The Simpsons is an animated sitcom created by cartoonist Matt Groening and aired by the Fox Broadcasting Company. Spanning 750 episodes and more than three decades, it is the longest-running American sitcom, animated series and primetime scripted series of all time, also spawning a hit 2007 film, The Simpsons Movie, and inspiring other animated comedy for adults.

Originating as a short on the variety program The Tracey Ullman Show, the irreverent, subversive satire made the leap to a half-hour format in 1989. It focuses on the titular dysfunctional family — parents Homer and Marge and their children, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie — who live in a town called Springfield, populated by a huge ensemble of supporting characters. Lampooning everything from pop culture to consumerism to the sheer mediocrity of modern life, The Simpsons was most admired in the 1990s, during a run of iconic episodes that critics consider to be a high-water mark for television comedy of any kind.

As of 2023, the show has won 35 Emmy Awards and made a lasting impact on generations of viewers, with many references and coinages entering common vernacular, while the distinctive, yellow-skinned characters are recognized worldwide. —Miles Klee