The series is about an 'average' American family, parents Marge and Homer, their children, Bart, Lisa and Maggie and their pets Snowball and Santas Little Helper. They live in a make-believe average American town called Springfield.
Marge and Homer are parents like any other who try to provide parental control over their children. Homer tends to be a little on the childish side himself but with that, Barts trouble making, Lisas genius and Maggies quiet humour it all adds up to a lot of fun and a lot of comedy, which is probably what makes it so popular.
The series has been praised and has received numerous honours and awards, including a Peabody Award, 18 Emmy Awards, 16 Annie Awards, 3 Genesis Awards, 8 International Monitor Awards, 5 Environmental Awards and they have been nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
The Simpsons show is also in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest running prime time animated series, and also for the most celebrities featured in an animated series.
The show has such a place in culture that Homers phrase "Doh" made it into the 2001 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. The Simpsons also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.