The Simpsons began as a series of short animated sketches by cartoonist Matt Groening on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987, before becoming a half-hour programme on the Fox network. Its first full episode, a Christmas special, aired in December 1989. The show follows the Simpson family of Springfield: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, along with a large cast of townspeople. Combining satire of American family life, politics and media with running gags, it became a ratings success and a cultural phenomenon. It is the longest-running American animated series and sitcom, and has influenced many later cartoons and added phrases to everyday language.
Before and after
- 17 November 1989Release of The Little Mermaid
- 20 November 1989Convention on the Rights of the Child
- 13 December 1989Birth of Taylor Swift
- from 15 December 1989 to 27 December 1989Romanian Revolution (1989)
- 17 December 1989Premiere of The Simpsons
- from 20 December 1989 to 31 January 1990United States invasion of Panama
- 22 December 1989Death of Samuel Beckett
- 25 December 1989Death of Nicolae Ceaușescu
- 31 December 1989First flight of Sukhoi Su-30
More in Art, literature & culture
- 1946First edition of Cannes Film Festival
- c. 1950sRise of pop art
- 1955Publication of Guinness World Records
- from 25 August 1966 to 11 September 2001Construction of World Trade Center
- from 31 March 1997 to 11 November 2022Premiere of Teletubbies
- 2003Construction of Three Gorges Dam
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.