FOX extends 'The Simpsons' run

'The Simpsons' is now set through Season 22 and Episode 493

Thursday, Feb 26, 2009 1:44 PM

Daniel Fienberg

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Homer Simpson of 'The Simpsons'

Credit: FOX

Viewers will get to enjoy several more seasons of FOX's "The Simpsons" in its pristine new high-definition incarnation.

On Thursday (Feb. 26), FOX announced that "The Simpsons" has been renewed for two addition seasons.

The 44-episode pickup will see "The Simpsons" through its 22nd season and will bring Matt Groening's animated family through to their 493rd episode.

It's been a busy year for "The Simpsons," winner of 24 Emmys, 23 Annies and a Peabody Award.

In May of 2008, "The Simpsons Ride" opened at Universal Studios in both Orlando and Hollywood. The next month, the show's vocal talent signed a new four-year contract, avoiding the sort of unrest that characterized 2004 and 1998 negotiations.

This January, "The Simpsons" began its year-long "Best. 20 Years. Ever." celebration, which will culminate on Jan. 14, 2010 with the 20th anniversary of the series' debut. And on February 15, the show premiered in high-def with a brand-new opening credits sequence.

The next new episode of "The Simpsons," titled "How the Test Was Won" airs this Sunday (March 1) on FOX.