Animated Programs in 1990: The Year The Simpsons Landed
By Bill Reick
“The Simpsons” was an immediate sensation when it debuted in 1990. But what was the cultural cartoon climate like back then?
Technically, The Simpsons debuted in 1989. On December 17th of that year, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” premiered to a 14.5 Nielsen rating. 14.5% of all television-equipped homes were tuned into The Simpsons. Approximately 13.4 million homes watched. Those are big numbers for an animated program. And as the rest of the season aired in 1990, The Simpsons retained that viewership and those ratings.
1990 was a strange year for animation. In April, several networks teamed up to air “Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.” The unprecedented event premiered on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, The Disney Channel, USA Network, BET and Nickelodeon, and featured a historical team up of cartoon characters. And the line-up is nuts. Ten different franchises from different studios were represented. We’re lookin’ at:
- Alf
- Alvin,, Simon and Theodore from Alvin and the Chipmunks
- Huey, Duey, and Luey from DuckTales
- Garfield
- Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck from Looney Tunes
- (Baby) Kermit, Piggy and Gonzo from Muppet Babies
- Winnie the Pooh and Tigger
- Slimer from The Real Ghostbusters
- Papa Smurf, Brainy Smurf, and Hefty Smurf from The Smurfs
- Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant
That’s insanity. And they’re all on a quest to help a girl who learns her brother is using marijuana. It focuses on a white, middle-class family with no real problems. Unfortunately, the only black character in the whole production is a drug user. President George H.W. Bush gave it a public endorsement.
Other Animated Debuts
- TaleSpin
- Tiny Toons
- Bobby’s World
- Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Out of any animated program airing in 1990, The Simpsons had the distinct difference of airing in prime-time. Granted, Fox was still a lesser-than competitor compared to the big three of ABC, NBC and FOX. But whereas most of the best-remembered cartoons of the 90’s aired in Saturday morning blocks, The Simpsons aired at night.