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In 1989, the shorts were spun off into a half-hour show on the Fox network called The Simpsons.

Bart quickly became the show's breakout personality and one of the most celebrated characters on television — his popularity in 1990 and 1991 was known as " Bartmania ".

Bart was described as " television's brightest new star " by Mike Boone of The Gazette and was named 1990's " entertainer of the year " by Entertainment Weekly.

Despite Bart's fame, however, Cartwright remained relatively unknown.

During the first season of The Simpsons, Fox ordered Cartwright not to give interviews, because they did not want to publicize the fact that Bart was voiced by a woman.

Cartwright's normal speaking voice is said to have " no obvious traces of Bart ", and she believes her role is " the best acting job in the world ", since she is rarely recognized in public.

When she is recognized and asked to perform Bart's voice in front of children, Cartwright refuses because it " freaks out ".

Bart's catchphrase " Eat My Shorts " was an ad-lib by Cartwright in one of the original table readings, referring to an incident from her high school days.

Once while performing, members of the Fairmont High School marching band switched their chant from the usual " Fairmont West!

Fairmont West!

" to the irreverent " Eat my shorts!

" Cartwright felt it appropriate for Bart, and improvised the line ; it became a popular catchphrase on the show.