Doh!

My, how quickly the years go by. The New York Times reports:

Fox said it had renewed “The Simpsons” for two more years, confirming that the animated series will become the longest-running prime time TV series in history.

That record has been held for more than three decades by “Gunsmoke,” the TV Western that ended in 1975 after 20 years. The current season of “The Simpsons” tied “Gunsmoke,” and its 21st season will surpass it. In testament to the long-lasting appeal of the fictional people of Springfield, Homer Simpson will keep inventing new catch-phrases through at least 2011, when the 22nd season would theoretically end. (The show is still young by Mr. Burns’ standards.)

With the two-season order, the series will reach the 493-episode mark, according to Fox. A year-long celebration of the series’ twentieth anniversary started in January and will conclude on Jan. 14, 2010.

I haven’t watched the show in years. Come to think of it, I wasn’t a regular viewer of Gunsmoke, either (I preferred Bonanza).

With The Simpsons, I’ve always enjoyed the “couch gag” during the shows’ intros (there’s even a Bonanza version; wait for it, around the 3:50 mark):

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl2o2fCJf30]