What else is there to say about The Simpsons?
For over 25 years, the show has been a comedy institution, tackling subjects from dysfunctional family life to politics and religion. Starting as short animated skits on The Tracey Ullman Show, The Simpsons has blossomed into one of television’s most dominant comedy franchises of all time; it also paved the way for smart, sophisticated animated series in primetime. While the quality may have dipped over the years in the eyes of some fans, it’s hard, if not downright impossible, to imagine a TV landscape existing without Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie.
Today, December 17, marks The Simpsons' 25th anniversary as a full series. The first episode that aired was “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” a Christmas special that launched an empire. What many fans don’t know is that the first episode was supposed to be “Some Enchanted Evening,” but the animation came back so bad that producers ordered it to be redone and aired the Christmas special first instead.
To find out more key moments that shaped the Fox mainstay into what it is today, take a look at our expansive Timeline of The Simpsons' Highs and Lows.
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