Tag: miscellaneous

The Hollywood Reporter, the entertainment industry’s premier trade publication, is celebrating the 300th episode of The Simpsons with a special issue devoted to behind-the-scenes looks at the show. Available on February 11th, this issue is sure to be a collectible. US residents, Click this link to order your copy today! Those outside the US should use this form to order.

“Most right-thinking television viewers know that Marge Simpson works hard to coax her reluctant family to church each Sunday. They know, too, that Apu is a devout Hindu, Krusty is Jewish, and the Flanders family are just about the most enthusiastic Christians in the world. There is lots to learn about religion and spirituality and how it is examined in the comings and goings of the residents of Springfield. Religion is a constant theme that exists in the long-running cartoon sitcom.

So, it made perfect sense for a parishioner at a church in Don Mills to look deeper into how religion works its way into The Simpsons and use it as a way to spark discussion at Immanual Baptist Church. David Tang started teaching a series of classes called ‘The Gospel According to the Simpsons,’ something that is sort of half about The Simpsons approach to religion, and half about the approach taken to God by everyone else.” Read More >>>

“The yellow-skinned folks known as Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie walked (well, Maggie crawled) through hotel hallways among TV critics. On the loudspeakers, Harry Shearer, in the role of Mr. Burns, invited writers to sit down for “our depressing presentation.” Luckily, little of Fox Broadcasting’s presentation on the final day of the winter Television Critics Association Tour was depressing. In fact, it was highlighted by a jolt of pure joy: The cast of “The Simpsons” lined up onstage to perform a live table reading of an episode in which Lisa gets a crush on bad-boy Nelson.

The presentation helped Fox deliver an energy boost to members of the press, and the journalists were grateful for it at the end of 13 days of interviewing and schmoozing with the stars and creators of new and old series.” Read More >>>

The Simpsons have been used to sell everything from computers to candy bars, and now the family patriarch is getting sporty for Reebok. Homer, who most recently had it his way with the limited edition X-treme Bacon & Cheese Whopper at Burger King, will be featured next month in the companys’s new print campaign “Mmm … Classic.” Sporting a pair of Classic Supercourts that are available in a variety of colors and sell for a suggested $60 a pair, Homer will be ready for the basketball court even if he never manages to get off the couch. “Homer is perfect for Reebok Classic,” says Reebok Chief Marketing Officer Micky Pant. “Our Classic products let people take it easy and relax, and as we all know, Homer is the king of kicking back.” View Original Article >>>

Entertainment Weekly has posted their list of TV’s winners and losers for 2002. FOX finished fourth in both total viewers and in the 18 – 49 age group, behind CBS, NBC, and the ABC who had hits such as CSI, Friends, and The Bachelor. The Simpsons, together with King Of The Hill and 24 were big hits for FOX, with Homer and the gang finishing No. 19 in total. The most significant figure is that The Simpsons added two million more viewers from last season, proving that the show isn’t going anywhere in a hurry. Well done, Simpsons. Thanks to Graham for finding this information. Read More >>>

What is the secret to the success of The Simpsons? The show has managed to outlast countless numbers of television shows and still has one of the strongest fan bases ever. The Simpsons has what other shows do not. The ability to slow time. Maggie’s still sucking her pacifier, Lisa has her sax and Bart will forever be a rule-breaking elementary-school rebel. Malcolm In The Middle is not a cartoon. And that was made even more apparent this season than any other. The cast of Malcolm is not going to make it 14 years and probably not even seven before outgrowing their roles. Read More>>>

The Rolling Stone covers are still making news. This one has a few factual errors but was a good read.

“Neuroscientists—normally a reserved group—were laughing at William M. Kelley’s presentation. He wasn’t upset, however. The researcher had just shown the scientists a clip from the sitcom Seinfeld to illustrate how his group investigates the brain’s response to humor. With the aid of Jerry Seinfeld and his friends, as well as the animated characters of the cartoon The Simpsons, Kelley and his colleagues have found that different brain regions spark with activity when a person gets a joke versus when he or she reacts to it.” Read More >>>

Guest stars rocked 14th season premiere of The Simpsons. The episode featured a who’s who of music superstars, including Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, Lenny Kravitz and Brian Setzer. As the series closes in on 300 episodes, more than a hundred celebrity guest voices have been featured. Some, of course, work better than others. Many fans complain that celebrity-filled episodes are usually pretty lame. However, some celebs belong in Springfield. Setting aside semi-regulars Kelsey Grammer (as evil Sideshow Bob) and the late Phil Hartman, Jam! Showbiz has selected the top 10 guest stars in the show’s long history. Read The Article >>>

Bart and Homer Simpson are coming to town. The pair will be the guests of honour at Huddersfield’s Christmas lights switch-on. More than £15,000 will be spent on illuminations to get the town’s shoppers into the festive spirit.

Zap2it: Following on the heels of young fans of The Simpsons, Burger King is now putting Treehouse of Horror-inspired toys in Big Kids and Kids Meals. They are also giving the Whopper a make-over a la Homer. As of Yesterday, those in search of a heart attack wrapped in tissue paper can get the Homer Simpson X-treme Bacon & Cheese Whopper consisting of a burger piled with four-and-a-half strips of bacon, two slices of American cheese plus on slice of smoked cheddar cheese. Read More >>>

Hexam Courant: Football fans don’t usually like seeing yellow cards, but 10-year-old Newcastle United fan, James Pattison was prepared to make an exception when he led ten of his friends and family on to the hallowed turf of the UK national sports centre at Bisham Abbey. For the “card” in question was the cartoon hero Bart Simpson! A meeting with Bart and his dysfunctional family was part of James’s prize when he won a back-to-school competition at Marks & Spencer. Read More >>>