“When our generation thinks of The Simpsons, there are mixed reactions. One cannot deny the essence of this animated sitcom: Social satire reaching new peaks of intelligence. The Simpsons episodes constantly analyze and create comedy from societal blunders. Sometimes the parodies exceed our knowledge (considering the fact that most of the writers of the show are Harvard and Yale alumni).
News
Simpsons-Style Families
“Although everyone would agree that some shows are better than others, The Simpsons has not grown stale; it continues to add to the pop culture lexicon. Homer’s description of the appeasing French as “cheese-eating surrender monkeys” is currently being tossed about on various Internet blogs. Naturally, there are some overly involved Comic Book Guy-like viewers who have misty, water-colored memories of the early Simpsons years. Groening once predicted rather wearily that The Simpsons will still be on in the year 3000, but there will be “fans on the Internet complaining that the last 500 shows haven’t been as good.” Current show runner Al Jean says “One of the things that’s kept the show on for 14 years is you have a universe of about 50 or 60 characters,” explaining that the writers therefore don’t have to worry about creating new story arcs and characters to keep the show fresh. Read More >>>
Ratings
Joe, Simpsons Boost Fox
Fox has had it’s best start to the year and it has a few names to thank. American Idol, Joe Millionaire, the Bundy’s, and ah yes, how could I forget, The Simpsons. Monday night’s two hour Joe Millionaire finale gave Fox its highest-rated night ever with entertainment programs, ousting the Michael Jackson hype on competing stations. The jaw-dropping stats come in the wake of Fox’s boffo Sunday night performance with the 300th episode of The Simpsons and as the network celebrates an amazing two-month transformation from fourth to first place in the ratings. Something tells us Fox isn’t going to stop there, with more big lineup shows and Joe Millionaire 2 in the works. Read More >>>
News
Simpsons Are So Endearing
Justin Walden writes: “Here’s to The Simpsons and their 14 seasons of hilarity and parody. I’ll admit it, I’m a Simpsons junkie. I joined what I bet were millions of other people Sunday in front of the tube for the cartoon’s 300th episode. You can’t beat a Sunday night spent watching a family whose peculiarities make even their Fox Television partners the Bundys seem normal. I never identified with the Simpson clan per se, I just enjoy the humor. Sure, my college buds and I may act like Homer when we’re out at the bar. Hmmmmm… Duff and pizza. Sure, there’s a little bit of Lisa’s and Bart’s distaste for authority in me. But that’s where it stops. My attraction to the cartoon stems, in part, from the fact that the writers are not afraid to make fun of the Simpsons along with everyone else.” Read More >>>
Ratings
Last Night’s Ratings Are In
A triple helping of The Simpsons, including the 300th episode for the animated series, led FOX into a tie with CBS atop the Sunday ratings. Each network won two hours on the evening. FOX averaged a 9.2 rating/14 share in primetime, the same numbers as CBS. ABC followed with a 7.5/11 and NBC scored a 6.7/10. Among adults 18-49, FOX won easily with an 8.5 rating, followed by NBC’s 4.5, ABC at 3.9 and CBS at 3.0.
Episodes News
Review Tonight’s Episodes
The Simpsons’ big night has finally arrived! Once you’ve seen the 300th episode (well, 302nd) and the new “I’m Spelling As Fast As I Can,” feel free to review each at the General Discussion forum of NoHomers.net. Enjoy tonight’s 90 minutes of OFF, folks!
News
This Year’s New Merchandise
Playmates Toys is currently showcasing tons of new Simpsons merchandise at the 2003 Toy Fair in New York City, including three upcoming waves of action figures, Simpsons screamers, bobble heads, new dioramas, and much more. Click here to read Playmates’ recent press release courtesy of simpsonscollectors.com.
Also, figures.com has released photos of much of the new merchandise so be sure to check everything out starting at the bottom of this page (the new photos span from pages 15 – 20). Finally, simpsonscollectors.com will have more new pictures from Toy Fair by tomorrow.
News
Irreverent Humor Wins Fans
“With alcohol prohibited in Springfield, Homer Simpson becomes a booze-supplying vigilante named Beer Baron. He is pursued by an Elliot Ness-like detective who, after a failed raid, mutters, ‘I’ll get you, Beer Baron.’
‘No, you won’t,’ Homer’s disembodied voice quips back. Drew Hanley laughs whenever he thinks about the scene, which he said is his favorite moment from his favorite TV show, The Simpsons. ‘I don’t know why that one’s so goofy, but it’s great,’ said Hanley, 17, a Memphis High School senior. Hanley and other local fans are looking forward to the show’s 300th episode, which airs at 8 p.m. today on Fox.” Read More >>>
News
Simpsons Hits A Homer Run
“Yellow skin, goldfish eyes and three-fingered hands aside, it’s no coincidence television’s most enduring family – the gleefully animated Simpsons – is also its most human. Compared to the truly stale antics of live-action TV dads John Ritter and Jim Belushi, beer-guzzling family man Homer Simpson is wholly flesh and blood, the suburban patriarch as misguided bonehead, yes, but also as long-suffering, well-intended husband and father.
News
Still A Riot At.. 302? D’oh!
“Yes, tonight’s thoroughly manic Simpsons episode, “Barting Over” is neither the 300th to be produced nor the 300th to be aired, as it has been widely promoted on Fox and in publications such as this. That honour actually belongs to “The Strong Arms Of The Ma,” which aired on Feb 2. It’s difficult to find a straight answer why milestone status has been bestowed on tonight’s episode. Some say that the 300 figure doesn’t account for two early holiday specials, while Fox maintains that there was some discrepancy between the original, scheduled broadcast date and the number of episodes that were eventually aired leading up to it. Conspiracy theories abound in online Simpsons discussion groups as to why this is so.
News
The Simpsons Always Score
“As Fox’s pop culture-obsessed show The Simpsons celebrates its 300th episode tonight, we couldn’t help but notice how often this irreverent yellow-tinted family aims its best barbs at the world of sports. Join us as we salute the 15 most outrageous potshots from Homer, Bart and company, while also noting the athletes who gave voice to their own animated alter egos.” Read More >>>
News
Tooned In And Turned On
“With the 300th episode of The Simpsons airing tonight, the show’s co-creator and executive producer Matt Groening is taking a moment to look into his cartoon past. Remember when the school principal commonly thrashed students with a wooden paddle? And the shop teacher kept his class under control by zapping them with the room’s electric generator? And when the boy started to cry, he was made to stand in the corner – in the garbage can?