“The Simpsons did it!”

And they are going to keep doing it, because Fox has just renewed the television staple for an almost unimaginable 29th and 30th seasons, which will allow the animated classic to break Gunsmoke‘s scripted prime-time record of 635 episodes. This two-year extension will bring The Simpsons total number of episodes to 669. (On a per-season basis Gunsmoke is still ahead, as it ran for “only” 20 years.)

We first saw the news of this monumental announcement over at Variety, and while it isn’t exactly surprising that Fox is bringing it back both to get the record number of scripted prime time episodes (numerous daytime soaps that air every day have way, way more), and for the nice round “30” figure (The Simpsons set the record for individual prime time scripted seasons way back with their 21st), it is still crazy to think that a bunch of animated shorts from HBO’s The Tracey Ullman Show in the 80s led to the longest running show in prime time history.

There have been reports of the show coming to an end after “this season or the next” for almost two decades now, so whether or not this is the final renewal is anyone’s guess, but The Simpsons have been around for so long (it’s debut episode, “The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” premiered on December 17th, 1989) that by the time their 30th season ends the show will be Constitutionally allowed to run for the Senate.

Gunsmoke wasn’t even old enough to order a Duff.

What do you think, will this be the last time The Simpsons get brought back? Or will they keep going past 30? Tell us in the comments below.

Images: Fox