The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on Thursday announced on its website that it will start issuing new stamps featuring the five main characters of the TV comedy series "The Simpsons" on May 7.

The stamps on Simpsons characters Homer; his wife, Marge; their son Bart, daughter Lisa and baby Maggie are the USPS's way of honoring the longest-running TV comedy show about a dysfunctional middle-class family lampooning American culture.

By issuing the "Simpsons" stamps, the USPS also hopes to promote stamp collecting among young people.

"The Simpsons stamps, which includes known philatelists Bart Simpson, will serve as a great opportunity to interest youngsters into stamp collecting," said U.S. Postal Service Executive Director of Stamp Services David Failor in a press release posted on the USPS website.

"This is the biggest and most adhesive honor 'The Simpsons' has ever received," said Matt Groening, creator and executive producer of "The Simpsons".

"We are emotionally moved by the Postal Service selecting us rather than making the lazy choice of someone who has benefited society," said James L. Brooks, executive producer of "The Simpsons."

Now on its 20th year of regular run, "The Simpsons" was picked by the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee from an annual list of 50,000 subjects suggested to be featured on stamps.