On 12/17/1989, television history was made when FOX aired Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, the first episode broadcast of The Simpsons. It was a mega-hit, though dismissed by some as a crude fad that would quickly flame out. After the initial hype wore off, however, viewers settled in for an amazing run.
Homer would become a giant slayer, taking down NBC's flagship program at the time- The Cosby Show. The show itself has become an American institution; in fact it is hard to imagine that there may be a time when it is no longer in production. The show still seems to be going strong- when FXX first aired a Simpsons marathon, the network’s ratings went from 97th place to 1st place literally overnight.
And now, the show will mark two milestones in the next week; tomorrow it will tie Gunsmoke’s record for most episodes of a series- 635. Next Sunday it will break that record with episode 636. An amazing accomplishment for our favorite family. Congratulations and thanks for the laughs!
