Simpsons to be Immortalized on Stamps

It has been 20 years since the Simpsons first debuted as a ground-breaking full-length animated sit-com and now they are breaking new ground as they make their way into the annals of the U.S. Postal Service. There will be 20 of the postage stamps put into circulation at a cost of $.44 each. With the postal service's recent announcements that it is struggling to meet costs, these kinds of initiatives are surely designed to help boost revenue in areas that would otherwise be stagnant or in decline.

The Simpsons stamp collection will feature all of the "human" characters of the family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. There were over 50,000 stamp concepts suggested for the Simpsons, but only 20 made the final cut.

The Simpsons 20th season is scheduled to be a yearlong celebration, complete with a culminating gala on January 14, 2010.

Over the past 20 years, the Simpsons have provided the intelligent voice of satire for our society and our family values. The show has somehow managed to remain entirely original and cutting edge, while always speaking - sometimes critically - to the most traditional and sacred of our values. The Simpsons have given birth to a wide range of animated prime-time programming, which we now take for granted. With the show likely nearing the end of its run of new episodes on television and with a successful movie already in the franchise, it will be sad to see it move on. But you can own a piece of the Simpsons forever for only $.44.