: Groening based the characters on his own family members, naming them Homer, Marge, Lisa, and Maggie—substituting "Bart" for his own name.
: It was the first animated sitcom to air in primetime since The Flintstones in the 1960s. Production Origins The SimpsonsTV Show | 1989
The show immediately stood out for its edgy, satirical take on American life. By the end of its first year, The Simpsons had become a ratings hit and a cultural phenomenon , leading to a massive wave of "Bartmania" merchandise that included the famous catchphrase, "Don't have a cow, man!". : Groening based the characters on his own