On This Night in ’89: “The Simpsons” Hit Prime Time

Evening, friend. Jack Reynolds checking in.

December 17 always makes me think of the nights we let the TV run a little late, just to catch something new and talk about it at school or work the next day.

Stick around for that Rangoon Red fastback, my brother used to point at every one he saw, and for the fast talking delivery commercial that still makes me grin.

Brings it all back, doesn’t it?

On December 17, 1989, “The Simpsons” showed up on prime time, and I remember thinking cartoons had finally grown up. That first episode pulled over 13 million viewers, and the show has since topped 750 episodes. My kids quoted it nonstop. Click for how this yellow family changed TV comedy.

The 1965 Mustang Fastback was the one that made a kid stare a little longer. Base price was about $2,368, and Ford hit a million Mustangs on the road by 1966. Today, the median auction sale sits around $27,500, with the hot 271-hp 289 bringing more. Click for the specs, options, and the story behind the frenzy.

That Wellsboro Diner neon on Route 6 could stop a man in his tracks in 1980, you can almost smell the coffee and pie. It first opened in April 1939, and it is a Sterling Diner No. 388 built in 1938. Click for the full photo and the roadside notes.

“When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight” still pops into my head at the post office. That fast-talking Federal Express spot won six Clio Awards, and Ad Age later ranked the campaign in its top 100. My wife laughs every time he rattles off those words. Click to watch the full original and see if you can keep up.

Tom Selleck became a household name in 1980 as Magnum, earning about $50,000 an episode and that mustache did half the work. Decades later he anchored long-running hits like Blue Bloods and built a net worth north of $45 million. Steady career, steady values. Click for the full ride from Hawaii shirts to today.

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Tonight’s “Your Memory” comes from Dwayne in Missouri, thinking back to a plain Saturday in 1983 that still feels rich. He rode along while his dad picked out two cans of porch paint and a new mailbox flag. They stopped for glazed donuts after, and the AM radio crackled the whole way home. My dad always said those little errands build a life.

Tonight’s Quote comes from Jim Henson, who reminded us that “Life is meant to be fun, and joyous, and fulfilling.” I grew up believing a good home ought to have laughter in it, even on tired workdays. My dad always said joy is a choice you practice. You can learn more about him here. Click in and see what else he built with that heart.

See you tomorrow. Same time, same station.

– Jack

Images are AI-generated or sourced from public-domain archives. Reader photos used with permission.