The Simpsons(1989) Today

It parodied American culture and the "perfect" TV family trope.

When premiered on December 17, 1989, it was a creative gamble that changed television forever. Created by Matt Groening , the family first appeared as brief shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987 before landing their own half-hour sitcom on the then-obscure Fox Network . The Chaos of the First Premiere The Simpsons(1989)

Over 35 years later, the show has become a global phenomenon, winning dozens of and even being named the best TV series of the 20th century by Time Magazine . It is famous for its "predictions," seemingly foretelling everything from Disney’s acquisition of Fox to the invention of hover cars (which, to be fair, hasn't happened yet). It parodied American culture and the "perfect" TV