Default! The two sweetest words in the English language!— Homer
Default! The two sweetest words in the English language!— Homer
Scholarly academics and enthusiastic fans of “The Simpsons” and “King of the Hill” filled an auditorium in the Psychology building Friday afternoon for a discussion with Paul Lieberstein, Greg Daniels and John Collier, three veteran writers of the animated shows. The event, presented by the Program in American Studies, was called “Homer, Hank & the American Dream: Social & Political Satire on American Television.”
The discussion quickly developed into a question-and-answer session on the writers’ approaches to creating new episodes and storylines.
According to the writers, when “The Simpsons” first aired, it was the complete opposite of “The Cosby Show” and “Family Ties,” two of the most popular television shows of the time. Homer Simpson was a man who was chasing the American dream, but wanted “everything without consequences.” Yet the show still focused on something most Americans could relate to: a home, a family, a steady job and exercising liberties. Read the full story by Clicking Here.
You may or may not know that the famous Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, Futurama and our own Life in Hell comic strip, is also a former music critic, for the L.A. Reader circa early ’80s. Groening is a lifelong, well-versed music fan who’s been only somewhat involved in the choice of musical guests on The Simpsons (the show has featured Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, Lenny Kravitz, Elvis Costello, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Smashing Pumpkins and numerous others), but not to the extent that Middle America gets scared off by too much obscure weirdness. That’s right, Groening’s a supereclectic whose real cup of tea you might call music from the fringes. He recently took on the job as curator of All Tomorrow’s Parties, the progressive mixed-bag music festival. Read the ful interview with him about the event by Clicking Here.
Hey fans, the official season opener for the 15th season is tonight, 11/09. Glenn Close comes back to guest voices as Homer's long lost fugitive mother. Homer has the difficulty of catching up with his mother in everything that she missed in his life all while trying to keep her from being caught by Burns and the law. Visit the official Fox emailer website for this episode.
“D’oh!”? Perhaps it really should be “Dough!” With original shows in production, several reruns a day in syndication and thousands of items that now feature the faces and voices of its unforgettable characters, “The Simpsons” is an industry unto itself.
Fox has harnessed a whole realm of “Simpsons” licensing opportunities over the years. Unlike most movies and TV shows, which get an initial rush of interest in branded merchandise before fading into obscurity, “The Simpsons” has provided endless fodder for manufacturers and retailers.
Some 500 companies around the world are licensed to put “Simpsons” faces on everything from action figures to cereal — and 96 percent renew their contracts. Major retail brands like Burger King and Butterfinger, which came back for new deals after a hiatus, can’t get enough of “Simpsons” tie-ins. A line of “Simpsons” pet toys just launched at Target; a recent video game, “The Simpsons: Hit and Run,” remains a big hit; and Brunswick just signed a deal for a “Simpsons” bowling ball and bowling leagues at its 109 alleys. Like other companies, it hopes to harness the show’s ageless appeal and signal a promise of family fun. “It’s an excellent match,” says Don Jones, Brunswick’s director of retail marketing.
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Do you know what time it is? Well if you don't have a cool enough clock then it's time that you get the new Simpsons Animated Anniversary Clock. Every hour the clock has animated action inside of it featuring Homer and Bart. The clock is made the celebrate the 10+ years our favorite family has been entertaining us. This item will retail for $38.99 when it comes out in January next year.
Hey there couch potatoes, there's a new product out there that puts a little twist on the regular type of motion lamps out there. Shaped in the form of a TV, the Simpsons Virtual TV Motion Lamp features the fmaily members and the background changing at the picture moves. If you push the button on it then it also plays the Simpsons theme song. The dimensions of the item are 9x12x3.3in. which makes it perfect for hanging up on the wall. You can currently pick this item up at Spencers for $49.99. Thanks again to our main outside guy Joe for giving us the scoop on this item.
Hey all of you art collectors. 20th Century Fox and their art dept. has officially announced the release of the latest limited edition, hand painted, fine art giclee. This piece is limited to 100 pieces with 20 of them that comes with a proof of the artist's sketch. This piece also has a COA signed by Harry Shearer; voice of Burns, Smithers and others. The scene is a wonderful holiday one that is 18" by 12" in size. Retail price for this piece is $1200. We recommend for more information please visit the Wonderful World of Animation's website.
