50 Things You Didn’t Know About The Simpsons

 Here are 50 lesser-known facts about “The Simpsons,” one of the most iconic and longest-running animated TV shows in history:

1. Debut: “The Simpsons” debuted as shorts on “The Tracey Ullman Show” in 1987 before becoming a half-hour show in 1989.

2. Creator: The show was created by Matt Groening.

3. Longest-Running: It’s the longest-running American sitcom and the longest-running American scripted primetime TV series.

4. D’oh!: Homer’s catchphrase “D’oh!” is in the Oxford English Dictionary.

5. Bart’s Name: Bart’s name is an anagram of “brat.”

6. Springfield: The fictional town of Springfield was chosen because it’s one of the most common town names in the U.S.

7. Four-Fingered: All characters have four fingers except for God and Jesus, who have five.

8. Family Names: The names of the family members are based on Groening’s own family.

9. Yellow Color: The characters are yellow to grab the attention of channel surfers.

10. Simpsonized: “Simpsonized” became a popular term for turning real people into Simpsons-style characters.

11. Famous Guest Stars: The show has featured hundreds of guest stars, including Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney.

12. No Cliffhangers: The show is known for having self-contained episodes with no cliffhangers.

13. Treehouse of Horror: The annual Halloween special is a fan favorite and often features non-canonical stories.

14. Future Episodes: The show has many episodes set in the future, predicting various events.

15. Predictions: The show has eerily predicted real-life events, including the election of Donald Trump.

16. Catchphrases: Many catchphrases from the show have entered popular culture, such as “Eat my shorts!” and “Ay, caramba!”

17. Real Address: The Simpsons’ address is 742 Evergreen Terrace.

18. Real-Life Springfield: There is a Springfield in every U.S. state, and a contest was held to determine the “real” Springfield, won by Springfield, Vermont.

19. Guinness Records: The show holds several Guinness World Records, including the most guest stars featured in a TV series.

20. Animation Style: The crude animation style of the early episodes was intentional to give it a unique look.

21. First Episode: The first full-length episode was “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” which aired on December 17, 1989.

22. Theme Song: The iconic theme song was composed by Danny Elfman in 1989.

23. Longest Couch Gag: The longest couch gag was over two minutes long and was directed by animator Don Hertzfeldt.

24. Longest Episode Title: The longest episode title is “The Girl Who Slept Too Little.”

25. Banned Episodes: Several episodes have been banned or censored in various countries.

26. Voice Actors: The main voice actors have been with the show since its inception, including Dan Castellaneta (Homer) and Nancy Cartwright (Bart).

27. Highest-Paid Voice Actors: At one point, the main voice actors were earning $400,000 per episode.

28. Lisa’s Sax: Lisa’s saxophone playing is performed by musician Terry Harrington.

29. Matt Groening Cameo: Matt Groening has made several cameo appearances in the show.

30. First Primetime Cartoon: “The Simpsons” was the first primetime animated series since “The Flintstones.”

31. Bart’s Age: Bart Simpson is eternally 10 years old.

32. Simpsons Movie: “The Simpsons Movie” was released in 2007 and grossed over $527 million worldwide.

33. 20th Anniversary: The show’s 20th anniversary was celebrated with a documentary by Morgan Spurlock.

34. Fake End Credits: Some episodes feature fake end credits as a gag.

35. Simpsons’ Pet: The family’s dog, Santa’s Little Helper, was introduced in the first episode.

36. Itchy & Scratchy: The violent cartoon “Itchy & Scratchy” within the show is a parody of “Tom and Jerry.”

37. Bartmania: In the early 1990s, the show’s popularity led to “Bartmania,” with merchandise and music hits like “Do the Bartman.”

38. Voice Actor’s Script Reading: The cast records their lines together, unlike most animated shows where actors record separately.

39. Chalkboard Gags: Each episode starts with Bart writing a different punishment on the chalkboard.

40. Different Opening: The show’s opening sequence has been updated several times over the years.

41. Longest Marriages: The show humorously lists Homer and Marge as one of TV’s longest-married couples.

42. Syndication: “The Simpsons” is one of the most syndicated TV shows worldwide.

43. Political Guests: Many political figures have guest-starred, including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

44. Celebrity Cameos: Many celebrities have appeared as themselves, such as Lady Gaga and Stephen Hawking.

45. Language Adaptations: The show has been dubbed in multiple languages, including French, German, and Japanese.

46. Music Album: A music album titled “The Simpsons Sing the Blues” was released in 1990.

47. Professors’ Favorite: The show is often

48. Cultural Impact: “The Simpsons” has been cited as an influence by many modern animators and TV creators.

49. Merchandise: The show has generated billions in merchandise sales, including action figures, apparel, and video games.

50. Influence on Language: Words like “embiggen” and “cromulent,” coined on the show, have made it into dictionaries.

These facts highlight the vast influence and unique attributes of “The Simpsons,” which has left a lasting mark on television and popular culture.