Lisa Simpson would love this college class. The brainy, introspective daughter of blue-haired Marge and loutish Homer would eat up the intellectual challenge of determining the place of pop culture in postmodern American life. Lisa Simpson is an animated TV show character, so she can’t really sign up for Southern Connecticut State University’s new class on “The Simpsons.” But 25 SCSU students and a professor can’t wait for the fall semester to begin so they can begin discussing and critiquing the philosophical underpinnings of the long-running Fox-TV show. “Cartoons don’t have any deep meaning. They’re just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh,” Homer Simpson once said. SCSU Professor Charlene Dellinger-Pate, who will be teaching the course — “Postmodernism, Parody, Pastiche: Deconstructing ‘The Simpsons’” — begs to differ. Read More >>>
Reminder: Bongo Creators
Repost: Comics Unlimited in Westminster CA are giving you the opportunity to celebrate ten years of Bongo Comics with an in-store appearance by Bongo editor Bill Morrison and writers Batton Lash and Jesse McCann. These people are heavily involed in the creation of Simpsons Comics, and McCann was also editor of The Simpsons Beyond Forever. You’ll have the opportunity to talk to the people, as well as get autographs and sketches, and meet other Bongo fans. The appearance will take place between 3 and 5pm tomorrow Saturday August 2nd, so if you live in the area or are passing by, make sure you check it out! The poster of the event can be found here, or you can find out more about Comics Unlimited at their official website.
Homer Assists Wisdom Search
“The class came to a general agreement: Homer Simpson is incontinent. “With moments of continence,” a professor added. This is no normal college course, and not just because it sounds like the class is commenting on a popular cartoon character’s bodily functions. Don’t have a cow man, but Siena Heights University is offering a course on philosophy, theology, and The Simpsons. That’s right, the irreverent, animated television show that has aired on Fox since 1989 and made “Eat my shorts” a rallying cry for rebellious youths has taken its place in academia. “Philosophy 200: Animated Philosophy and Religion,” is making its debut here this semester at the Catholic, liberal arts university of 1,170 students.The idea is to use The Simpsons as a tool to introduce students to significant philosophical and theological figures and their ideas.” Read More >>>
Canada’s Answer To Homer?
“When Jacob Thomas entered the Is Your Dad Like Homer? contest just before Father’s Day, his dad agreed to pose for the perfect character-driven picture. The picture Jacob submitted for the contest reveals his dad, Jim Thomas, lounging on a living room couch, grasping a bottle of beer in his left hand and balancing a plate of doughnuts on his swollen belly. Caught just as he’s taking a bite out of one doughnut, the north St. Catharines man looks as if he’s having a Homer Simpson moment. But wait — there doesn’t appear to be any slobber dripping down Thomas’s chin. And he has a full head of dark brown hair and a dark beard. And four fingers and a thumb on each hand. And is that a pillow stuffed under his shirt? OK, so maybe his dad doesn’t look like the infamous cartoon patriarch, but Jacob, 9, said Monday that his dad “drinks lots of beer, eats lots” and “sits on the couch a lot.” Read More >>>
Bob Hope, Dead At 100
One of the nation’s most honored comedians, Bob Hope, has died at the age of 100. His longtime publicist says Hope died last night of pneumonia, while surrounded by his family at home in Toluca Lake, California. Hope was a star in vaudeville, radio, television and film — most notably a string of “Road” movies with longtime friend Bing Crosby. For decades, he took his show on the road to military bases around the world, boosting the morale of servicemen from World War Two to the first Gulf War. He was admired by his peers, and generations of younger comedians. Woody Allen called Hope “the most influential comedian for me.” Hope appeared as a guest voice on The Simpsons in Season 4’s “Lisa The Beauty Queen”.
I Don’t Wanna Grow Up
No matter how many laughs a television show can squeeze from an impish boy, cracking wise and bugging out his eyes at various oppressors, a sudden end to the laughter looms. The comedy often stops when puberty starts. Fox’s Sunday night hit “Malcolm in the Middle” is the latest series to confront the reality of a star hitting adolescence, with all its attendant restructuring of face and physique and vocal cords. … Only one show has succeeded in keeping a kid in the lead for a decade: “The Simpsons” with the animated Bart Simpson. Watching Bart never mature is considered a key to its enduring appeal. “Early on, I know that the powers that be decided that no one would age,” said Tim Long, the show’s current head writer. “A kid with a starter ‘stache, that would just be unpleasant,” he added. “You don’t worry about his future because in a way he has none.” Read More >>>
Homer For New Zealand PM?
“It’s said we get the politicians we deserve – but Homer J Simpson for New Zealand prime minister? Only in his dreams. A Simpsons comic has Homer coming home drunk and waking to find he’s become our PM – surrounded by Kiwis, sheep and a framed picture of Xena star Lucy Lawless. Helen Clark is in Korea and a spokesman doubted if she had ever watched The Simpsons. But, he said, “she thinks Homer would do a better job than Bill English”. Not to be outdone, English, the National Party leader, confirmed The Simpsons was a regular favourite in his home, prompting the occasional tussle over the remote at news time. Asked if Homer would make a good PM, he said: “Well he’d make a better prime minister than the present one – because he’s not politically correct and he has a sense of humour.” Read More >>>
Simpsons Promotion A Winner
Australia: “FOXTEL entertainment channel Fox8 received almost 100,000 entries in its Sunday night Simpsons Text Trivia competition over a four-week period. The competition was offering a prize that money can’t buy – a tour of The Simpsons animation studios, lunch with a Simpsons’ writer, a VIP tour of the Fox Studios Lot and a signed Simpsons cartoon cell. Fox8 marketing manager Suzanne Dunseath-Hamilton said she was surprised at the number of entries, which had exceeded expectations. “This result clearly demonstrates that our viewers are highly committed to the interactive aspects the channel has to offer,” Dunseath-Hamilton said. The text component of the competition operated through Legion Interactive. The success of this promotion can ensure that Australian fans will be offered similar contests in future.”
Futurama: The End Is Near
A prediction: Viewers eons from now will give “Futurama” the credit it deserves today. When the show’s time finally comes, this shrewd cartoon series could well be endorsed as an accurate picture of life, circa A.D. 3000. For now, however, we ancients of the 21st century who love it will continue to celebrate “Futurama” as unbeatable satire – even as its prime-time cycle nears an end. The final three new “Futurama” episodes can be seen on Fox on Sundays at 7 p.m. through Aug. 10. Granted, four seasons in prime time is nothing to sneeze at – unless compared to “The Simpsons,” still going gangbusters on Fox after 14 years. Matt Groening’s big “Simpsons” follow-up, “Futurama” has always been overshadowed by his brilliant first-born. Who knows why? The verbal humor, sight gags, wicked cultural jabs and general irreverence that make “The Simpsons” great are found full-strength on “Futurama,” as is spectacular voice talent. Read More >>>
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Fox Announce Sunday Lineup
FOX today announced the season premiere dates for all their popular shows including The Simpsons. Our previously predicted November 2nd date is correct, and being named as the ‘unofficial’ season premiere as it is the annual Treehouse Of Horror special. The ‘official’ premiere will be on November 9th, with either My Mother The Carjacker or The Regina Monologues tipped to be the opener. The complete list of dates reveals Fox’s new Sunday lineup starting November 2nd as follows: King Of The Hill at 7:30, The Simpsons at 8:00, new interview show/sitcom The Ortegas at 8:30, Malcolm In The Middle at 9:00, and new series Arrested Development at 9:30. Oliver Beene is missing from the lineup but will return at a later date.
Update: Comics Continuum has confirmed that ‘My Mother The Carjacker’ will be the official season premiere, not ‘The Regina Monologues’.
‘Hit And Run’ In The News
Vivendi has revealed some more information and screens about its mission based driving title, The Simpsons Hit & Run. The game features over 56 driving and on-foot missions in seven levels spread out over familiar Springfield landmarks such as the Kwik-e-mart, and even the Simpsons’ home. 17 characters can take over 40 vehicles, while you can also explore Springfield on foot as Homer, Bart, Apu, Marge, and Lisa. There will also be hidden pickups containing episode-specific bonus material from the last 14 seasons, a multiplayer mode for up-to four players and a fully authentic voice casting. The Simpsons Hit & Run will be released in November on PlayStation2, Xbox, Gamecube and PC. You can see new screenshots at Games Domain.
OFF Give Hornby A Rev Up
“The Simpsons are helping create a new generation of Scalextric fans, the toy car racers that have entertained kids since the Sixties. Scalextric owner Hornby told shareholders at today’s annual general meeting that sales of both its Hornby and Scalextric ranges are ‘encouraging’, helped by a number of new product launches including ‘The Simpsons Micro Scalextric’. Group trading in the first few months of the year has met expectations, the company said. Retailing at £29.99, the Simpsons model contains two cars, one with a Homer figure and another with son Bart on a skateboard, allowing kids to chase each other’s cars. ‘Our prospects remain pretty bright,’ said chairman Neil Johnson.” Original Article >>>