The Simpsons

The Simpsons has maintained a steady Annual rhythm for 37 years, typically returning in September. Since its full-length series debut in December 1989, the show quickly transitioned into the anchor of Fox's Sunday night lineup, establishing a remarkably consistent broadcast pattern that aligns with the traditional North American television season. This reliability has seen the series produce over 800 episodes, making it the longest-running scripted primetime series in American history while serving as a cultural touchstone that spans multiple generations of viewers.

The show's historical trajectory is defined by its unwavering presence during the autumn premiere window, rarely deviating from its late-September start date. While early seasons occasionally experimented with January or November starts, the series has spent the vast majority of its three-decade run premiering on the last or second-to-last Sunday of September. This schedule is often punctuated by its iconic Treehouse of Horror specials in October, further cementing its seasonal identity within the network's annual programming cycle and ensuring its status as a permanent fixture of the television landscape.