The Simpsons (Season 1) 720p HD - (1989 Lang: English)

The Simpsons (season 1) - Sophisticated satire an oasis in desert of TV programming.

'The Simpsons' is easily the best show on TV. No other program is able so deftly to cut across age boundaries and offer every viewer, from my elementary school age brother to my university professors, a thoroughly enjoyable half hour of television. All of the elements seem to gel perfectly - the brilliant songs, the clever dialogue, the slick animation and, best of all, the voices of incredibly versatile actors like Dan Castellaneta, Harry Shearer and Hank Azaria who each play up to twenty distinct characters.

Matt Groening and his self-confessed team of 'Harvard-geek' writers are to be commended for tackling topics such as relationships, religion, prejudice, immigration, class issues and American cultural hegemony with a sharply satirical but never blunt or unsubtle hand.

And the viewer is often rewarded with a rich array of cinematic and literary references and the occasional surprise guest voice artist, as well as plenty of self-satire and meta-humour.

I feel 'The Simpsons' will endure while other animated series of the 1990s will fall away. 'King of the Hill' dropped from sight, 'Ren & Stimpy' got boring and, unfortunately, 'South Park' which showed great early promise has fallen into the trap of profanity=laughs.

If there is only one reason why Rupert Murdoch should not be banished to a cell for crimes against human consciousness, it is 'The Simpsons'.

The Simpsons is an animated sitcom about the antics of a dysfunctional family called the Simpsons (surprise surprise). Homer is the oafish unhealthy beer loving father, Marge is the hardworking homemaker wife, Bart is the ten year old underachiever (and proud of it), Lisa is the unappreciated eight year old genius, and Maggie is the cute, pacifier loving silent infant.

The Simpsons' first season originally aired on the Fox network between December 17, 1989 and May 13, 1990, beginning with the Christmas special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". The executive producers for the first production season were Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon.

The series was originally set to debut in autumn 1989 with the episode "Some Enchanted Evening", which was meant to introduce the main characters; 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 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 first season won one Emmy Award, and received four additional nominations. The DVD boxset was released on September 25, 2001 in Region 1 and September 24, 2001 in both Region 2 and Region 4.

This has to be one of the best darn cartoons/comedies ever to grace the T.V screen. The fact that it has been going for nearly 10 years says it all. The comic timing is just right and the jokes are so funny that you're guaranteed to be begging for more! The reason why the show works so well is not because of just the family,no. The minor characters are spot on and they will have you rolling around the floor in fits of laughter more often than Homer, Marge and co. Mr Burns is THE best person on the show in my opinion. People often say that Matt Groening is a genius after every time they watch a show.

Okay, I give credit to Matt due to him making up the Simpsons but it is the massive crew which make the Simpsons what it is today. It is the dozen or so writers that give us the dialogue which is unbeatable by any other programme. ( a big cheer to my fave writer John Swartzwelder is in order here!). It is the many gifted animators which give us the many hilarious moments on the show. Without these people and the rest of the crew there would be no Simpsons. Also, another key element in it being enjoyable is the cast. The many talented actors who supply their great voices. (Another big cheer for my favourite voicer Harry "Handsome" Shearer.He is my Hero!) Anyhoo, enough is being said. Just don't forget all the crew and praise them as well as Matt Groening. Simpsons Forever!

Hell, I love it!!!