history simpsons simpsons american animated television sitcom starring animated simpson family created conceived characters lobby office named family members family debuted shorts april season run sketch developed half hour prime time called simpsons debuted december early hit fox fox series land ratings season controversial beginning news times early seasons parents conservatives characterized poor role model children united_states public schools banned simpsons merchandise shirts january president speech election campaign said going trying strengthen american family american families lot like lot like simpsons nearly sued rio tourist board creating image city feature length film released theaters worldwide july july previous attempts create film version simpsons failed lack script appropriate length production crew members eventually producers brooks began development film conceived numerous plot ideas developed film script written times creativity continued animation begun film box office success received overwhelmingly positive reviews simpsons eventually longest running american sitcom longest running american animated program surpassed longest running american primetime scripted television series debut december broadcast episodes 27th season started airing september shorts producer working television variety fox network decided wanted include small animated sketches commercial breaks having seen cartoonist life hell comic strips brooks asked pitch idea series animated shorts initially intended present life hell series later realized life hell require publication rights life work passed offer contacted characters willing let fox merchandise short developed dysfunctional family simpsons contends created characters home brought day claims characters drive fox account states formulated simpsons waiting lobby brooks office pitch meeting common famous story named characters family members adapting word fox negotiated deal prove extremely lucrative retained large portion revenue merchandising short segments brooks company settled small animation house offered produce cartoons cheap brooks initially wanted shorts basic line drawings offered color cost studio employed young animators graduates adapted scripts animation week animation hand short time submitted basic sketches assumed figures cleaned production animators merely traced drawings led crude appearance characters initial short episodes person decided characters yellow appearing initially alongside cartoons simpson family appeared short subjects april featured seasons actors voiced characters later reprise roles simpsons performed voices homer voice shorts loose impression robust humorous half hour allowing homer cover fuller range emotions performed voices respectively crew began string clips tape play live audience simpsons generated biggest laughs according author simpsons unauthorized history writing staff soon began view simpsons poor relations popularity brooks began consider adapting shorts half hour series brooks decision partly inspired approached christmas party suggested idea emphasizing primetime series mean animation industry brooks simon years team production companies adapted simpsons half hour series team included animation house increased workload length episodes production south korean animation studio character background layout domestic studio coloring filming overseas studio simpsons developed brooks writer producer brooks worked previous projects said goal offer audience alternative called mainstream trash brooks negotiated provision contract fox network prevented fox interfering content fox network unsure sustain audience attention duration episode proposed seven minute shorts episode specials audience adjusted end producers asking fox length episodes simon assembled led initial team writers credited developing sensibility writer says brought level honesty characters dimensional adding simon comedy character string gags simon saw simpsons chance solve like saturday morning cartoon shows wanted actors room instead reading lines separated addition smith actors hank added cast developed lengthy opening sequence order cut animation necessary episode devised gags compensation repeated material week gag camera seen writing message message changes episode episode known gag gag known couch gag twist events occur family meets sit couch watch television paid attention television childhood unaware title sequences length uncommon time theme plays sequence composed approached requesting retro style theme piece took days create noted popular career half hour series premiered december simpsons open fire series originally set debut fall episode enchanted evening producers discovered animation percent episode needed redone time choices animation style usually follow style disney producers wanted realistic environment characters objects possible real world considered series episode genius turned bad suffered easily problems debut moved december simpsons open fire episode series episodes season characters act completely differently later seasons lisa example short tempered homer voice reason roles reversed later episodes second season simpsons aired halloween special called horror annual series typically consist parts opening halloween themed version credits followed segments segments usually horror science fiction supernatural theme parodies films novels plays television shows episodes old issues attraction writers able break rules include violence regular episode cases writers idea violent far short normal episode segment seasonal special horror episode time alternate version theme airs end credits criticism conservatives controversial beginning rebellious lead character time frequently received punishment led parents conservatives characterize poor role model children public schools banned simpsons merchandise shirts featuring proud man season opening episode gets fails consecutive history exams school psychiatrist recommends repeat fourth grade critics thought episode gets response controversies brooks denied response added think important badly school students like wary television everybody supposed role model don run role models real life television october edition people lady called simpsons thing seen led writers sending letter bush posed bush immediately sent reply apologized years later january president united_states speech election campaign said going trying strengthen american family american families lot like lot like simpsons writers decided wanted respond adding response broadcast simpsons january broadcast included new tongue cheek opening watch bush speech replies hey like praying end depression criticism eventually led idea episode bad neighbors george barbara house street simpsons competing simpsons season fox network series rank season highest rated shows success fox network decided switch simpsons hopes result higher ratings lead shows sunday night time thursday compete number time producers simpsons airing sunday felt destroy ratings gets episode air averaged nielsen rating audience weeks ratings finished tied eighth rating estimated million viewers watched episode making number terms actual viewers week time watched episode history ratings wise new episodes beat simpsons time second season simpsons eventually fell end season averaged fifth highest rated television simpsons ranked 38th season episode homer bat simpsons beat ratings remained thursday timeslot sixth season moved original timeslot sundays music release founder idea record album simpsons sing blues based simpsons released time christmas writers wrote humorous lyrics actors perform blues hip hop album faced great publicity release particular element highly publicized michael_jackson involvement denied time album release early published reports attributed jackson composer denied press release revealed actually written produced jackson receive credit contract record label jackson fan simpsons especially called producers night offering write number single guest spot came jackson eventually guest starred episode dad album simpsons sing blues peaked billboard making highest charting simpsons album february record certified triple platinum recording_industry_association_of_america sales million copies producers followed album yellow album featured original recordings prince music factory cast simpsons soundtrack albums songs key springfield simpsons simpsons movie music simpsons testify released jean years initially worked simon relationship contentious according according book simpsons unauthorized history simon resented media attention received particularly praise writing simon felt involvement limited receiving credit simon odds brooks production company left leaving negotiated deal saw receive share profits year executive producer credit despite having worked written simpsons start took season compared executive producer showrunner position involved acts head writer manages production entire season turnover staff simpsons moved production animation season fourth season episode named produced musical episode contains controversial song new_orleans describes city home pirates things writer episode meant song parody opening number demon barber fleet street speaks london terms new_orleans critic viewed named published song lyrics newspaper episode aired readers took lyrics context fox affiliate received complaints day episode aired local radio stations held air protests response song simpsons producers rushed gag homer aired week named read new_orleans filed lawsuit claiming source simpsons success receive share profit breast fed little said simpsons wanted share simpsons merchandising gross profits believed entitled million fox estimated million fox network paid royalties simpsons million seasons air eventually courts ruled favor network years original writers worked simpsons season left following completion season took showrunner executive producer fifth sixth season simpsons unauthorized history describes outsider unlike bulk writing staff harvard_university graduate writing staff initially divided abilities leader conducted writing sessions room splitting writers groups worked late night writer praised leadership comedy style saying shows great contrast account interview stated wasn join writing crew worked written fellow writers previously said brought story oriented approach increased character emotion focus time keeping surreal weird tenure moved focus homer developed secondary characters strongly opposed censorship network interference era style humor popular fans writing staff divided style humor saw away realistic emotional character based stories pure comedy surreal humor episode deep space homer controversial episode production writers felt having homer space large idea felt idea big gave writers writing staff wanted episode simpsons family traveled australia previously fun american institutions thought interesting fun nation designed australia australian people things completely fun episode australia received mixed reception australia australian fans saying episode country shortly aired simpsons staff received letters australians insulted episode claimed episode australia favorite simpsons visit country country gets furious including australia claimed condemned australian parliament episode aired jean left produce series critic simpsons creator brooks critic short lived animated series revolved life movie critic second season critic brooks cut deal fox network series switch episode star burns pitched brooks wanted crossover help launch critic fox thought having film festival springfield good way introduce addition jean returned produce episodes star burns round springfield staff critic relieve stress simpsons writing staff felt crossover thirty minute advertisement blamed brooks calling attempt attention unsuccessful shows unsuccessful attempts episode pulled decided public concerns shortly episode aired removed credits response brooks said years jean mike guys worked hearts staying morning right point matt mike scripts taken plenty credit lot great work fact direct work critic shot giving support conceived idea episode character burns shot publicity stunt writers decided write episode shot burns parts mystery contest final episode sixth season originally aired fox network premiere seventh season originally aired september important writers design mystery clues took advantage freeze frame technology structured character obvious culprit months following broadcast widespread debate fans series shot burns fox offered contest tie mystery viewers guess culprit ran august september contests tie elements television internet fox launched new website devoted mystery got hits summer winner animated episode animated officially right answer chosen winner right answer paid cash prize lieu animated years season suggested took remained advisory capacity helping technical aspects editing sound mixing attending scripts table readings wanted produce episodes episodes bob format bending episodes short films springfield aimed episodes season pushed envelope expanded definition episode season featured episodes focus given secondary characters new issues divorce explored preferred choice guest stars unique interesting voices guest stars old men distinctive voices goal episodes realistic focus members simpson family explore feelings emotions considered season single greatest comedic season television produced attempted recreate feel season focusing stories real emotions situations wall episodes season basis homer liked homer way second seasons consciously model loving hyper enthusiastic creatively goofy parody american father drawn real emotions script supervisor voice character died december episode team homer aired days later episodes feature voice featured dedication season season eighteen appeared background character returned speaking character episodes chef wife homer voiced episode featured permanent character development lisa vegetarian story pitched producers felt way paul_mccartney guest star agreed condition lisa stay vegetarian revert trait stayed permanent character changes season episode little faith lisa underwent permanent character change converted buddhism february simpsons surpassed episode longest running prime time animated series united_states producers took milestone episode deal issue longevity problems arise producers try fresh themes commonly known jumping shark alan_sepinwall star-ledger review printed days episode originally aired praised writers airing special episode celebrate milestone overtaking noted episode self aware best jokes shame scully years stood season didn want break took showrunner showrunner executive producer scully said aim wreck scully popular staff members praised organization management skills writer said possibly best boss worked great manager people writer commented scully important kept decent hours scully noted wrote lot lisa shows daughters like lisa lot like homer homer comes naturally don know good bad thing lot favorite episodes ones homer lisa conflict human think appeal despite scully tenure showrunner simpsons subject criticism fans wrote scully episodes compared simpsons airs man helm ship turned bbc noted common consensus simpsons golden era ended season slate argued simpsons changed realistic family life typical cartoon scully years simpsons scully negatively labelled gag heavy homer centric incarnation fans transformation homer character era sweet sincere self dubbing homer martin said understand criticism scully thinks criticism bothered scully managed worked noted book hard tell decline scully fault blaming single showrunner lowering quality unfair defended season criticism wrote review comparing tenth season simpsons episodes prime series unfair kind self defeating yeah laughed hard couple years ago nonsense fact tenth season simpsons funnier best years popmatters commented review declined quality episodes charm fact laugh loud funny smart voice actor shot killed wife slept los_angeles home wife committed suicide hours later weeks following death celebrated wave tributes entertainment_weekly opined person expect read headlines morning paper decidedly regular guy beloved worked death replace new voice actor production staff retired appeared season episode mother dedicated season episode thirty minutes tokyo family travels japan episode references aspects japanese american culture differences wrestling match homer encounter japanese emperor homer throws trunk homer jail enact play seven flower arranging meditation episode references japanese adaption american culture episodes simpsons dubbed broadcast japanese television thirty minutes tokyo aired japan scene shows homer throw emperor japan box filled considered labor difficulties production season main voice actors paid episode salary dispute arose actors threatening strike fox went far preparing casting new voices agreement soon salaries raised episode expressed sympathy actors issue salary dispute settled told magazine cast members incredibly talented deserve chance rich miserable hollywood change writers signatories writers animation belong guild simpsons animated shows fox different scully commented expected big fight studio continued conceded prime time animation successful voice actress left simpsons spring pay dispute fox network originally reported decided quit tired flying denver los_angeles recording sessions announced asked raise tired traveling increasing cost flight tickets paid episode seasons left asked fox raise episode fox offered raise cover travel costs decided quit result departure flanders character killed episode voice actress hired fill characters returned simpsons season premiere fourteenth season reached deal fox record lines denver home dispute ended return jean jean returned time simpsons tenth season showrunner start thirteenth season time jean said hardest thing point thinking fresh ideas people things challenge think idea good hasn seen april interview new_york_times jean stated wanted family return welcomed stating jean guided away gag heavy homer centric incarnation certainly brighter days long time fans noted personal stories homer nonsense gave way softer episodes focusing lisa season episode blame lisa simpsons visit rio_de_janeiro brazil week following episode original broadcast faced intense controversy involving country brazil specifically board claimed city portrayed having rampant street crime rat tourist board asserted went far undermined advertising campaign attract visitors city president brazil stated episode brought distorted vision brazilian reality april preparing sue producers fox damage international image loss revenue issue threatened diplomatic incident knowledge impending lawsuit producers contacted fox lawyers informed city technically sue response executive producer brooks apologized stating apologize lovely city people rio_de_janeiro jean commented biggest controversies history season production switched traditional animation digital ink paint episode experiment digital coloring radioactive man animators digital ink paint production season episode tennis menace delayed regular use digital ink paint seasons later completed tennis menace broadcast revenue continued rise syndication dvd sales main cast stopped appearing script readings april work occurred weeks unsuccessful negotiations fox cast asked increase pay episode million episode season strike resolved month later salary raised episode season featured major character developments inception reported long time advance airing episode marrying major character come gay episode san diego comic con international convention july revealed raise money springfield gay marriage homer minister going internet filling form long time character comes closet saying led media speculation publicity press episode fans correctly homer sisters law believed film 20th produced animated simpsons film released july production staff simpsons entertained thought film early series production came felt feature length film allow increase scale sequences complex series film directed written team simpsons writers comprising brooks jean scully work continued screenplay onwards cease taking place small pitched simpsons read town rid pig water supply inspired plot film wanted film dramatically stronger episode wanna haven seen production film occurred alongside continued writing series despite long time claims involved film enter production series concluded winning fox usa today competition springfield vermont hosted film world premiere grossed combined total million opening weekend taking box office set record highest grossing opening weekend film based television series surpassing mission impossible opened international box office taking million seventy overseas territories including million united_kingdom making fox second highest opening country australia grossed million biggest opening animated film largest opening weekend country november film worldwide gross film garnered approval rating rotten_tomatoes total reviews determined positive received rating signifying generally favorable reviews metacritic reviews post movie seasons present jean continued showrunner movie critics argued quality declined jean tenure administrator website said interview cohesive trying jokes instead story let jokes come adds think characters argues online debate issue simpsons come rely homer tired meaningless guest stars writers content jokes non self consciously silly plot twists jean responded criticism saying possible declined honestly time remember season people saying gone downhill listened stopped episode glad didn writers simpsons went strike end broadcasting simpsons affected strike takes long time produce episode animated episodes written year advance strike run new episodes production season delayed contract negotiations main voice actors dispute resolved actors salary raised episode delay production caused planned episodes shortened 20th anniversary run length record celebrate 20th anniversary premiere simpsons fox announced year long celebration titled best years ran january january academy award nominated documentary filmmaker best documentary feature super size fan simpsons college days asked direct special simpsons 20th anniversary special ice february believes reason producers called begin glad hand pat special people kept air years important shown january alongside time springfield promoted episode series episode million dollar maybe featured new character created winner best character contest fans submit ideas new possibly recurring simpsons character entries sent winner contest orange connecticut created character described women love men want like jean judges contest described thank loyal fans noted possibility character appear change air simpsons high definition television episode life february new broadcasting system came new opening sequence major permanent change introduction beginning second season previous changes included variations duration intro new intro includes animation camera springfield commemorate twentieth anniversary unveiled series cent stamps featuring lisa stamps designed available purchase approximately billion stamps printed simpsons television series production receive recognition entering 21st season late beat record longest running american primetime scripted television series cancellation threat october 20th century released statement saying seasons simpsons creatively vibrant beloved millions world believe brilliant series continue produce future seasons current financial model hopeful reach agreement voice cast allows simpsons entertaining audiences original episodes years come problems simpsons possibly worth cancelled air year old syndication deal local stations prohibits fox selling cable networks long simpsons produces new episodes fox break deal mean time cable networks grown big market local stations consideration fox parent company having meetings discussing possibility cable channel air simpsons episodes analyst considers cancellation subsequent second run deal includes cable networks worth million issue jean commented interview guide big company definitely people interests better served ending interests superseded valuable network terms ratings negotiations studio requested cast members accept percent cut salaries seasons produced season season series actors willing pay cut wanted percentage end payments instead point offered percent pay cut exchange end studio unwilling deal involving end end studio actors reached deal actors pay cut percent episode 25th season voice actors everybody involved took pay cut included animators writers post production crew jean use digital animation saves money animation efficient purchased exclusive american cable rights series airing august available demand simpsons world website website 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