In Toon

"The Simpsons," the longest running animated TV series in history, was just renewed for two seasons, the 33rd and 34th seasons for the series.  Who would have thunk that this would be in case way back in 1990 when the series premiered, after a Christmas special in 1989; however, the origins of the show dates back to an 1853 poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson, "A jaded Boy -- in light blue Shorts," below on the left.  Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem, "A faded Boy -- in sallow Clothes," below on the right.
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
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A jaded Boy – in light blue Shorts
Who said “Don’t have a Cow”
The culture of Experience –
A bad boy’s Here and Now –

The Boy that slang shot to the top –
The Cowabunga kid
Expanded in a Sit-com’s Yarn
A Cash Cow I suspect –

By Emily Dickinson:

A faded Boy – in sallow Clothes
Who drove a lonesome Cow
To pastures of Oblivion –
A statesman's Embryo –

The Boys that whistled are extinct –
The Cows that fed and thanked
Remanded to a Ballad's Barn
Or Clover's Retrospect –

Below left:  Matt Groening, creator of "The Simpsons."   Below center:  The Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Portland, Oregon -- where Matt Groening attended school -- where Groening first learned Dickinson's poem "A jaded Boy -- in light blue Shorts," the poem which inspired him to create "The Simpsons."  Below right:  Bart Simpson

Click the images to enlarge.​

Coincidentally, I have a collection of old newspapers and magazines, and I found an old TV guide in the stacks that featured a 10th anniversary look at "The Simpsons" from October 2000.   There were 24 different covers, and the table of contents of the magazine stated, "TV Guide marks a decade of The Simpsons with a 14-page extravaganza celebrating Springfield's delightful supporting players."

​Click the images to enlarge.