If you were born after 1989 , you probably only knowThe Simpsonsas a staple of Sunday nighttime television on Fox . But before Springfield ’s most beloved family had their own web situation comedy , they were just one of several recurring sketches onThe Tracey Ullman Show , a change show in which the titular comedienne portrayed a form of characters . ( The Simpsons made their debut 30 days ago , on April 19 , 1987 . )
Ullman ’s show , which was co - created by James L. Brooks , endure for four seasons , with the final episode aerate on May 26 , 1990 . But six calendar month before that , The Simpsonshad already run on . After three seasons as part of Ullman ’s tout ensemble , Brooks develop the shorts into a half - hr animated sitcom that end up becoming the then - burgeon Fox electronic web ’s first big hit . Today , The Simpsonsholds a number of Guinness World Records , including the one for prospicient - running sitcom . But , considering that they began their life on her show , did Ullman get a cut of the serial ’ success ?
The short answer is : No .
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In 1991 , Ullman filed a lawsuit against 20th Century Fox aver four count of severance of contract . According to theLos Angeles Times , the 14 - varlet complaint alleged that Ullman ’s contract with Gracie Films ( Brooks ’s production company ) entitled her to “ five to 10 percent of the final reception of the merchandising and other winnings from products or programs based on spinoff characters , including liven up characters , even if those character were originated by others . ” And sinceThe Simpsonsbegan onThe Tracey Ullman Show , she reason that she should be entitled to those winnings .
Merchandising was , of path , a primal part ofThe Simpsons ’s fiscal achiever . The swap news sourceLicensing Letterestimated thatThe Simpsonsraked in about $ 750 million in merchandise sales in 1990 — making the animise family the third most popular “ character ” that year , right behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and New Kids on the Block . It was report at the time that Ullman did not name Gracie Films in the suit , so as not to damage her relationship with Brooks .
More than a year later , on October 22 , 1992 , a Superior Court jury sided with Fox and reject Ullman ’s lawsuit , which would have netted her an estimated $ 2.25 million at the time . Brooks , who testified during the trial , argued thatThe Simpsonswas create by Matt Groening , with no creative input from Ullman .
Though Ullman was reportedly out of the country at the time , her attorney , Michael Bergman , toldVarietythat he was “ very defeated . I think the panel did their best , but it was a very complex lawsuit … and the issues just got lose somewhere along the line . ”
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