"The Simpsons," was created by cartoonist Matt Groening (and named for the members of his immediate family-except for Bart, which is an anagram for Brat), first appeared in 1987 as a series of 30-second spots produced for the Emmy Award-winning variety series "The Tracey Ullman Show."

The Simpsons, who live in the community of Springfield, include Homer, a father who gives bad advice and works as the safety inspector at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant; Marge, a loving, nurturing mother and wife who tries to keep peace in the family; Bart, a hell-raising 10-year-old; Lisa, a smart, philosophical 8-year-old, who loves to play the saxophone; and Maggie, the baby, who communicates by sucking her pacifier.