhap News reported that the 800th episode of The Simpsons aired on the Fox channel at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on the 15th (local time).

Beginning in the late 1980s, The Simpsons has now continued through season 37, leaving a distinct mark on the history of American television. After a short animated segment inserted between commercials on Fox’s The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987 received a far stronger response than expected, it was picked up as a regular series in 1989. For roughly the next 30 years, it secured a prime-time slot and has maintained steady popularity.

The Simpsons, the longest-running American animated sitcom. IMDb

The series currently holds three records at once: it is the longest-running sitcom in the United States, the longest-running animated series, and the longest-running prime-time TV series.

The Simpsons revolves around the daily lives of father Homer, mother Marge, and their children Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Homer, the sole breadwinner of a family living in a two-story suburban house, is regarded as a character that reflects the lifestyle of the American middle class at the time. It is still often cited as a reference point when explaining how the American middle class has changed.

Another key factor in the show’s longevity is that, while based on a family comedy format, it sharply satirizes politics and social issues, thereby securing a broad fan base. Matt Groening, the cartoonist who created the series, explained the secret to its longevity in an interview with the NYT, saying, “There are so many different kinds of jokes in it.”

He went on to say, “If it had continued only with the gentle tone of my original concept, I don’t know if it would still be on the air today,” adding, “We keep reinventing The Simpsons and trying to keep it fresh.” On the possibility of the show ending, he drew a clear line, saying, “There is no end in sight.”

In fact, the long run of The Simpsons is expected to continue for the time being. Last year, broadcaster Fox signed an additional four-season contract for The Simpsons, and a new theatrical feature film has also been announced.