Spun-off from: The Tracey Ullman Show (1987 to 1990), a variety hour that included one-minute animated segments starring a crudely drawn, yellow-skinned family.

Hit or Miss? Hit — obviously. The Simpsons has run on television for two decades, influenced popular culture, and spawned a big-screen adaptation.

Factoid: It wasn't Simpsons creator Matt Groening who made his creations yellow — their distinctive skin tone was decided by colourist Georgie Peluse, who reasoned that the family would look even more bizarre with flesh-coloured skin.