The Simpsons’ is set to enter the fourth decade of its existence and break the record for most episodes of a scripted television series, with the news that Fox has renewed for an unprecedented 29th and 30th season.

With Friday’s news (November 4th) that the network had given the green light to two more seasons of ‘The Simpsons’, it means that the yellow, four-fingered family will overhaul Western drama series ‘Gunsmoke’ as having racked the most television episodes ever for a scripted series.

The Simpsons'The Simpsons' has been green-lit for seasons 29 and 30

‘Gunsmoke’ broadcast 635 episodes between 1955 and 1975, but when ‘The Simpsons’ are done with the 30th season they’ll have made 669. “Take that ‘Gunsmoke’!” said the irrepressible Homer Simpson in a statement. “You lost a race you didn't even know you were running!”

The news comes just a few weeks after the series, which is already the longest-running scripted TV series in terms of years of its existence (it first aired in 1989), broadcast its 600th episode in the middle of season 28.

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“This is yet another record-setting moment for what is truly a landmark series,” Fox TV Group chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman said. “’The Simpsons’ has meant so much to the network, the studio and everyone at Fox, and its continued cultural impact around the globe is a testament to the combined brilliance of Matt [Groening], Jim [Brooks] and Al [Jean].

“Congratulations to everyone who works on this groundbreaking series – from the voice cast and producers to the writers and production team – you comprise one of the greatest collections of creative talent in the history of the medium. And to the millions of ‘Simpsons’ fans around the world, thank you for watching all these years. We’re happy to tell you there’s lots more to come.”

‘The Simpsons’ is shown on Fox on Sunday evenings at 8pm.

More: ‘The Simpsons’ broadcasts its 600th episode