In what year did the first episode of The Simpsons air?

The first episode of The Simpsons aired on December 17, 1989. This date marks the beginning of what would become the longest-running American sitcom and the longest-running American cartoon series. The significance of this show in the landscape of television cannot be overstated, as it established a new format for animated television, blending humor with social commentary in a way that appealed to both children and adults. While there were shorts featuring the characters that were part of The Tracey Ullman Show starting in 1987, it was not until 1989 that The Simpsons made its debut as a standalone half-hour program. This distinction is crucial in understanding the timeline of the show's history.