Fan mail address
The Simpsons
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90213
USA
Address information
(Post Office Box)
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90213
USA
The Simpsons is a groundbreaking American animated sitcom created by cartoonist Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. Debuting on December 17, 1989, it has become the longest-running American sitcom and scripted primetime television series, with a cultural impact that has reached across generations. Known for its satirical portrayal of the American family, the show centers on the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—and their lives in the fictional town of Springfield. With sharp humor and a distinct animation style, The Simpsons has won dozens of awards, including 35 Primetime Emmys, and has influenced everything from television to language and even political discourse.
The origins of The Simpsons trace back to short animated segments that appeared on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987. Groening, who had been known for his comic strip Life in Hell, was asked to create a series of shorts, resulting in rough, humorous sketches of a family named after his own, except for the character of Bart, whose name is an anagram for “brat.” These shorts became so popular that they were developed into a half-hour prime-time series. In 1989, The Simpsons debuted as a Christmas special, marking the beginning of a show that would revolutionize television.
The characters of The Simpsons are central to its lasting appeal. Homer Simpson, the dim-witted, lazy but lovable father, works at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and is known for his iconic exclamation, “D’oh!” Marge, the nurturing but long-suffering mother, manages the household with patience and resilience. Bart, the mischievous 10-year-old son, and Lisa, the intelligent, socially conscious 8-year-old daughter, balance each other as opposites. Baby Maggie, though largely silent, has become iconic in her own right. Together, they explore everyday issues such as family dynamics, school, work, politics, and society, with each character bringing a unique perspective to the show’s satire.
