Despite the fact that, in recent years, The Simpsons has been criticised for a perceived decline in quality, there's no denying that the animated sitcom is still one of the most important shows ever made. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and the inhabitants of Springfield have come to define a generation with their subversive jokes, parodies of pop culture and biting satire, whilst The Simpsons brand remains just as marketable as ever. The Simpsons is not only a landmark show in terms of its content, however - it is notable for the insane number of episodes that it has produced across the span of almost two decades. Yes, there have been 580 episodes of the show to date - and Matt Groening's dysfunctional family show no signs of slowing down as The Simpsons approaches its 28th season. But what goes into making an episode of The Simpsons? How does it all work on the opposite side of the fence, where writers, animators and voice actors come together to deliver 22 minutes of television, week after week? To help field those questions, here are 10 interesting facts, tidbits and secrets to learn about the making of the iconic show...
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
