30 years of "The Simpsons"

The longest-running cartoon series in the United States hit another milestone.

This month, "The Simpsons" celebrates the airing of its very first episode 30 years ago.

The animated series revolves around the Simpsons, a working-class family made up of Homer and Marge and their three children: Bart,Lisa, and Maggie.

They and their pets live in Springfield, a fictional town full of eccentric characters.

The first episode of the show premiered on December 17, 1989, and it immediately became a hit.

The series aired during prime time in the evening, which was unheard of for a cartoon show back then.

However, it quickly gained a following among both teens and adults.

The animated sitcom became famous for satirizing the trends and issues faces by contemporary society.

It even famously made an episode about a future in which billionaire Donald Trump became U.S. president.

That episode aired in 2000, which was 16 years before Trump was elected.

Over the years, "The Simpsons" has evolved into a TV institution.

Catchphrases spoken by the characters became part of popular culture.

There were various tie-in products connected to the show, including toys, clothes, and video games.

In 2007, the characters even starred in their own feature film.

Now in its 30th year, "The Simpsons" shows no signs of slowing down.

It has aired over 700 episodes, with more in the works.

Also, according to media reports, a sequel to the 2007 feature film is being planned.

 

• milestone |maɪlstoʊn 중요한[획기적인] 단계[사건] (=landmark)  revolve rɪˈvɑːlv  (축을 중심으로) 돌다[회전하다]   fictional ˈfɪkʃənl 허구적인, 소설의 (↔real-life)

• eccentric ɪkˈsentrɪk 괴짜인, 별난, 기이한   be unheard of 전례가 없는   unheard ʌnˈhɜːrd  들어 보지 않은,   아무도 귀 기울이지 않는

• a following among  의 다음.   satirize ˈsætəraɪz 풍자하다  contemporary kən|tempəreri 동시대의   Over the years  수년 간

• evolve  iˈvɑːlv (점진적으로) 발달[진전]하다[시키다]  진화하다[시키다]  evolve into  …으로 진화하다  evolution  |iːvə│luːʃn 진화,  (점진적인) 발전[진전]

• institution |ɪnstɪ│tuːʃn 기관[단체/협회]   tie-in   (새 영화·텔레비전 프로그램 등과 관련된) 파생 상품   slow down   [속도·진행]을 늦추다, (기력이) 쇠해지다, (노동자가) 태업하다

• feature film  (기록 영화 등이 아닌) 장편 극영화  sequel ˈsiːkwəl (책·영화·연극 등의) 속편 (→prequel)