Introduction: The Simpsons, Satire, and American Culture

Abstract

In February 2012, Fox Television a ired the five hundredth episode of The Simpsons, marking yet another unprecedented milestone in the history of animation and situation comedy. Such longevity is assuredly a testament to the commercial success of a show often dismissed as a mere “cartoon,” but it is also a reminder of how incredibly popular The Simpsons has been and continues to be with audiences, both in the United States and around the world. Since its premiere in 1989, The Simpsons has captivated viewers, earning both popularity and notoriety as well as both high praise and fierce criticism. The inaugural episode, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” (also known as “The Simpsons Christmas Special”), aired on December 17, 1989, and earned the fledgling Fox network an impressive 26.7 million viewers—a remarkable fact considering that Fox then reached only approximately 85 percent of American households.2 The Simpsons was officially launched as a television series on January 14, 1990, with the airing of “Bart the Genius,” which earned Fox an equally respectable 24.5 million viewers.3 Less than a year after its premiere, The Simpsons was, as Harry Waters aptly described it, “a breakaway ratings hit, industry trendsetter, cultural template, and a viewing experience verging on the religious for its most fanatical followers.”4 During its heyday in the early 1990s, The Simpsons second season in October that year, The Simpsons was among the top three shows ten times—and throughout the decade, it periodically ranked within the top 25.5