Tim Long, an executive producer and senior writer of The Simpsons, insists he’s not a performer. Still, he displayed the skills of a standup comedian yesterday afternoon, fielding questions about the popular animated TV series from students who crowded into The Wave, a University of Western Ontario bar. After writing stints on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and Late Night with David Letterman, Long joined The Simpsons in 1998. “I think Homer Simpson’s the best character in TV history and credit for that belongs to Dan Castellaneta,” said Long. “The writers are always asking how stupid should Homer be and we decided he should never be dumber than a dog. But then the question becomes ‘What kind of dog?'” Read More >>>
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Sarah Michelle Episode Details
TV Guide’s entertainment news has given us further details on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s upcoming appearance which we first reported a month ago. Spoilers follow. “Former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar recently recorded an episode of Fox’s The Simpsons to air in early 2004. In the episode, the Chosen One plays a kiddie delinquent named Gina who befriends Bart in juvenile detention. She later helps the bad seed escape, and the two go on the lam à la The Defiant Ones.” These details confirm a storyline that Dan Castellana mentioned in our previous update. This episode is likely to air early next year. The Simpsons returns with new episodes on November 2nd.
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Dan Talks About Season 15
Northern Illinois University has conducted an interview with Dan Castellaneta, voice of Homer, and one of their most famous alums. Their Weekender section talks to him about his past at the University and briefly touches on the show. But in a separate article he talks Season 15. Spoilers follow: “Homer and Bart make a battling robot. Marge and Homer talk about their past romances. Homer becomes an avenging super hero. Bart goes to juvenile detention. Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabapple get married. Or do they? Tune in.” The separate article also discusses how long Dan thinks the show will run. Read the full Weekender article here and extras here.
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Treehouse Of Horror DVD Out
While the eyes of Simpsons fans were fixed on the release of the Season 3 DVD, another set has slipped under the radar. The Simpsons: Treehouse Of Horror collection has been released in North America today and is available for the RRP of $14.98. The single disc includes Treehouse Of Horror V, VI, VII, and XII, as well as a special Kang And Kodos featurette. Current reviews seem to share disappointment over the fact that only five episodes are included when it could have been so simple to include them all. But if you’re a Simpsons fan that just can’t wait for these episodes to come out on the season-sets, we recommend you purchase it from Amazon for the wee price of $11.23.
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Simpsons In Psychology Mag
The Simpsons were pictured on the cover of August’s Psychology Today magazine. A feature article titled “Men Know from Homer, Women from Marge” is now available to read on the net, as the issue is now a month old. “Sure, we ogle “The Osbournes” and love “Everybody Loves Raymond.” But when it comes to a conjugal relationship that everyone understands, the hands-down winner is primary-colored and two-dimensional. Psychology Today visits the stars of America’s real reality TV show, “The Simpsons.” Read More >>>
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Animation Connection Events
Animation Connection will be having TWO World Exclusive signing events featuring Simpsons voice actor Hank Azaria (Apu, Chief Wiggum, Moe & more) and director Wes Archer (The Simpsons, Futurama, King of the Hill). There will be a special advance on-line exhibit with a fantastic collection of original production cels, drawings, backgrounds, storyboards and more for sale. This special advance sale is available to Simpsons fans worldwide, while the signings are good news for those living in Toronto. To find out more about these events, visit Animation Connection and click the ‘Simpsons Mania’ banner. Thanks to Jack Skorochod from Animation Connection for the news.
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Al Jean Talks To IGN
Al Jean has been busy promoting the new Simpsons DVD, and his second interview in a week, as well as a review of the new release has just been put online at IGN. The interview is an interesting read, particularly if you’re wondering why the DVD releases are taking so long (Season 4 will take just as long), or if you’re looking forward to a Simpsons movie. Jean also talks about how he believes the show could last twenty years if the cast and crew are still up for it. Very informative, I recommend you check it out. Read More >>>
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Best. Simpsons. Game. Ever.
Those are the words from Electronic Gaming Monthly’s review of The Simpsons: Hit And Run, and today they have been showcased on the game’s official website which is now open. This highlights the fact that the game will arrive in stores in just over half a month. The official website looks great, using a popup window and flash, it brings you details and screenshots of the game right from the game creators. If you prefer, you can also use the unofficial website (which doesn’t use a hyphen in the url, spelling a nasty word) here which is still providing links to the latest reviews and screenshots.
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Third DVD Set Bows Big
First-day sales of “The Simpsons: Season 3” DVD doubled those of the Season 1 DVD release and were about 20% ahead of the Season 2 box, according to Fox executives. Released Tuesday, it is estimated to have already sold through about 40% of its initial shipment of about 500,000 DVD units. A half-million units is a fraction of what major theatrical titles ship to retail outlets and video rental stores, but for the TV-to-DVD niche, it is a large shipment. The industry has found that seasonal DVD releases of series’ such as HBO’s “The Sopranos” can be rather lucrative because each box set retails for about $50, compared with about $20 for a major theatrical release. The increased profit margins and the length of time TV-to-DVD product tends to remain selling on store shelves has made TV-to-DVD products one of the hottest growth sectors in the realm of DVD, several industry sources said.
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Al Jean Armchair Interview
“Emmy-Award winning executive producer/writer Al Jean has a credit on over 200 episodes of The Simspons; heralded by members of TheManRoom as one of the greatest comedies ever. Now wrapping up his fourteenth season with the show and celebrating the release of Season 3 on DVD, Al is as much a part of its success as Homer’s D’oh! “I met Sam Simon who was hiring the staff for the Simpsons and my partner and I were the first writers hired. None of our friends wanted to do it since it was a cartoon. So, we were pretty much in the right place at the right time.” Read the rest of the interview with Al Jean at TheManRoom, who are also giving away Simpsons DVD’s with a Simpsons Soccer Player Figure.
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Freebies And Competitions
The Complete Third Season DVD hit stores across America today, but if you’re one of the unlucky ones who hasn’t got their copy yet, or are strapped for cash, the internet is here to save you! Both @ N-Zone and Premiere Magazines are running separate competitions where you can win a copy of the disc, saving you fifty dollars. Make sure you read terms and conditions on the sites. Meanwhile, if you’re planning to pre-order The Simpsons: Hit And Run on either Gamecube, PS2, or XBOX, make sure you do it at Ebgames.com, where with every copy ordered you’ll receive a free hat (not Hat McCulloch). Thanks to Simpsons Collector Sector for the Hit And Run news.
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L.A. Simpsons DVD Signing
Fans of The Simpsons living in the Los Angeles area might want to trek down to the Virgin Records Megastore on Sunset Blvd. in West Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 26 to get their season three DVD sets autographed. Harry Shearer, who provides the voices of Mr. Burns, Smithers, Flanders, Principal Skinner, Reverend Lovejoy and Otto, together with David Silverman, the animation director of the series from the beginning, will be signing copies of The Simpsons Season Three DVDs from 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m.