Created by Matt Groening, The Simpsons was originally featured as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show before the first full-length episode aired in 1990 and was pitted against The Cosby Show. The long-running animated sitcom features the Simpson family of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Grampa, as well as other well-known Springfield residents including Ned Flanders, Moe Szyslak, Principal Skinner, and Mr. Burns. Now in its third decade, The Simpsons continues to entertain audiences.