Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.
Writer: Matt Groening
Air date: 1987-04-19
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Good Night was the first ever Simpsons short to air on The Tracey Ullman Show. The five main family members - Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie - were first introduced in this short. Homer and Marge attempt to calm their children to sleep, with the opposite results. Maggie can be heard saying "good night". She rarely talks throughout the run of the series.
Writer: Matt Groening
Air date: 1987-05-03
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart and Lisa quarrel during commercial breaks over what channel they'll watch. Repeatedly Maggie comes up to the television and changes the channel. Later Homer is saying some speech about family matters then stops when the show comes back on. A piece of music from the Tracey Ullman show plays at one part or another during the short.
Air date: 1987-05-10
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Homer makes several attempts to have Bart jump into his arms. Each time Bart jumps Homer is distracted and fails to catch him. Towards the end of the episode boxing gloves are delivered, presumably the ones used in the episode Punching Bag.
Air date: 1987-05-31
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Marge puts Bart and Lisa in charge of babysitting Maggie. They watch TV while Maggie gets electrocuted, falls down the stairs, and falls off the roof. Maggie sticks a fork in an electrical socket thereby electocuting herself, she crawls up the stairs and falls down them in insane Slinky fashion then she climbs onto the roof in hot pursuit of a butterfly, and falls off it.
Air date: 1987-06-21
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Lisa and Bart try to get Maggie to stop sucking on her pacifier, but Maggie, who has an entire drawer full of them, refuses to kick the habit.
Air date: 1987-06-28
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Despite Marge's objections, Bart, Lisa and even Maggie compete in a contest to see who can make the most disgusting burp.
Air date: 1987-07-12
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Marge serves the family purple goop for dinner, insisting that they say grace first.
Air date: 1987-09-22
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Despite Marge's warnings, the kids make faces. Maggie unclearly speaks in this episode.
Air date: 1987-10-04
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart is determined to see his uncle's corpse...but not for long. This is the only appearance of Uncle Hubert.
Air date: 1987-10-11
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart and Lisa wonder what's inside Maggie's mind.
Air date: 1987-10-18
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Homer teaches Bart about the importance of Football.
Air date: 1987-10-25
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart tries to make a house of cards, but Lisa Maggie make noises that have the "house" fall every time.
Air date: 1987-11-01
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart can't stomach it when he and Homer are forced to fend for themselves.
Air date: 1987-11-08
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart, Lisa and Maggie play a game of "Space Patrol" while Homer and Marge are out. Lisa plays a superhero with Maggie as her sidekick, while Bart puts a jug on his head with the pretense of it being the helmet of an alien warlord. However, his head accidentally plops into it and the jug is left stuck on his head. Lisa "frees" Bart from the jug using a croquet mallet. Lisa and Maggie then hide, allowing Bart, stumbling in a daze amongst pieces of the precious broken jug lying on the floor, to take the blame.
Air date: 1987-11-15
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart has his hair cut too short by a barber. This is the first time we hear a character from The Simpsons series say a curse word.
Air date: 1987-11-22
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Homer wakes up the family to practice for a nuclear drill... in the middle of the night.
Air date: 1987-12-13
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Marge bakes a batch of delicious cookies. Bart attempts to steal them, but burns his fingers trying to pick them up. Everyone except Bart and Maggie leave the kitchen to let them cool down, and Bart takes this opportunity to swipe them, muttering to himself "Aha! The perfect crime!" Homer and Marge come back to find the tray empty. Marge suspects Maggie of eating the cookies, but as a witness she knows exactly who took them and guides them along a trail of cookies running across the floor. His family catch him lying on his back in his bedroom amidst a pile of cookie crumbs. Looking up at them with his stomach full, he groans, "There is no perfect crime." His head bangs back down on the ground and Maggie, secretively, snacks on an uneaten cookie.
Air date: 1987-12-20
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart tells Lisa & Maggie a series of scary stories (in the middle of the dark) only to believe they're coming true.
Air date: 1988-01-10
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Grampa spends time with the kids. This is Grampa's first appearance.
Air date: 1988-01-24
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart and Homer go on a fishing trip. Homer asks Bart for a bologna sandwich, but Bart forgot the bologna. He puts the bait on the sandwich instead. Later on they hit rapids and Homer is almost knocked unconscious. They later fall off of a waterfall.
Air date: 1988-02-07
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart teaches his sisters how to skateboard...or is it the other way around.
Air date: 1988-02-14
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: The kids discuss paganism. This is the first time Bart calls his dad "Homer".
Air date: 1988-02-21
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart locks himself in the closet, and when he busts out, he finds out that the family has gone out without him.
Air date: 1988-02-28
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: At an aquarium Bart swims with the sharks...literally. This is the first time we see a naked Simpsons character. This also marks Lisa Simpson saying the word hell in this short.
Air date: 1988-03-06
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Homer has trouble taking a normal family portrait.
Air date: 1988-03-13
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Lisa and Maggie try to cure Bart's hiccups...the hard way.
Air date: 1988-03-20
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: The kids try to steal money from Marge's money jar..
Air date: 1988-05-01
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: The Simpsons go to the art museum. This is the first time we hear Bart say "Whoooa, Mama!".
Air date: 1988-05-08
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Homer unwisely teases a monkey at the zoo and gets a faceful of poo for his trouble. This is the shortest Simpsons Short.
Air date: 1988-11-06
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Maggie squeaks her toy, causing a chain reaction of anger in the family.
Air date: 1988-11-13
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart tries to hide the cookies he stole from the jar from his parents.
Air date: 1988-11-20
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart puts on his own show after Homer tells him to stop watching cartoons. First appearance of Itchy and Scratchy. This is the first time we hear Lisa call her dad "Homer".
Air date: 1988-11-27
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart, Lisa and eventually Marge take out their frustrations on a punching bag with Homer's picture on it.
Air date: 1988-12-18
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart's version of Christmas.
Air date: 1989-01-15
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: The kids get to see Krusty's show live for the first time. First appearance of Krusty the Clown.
Air date: 1989-01-29
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Sent out to exercise, Bart foils a robbery attempt.
Air date: 1989-02-05
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart tells a story about large kids who throw their small parents into a small room.
Air date: 1989-02-12
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart, Lisa and Maggie go to the movie to see "The Happy Little Elves Return" (much to Bart's dismay), but Bart convinces the girls to see "Space Mutants" instead. Guess who's the scaredy-cat!
Air date: 1989-02-19
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Homer tries hypnosis to calm down his crazy kids.
Air date: 1989-02-26
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart's attempt to swipe some chocolate is foiled.
Air date: 1989-03-12
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: The family drives to Echo Canyon, takes turns making echoes, and Bart almost makes a boulder crunch the family car.
Air date: 1989-03-19
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Homer makes Bart take his "Sunday Night Bath", only to flood the bathroom. this is the last Simpsons short in which we see a naked Simpsons character.
Air date: 1989-03-26
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: In this sequel to "Shell Game", Bart has a nightmare after eating every single cookie from the cookie jar.
Air date: 1989-04-16
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: The kids swing from the trees off Homer's ties.
Air date: 1989-04-23
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Homer takes the family to a psychologist. This is last Tracey Ullman Short we hear a character from The Simpsons series say a curse word.
Air date: 1989-04-30
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Bart kicks Maggie's ball out of sight and she takes off to retrieve it back.
Air date: 1989-05-07
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Maggie floats in the air hanging on to balloons and lands safely back in her playpen.
Air date: 1989-05-14
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Homer attempts to fix the television antenna on the roof.
Air date: 1995-09-03
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: A short in which Homer and Bart visit the NFL studio. The short was broadcast on NFL on FOX on September 3, 1995.
Air date: 1995-09-17
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: This special was aired before the premier of the 7th season opener; hosted by John Walsh (from the FOX series "Americas Most Wanted"), it offered up all sorts of theories and insights into who might have shot Montgomery Burns.
Air date: 2008-12-25
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Marge comments on David and Victoria Beckham's marriage in a negative comparison with hers and Homer's, and compared the special relationship between the UK and the US to that of Mini Me and Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers films ("Helping out in all our zany schemes to take over the world"). Lisa Simpson also held a banner supporting Cornwall's secession: "UK OUT OF CORNWALL", while chanting "Rydhsys rag Kernow lemmyn" (freedom for Cornwall now).
Air date: 2007-07-25
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Despite Marge's warnings, the kids make faces. Maggie unclearly speaks in this episode.
Air date: 2010-01-10
Runtime: 42 min
Overview: A documentary special that examined the "cultural phenomenon" of the American animated television series. The special is hosted and directed by Morgan Spurlock.
Air date: 2010-01-11
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: In the first of Sky One's specials celebrating 20 years of "The Simpsons", Ricky Gervais takes you behind the scenes to see how the show is made, talking to those who put each episode together, plus celebrity fans like Simon Cowell and Hugh Hefner.
Air date: 2010-01-12
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: In the second of Sky One's specials celebrating 20 years of "The Simpsons", Ricky Gervais takes a look at the vast array of Simpsons merchandise the colourful characters have inspired and catches up with some of the programme's biggest devotees.
Air date: 2010-01-13
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: In the third of Sky One's specials celebrating 20 years of "The Simpsons", Ricky Gervais speaks to a selection of the huge number of celebrities who have guest-starred on the show over the years.
Air date: 2015-07-07
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: A close encounter with Donald Trump's hairpiece sends Homer on an extraordinary journey.
Air date: 2016-02-20
Runtime: 2 min
Overview: Marge wakes up from a political nightmare.
Air date: 2016-07-30
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Marge and Homer Simpson wrestle with the choice in this election.
Air date: 2017-04-26
Runtime: 1 min
Overview: Donald Trump reviews his accomplishments from his first 100 days in office.
Air date: 2017-05-26
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Donald Trump makes one last try to patch things up with Comey.
Air date: 2017-12-14
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Robert Mueller pays the President a little visit.
Air date: 2018-03-23
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Maybe it's time to take a good look in the mirror.
Air date: 2019-08-20
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her squad face off against President Donald Trump.
Air date: 2012-09-20
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Who will Homer Simpson vote for in the 2012 Elections? Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Air date: 2012-11-01
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: An election eve appeal from Montgomery Burns. Mr. Burns puts Shamus the dog to the test of choosing between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Air date: 2012-12-04
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Still reeling from the presidential election results, Mr. Burns takes a few minutes to explain the upcoming fiscal cliff.
Air date: 2013-01-28
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Maggie prepares for her Oscar acceptance speech.
Air date: 2013-01-31
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Maggie is interviewed for the Oscar nomination of The Longest Daycare.
Air date: 2014-08-26
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: If you loved the Homer Shake...
Air date: 2014-09-12
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Groundskeeper Willie has a few things to say prior to the Sept 18 Scottish elections.
Air date: 2015-09-08
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Marge challenges Kim Jong-un to the Ice Bucket Challenge.
Air date: 2016-02-10
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Take a look at ‘The Simpsons’ heading down to Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500 on February 21st.
Air date: 2016-07-16
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Pokémon Now? is a special short that was released on July 16, 2016. It's a remade scene from "A Tree Grows in Springfield".
Air date: 2016-08-16
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Homer says hello from San Diego Comic-Con 2016!
Air date: 2016-10-14
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: The citizens of Springfield head to their polling stations to vote and Homer discovers Russia's President Vladimir Putin in disguise.
Air date: 2017-02-09
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: This year everyone is coming to Daytona! Don't miss the Daytona 500, FEB 26 on FOX!
Air date: 2017-07-03
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Moe has a presidential moment and lets the world know how he is feeling.
Air date: 2017-08-27
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Homer gives us a little advice about watching the eclipse.
Air date: 2017-11-03
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: Moe has a message for the mayor of Puerto Rico, Carmen Yulín Cruz, regarding her tweet in response to the appeal for Puerto Rico that aired at the end of The Serfsons.
Writer: Rob LaZebnik
Air date: 2025-02-12
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: Lisa travels back in time to 1923 and discovers that the Springfield Mini Moose, once key to the town’s ecosystem, were driven to extinction in 1925. Teaming up with young Monty Burns, Lisa works to save the moose, but her actions unintentionally shape his future as a ruthless tycoon.
Writer: J. Stewart Burns
Air date: 2025-04-22
Runtime: 22 min
Overview: The Simpsons explore Earth in a Nat Geo-style mockumentary.
