b"The debut episode of the world\\u2019s longest-running animated sitcom - 'Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire' - aired in the U.S. on 17th December, 1989; attracting the Fox network\\u2019s highest ever Sunday night ratings.\\nIt was an instant sensation, with many contemporary critics remarking that the \\u2018dysfunctionality\\u2019 of The Simpsons was in-keeping with other 90s hits Roseanne and Married\\u2026 With Children, while conservative voices including George H W Bush criticised what they saw as its celebration of underachievement.\\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly discover how it came to be that a Christmas special should introduce the series; explain why Tracey Ullman filed a lawsuit about it; and reveal how many colours are in the show\\u2019s distinctive paint palette\\u2026\\xa0\\nFurther Reading:\\n\\u2022 \\u2018Honoring \\u2018Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire\\u2019\\u2019 (Vulture, 2018): https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/honoring-simpsons-roasting-on-an-open-fire.html\\n\\u2022 \\u2018Did Tracey Ullman Get Rich Off \\u2018The Simpsons\\u2019?\\u2019 (Mental Floss, 2017): https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/94628/did-tracey-ullman-get-rich-simpsons\\n\\u2022 \\u2018Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire\\u2019 (Fox, 1989): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIfLqO3SSBs\\nThere's three minutes more bonus material, about how Bart Simpson's campaign for Butterfinger candy swung the production deal! \\nTo hear it - and extra material every single week - visit\\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors* or click 'subscribe' in Apple Podcasts, and support the show!\\n*top two tiers only\\nWe'll be back on Monday! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2021.\\xa0\\n#80s #TV #Funny #US\\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices"