Happy 500th, Homer

I'll admit it -- I'm more of a South Park fan.

But when it comes to cultural milestones, there's no denying that The Simpsons are in a class by themselves.

Created by Matt Groening, The Simpsons originally ran as a series of animated shorts as part of Fox Network's The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987. Two years later, The Simpsons was adapted into a half-hour animated series, which first aired as a Christmas special on December 17 (entitled "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"). It's been airing on Fox ever since -- going on to become America's longest-running sitcom, animated or otherwise.

The show remains enormously popular (despite some fans debating whether or not the show "jumped the shark" ten seasons ago), and still performs consistently well in the ratings. A movie was released in 2007 -- and this Sunday at 8:00 PM, the show airs its 500th episode.

It's an impressive milestone, to say the least. But its cultural impact might be even more noteworthy. Upon first airing, the show was the first successful primetime, not-just-for-kids animated series to air in over a decade -- making it possible for other animated primetime shows, like my beloved South Park, to follow. (South Park appears to be aware of this, paying wry but affectionate homage to the show in their fifth season episode "Simpsons Already Did It.") Merchandising for the show is a billion-dollar enterprise. And Homer Simpson's famous catchphrase "D'oh!" even appears in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Detractors of the last few seasons will say that the show has gone so far into satire it's become a parody of itself. But fans will tell you the show has only changed its direction -- not lost its heart.

So, to celebrate America's animated family, take a gander at some interviews, trivia, and one very impressive video -- all while you're waiting to catch the 500th episode this Sunday night!

A few Simpsons articles:

- "The Simpsons Turn 500" (the Sydney Morning Herald): Discusses the 500th episode (with guest star Julian Assange), the 2007 movie, and how long the staff really expected to be on the air. Features a video interview with creator Matt Groening.

- Most Episodes Ever? "'Simpsons' to Air No. 500" (the Chicago Sun-Times): Heralds the show as one of only three prime-time series to ever hit the "500" mark, with production staff discussing their theories on the reason for the show's longevity and sharing their favorite episodes.

- At 500 Episodes, How Does "The Simpsons" Say Something New? (The Atlantic): For an academic perspective, take a look at this reflection on the history, politics, and the effects of the show on our own pop culture.

- As "The Simpsons" Approaches 500 Episodes, We Pick a Baker's Dozen Favorite Moments (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette): Lots of articles are being written about the top episodes and moments from The Simpsons' 23-season history. Here's the article closest to home!

- Minor Characters Still Have Stories to Tell on 'Simpsons' (South Bend Tribute): What may be in store in future episodes for the animated family. Features a great interview with Groening.

Has The Simpsons jumped the shark? The experts weigh in:

- The Simpsons Jumped the Shark a Decade Ago (The Guardian): Written in 2007 shortly after The Simpson's 400th episode, the writer accuses the show of having hit its high note over a decade ago.

- 'The Simpsons' 500th Episode: Celebrate an Old Friend (Huffington Post): Loyalty to the Simpsons can be like visiting at a family reunion, in one writer's opinion.

- 'THE SIMPSONS': D'oh! 7 Good Reasons Why You Should Be (Still) Watching (The Washington Post): Using one of my all-time favorite episodes as an example, this writer makes the case that The Simpsons is as sharp as ever this season.


Some of my favorite Simpsons sites:

- Bart Simpson's Chalkboard Quotes: Every episode opens with, of course, The Simpsons' famous theme song, which features a shot of Bart writing lines on the classroom blackboard. A running joke is that what Bart's writing changes every time. See this list for some of the most classic quotes.

- The Simpsons on Hulu: Watch the latest episodes -- or nearly three hundred classic scene clips -- for free on Hulu's website.

- "The Simpsons Are Going to ..." Every Destination, Over 500 Episodes: Take a peek at Slate's phenomenal map showcasing everywhere the Simpsons family has traveled over 23 seasons!


And watch a brilliant interpretation of the Simpsons' theme song -- done with real-life actors:






Come Home To The Simpsons from devilfish on Vimeo.



-- Post by Ms. B