“The Simpsons” debuted shortly earlier than Christmas in 1989, which implies anybody underneath the age of 35 has by no means identified a world with out it. “The Simpsons” wasn’t only a hit, however a cultural fulcrum level. Matt Groening’s cynical worldview, filtered by way of an animated takedown of conventional American sitcoms, got here to outline the prevailing attitudes of the nation within the Nineties. We had been over-educated, embittered by the excesses of the Reagan years, and able to see tv mutate into one thing punky and deconstructionist. “The Simpsons” was on the coronary heart of that.
After which, even because the Nineties ended, “The Simpsons” by no means dipped in high quality, turning out a full decade of invaluable TV comedy. Whereas public attitudes shifted within the early 2000s (“shock” humor and post-9/11 despair got here to outline the period), “The Simpsons” endured. The makers of the present discovered they may merely carry on working for so long as audiences had been . And audiences have remained for 782 episodes over 36 seasons. It is one of many longest-running scripted primetime reveals is American TV historical past.
Naturally, its longevity has offered “The Simpsons” with a number of notable information, all confirmed by Guinness. It is the longest-running sitcom of all time (in variety of episodes), a document it broke means again in 2009. It has boasted the most important variety of visitor stars for any scripted collection, topping out at over 700. Producer James L. Brooks (of “Broadcast Information” fame) has gained 12 Emmys for his work on “The Simpsons,” which is essentially the most that anybody particular person has gained for engaged on a single present.
And, for the needs of this text, “The Simpsons” has — in keeping with the Emmys web site — gained 37 Emmys. This, out of 102 complete nominations. 12 of these wins (out of 33 noms) have been for Excellent Animated Program, making it the record-holder in that class by a considerable margin. The second-most awarded animated program in Emmy historical past is “South Park,” and that present has solely 5 wins (from 18 nominations).
The Simpsons has gained 37 Emmys (to this point)
“The Simpsons” began profitable Emmys just about immediately, racking up a couple of factors throughout its very first season in 1990. It has been nominated for a number of award yearly since. In 1990, the episode “Life on the Quick Lane,” a.ok.a. “Jacques to be Wild” — whereby Marge (Julie Kavner) almost had an affair with a dashing French bowling teacher (Albert Brooks) — gained the present its first Excellent Animated Program Emmy. In 1991, it was for the episode “Homer vs. Lisa and the eighth Commandment,” whereby Homer (Dan Castellaneta) begins stealing cable TV, a lot to the chagrin of Lisa (Yeardley Smith).
Surprisingly, few of the famed “Treehouse of Horror” episodes had been nominated for Emmys, with the primary being “Treehouse of Horror VI” in 1996. “The Simpsons” would not win Excellent Animated Program for a Halloween particular till “Treehouse of Horror XXXIII” in 2023. The longest loss streak for “The Simpsons” occurred between 2009 and 2018 — though in 2010, it was crushed by “Futurama,” one other present created by Matt Groening. Most not too long ago, “The Simpsons” was nominated for the 2024 episode “Evening of the Dwelling Wage” whereby Marge tries to unionize a ghost kitchen. It misplaced to “Blue Eye Samurai.”
“South Park” would in some way must run for an additional seven years and win Excellent Animated Program all seven of these years simply to tie the document set by “The Simpsons,” And that appears most unlikely certainly. For now, “The Simpsons” can relaxation on its laurels. And people record-setting 12 wins are only for that one class. Voice actor Hank Azaria has gained 4 Emmys for his work on “The Simpsons” simply on his personal, and different “Simpsons” regulars Nancy Cartwright, Smith, Castellaneta, Kavner, Harry Shearer, and Marcia Wallace have additionally all gained Emmys.
Weirdly, although, followers’ favourite episode of “The Simpsons” is not certainly one of its Emmy winners.
