7 Matt Groening TV shows worth watching at least once in your life

Matthew Groening is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. He is best known as the creator of the TV shows The Simpsons, Futurama, and Disenchantment. The Simpsons is the longest–running primetime U.S. TV series of all time, as well as the longest–running U.S. animated series and sitcom. Groening has won 14 Primetime Emmy Awards, 12 for The Simpsons and 2 for Futurama.

Groening used his personal drawings and life experiences to create worlds that are both real and ridiculous. His shows are unique, whether it’s a talking robot or a princess who breaks the rules. This list highlights seven of his most notable works, each worth watching at least once.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the author's opinions. Reader discretion is advised.

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Here is the list of 7 Matt Groening TV shows worth watching at least once in your life:

7. The Simpsons Shorts (1987-1989)

The Simpsons Shorts aired from 1987 to 1989 as quick animated clips on The Tracey Ullman Show. The one-minute stories featured the Simpson family, including Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The shorts have simple plots that focus on everyday family humor and strange events. Matt Groening quickly drew the characters before meetings with producers, so they were initially just rough sketches.

The family participates in funny sketches about family dinners, school, and everyday challenges, showing love and playfulness. These shorts were storyboarded and written by Matt Groening himself, who created the Simpsons universe. He sketched the characters resembling his own family and used those sketches as the basis for animation. Groening's creative ideas and unique character designs helped bring The Simpsons to life. He changed television animation and left a lasting mark on the medium.

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6. Futurama Live! (2013)

Futurama Live! was a special broadcast and performance held in 2013 to promote and enhance the fan experience of Futurama. The cast performed live script readings and answered fan questions on this TV show. The event provided a rare behind-the-scenes look, with writers and voice actors sharing their experiences and acting out characters on stage. Unlike a typical cartoon, the show focused on engaging with fans and explaining how voices and scriptwriting work together to create the show instead of telling a brand-new story in the Futurama universe.

Matt Groening, the creator, played a key role in Futurama Live!. He participated in the cast's script readings and shared insights on how the cartoon was made and what it achieved in humor writing. Matt Groening's appearance helped preserve Futurama's tradition and brought fans closer to the creative process.

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5. Disenchantment (2018-2023)

Disenchantment is an animated series on Netflix created by Matt Groening. In the whimsical kingdom of Dreamland, rebellious Princess Bean defies tradition at every turn. She goes on wild adventures that push the boundaries of magic and royal rules, with help from Luci, the small demon, and Elfo, the elf. Each episode features their funny and sometimes sinister adventures with monsters, magic spells, and other kingdoms. Viewers see that Bean tries to forge her own path while solving family conflicts, often leading to mischief.

Matt Groening created Disenchantment and was largely responsible for its premise, narrative, and style. He contributed his unique brand of humor and art, making it stand out from other fantasy cartoons. Matt Groening oversaw the writers and artists who developed the characters, crafted the world of Dreamland, and designed the sound.

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4. Space Ghost: Coast to Coast (1994-2008)

Space Ghost Coast to Coast is a satirical cartoon that mocks talk shows with talk-show-host-superhero Space Ghost. The show takes place in a fictional TV studio where Space Ghost interviews real celebrity guests who appear on screen. His sidekicks, Zorak and Moltar, used to be his arch-enemies but now serve as his bandleader and director. This TV show is known for its absurd humor, with guest replies often altered or edited to make them strange and funny. Most episodes show Space Ghost as clueless or confused, as his employees try to torment him.

In Season 3, Episode 10 of this TV show, Matt Groening is interviewed by Space Ghost. In that interview, Groening discussed his theory that Richie Rich and Casper the Friendly Ghost are similar characters.

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3. Futurama (1999-Present)

Futurama is an interesting animated futuristic show that takes viewers on an incredible journey with Fry, a young man from the twenty-first century. The audience sees that after an unexpected mishap, he wakes up a staggering 1,000 years in the future, where he explores a wildly transformed world filled with quirky characters, advanced technology, and mind-bending adventures. Fry, who now works for Planet Express in New York City, has unusual friends, including Leela, a tough starship captain, and Bender, a robot who enjoys breaking the law.

The characters embark on outrageous space adventures, communicating with aliens and robots to solve strange problems. The series is known for blending clever wit with themes of friendship, love, and technological stories. Futurama is the creation of Matt Groening. He was closely involved with the writers and helped direct the science fiction concepts, characters, and one-liners in each episode. Matt Groening's vision gave Futurama its unique comic and futuristic style, which contributed to the series' success.

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2. Portlandia (2011-2018)

Portlandia is a live-action sitcom from Portland, Oregon. The show features comedy and funny stories about Portland's quirky residents, including those interested in recycling, organic food, and current trends. The series stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein as different characters who make fun of Portland life and how people take small ideas too seriously. It includes light humor and simple topics such as hipster culture and contemporary living.

Matt Groening appeared as a guest star in a 2015 episode of Portlandia, playing a fake version of himself. Groening, a Portland native, said he liked how the show portrayed his hometown in a lighthearted way, especially for creating an illegal and subpar "Bart Ska-mpson" T-shirt.

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1. The Simpsons (1989-Present)

The Simpsons began as a regular series in 1989 and follows the lives of the Simpson family from Springfield. Homer is the lovable but goofy father, Marge the caring mother, Bart the mischievous son, Lisa the intelligent daughter, and Maggie the baby. Each week, there is a special episode about their daily lives, covering topics such as family, school, work, and everyday life in their hometown.

The Simpsons tackles issues in everyday life through comedic relief and occasionally features guest appearances. Matt Groening created The Simpsons and devised the original characters and storylines. He has served as the executive producer and leads the creative team and writers. The show's enduring popularity can mainly be credited to Matt Groening's ideas and visual style.

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Matt Groening changed how people see cartoons and comedy on TV. He gave viewers characters that felt both familiar and strange. His shows made people laugh while exploring serious themes about family, society, and the future. From short sketches to full series, Groening's work stayed fresh and innovative. He worked with writers and artists to perfect every detail.

The fans liked his sense of humor and his way of creating new worlds. His wide-ranging influence and lasting success are evident in these seven shows. They proved that animation and comedy can be smart, touching, and fun for everyone.