As you might know, Sunday marked the 500th episode of the television phenomenon “The Simpsons.” After 23 straight seasons on the air, many think the show is long dead. But Sunday put a flicker of hope into the series that will hopefully continue to last.

The episode received a 30 percent increase in its normal viewership. Yes, it was more heavily advertised than normal episodes, but this shows people still care about the show. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a regular viewer of “The Simpsons.” Usually, I’ll just catch a rerun. Yet I think I speak for many when I say I may not truly appreciate the show now, but when it’s gone, I’ll miss it. You always want what you can’t have.

There are only two other primetime series that have reached the monumental 500: “Gunsmoke,” which reached 635 episodes, and “Lassie,” with 588. Obviously, “The Simpsons” joined that elite club for a reason.

Yes, it’s dry. Yes, it’s old. And yes, it’s dragging on. But it’s dragging on for a reason. Fox still airs it for a reason. And there’s a reason series creator Matt Groening had a star installed this past week on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s because, simply put, both Groening and the series as a whole still have genius in them.

Although the series may not have vast amounts of regular followers, it still has a solid cult-like fan base, just as the best shows do. Turn on any episode of “The Simpsons,” and I guarantee watching it will be a well-spent 30 minutes.

1989, before most of us were born, marked a very monumental year for America and the world. The Berlin Wall came down. Nintendo released the Game Boy. George H.W. Bush became president. “The Simpsons” premiered. We’ve had four presidents and countless video game consoles since then, but one thing has remained the same: “The Simpsons.” Something that can stand this test of time is pretty darn impressive.

So, I may not take full advantage of it, but the series has been a staple in my life for, well, ever. It’s something I enjoyed both in my childhood and today. It’s a rare show every generation can truly enjoy. It’s been part of pop culture since Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” became a hit on the radio, and losing this piece of pop culture would be like losing a favorite memory.

**A “Simpsons” timeline**

**April 1987:** The Simpsons family was first created for one-minute shorts on “The Tracey Ullman Show.”

**December 1989:** “The Simpsons” premieres as its own half-hour show on Fox.

**September 1990:** The series wins an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program. The show would go on to win 22 more awards throughout the years.

**October 1990:** The first “Tree House of Horror” episode premieres.

**December 1999:** Time Magazine names the series the 20th century’s best television show.

**January 2000:** The Simpsons family receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

**February 2003:** The series becomes the longest-running comedy show in the history of television.

**February 2007:** 7-Eleven remodels several stores across the country to resemble Kwik-E-Mart, the iconic convenience store in the show.

**July 2007:** “The Simpsons Movie” is released and brings in $527,071,022 worldwide.