The Simpsons Animated Television Series - The First Year
In 1989, a team of production companies adapted The Simpsons into a half-hour series for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The team included what is now the Klasky Csupo animation house. Jim Brooks negotiated a provision in the contract with the Fox network that prevented Fox from interfering with the show's content. Groening said his goal in creating the show was to offer the audience an alternative to what he called 'the mainstream trash' that they were watching. The half-hour series premiered on December 17, 1989 with 'Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire', a Christmas special.

The series was originally set to debut in the fall of 1989 with the episode 'Some Enchanted Evening', which was meant to introduce the main characters. However, during the first screening of the episode, the producers discovered that the animation was so appalling that 70% of the episode needed to be redone. The producers considered aborting the series if the next episode ('Bart the Genius') turned out as bad, but it only suffered from easily fixable problems. The producers convinced Fox to move the debut to December 17, and aired 'Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire' as the first episode of the series. The Simpsons was the Fox network's first TV series to rank among a season's top 30 highest-rated shows.

The show was controversial from its beginning. The rebellious lead character at the time, Bart, frequently received no punishment for his misbehavior, which led some parents and conservatives to characterize him as a poor role model for children. Several US public schools even banned The Simpsons merchandise and t-shirts, such as one featuring Bart and the caption 'Underachiever ('And proud of it, man!') Despite the ban, The Simpsons merchandise sold well and generated US$2 billion in revenue during the first 14 months of sales.

List of Popular Characters from The Simpsons TV Show Apu Lenny Barney Gumble Lionel Hutz Bart Simpson Lisa Simpson Cap McCallister Maggie Simpson Carl Marge Simpson Chief Wiggum Maude Flanders Cletus Mayor Quimby Comic Book Guy Milhouse Discu Stu Moe Sczyslak Dr Hibbert Mr Burns Dr Nick Riviera Nelson

Duffman Patty Selma Ned Flanders Frank Grimes Professor FrinkGil Ralph Grampa Reverend Lovejoy Sherri Terri Hans Moleman Sideshow Bob Homer Simpson Sideshow Mel Itchy Scratchy Skinner Kang Kodos Smithers Kent Brockman Troy McClure Krusty the Clown Willie