Watching Simpsons

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451 Press, The Simpsons, Writers Needed

This Sunday, the 20th, we’ll get to see two Simpsons episodes, the latter of the two bringing The Simpsons to 400 episodes. Ludacris makes his cameo as Luda-Crest, and Keifer Sutherland contributes to the 24 spoof in 24 Minutes. Below are some links to videos provided by IESB.net.

You Kent Always Say What You Want
Clip- Luda-Crest attacks bacteris
Clip- Krusty does his version of Itchy and Scratchy

24 Minutes
Clip- Bart Prank calls Jack Bauer

InsideBayArea.com had a few things to say about this milestone in Simpson’s history as did Al Jean, the producer.

Those 400 episodes means 50 pages per script or 20,000 pages of material. Executive producer Al Jean, who has been with the series from the start, talks about how “The Simpsons” keeps it fresh year after year.

“Even I have to admit there were a couple of times I was doing DVD commentaries and I’d do an ‘Oh, my God, we just did that joke on an episode ten years later,’” Jean says in a phone interview. “It was the one where Homer was having a picnic with Marge and they were watching fireworks and he said, ‘Let’s make some fireworks of our own,’ …we did that joke in ‘Kamp Krusty’ and then in ‘Special Edna.’ We try to avoid that, but sometimes we forget.”

But that’s nit-picking a series that has given us such wonderful devices as the “freeze frame” jokes, from the intro scanning little Maggie with different things popping up on the price to quick jokes you only catch on a second or third viewing.

Have to pay attention

“We throw in things like that, smart and impossible to read in the time that you watch the show,” Jean says. “Because we know people are actually out there who are going to go back and catch it.”

Jean says he is most proud of how “The Simpsons” changed animation on television.

“I love animation,” Jean says. “And one of the best things about ‘The Simpsons’ is how much more animation and how much more adult animation, by which I mean intelligent, satirical animation, there is on TV (now).”

Well that’s it for me. This is my last post on Watching Simpsons. I’ll be passing on this responsibility to whomever 451 Press deems worthy. Hopefully they do a good job.

The Simpsons, 24, Jack Bauer, Simpsons 400th Episode

-Anna

As the 400th episode approaches (airs the 20th), many are reflecting on the unusually long-running sitcom and it torrid past. I have found numerous articles/editorials on the 400th episode and thought I share some links to these articles for your reading pleasure.

Article #1
This one is a well-crafted article that tracks the 18 seasons of the most dysfunctional family aired on American television. Check it out. Here’s a blurb.

If Seinfeld had lasted as long as The Simpsons has, its finale would have featured a graying foursome closing in on 55 (60 for Kramer), far nearer, of course, to that much-derided condo in Miami Beach or to those discounted movie tickets than their selfish, or childish, or birdbrained shenanigans would have you believe.

Article #2
This one is more of a news report, but the author speaks a bit with Matt Groening as he talks about his experiences over the years as The Simpsons and anything related to the Simpsons became insanely popular. Here’s a blurb.

It was a few years back, and he was stopped and searched while going through security at Los Angeles International Airport. “Suddenly, this kid walks by and shouts, ‘Heah! Heah!’ just like (schoolyard bully) Nelson Muntz would have,” Groening recalls.

Article #3
This one discusses just what exactly has help keep The Simpsons boat afloat this long. Apparently is has a lot to do with not changing anything about the characters. Interesting. Here’s a blurb.

For an overweight, doughnut-scarfing, beer-swilling, lazy idiot, Homer Simpson sure knows how to run a marathon. Of course, the residents of Springfield USA possess superpowers all their own. They’ve pulled off the unparalleled feat of remaining hip in the fickle world of pop culture with barely a tweak of the brush.

That’s about it. While there were more, they are fairly lackluster and so I did not included them. The 400th episode, a spoof on FOX’s 24, will air May 20th on FOX.

The Simpsons, Simpsons 400th episode, 24, Matt Groening

-Anna

That’s right, now you can drape yourself in Simpson apparrel. The Canadian Trio groups has secured rights to use Simpson images on their new line of Simpson clothing.

The apparel line would comprise T-shirts, pants, mainly knitted wear. This lounge wear would be among the first of the products under the Simpsons line to be brought to India and plans were afoot to bring other products as well.

Obviously these kinds of things are all over the U.S, but this new clothing line might be very different from what is currently available and so we might see, especially with The Simpsons Movie coming out, a new run on the Simpsons merchandise market as fans flock to get the latest in Simpson products.

In other news, we all know that the numerous towns in the U.S named Springfield have been praying that The Simpsons Movie premiere comes to their town, but it seems two Scottish towns named Springfield are hoping for the same privledge where the UK premiere is concerned.

According to BBCnews.com…

Officials in the Fife and South of Scotland towns said if they were approached by 20th Century Fox to stage the event they would be happy to do so. Despite not having a cinema and a population of less than 1,000, officials at Fife Council said they would jump at the chance to play host to the UK event.
Local authority event co-ordinator Linda Thomson said: “We think the most obvious location to host the UK premiere of the new Simpsons film is Springfield, Cupar, Fife. “Of course, neither Springfield nor Cupar actually have a cinema, but this would just give us the opportunity to create an American drive-in experience, in either the beautiful Haugh Park or Duffus Park, using our new top of the range outdoor projector.”

Well, I don’t think it will happen, but good luck to all of our Simpsons fans in the UK.

The Simpsons, The Simpsons Movie, Springfield, Simpsons merchandise

-Anna

You’d think that a show like the Simpsons were never be parodied simply because it is the show that does a parody of everything else. But Broadcaster.com has a video on their website that has a Simpsonized O.J. Simpson starring in an episode titled, “If I Did It…”
If you’ve been alive at all in the last year or so, you’ll remember when O.J. Simpson’s book “If I Did It..” came out where he speculates, in a huge amount of graphic detail, how he would have killed his wife. FOX is now demanding that the video be taken off the web.
AllHeadlineNews.com reports that…

Fox has ordered video sharing website broadcaster.com to remove the three “The O.J. Simpsons” clips, claiming they infringe on the studio’s copyright.
The shorts use a similar style to the long-running cartoon and feature O.J. looking a lot like Homer Simpson. O.J.’s two kids, Sydney and Justin, are made to resemble Homer’s children Bart and Lisa.
The clips open with a sequence similar to “The Simpsons” opening credits. The only notable difference is the family’s car is replaced by a white Bronco being chased by police cars.
Of the three clips, the first clip refers to O.J.’s book “If I Did It,” which News Corporation recently prevented from being published, while the third sees O.J. take a fictional family vacation to Iraq entitled “Warzone.”

For now the videos are still available at such places like Broadcaster.com and Youtube.com. The makers of the clips contest that making a parody out of copyrighted material is not against the law. The makers do make sure that the videos end with a note that nothing presented has anything to do with Matt Groening or anyone at The Simpsons. I don’t think that will appease anyone though.

No word yet on what the real O.J Simpson thinks about the videos.

Here is a clip of one of the parodies.

The Simpsons, Simpsons parody, O.J. Simpson, FOX

-Anna

We start of this week’s episode with the Simpson’s visiting a Harvest Festival. They mistakenly get lost in a rather large and, for some reason, electrified corn maze. The family splits up and Homer is the only one that doesn’t get out. They send in the Simpsons dog, Santa’s Little Helper, to get Homer out. Bart gets the idea that Santa’s Little Helper should be a police dog. Santa’s Little Helper enrolls in Police Dog School and soon graduates.

Bart now feels lonely without his dog to play with all day. After a disturbing day being a police dog, Santa’s Little Helper comes home in a bad mood and takes it out on Bart by biting his leg. Realizing that his dog is not the same, Bart gets a new pets, a snake. The snake rather enjoys strangling Homer.
Here are some clips of the aforementioned events…

Bart takes his new snake to school with him much to the dismay of his teachers. The snake escapes however and everyone is sent screaming from the building. The snake wonders into the chemistry lab and accidently mixes two chemicals together to form a gas cloud of death. The police, who went in after the snake, come out screaming about a gas cloud. Horror-stricken, Bart runs in to save his snake but is subdued by the gas cloud. Santa’s Little Helper runs to the rescue. Both the snake and the dog find Bart at the same time and now Bart has to choose between to two.
Bart ends up choosing his long-time friend Santa’s Little Helper. The snake is visibly put out, but secretly knows that he’ll always be there for Bart in the end.

Now for some of my favorite quotes from this episode.

In the corn maze…

Marge: Maybe we should split up.
Homer: Split up?! Marge, no! We can fix this marriage!
Marge: No, no ,no, I didn’t mean…
Homer: Fine! You want out? Then go, I can make it on my own. Before I met you, I had friends and dreams.
Marge: I was talking about…
Homer: Oh, please take me back! The dating scene is a nightmare. (Sobbing) I’m begging you!
Marge: I just meant that we should split up to get out of this corn maze.
Homer: Deep down, I guess I knew that.
Marge: Now, there must be a way out.
Homer: Of our marriage? (Sobbing) Oh, I don’t want to live. (Runs off into the maze.)

Still in the maze and having just been electricuted by the maze…
Homer: “How come things that happen to stupid people keep happening to me!!!

At the Harvest Festival…
Farmer (making a wagon wheel): Wagon wheels were the Internet of the 19th century!
Bart: Really?
Farmer: No.

Barts gets a python…
Bart: (About his new python) He is so awesome I already love him more than Lisa!

The Simpsons, Stop Or My Dog Will Shoot, FOX

-Anna

The fairly popular rock band Green Day will be performing on The Simpsons Movie according to TeenMusic.com.
But by doing so, Green Day will subject themselves to The Simpsons way of life, meaning that it is more than likely that the band will be the but of a few jokes or they be made fun of is some fashion.

“They’re really good sports and I think we both honour them and Simpson-ise them. You can take that however you want. They’re really nice guys,” says Matt Groening.

Hank Azaria, who voices numerous Simpsons characters including bar owner Moe Szyslak, adds, “I know that Moe yells out obnoxious stuff to Green Day while they’re performing. That I remember. He yells out stupid stuff to Green Day.”

“(They don’t play) at Moe’s Tavern. They perform elsewhere in the movie; they’re outside. And the whole crowd turns on them.”

I find it interesting that the movie is coming out in about 2 months and they are still announcing who will be in it.

In other news…
For all you gamers out there who were excited by the fact that a new Simpsons Game will be hitting shelves this fall might also be excited that you could play this new game on a limited edition Simpson style XBox 360. TechShout.com explains…

The Xbox 360 maker [Microsoft] has announced that they have entered into a partnership with FOX to offer fans a chance to win one of the 100 limited-edition ‘The Simpsons’ Xbox 360 Pro consoles.

The limited edition ‘The Simpsons’ consoles will be available through a series of special events and promotions. Do keep in mind that the ‘Simpsons’ consoles will NOT be sold in retail. So, you got to stay tuned if you wish to get your hands on one of these pleasantly yellow Xbox 360s.

Details about how exactly anyone wins these Simpsonized XBoxes have not been released yet, so if you’re hankering for one these things, you’ll have to pay special attention to gaming sites.

The Simpsons, The Simpsons Movie, Green Day, XBox 360, Microsoft, FOX

-Anna

According to GameGuru, EA is offically annoucing a new Simpsons Game to come out this fall.

The game will feature the full cast of voice actors from the TV show who will reprise their roles for the game, which sees Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa use thrilling, all-new powers to save the world from rising pandemonium. Gamers must journey through all of Springfield (as well as vast worlds beyond!), defeat an astonishing collection of villains, and fight their way through parodies of multiple popular games to help the Simpsons.

Scot Amos, Executive Producer, The Simpsons Game says, “Our goal in developing THE SIMPSONS GAME is to create the most original game ever, which is a lofty goal and only possible given the close collaboration with ‘The Simpsons’ creative team. We’re also especially proud of the game’s warm visual feel, which captures - for the first time ever in a game - the look of the TV show.”

The game will be available on PS2, PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii, and the XBOX 360.

The Simpsons, EA Games, Simpsons game

-Anna

IfMagazine.com interviewed executive producer Al Jean about his feelings on reaching The Simpsons 400th Episode, a significant milestone, and about how The Simpsons have survived for so long. Here are a few blurbs from that interview.

iF MAGAZINE: You’ve been with the show for a very long time, yet it still seems so fresh. Why do you think you haven’t exhausted any ideas?

AL JEAN: There are several reasons why the show has lasted as long as it has. I think the way the show was originally created by Matt [Groening], Jim Brooks and Sam Simon. THE SIMPSONS universe is so rich and varied, we can really do different things every week and I think the fact that the characters don’t age and it’s animation. When you watch LEAVE IT TO BEAVER in the final year and suddenly Beaver is nearly an adult, it seems pretty stupid. It doesn’t age as well. Whereas the kids on our show, they’re eternally ten and so on. And we work very hard. We have staff of 20 writers and many more animators who are very dedicated and on the ball.

iF: You’ve never been very secretive about future episodes coming up with the SIMPSONS, yet everyone’s been very secretive about THE SIMPSONS MOVIE.

JEAN: I’m not even sure why we’re so secretive, but we’ve kept it so well, now we don’t really want to reveal it. There are things we can do with the animation and story we couldn’t do on a television show that’s 30 minutes long. One thing I can’t emphasize enough, when we made the movie, the show had been successful enough. We didn’t want to do something that was an attempt to make money off the show. We really wanted to do something we were proud of and do something that this is a movie that deserved to be a movie.

iF: Do you think you’ve exhausted every idea and permutation for the series?

JEAN: We really haven’t. Coming up up with Season 19, we have new ideas that we’re enjoying doing. We have an episode where Homer flies in Mr. Burns’ private plane. He loves it so much, he never wants to fly in a regular plane again. That might be our season premiere. Stephen Colbert and Lionel Richie are in it.

iF: Is there ever a SIMPSONS idea that you decide is something you won’t do?

JEAN: There is very little we won’t do, but it should have two things, a real human emotion connected to some member of the family or in Springfield and if you can make a satirical point, that’s even better.

iF: At the end of the day, when do you think it would be the end?

JEAN: If the cast didn’t want to do it or if we ran out of ideas. I don’t think the former is imminent and I’m still excited about the shows we’re doing.

I think it’s interesting that the main creators, Matt Groening, Mel Brooks, Sam Simon, and Mr. Jean, haven’t wanted to let the show go. It seems that when other shows go out, you hear comments from those involved in the show that it was time to move on. I’ll be surprised if anyone from The Simpsons say anything like that.

If you’d like to read the rest of the article, visit ifMagazine.com.

The Simpsons, Al Jean, The Simpsons Movie, Simpsons 400th episode

-Anna

During the annual Groundwater Festival put on by the Central Platte NRD had the pleasure of showing an animated film produced by Matt Groening about the precious resource of groundwater. The Festival is centered around teaching school-aged children about groundwater and about how we can protect that natural resource. Matt Groening supplied the animated “Nobody Knows Where It Goes” where a talking walleye speaks about groundwater and the issues that surround it.

In other news, there is a lot of talk that a new Simpsons game will be released by EA Games. A countdown site was put up on the web yesterday (it has since been taken down) and most thought it was counting down to some announcement about the prospective Simpsons game. The countdown graphic had similiar font used by the Simpsons and the standard yellow and pink colors surrounding it. Thus, everyone suspected The Simpsons as being behind this. No word yet on the game, but folks over at Pro-G forcast more info to come out soon on The Simpson game.

Lastly, it has been announced that The Simpsons Season 10 DVD will be released to its adoring public on August 7th. The SimpsonChannel gives the details on the DVD…

In addition to the 23 episodes, the set will contain Deleted Scenes, Animation Showcases, Animatics, Simpsons Movie DVD Sneak Peek, Butterfinger, Intel and CC’s commercials, Crank Calls feature, and a bit from the animators.

The DVDs will look to sell at around $50 for the US and around $70 for Canada.

The Simpsons, FOX, Matt Groening, Simpsons game, Simpson Season 10 DVD

-Anna

This first clip is of Homer ready and waiting for the fire alarm that could go off at any moment. Homer’s sleepwalking sort of crippled the Fire Department is a horrific incident and so Homer and some others volunteer for the Fire Department.

This next clip is of Bart and Milhouse taking advantage of Homer’s sleepwalking.

Here are some quotes from this episode that I thought were worth repeating:

Bart: Why am I sleeping when right next door is every kid’s dream - - a fat, suggestible, zombie dad?

Homer: Oh, why must I have 3 kids and no money, when I can have no kids and 3 money!?

Mayor Quimby: It is with great pride that I place the safety of our city in the hands of the first four people who showed up.

Marge: Just come back alive.
Homer: Don’t tell me how to do my job!

Homer: Moe, I can save you if you let go of the grandfather clock.
Moe: But it’s been in my family for 40 seconds!

Homer: Moe! I need to talk to you!
Moe: Are you kidding Homer! it’s 500 degrees in here! (Checks Therometer) Oh, it’s only 495 degrees. What’s on your mind?

For an excellent review/recap of this episode, check out EntertainmentCritical.com.

The Simpsons, Crook and Ladder, Simpsons quotes, Simpsons video

-Anna

First up..

We all know that The Simpsons are known for having celebrities guest star on the famous cartoon. Many have joined the ranks of the jawless forms we call The Simpsons such as Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, and The Rolling Stones. Prince almost had the same coveted opportunity until his chauffeur got in the way.
PR-Inside explains…

PRINCE cancelled plans to appear in an episode of THE SIMPSONS, because creator Matt Groening wouldn’t agree to a script written by the pop star’s chauffeur. Groening tells the New York Daily News, “Prince wanted to do the show, so we wrote him a script. It didn’t work out, because his chauffeur had written a script too, and Prince wanted to use that one.”

Well, you can’t put a price on the sacred relationship between a pop star and his driver.

Next in the news, we have new The Simpsons Movie posters. Here are a few examples of the new posters. Thanks to CinemaBlend.com for the images.

And last but not least, TheSun.com came out with an article recently where experts claim that The Simpsons do a better job at educating kids about the danger of drugs than the schools do.

The TV cartoon gives a more accurate picture than “worthy” classroom lessons, according to Richard Ives.
And it holds children’s attention because it is funny, he said.
Mr Ives praised episodes where teenager Bart gets high on “an all-syrup Squishee”, mum Marge “drinks spiked water and trips” — and dad Homer takes dope.
And he added: “What characterises these drug references, apart from their humour, is their accuracy and level of detail.
“Any one of these would provide a fantastic starting point for class discussion about drugs.”

Mr. Ives also believed that lessons about drugs should be brought to those kids who are already using as well as those who have yet to experiment. He feels that while lessons on drugs don’t necessarily need to be spiced up, they do need to be approached from the same standpoint as The Simpsons, simply because kids will relate better and enjoy the lesson more.

Well, that is it for Simpsons news today. Don’t forget the new Simpsons episode on Sunday titled “Crook and Ladder.”

Here is the synopsis of that episode.

Maggie goes on a path of destruction in the Simpsons home after Marge follows advice in a parenting magazine and throws away her pacifier. Marge finally gives in and sends Homer to get Maggie a new pacifier, but when he cant find the right brand, Maggie comes up with her own substitute an especially squeaky dog toy. Homer cant sleep through the toys incessant squeaking and is driven to take sleeping pills, which turn him into a sleepwalker with a penchant for mischief. When one of Homers sleepwalking schemes leaves the entire Springfield Fire Department debilitated in the hospital, Homer and some of his fellow Springfieldians become volunteer firefighters. They extinguish several fires and are rewarded with gifts, but when the gifts stop coming, they seek other forms of compensation for their heroic acts.

The Simpsons, The Simpsons Movie, Prince, Crook and Ladder

-Anna

CanMag.com reported earlier this week that rap star Chris “Ludacris” Bridges will be making an appearance on an upcoming episode of The Simpsons, the 400th episode to be exact.

Imagine Ludacris with a Simpsons overbite. You’ll have to for now, because Bridges himself hasn’t even seen his Groening-esque visage yet. “I haven’t seen it yet. That was a crazy thing. I did a voice for the markup, but I haven’t seen the finish version. So, I’d be just as surprised as everybody else.”

“The Simpsons are also airing two episodes the night of May 20, including a 24 spoof with Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer. Bridges is simply playing Ludacris.”

Personally, I’m more interested in the 24 spoof simply because 24 is one of my favorite shows.

The Simpsons, Chris Ludacris Bridges, 24, Kiefer Sutherland, Jack Bauer

-Anna

Sad but true. MTV.com is reporting that even after Minnie Driver recorded her lines and felt confident about her role in The Simpsons Movie, she was cut from the movie.

“My whole story line got cut.” The “Good Will Hunting” star had recorded her lines months ago — intended as one of many celeb cameos in the highly anticipated, highly secretive adaptation of TV’s longest-running comedy — but recently got word from the producers that it ended up on the cutting-room floor. “I was playing a grievance counselor,” she said of the scene. “It was terribly funny, and it was still one of the funnest afternoons I’ve ever had, working with them. It was one great scene.”

Driver says she’s not angry, however, with Simpsons creators Matt Groening and Mel Brooks. “No, I was sad, but I understand. … I haven’t had mad words with them.”
I suppose it’s a reality for any celebrity cameos that they may get cut in the end. They were nice enough though to call Ms. Driver personally to tell her about the cut. That would be a lot better than telling all your friends and then finding out in the theater that you’re not in the movie.

Minnie Driver, The Simpsons movie, Fox

-Anna

So it appears that the majority of you would NOT give The Simpsons Movie the ‘R’ rating despite the fact that Bart will participate in a full frontal nude shot.
I got tons of comments on here and on Netscape.com so I thought I would include portions of the conversation that went on yesterday about this, apparently, tender subject.

Susan Parrish: “The Simpson movie should probably get an “R” rating because of content alone, never mind cartoon nudity. It’s not a show for kids, I can’t imagine the movie would be any better. It better not be! :D”

Landshark: “Actually, minimal nudity only gets a movie PG-13 rating. R rating is reserved for gratuitous amounts of nudity/sexual content, violence, and drug references/usage. Unless this movie follows their Halloween specials for violence, then there’s no reason for it to be rated R.”

Mowens1984: “I can’t get why the Simpsons is stooping to some of the comedy approaches I’ve seen in the previews. I always thought the show was funny as it was.
I think Futurama is hilarious. Why couldn’t they just take the old Simpsons ideas and mix it with some of the humor Futurama had instead of resorting to nudity and crude violence. (I always thought the violence before was extremely limited and mild)”

Centauri4: “I find it hard to believe that people are getting chatty about a little, harmless adolescent nudity! Kids do not have the hangups “adults” do about bathing or playing naked, it is not until adults “educate” them to be embarassed that shame develops.
It is unfortunate that in the United States the average person automatically has sexual thoughts at the slightest hint of a bare breast or buttock! If adult parents did not perpetuate the culture of shame our children would not have such problems with it.
It is the majority of adults in this country that need to grow up!”

AceofSpades1: “Until Donald Duck puts on a pair of pants - the Simpsons should not get an R rating.”

Evilin3d: “Sadly it seems as if most of the people talking about this movie would take their keep their kids from looking at MichelAngelo’s David or sue the school if the picture wasn’t removed from the text books and encyclopedias.”

PeptoLG: “It depends if the nudity is baby Bart, or growing Bart…
Then again, animation is a form of art, and nudity in art is never censored. I mean, come on, its a drawing, and not a detailed one at that.”

Brandon: “Not only should it get an R rating, if its true — wich its probably not– it would violate federal law. pornography laws state that child porn is ANY Depiction of a nude minor REAL or DRAWN. and a full frontal of Bart would qualify–sorry folks you’re all pedophiles.”

Interesting debate isn’t it? Well, like I said, the big wigs have already decided NOT to give an ‘R’ rating, so I guess it now comes down to choice.

Thanks for everyone who commented and voted. It was a lively discussion to say the least.

The Simpsons, The Simpsons Movie, FOX

-Anna