D’oh! Bart is now 42?

With a 30th season commissioned, what explains The Simpsons’ enduring appeal?

What is the enduring appeal of The Simpsons? AP Photo /Fox

Who would have predicted that an edgy and satirical take on modern American life that began as a few short animated segments on a variety programme in 1987 would become the longest-running scripted television show in history? We refer, of course, to The Simpsons, which has just been renewed for a 30th season.

In that time, the show has gone from being an edgy outsider to a mainstay of the American media landscape – not unlike its channel, Fox Broadcasting, which was a relatively minor player when it took a risk by commissioning the first season. All these years later, it is hard to recall a time before “D’oh!” became a catchphrase for realising an act of stupidity.

The animated format might help explain its longevity. If a real actor had been cast as archetypal delinquent 10-year-old Bart Simpson when the show began, he would be 42 when the last of the newly-commissioned series is broadcast in 2019.