In the perpetually average town of Springfield, the gloriously flawed Simpson family, oafish patriarch Homer, patient blue-haired Marge, troublemaking Bart, brilliant Lisa and silent baby Maggie, muddle through the absurdities of American life. What began as crude sketches has grown into an institution, its yellow-skinned citizens skewering politics, religion, television and consumer culture with fearless, endlessly quotable wit. Every episode blends slapstick, satire and a surprising streak of heart, often drawing a parade of celebrity guests into its cartoon world. The longest-running scripted show on American television, it remains a defining mirror held up to modern life.