8 Things The Simpsons Fans Owe To Sam Simon

If Sam Simon had got his way, The Simpsons would have ended a long time ago. The co-creator, whose fractious relationship with Matt Groening was the stuff of legend, had initially imagined the show would be a disaster, and that it wouldn't last beyond its 13 commissioned episodes. He was a genius, but thank God he was wrong. He might not have stuck around for much longer than that first season - he left in 1993 feeling underpaid and under-appreciated (something he felt the opposite of in later years when his royalties kept piling in) - but Simon's legacy at the show was cemented in the spirit and the characters he introduced. The creator and great philanthropist died after defying his diagnosis of terminal cancer for more than two years, and while the show has grown massively since his departure, his presence will be felt as long as The Simpsons airs. And that, quite frankly, is a great thing. In the wake of his death, now is the perfect time to look back at exactly what Simon gave the show and its fans...