The Simpsons featuring the Simpson Family including Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie debuts on Fox as a half-hour prime time show debuted on December 17, 1989.
The show was controversial from its beginning and has made the news several times. In the early seasons, some parents and conservatives characterized Bart as a poor role model for children and several United States public schools even banned The Simpsons merchandise and t-shirts.
The Simpsons have become the longest-running American sitcom and the longest-running American animated program. Since its debut on December 17, 1989, the show has broadcast 649 episodes and its 30th season started airing on September 30, 2018.
