Today in History—December 17: America’s Favorite Cartoon Family

The Simpsons first appeared as an independent series on December 17, 1989, with a Christmas special that helped launch one of TV’s most enduring animated series. “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” was actually scheduled to be the eighth episode in the show, but when the pilot’s animation proved too poorly done for broadcast, Fox went ahead with the Christmas episode as the debut. The only episode to air in the ’80s, it introduced viewers to an oddly competent Homer Simpson (he was later dumbed down) and his quirky family.

Before the first episode aired, however, The Simpsons had appeared as a series of animated shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show, also on Fox. The show began its regular run in January 1990, kicking off what many fans call its “golden era.” From the beginning, The Simpsons made audiences laugh through clever satire and celebrity guest appearances, having featured the likes of Sting, Dolly Parton, Cyndi Lauper, and many others.

In the years since its debut, The Simpsons has carved out a place for itself in the zeitgeist. It’s been translated into numerous languages, and a feature film came out in 2007 (with a second reportedly in development). In 2003, a BBC survey asked Brits to name the American they most admired. Homer Simpson ranked above Martin Luther King, Jr., and Abraham Lincoln. Perhaps Homer’s appeal lies in his relatability: his clumsiness, his love for donuts, and his occasional empty-headedness. He’s a realistically flawed father figure, and audiences have found something familiar in his hijinks.