The Simpsons Just Made History!

By: Gigi 

The Simpsons a show about Homer’s family adventures has been around since 1989, yes that’s 27 years on air and this year Fox just signed the Simpsons up for season 29 and 30. This will make it the longest-running scripted TV show of all time, with a staggering 669 episodes after the 30th season. That's why it made history! This feat will mean they are taking the title form Gunsmoke a show that last 20 years and had 635 episodes!

The news was announced by Fox Television Group CEOs and chairman Dana Walden and Gary Newman as they stated that “This is yet another record-setting moment for what is truly a landmark series.”

And you might be asking yourself what make the Simpson’s so iconic? Well, here's a link of an article I wrote about three aspects that all great shows should have. The Simpsons have done extremely well in ensuring they have great imagery with that bright yellow color, relatable characters: don't we all have a messed up family, and lastly they a well written script! 

However, the Simpsons have other elements that aspiring media students should pay attention to, particularly these two: 

1. The ability to catch to attract new younger viewers whilst keeping the growing adult ones. 

The Simpsons writers have always used a technique of slapstick satire to get their points across. The use of this devise has meant that kids laugh at the slapstick whilst adults laugh at the satire. The ability to understand this fusion has meant that as reported by Fox Television the Simpsons have an audience of 7.2 million and has “won 32 Emmys, 34 Annie Awards, a 2016 People’s Choice Award, a 2016 Environmental Media Award, was the first animated series to win a Peabody Award and nabbed an Academy Award nomination in 2012.” Now that’s what you get for being catchy!

2. Be relevant! 

The Simpsons have also made headlines in the past  couple of weeks by being able to predict the  presidency of Donald Trump. This hasn’t been the  first time the Simpsons have made predictions that  have come true. However, what we learn from the  writers of the Simpsons the ability to comment  about current affairs and the state of America and the world. One might say that the writers where  seeing the state of chaos erupting in America and weren’t afraid to make fun of it. Thus, they still  stand the test of time.  

So as you watch another episode of great TV take the time to see these elements and maybe some of your own and tell us about them.

Work Cited:

News, ABC. "How 'The Simpsons' Has Stayed on Top." ABC News. ABC News Network, 08 Mar. 1970. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.

Wagmeister, Elizabeth. "The Simpsons; Makes TV History, Renewed for Record-Breaking 29th and 30th Seasons." Variety. Variety, 04 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.