On Dec. 17, 1989, “The Simpsons” debuted with its premiere episode, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” and TV has never been the same.
“‘The Simpsons’ has shattered so many television records, I’m surprised we’re still counting them,” said Detroit-based College for Creative Studies alumnus Bill Morrison, who was creative director of the now-defunct Bongo Comics, which published “The Simpsons” comic books.
“The Simpsons” is the longest-running sitcom and the longest-running animated series. In 2009, it surpassed “Gunsmoke” as the longest-running, primetime scripted series. In 1999, Time Magazine named it the 20th century’s best television series. In 2008, it ranked No. 1 on Entertainment Weekly’s “Top 100 Shows of the Past 25 Years” list and Empire Magazine called it “the greatest TV show of all time.” In 2017, TV Guide named it the No. 1 animated series.
The show has won numerous awards and even spawned 2007’s “The Simpsons Movie,” which grossed more than $527 million worldwide. On Nov. 24, “The Simpsons” aired its milestone 775th episode.
“They’ll never stop ‘The Simpsons’” said longtime executive producer and part-time showrunner Al Jean, a 10-time Emmy winner and Harvard alumnus who is a Farmington Hills native and now lives with his wife and fellow “Simpsons” writer Stephanie Gillis and their two daughters in Los Angeles.
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of “The Simpsons,” a special anniversary Christmas episode will air on Tuesday, Dec. 17, called “O C’mon All Ye Faithful.” This back-to-back two-parter written by four-time Emmy winner Carolyn Omine will air exclusively on Disney+.
The guest stars include a cappella group Pentatonix, singer Patti LaBelle and mentalist/illusionist Derren Brown. Brown hypnotizes Homer (Dan Castellaneta) to boost his spirits, but it backfires and he believes he’s someone else.
“We thought doing an episode this special and great would be a terrific way to mark the anniversary,” Jean said. “In this year’s Christmas episode, Homer is convinced that he is Santa Claus and the town of Springfield is better for it.”
Created by Matt Groening, “The Simpsons” debuted as animated shorts in 1987 on “The Tracey Ullman Show” before proving to be popular enough to spin off into their own eponymous series in 1989. The show chronicles the misadventures of the titular family: doughnut-eating and beer-loving goofball Homer, his put-upon yet supportive wife Marge (Julie Kavner), hellion son Bart (Nancy Cartwright), uber-genius daughter Lisa (Yeardley Smith), baby Maggie (who can’t speak but was once voiced by the late Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor), and the rest of the cast of colorful characters residing in Springfield, USA.
“The Simpsons” opened up the door for other adult-oriented animated TV series, such as “Beavis and Butt-Head,” “South Park,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Family Guy,” “The Ren & Stimpy Show” and “Grimsburg.”
“I feel we all owe a lot to ‘The Simpsons.’ I wholeheartedly admit to that. Without that show, what is any animated show? They really set the way that you can make funny shows for adults and families. We owe everything to them,” said “Grimsburg” executive producer Chadd Gindin at the New York Comic Con (NYCC) in October.
Emmy winner Jon Hamm of “Mad Man” fame, who voices Marvin Flute on “Grimsburg,” agreed.
“I think everything at this point owes its existence to ‘The Simpsons,’” Hamm said.
Added “Saturday Night Live” alumna Rachel Dratch, who voices Stan on “Grimsburg”: “May I have the career of Nancy Cartwright?”
Numerous celebrities have guest-starred on the show over the years, including Grosse Pointe native J.K. Simmons. Simmons — who won an Oscar for “Whiplash” and appeared as tyrannical newspaper publisher J. Jonah Jameson in Royal Oak native/director Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” trilogy — lent his voice to “The Simpsons” five times. He found the writing clever and always fun.
“Thirty-five years? Not possible! That’s half my life,” quipped Simmons. “It was high on my bucket list to ‘appear’ on ‘The Simpsons,’ and I finally had a chance in 2006 voicing a very thinly-veiled J. Jonah Jameson type, the editor of a poetry journal. Recording and ultimately seeing the episode was a dream come true, and it featured, along with my illustrious self, one of my favorite lines of the series, when Lisa tells Moe that his ‘beat poetry’ is reminiscent of T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land’ to which Moe – the multi-voiced genius Hank Azaria – replies, ‘‘What-which-why Eliot’s the WHO now?’”
Groening — who appeared with Omine, Azaria, primary showrunner/executive producer Matt Selman, and writer/co-executive producer Tim Long at NYCC — spoke about the very first episode of “The Simpsons,” stating it wasn’t supposed to be the first episode.
“The first episode was supposed to be the babysitter bandit episode,” said Groening, referring to “Some Enchanted Evening,” the first season finale. “But the animation was so horrendous.”
That said, around 13.4 million people watched “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” when it initially aired. It was nominated for two Emmys and received positive reviews from critics. The show subsequently became a pop culture juggernaut, becoming a household name and spawning all kinds of merchandise.
“Matt Groening is a genius, (who’s) still heavily involved with the show. … He’s an amazing guy,” Jean said. “Matt Selman is a terrific, hardworking writer/executive producer who excels at all aspects of the show.”
Both Morrison and Jean spoke about the show’s staying power.
“I meet a lot of adults at comic conventions who tell me how they grew up with ‘The Simpsons,’” Morrison said. “Most of them have their kids with them and they talk about the fun of introducing their children to the show and how their sons and daughters are now bingeing it. ‘The Simpsons,’ often referred to as ‘America’s Favorite Family,’ has become a family tradition. Today you can go on Disney+ and stream any episode at any time of day or night. So parents who have a nostalgic connection to the characters can conveniently watch the show with their kids and have a shared experience. I don’t think this is the only reason for the staying power of the show, but I do believe it’s a big one.”
Added Jean: “Animated shows last longer because the characters never change, but that’s just part of it. ‘The Simpsons’ universe created by (Groening, James L. Brooks, and the late Sam Simon) is so vast and the people who work on the show have such high standards. I have no idea when it might end.”
Jean responded to the naysayers who have bashed “The Simpsons,” accusing the show of not being funny anymore.
“People have been saying the show is not what it was since Season One Episode Six,” Jean said. “I’m glad we never let that stop us from moving forward.”
Jean was part of the original writing staff when “The Simpsons” debuted in 1989. He was the showrunner from 1991-93 before returning to “The Simpsons” as a writer for Season 10 in 1998. He became executive producer and showrunner again from Seasons 13-32. As of 2020, Jean became the part-time showrunner with Selman replacing him as the primary showrunner. To be around for the show’s 35th anniversary is a full circle moment for Jean.
“There’s no luckier feeling than having the greatest job in the world for 35 years,” Jean said. “Keep watching. The best is yet to come.”
A different voice
Not only was the Nov. 24 episode of “The Simpsons” its milestone 775th episode, it also marked voice actress Pamela Hayden’s final episode.
Hayden — who voiced Milhouse Van Houten, Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Sarah Wiggum and Malibu Stacy, among other characters — retired from the show, which she’s been part of since its debut 35 years ago.
“It’s been an honor and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show,” Hayden said in a statement.
Jean spoke fondly of Hayden.
“Pamela was hilarious and a pleasure to work with from day one,” he said. “She and her husband Buddy (Farmer) have always been wonderful to me and my family. We wish her the very best going forward and she’ll be profoundly missed.”
Jean addressed what will happen to Milhouse.
“Milhouse will be recast,” he said. “He’s not going anywhere.”
If you watch
The 35th-anniversary two-part episode of “The Simpsons,” called “O C’mon All Ye Faithful,” will stream Tuesday, Dec. 17, exclusively on Disney+. The regular time slot for “The Simpsons” is 8 p.m. ET Sundays on FOX.
