The Simpsons wasn't the longest running cartoon family in 1997 nor is it today.
Japan's Sazae-san was, is & will remain for a while the longest running animated TV show in history, obviously this answers the question of the longest running cartoon family as well.
It debuted in 1969 and produces new episodes today
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However if you mean strictly American television, the closest answer is The Flintstones although it only ran for 6 seasons. The Simpsons passed The Flintstones' run in 1995 not 1997.
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The running back (aka Megget) in The Longest Yard was played by rapper Nelly.
What is the longest soul music event
Four Corners.
There was a time when we might have said that cartoons are for children, but in recent decades we have had a number of very successful adult oriented cartoons, of which "The Simpsons" is the best known and longest running. Practically anyone can find some cartoon that is to their taste. However, some people are too busy to watch cartoons, or too impoverished to own a television, or are otherwise incapacitated. People in a coma do not watch cartoons.