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See the world's magazine covers from the day 'The Simpsons' premiered

From Sexiest Man Alive Sean Connery to scandal-plagued Vanna White

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On Sunday, December 17th, 1989 at 8:30PM ET, Fox aired The Simpsons series premiere, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," bookended by America's Most Wanted at 8PM and an hour of Married... with Children at 9PM. There wasn't much fanfare or press, relative to what you might imagine now. The Simpsons didn't grace magazine covers, the PR machine wasn't in full swing. But what was on magazine covers is an amazing reminder of just how far we've come as a society. Or not, in some instance.

In honor of The Simpsons 12-day marathon, which kicked off this morning, here's what your newsstand probably looked on the day of the premiere. (For issues that might have published early or lingered late, we put both — they're so amazing.)

And remember: we once lived in a world where Sean Connery was People's Sexiest Man Alive.

People, Dec. 11th and Dec. 18th

Time, Dec. 11th and Dec. 18th

US News & World Report, Dec. 11th and Dec. 18th

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

GQ, December

Sports Illustrated, Dec. 11th and Dec. 18th

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

Vanity Fair, December

Forbes, Dec. 11th and Dec. 25th

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

Car and Driver, December

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

Ironman, December

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

Popular Mechanics, December

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

MAD Magazine, December

TV Guide, Dec. 16th-22nd and 23rd-29th

Newsweek, Dec. 11th and Dec. 18th

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

The Atlantic Monthly, December

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

Esquire, December

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

The New York Times Magazine, Dec. 17th

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

Cosmopolitan, December

The New Yorker, Dec. 11th and Dec. 18th

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

Motor Trend, December

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

Psychology Today, December

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

Omni, December

Simpsons Premiere Magazines

National Enquirer, Dec. 12th