I knew The Simpsons had been on the air for a while, but this is pretty mind-blowing: The show has just been officially renewed for a 20th season on Fox. That ties it with Gunsmoke for the title of longest-running primetime TV series . . . ever. Pretty big stuff for a cartoon family whose youngest member still sucks on a pacifier.
The news follows yesterday's announcement that the show's voice actors struck a deal for more money — a four-year contract that will earn them each about $400,000 per episode. That's a lot of — sorry, guys — d'oh. (Speaking of which, here's a fun fact from Fox's press release: The dominance of The Simpsons is so great that "D'oh" is an official word in the Oxford English Dictionary.)
Twenty years is an awfully long time for a TV show to stay relevant. I remember watching the early years as an elementary schooler, trying not to get caught by my parents! Yet the show still pulls in between 6 and 8 million viewers per week, and the success of last summer's The Simpsons Movie proves that it still has a huge audience. So here are my questions for you: Do you still watch The Simpsons? How long have you been a fan? And do you see yourself sticking with it till the end?
Photo courtesy of Fox
Rick Cardona
Boden
Marionnaud
does anyone still watch it? or are they watching it like me and going "its not funny anymore" and wishing it was? I am a family Guy and southpark devotee now, simpsons are past thier prime.
1They should've quit while they were ahead - 10 years ago! The last funny season was season 10 or 11 and it's been downhill ever since. I get angry when I watch the new episodes, so I've stopped.
Seasons 3 through 8 = PERFECTION.
2i remember be banned from watching the simpsons when i was a kid and when i went to college i didn't start because i figured i had missed to much and it would be canceled. i had no idea it would live almost as long as me and be around long enough for me to not only catch up, but possibly become a fan. but i never watched and i just want it to go away already.
3I've been a fan since the very beginning, and I'm only a few months older than the show. It's been a part of my family for so long. lol
4I will be a fan until the VERY end.
5I'm a huge fan of the show, and have for as long as I could remember. I will watch until the very end!
6I still watch, but am getting tired of the rehashed plots and all these 'Simpsons tell a story' episodes.
7I know they've lost their luster especially on the new episodes but I love them too much! I will watch 'til the end!
8I havent watched a new episode since I was like 13. I feel like they have probably ran out of new ideas...
9I've been watching since it used to be part of the Tracey Ullman show.
D'oh was added to the Oxford Dictionary in 2002. CRAZY
10I'm about to turn 25 and I remember watching the first season, so I guess I've been watching as long as you have, Buzz. Kind of crazy to think that it has been on that long. And it is still good! The show has changed a lot in that time, but it hasn't gotten "old" because they use current references to get new story lines. Love it.
11I have been watching since the Tracy Ullman Show. That was when I was 8. 20 years WOW I feel old
12meh, my family and i bonded over watching the simpsons, we still do...older episodes though. the new ones suck. if i miss it im not bummed. However, family guy and american dad...if i miss any of those episodes i get bummed. good thing cartoon network replays them at 10 and show new eps. of family guy on mondays. woohoo
13...and king of the hill...cant forget that one.
14eh never watched this show...
15I have been a fan since day one and still watch, Simpson's queen!
16Oh, my! Has it really be 20 seasons? My 20-year high school reunion is this summer. Yup... I guess it has been 20 seasons. Dang, I feel really old now. Grampa Simpson's starting to look sexy to me.
)
17wow- 20 years. We watch it if we have nothing else to watch and my hubby truly still gets a good laugh out of it. We have most of the DVDs that are out and will probably continue buying them. I never used to watch before my husband really so it has become something we do together. Love the earlier seasons but there is not much to keep me interested anymore. I'll mainly watch for the hubby. Congrats on 20 yrs!
18Man, this makes me feel old. Remember watching the first Christmas episode of 'The Simpsons' and being wowed by it? The first season (maybe even the first few seasons?) still used the classic sitcom formula and it's hard to watch them again for that reason. Their episodes were gold for a couple seasons and now I think they're trying to take a page from 'Family Guy' with so many pop culture references. I think they've been banking on the fact that they have become an institution now and they've gotten lazy.
19I've been watching the simpsons since the first season and i am still watching it. I guess you can say I'll stick with it until the end.
20I've watched sine the Tracy Ullman show too, and I don't watch it every single Sunday but I catch it most of the time.
21The simpsons may be running dry but they are better than family guy will ever be. Family Guy and all related shows (american dad etc.) are using cheap shots, toilet humor, no story line, only irrelevant flashbacks and brian the dog as a mask for seth mcfarlanes political views and personal opinions. At least Matt Groening creates a plot and uses strong character development. We know everything about every Simpson family member. Intimate knowledge of characters is the most important part of any story. It's what allows us to connect to the show.
22When are they going to kill this dreck? The Simpsons haven't been funny since the Clinton administation.
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