'The Simpsons' breaks 'Gunsmoke' record with 669 episodes on season 30
Fox has renewed "The Simpsons" for two more seasons - Seasons 29 and 30. It will bring the cartoon series to 669 episodes, surpassing the American drama series "Gunsmoke" with 635 episodes. It will be the longest-running scripted TV show of all time.
"Take that 'Gunsmoke!' You lost a race you didn't even know you were running!" the animated series patriarch, Homer, said in a statement, referring to the American Western drama that ran from 1955 to 1975.
"To be honest, just from the beginning, we've always been trying to do the best episode possible 669 times in a row," Al Jean, executive producer and showrunner of the series, told CNN.
“This is yet another record-setting moment for what is truly a landmark series. "The Simpsons" has meant so much to the network, the studio and everyone at Fox, and its continued cultural impact around the globe is a testament to the combined brilliance of [exec producers] Matt, Jim and Al,” Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group said.
"Congratulations to everyone who works on this groundbreaking series — from the voice cast and producers to the writers and production team — you comprise one of the greatest collections of creative talent in the history of the medium. And to the millions of ‘Simpsons’ fans around the world, thank you for watching all these years. We’re happy to tell you there’s lots more to come,” Walden and Newman said.
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"The Simpsons" aired its first episode in December 1989 and currently in its 28th season. For more than 26 years, it has won several awards and recognition. It received more than 30 Emmy awards, 34 Annie awards and a Peabody award. It has produced a global box office hit movie that made more than US$500 million (AU$651 million).
Executive producer James Brooks told LRM online that he was constantly asked about "The Simpsons Movie" sequel. "Fox very much wants us to do another one, and maybe we will and maybe we won’t – that’s where it is," Brooks said.
"The Simpsons" currently airs its season 28 every Sunday on Fox in the US.
