SHORT TAKES : ‘Simpsons’ Is Dream Come True

Cartoonist Matt Groening, creator of television’s offbeat cartoon family “The Simpsons,” says his mission is to offer a joke for everyone.

“Our ambition is to do a show that is watched by the whole family,” Groening said in an interview for today’s syndicated TV show “Personalities.”

“We know that not everybody is going to get every joke, but we think that there’s enough stuff in there for the little kids, as well as more sophisticated stuff for grown-ups and ourselves to keep everybody amused.”

The fall premiere of Fox Network’s “The Simpsons” airs Thursday night.

Groening said he’s always dreamed of having a prime-time cartoon show.

“It’s a strange fantasy to have,” he said. “I was actually surprised that no one else did it. I mean, when I was a kid watching ‘The Jetsons’ and ‘The Flintstones’ and ‘Jonny Quest’ and a few other forgotten ones, I thought that somebody else would catch on.

“It seems to me that there was an audience there, and I certainly felt part of it was for good animation on at night.”