Stirring Memory lands Boyle in Talent final May 25, 2009
Her videos have earned millions of hits on YouTube, shes appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, has been name-dropped on The Simpsons, and managed, with apparent common sense, to cope with the worlds press camped on her doorstep on Scotland. Her every move and mini-makeover have been chronicled almost daily. (MSNBC -- News)
Hayden Panettiere, Star of "I Love You, Beth Cooper," Invites Americans to Reveal Their 'Moments of Truth' May 22, 2009
Directed by Chris Columbus ("Home Alone," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"), the film is based on the popular 2007 novel of the same name by Larry Doyle of The Simpsons and Beavis and Butthead fame. About Twentieth Century Fox Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment (FFE) - both subsidiaries of News Corporation. (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
REVIEW: Not the best finale for America's favorite show May 21, 2009
If you've ever wondered why a show that's a pop culture phenomenon has never managed to win the Emmy, perhaps it's because it routinely departs with a two-hour special that looks like it was modeled on The Simpsons Family Smile-Time Variety Hour. And that on top of a season when the show already has been derided for its amateurish inability to finish on time and find the time to fit all four judges into the time allotted. (USA Today -- Life)
Susan Boyle inspires Homer to audition in The Simpsons May 21, 2009
Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle has inspired cartoon slacker Homer Simpson to audition for a talent show in The Simpsons ... Her appearance in The Simpsons video extra, Springfield's Got Talent, is part of the show's 20th-anniversary season. (BBC News -- UK)
Sunshine, Sideways win Writers Guild honors May 21, 2009
Foxs The Simpsons prevailed in the competition among animated TV series for the episode Catch Em If You Can, by Ian Maxtone-Graham. In the comedy-variety series field, the victor was NBCs Late Night With Conan OBrien and for comedy-variety special it was The Kennedy Center Honors on CBS.. (MSNBC -- Academy Awards)
Fox keeps 'Dollhouse,' 'Bones,' adds 'Glee' May 21, 2009
Sunday's lineup remains largely intact with "The Simpsons" at 8 p.m., "The Cleveland Show" at 8:30 p.m., followed by "Family Guy" at 9 p.m. and "American Dad" at 9:30 p.m.. At midseason, Fox will unveil its two dramas. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Fox Announces Fall Schedule May 19, 2009
SUNDAY 7-8 p.m.: THE OT (NFL post-game) 8-8:30 p.m.: THE SIMPSONS 8:30-9 p.m.: THE CLEVELAND SHOW 9-9:30 p.m.: FAMILY GUY 9:30-10 p.m.: AMERICAN DAD ... SUNDAY 7-7:30 p.m.: ANIMATION DOMINATION ENCORES 7:30-8 p.m.: AMERICAN DAD 8-8:30 p.m.: THE SIMPSONS 8:30-9 p.m.: SONS OF TUCSON 9-9:30 p.m.: FAMILY GUY 9:30-10 p.m.: THE CLEVELAND SHOW. (TVweek.com)
Fox Upfront Kicks Off TV-Ad Ritual; Remote Free TV Re-Imagined May 19, 2009
The network also asked advertisers to support a special scavenger hunt as part of marking the 20th season of The Simpsons. Characters will pop up in interstitial breaks, promos spots and other series. (TVweek.com)
TELL US: Who was your favorite celebrity guest on 'The Simpsons'? May 15, 2009
Pressure is on 'The Simpsons' to capitalize on merchandise - USATODAY.com ... Pressure is on 'The Simpsons' to capitalize on merchandise ... "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening stands with a blown-up version of Homer's postage stamp on May 7, the day the U.S. Postal Service first issued the stamps. (USA Today -- Money)
Pressure is on 'The Simpsons' to capitalize on merchandise May 15, 2009
"The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening stands with a blown-up version of Homer's postage stamp on May 7, the day the U.S. Postal Service first issued the stamps. Take an interactive look at some of the celebrities who have starred on 'The Simpsons ... By David Lieberman, USA TODAY NEW YORK You wouldn't know it from watching The Simpsons. (USA Today -- Money)
NYT: Cash flow continues to rise for Idol May 14, 2009
While some programs, like The Simpsons, generate large revenue from merchandising and marketing deals separate from the broadcast, they dont have the audience delivery or all the hoopla of American Idol, said Mr. Adgate. I dont think there are any reality shows that have a similar, off-network shelf life. (MSNBC -- News)
Television: Fox looks for laughs this fall May 12, 2009
Returning series: "24," "The Simpsons," "House," "Lie to Me," "Family Guy," "American Dad," "Fringe," "Glee" (premieres May 19 for one episode only, then returns next season) and "Til Death," even though the latter series seems to be (joyfully) forgotten. Obviously, "American Idol" and a bin full of reality shows will return, but this is only about scripted shows. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Ullman gets lifetime Bafta prize May 11, 2009
It famously spawned The Simpsons, which started out as short sketches either side of the commercial break. Event host Sharon Osbourne paid tribute to Ullman. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
Clash of the toons May 7, 2009
The Simpsons creator Matt Groening and Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy insist any rivalry is affectionate ... The on-air tit-for-tat filtering on to Family Guy and The Simpsons has Michael Idato fascinated ... IN AN episode of The Simpsons that aired almost a decade ago, an animated Betty White (Golden Girls) begged viewers to support the Fox network. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Star Trek's got its mojo back May 7, 2009
If memory serves, the original Montgomery Scott did not sound so much like Groundskeeper Willie from The Simpsons. Credits for the movie, you may notice, also include Leonard Nimoy, whose appearance in the film is not a cameo but central to the story. (Globe and Mail -- Business)
This city girl sings in key of Dee May 4, 2009
Cattrall, whose previous voice credits include one-offs for The Simpsons and Rugrats, was allowed to do a fair amount of rehearsal and improvisation over the course of the tapings I think Dee became bigger and bigger, more and more filled out as we were going along. Indeed, at one of the recordings, I was starting to sing, y'know, and right there they decided to write a song. (Globe and Mail)
TV facing its own strict diet May 3, 2009
In a scene from The Simpsons, Homer cradles his beloved television set ... Hulu's smaller audience of around 41 million viewers are tuned into more ad-friendly full-length programs such as The Simpsons, Heroes, Family Guy and Saturday Night Live. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Sitcoms' laughs are in the now May 3, 2009
And "The Simpsons," of course, is nothing if not a grab-bag of contemporary trivia. These shows aren't just reflecting the changing mores of the era, in the manner of "All in the Family" and "Maude," which remain 99 percent understandable. (Boston Globe)
Everyone's a winner at the Bogies May 3, 2009
Most repeated: Love Actually, 5; About A Boy, 6; Gordon Ramsay, 6; M*A*S*H, 12; Guthy-Renker, 13; The Simpsons, 23. Winner, with 39: Two And A Half Men. (The Age, Australia -- Opinion)
Children at centre of junk food fight May 1, 2009
The coalition's chairwoman, Kathy Chapman, acknowledged the volume of food ads had fallen but said the proportion of junk food ads remained at two-thirds, with programs in the 6pm to 9pm slot such as The Simpsons and Home And Away recording the highest volume. "The proportion of unhealthy food advertising compared to healthy [ads] is much higher in times when there are more children watching than when there's a predominantly adult audience," she said. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Ten won't deny Homer's for the chop Apr 28, 2009
Network Ten has refused to scotch a rumour that it is set to dump its staple program, The Simpsons. According to reports, Ten is planning to axe repeats of the popular US cartoon and replace it with a 90-minute news bulletin, starting at 5pm. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
A mobster, a mother and a misfit top our (early) end-of-the-decade list Apr 28, 2009
Nominees: Larry David ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Ricky Gervais ("The Office," "Extras"), Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier"), Ray Romano ("Everybody Loves Raymond"), Homer Simpson ("The Simpsons"). Winner: Gervais. (Herald Online, SC -- Lifestyles)
Well, doggies: 'Hillbillies' on YouTube slate of films, shows Apr 18, 2009
Unlike Hulu, which has access to most of the current prime-time lineup from NBC and Fox (including 30 Rock and The Simpsons), YouTube has only one major network prime-time TV show, CBS' Harper's Island. The rest of the 1,000-plus shows are golden nuggets such as Beverly Hillbillies, Charlie's Angels, Bewitched and The Addams Family. (USA Today -- Tech)
REVIEW: 'Sit Down, Shut Up' needs direction Apr 17, 2009
Sit Down is probably a marginally better Fox fit with Family Guy than it is with The Simpsons, sharing Family's random sense of humor and looser structure. Stories are told in the two episodes made available for preview, but they're not worth repeating, which can also be said for most of the lines. (USA Today -- Life)
TV review: 'Sit Down, Shut Up' - don't bother Apr 16, 2009
"Sit Down, Shut Up," which settles between "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" starting Sunday, was turned into an animated series after the format was imported from Australia, where it was a live-action comedy ... It used to be that animation was a way to be distinct, but once "South Park" and "Family Guy" furthered the achievement of "The Simpsons" and so many quirky (and often hilarious) takes can be found on Adult Swim, the genre no longer seems especially intriguing. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Giving us the Hardsell Apr 15, 2009
He is the comic impersonator who has toured internationally with MacHomer, his one-man version of Macbeth performed by the voices of The Simpsons, and the trilingual actor who has collaborated with both Brooks and Robert Lepage, two of the most cerebral theatre directors in the country. He is the performer whose spring season includes touring MacHomer to Alberta and speaking no less than five languages in Lipsynch, Lepage's nine-hour show about the human voice that makes its North American... (Globe and Mail)
Chianca: My kingdom for some cable! Apr 15, 2009
It s actually nice out here, said my daughter Jackie, and she was right it reminded me of that time on The Simpsons when Bart and Lisa s favorite show got canceled and they suddenly began romping playfully outside as if it was the first time they d been there. And yes, the irony of the fact that a TV reference was the first thing to pop into my head is not lost on me. (Needham Tab, MA)
The Simpsons on Stamps! Apr 13, 2009
The Simpsons on Stamps ... The Simpsons on Stamps ... The Simpsons on Stamps. (Suite101.com)
Paul Slansky's Weekly Index of the News Apr 11, 2009
The Simpsons appearance on of. Stanford, Allen entertaining self-assessment by ("I flew around in a private jet, I had a boat, but I "). (Time.com)
Just like 'State of the Union,' Ullman's ready, raring to go Apr 10, 2009
In the 1980s, Ullman showcased her natural ability to create relatable, hilarious characters via The Tracey Ullman Show and The Simpsons. In the '90s, she ventured to cable TV with Tracey Ullman: A Class Act, Tracey Ullman Takes On New York and Tracey Takes On. (USA Today -- Life)
Doh! Simpsons stamps ready for prime time Apr 10, 2009
Five postage stamps featuring "The Simpsons" were unveiled by the U.S. Postal Service on Thursday ... This is the biggest and most adhesive honor The Simpsons has ever received, said creator and executive producer Matt Groening ... The Simpsons is more than just a television show, it's an American institution, he said. (MSNBC -- News)
Saturday's TV: The Best Of Tropfest Apr 10, 2009
Futurama Ten, 6pm The younger sibling of Matt Groening's better known and infinitely more loved The Simpsons, Futurama never fully stepped into the limelight. It's a shame as it's a sharp, witty series with as much (or perhaps more) to say about life in the 20th century as any show about a pizza boy who is frozen and wakes up 1000 years in the future. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
'Lifetime Bafta award' for Ullman Apr 9, 2009
The show famously spawned The Simpsons, which started out as short sketches either side of the commercial break. The British Comedy Festival and Awards take place as part of Los Angeles' annual BritWeek festival. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
Four-Time Emmy Winner Kelsey Grammer Becomes First Recipient of NAB Television Chairman's Award Apr 7, 2009
Best known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane in the classic NBC sitcoms "Cheers" (1984-1993) and its spin off "Frasier" (1993-2004), Grammer was nominated for Emmys for playing his character on three different sitcoms with the third being a guest appearance on "Wings." Grammer is also an accomplished voice-over artist providing the voices for popular animated characters such as Sideshow Bob from "The Simpsons" and Stinky Pete the Prospector in "Toy Story 2" among... (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Poehler for president Apr 6, 2009
"Amy has a very sharp comedy mind," said Parks and Recreation executive producer Greg Daniels, who holds the same rank on The Office and spent years on The Simpsons and King of the Hill. "She's particularly good playing completely deluded characters, so that's what we gave her.". (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
Tracey Ullman takes on America (again) Apr 3, 2009
She found the groove on her own Fox TV series (which gave birth to "The Simpsons" and provides her a nice little residual, thank you), honed it on HBO and now polishes it on Showtime. "It's great fun...and a lot of freedom," she says. (Sioux City Journal)
* World News Quick Take Apr 2, 2009
The Simpsons, the bumbling, dysfunctional cartoon family, will soon be on postage stamps, the Postal Service said. It plans five US$0. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Friday's TV: Medium Apr 2, 2009
30pm Despite its age, The Simpsons survives ... But The Simpsons is better than that and deserves some respect for staying true to itself. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Height makes right Apr 2, 2009
Those seem really fun," she said. "I was watching 'The Simpsons' commentary not too long ago, and it's interesting how they put that show together with the voices. It's really hard to bring those emotions out into an animated character. (Erie Times-News, PA)
The Simpsons get postage stamps Apr 2, 2009
The Simpsons has been on US TV screens since 1989 ... The Simpsons characters Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie will all feature on the five 44 cent (31p) stamps ... "The Simpsons are American icons, quite frankly," United States Postal Services spokesman Mark Saunders said. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
'Bolt,' 'Simpsons' fetch Humane Society praise Apr 1, 2009
Two animated productions - the feature film "Bolt" and the Fox TV series "The Simpsons" - have picked up top honors at the 23rd annual Genesis Awards, presented by the Humane Society of the United States to honor media presentations of animal-protection issues ... "The Simpsons" won for its episode "Apocalypse Cow," which the Humane Society praised for "telling it like it really is about the fate of 4-H Club animals and the bleak, inhumane nature of factory farming." ... Bolt,' 'Simpsons' fetch... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Five ads I hate. Can someone stop them? Apr 1, 2009
Arby's Reviled, hilariously, on The Simpsons' Lord of the Flies send-up (in which a starving, stranded child said, I'm so hungry I could eat at Arby's ) and pathetically revamped on The Apprentice, these sellers of what appears to be thinly sliced toup. e hair are still hacking away. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
Catch phrases Mar 30, 2009
Few television series have so many memorable and oft-quoted lines as The Simpsons. Of course, being on air for 20 years doesn't hurt. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Heigl says shell stay if Greys will have her Mar 29, 2009
What do "The Simpsons" have in store to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary. Plus, Stewie on "The Family Guy" finally talks to the cast of "Star Trek: The Next Generation". (MSNBC -- Television)
MacGyver set for movie remake Mar 17, 2009
Anderson even provided his voice for an episode of The Simpsons, in which he was kidnapped by Marge Simpson's sisters Patty and Selma who were obsessive fans of the show. The new film will be produced by the father-daughter team of Dino and Raffaella De Laurentiis, whose previous hits include Serpico, Flash Gordon and Hannibal. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
Time to raise a glass – Irish eyes are smiling Mar 17, 2009
Todays St. Patricks Day episode of The Simpsons will air in Ireland before North America ... Some of the guests marching in the parade are from The Simpsons actress Nancy Cartwright, who supplies the voice of Bart, and two of the show's producers are there ... See, The Simpsons is about to do an all-Irish episode. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
They took our money and then our stories Mar 16, 2009
Prime-time television is no respite, with the Simpsons losing their home to foreclosure. The best fictional send-up so far of the real-world financial was on 30 Rock, where Tracy Jordan sent the overnight markets into a tizzy with his half-assed pronouncements to a comically credulous Larry King, until everyone realized he had no idea what he was talking about and everything went back to normal. (Globe and Mail)
Critic's Corner Weekend Mar 13, 2009
The Simpsons (Fox, Sunday, 8 ET/PT) takes on The Da Vinci Code, as Lisa's search for her abducted baby sister puts her on the trail of Springfield's greatest secret. Standing in her way. (USA Today -- Life)
Murdoch Shuffles the Deck at Fox in L.A. Mar 13, 2009
The network's entertainment division buys and broadcasts such long-standing Fox shows as "American Idol," "24," "The Simpsons," "King of the Hill" and "Family Guy.". Peter Liguori, whose contract was to expire this summer, is stepping down from the post immediately, the company said. (ABC News -- Wire)
Samsung MBP200 Pico Projector Mar 10, 2009
A slew of guest stars have lent their voices to The Simpsons during the shows 20-season run, lets find out if you know who voiced some of these gems. AM on Digg. (New York Post -- Entertainment)
'Spinal Tap' Stars: Where Are They Now? Mar 5, 2009
In 1992, they released the album "Break Like the Wind" and appeared together for a television special "The Return of Spinal Tap." Plus, they did voice gigs as the group for an episode of "The Simpsons" and the movie "Small Soldiers.". And for the DVD debut of "This is Spinal Tap" in 2000, Guest, McKean and Shearer did the audio commentary in character which resulted in an effort almost funnier than the film itself. (KFOXTV.com, TX)
Source: Ed McMahon hospitalized with bone cancer Feb 28, 2009
In this July 24, 2007 file photo, Ed McMahon arrives at the premiere of The Simpsons Movie in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File). (Lompoc Record, CA)
The Simpsons to set US prime-time TV series record Feb 28, 2009
The Simpsons to break US record. A new episode of The Simpsons is to premiere in the UK for the first time ... Animated comedy The Simpsons is to become the longest-running prime-time series in US TV history after makers Fox ordered another two seasons. (BBC News -- Americas)
Mel B names daughter after Murphy Feb 27, 2009
The Simpsons to break US record. Baby died after 'mother's kiss. (Yahoo News -- Celebrity Couples)
Fox Renews The Simpsons For Two More Seasons Feb 27, 2009
LOS ANGELES (February 26, 2009)--Fox says it's renewing "The Simpsons" for another two seasons, which will secure the animated programs place as TV's longest-running prime-time series. Now in its 20th season, "The Simpsons" already had tied record-holder "Gunsmoke." The Western drama series aired for two decades on CBS before it ended in 1975 ... "The Simpsons" will pass that mark next season. (KWTX.com, TX)
F.T.A. – because Hollywood looked the other way Feb 27, 2009
But the master of churning out movies long after the cancellation of a series must be Matt ( The Simpsons) Groening, who has just released the fourth direct-to-video film based on the animated Futurama. Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder is more of the enjoyable same snappy patter, a robot without a conscience, on-time space deliveries, this time with an ecological theme and comes with Groening's typically generous bonus features. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
British actors dominate TV Globes Feb 27, 2009
" Other British successes at the Los Angeles ceremony included Sacha Baron Cohen, named best actor in a film musical or comedy for Borat. Screenwriter Peter Morgan collected the best screenplay award for The Queen. Babel was named best film drama, and Dreamgirls best musical or comedy movie, while Martin Scorsese won the best director honour for The Departed. FILM AWARDS 2007 ACADEMY AWARDS NEWS OSCARS SPOTLIGHT OTHER AWARDS NEWS HAVE YOUR SAY RELATED INTERNET LINKS The BBC is not responsible... (Yahoo News -- Golden Globe Awards)
Simpsons sets TV record Feb 27, 2009
Fox says it s renewing The Simpsons for another two seasons, which will secure its place as TV s longest-running prime-time series. Now in its 20th season, The Simpsons already had tied record-holder Gunsmoke ... The Simpsons will pass that mark next season. (The Palm Beach Post)
Victoria Beckham wins US TV deal Feb 27, 2009
The Simpsons to break US record ... The Simpsons to break US record. (Yahoo News -- Reality TV)
Coming to a small screen near you: culture for adults Feb 27, 2009
Never mind that a half-hour episode of The Simpsons has more reference, emotional complexity and political texture than probably the last decade of Eastwood's career. Nobody needs a lecture on how good The Wire is, or how hard you had to concentrate to watch The West Wing. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
News Corp. president to leave company Feb 25, 2009
Chernin joined the company in 1989 as president of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting, overseeing the production of shows like "The Simpsons" and "Beverly Hills 90210." In 1992, he moved to the film side and became chief executive of Fox Filmed Entertainment; the studio released "Titanic" on his watch. The company said that when Chernin left upon the expiration of his contract June 30, the Los Angeles-based units would report to Murdoch. (International Herald Tribune -- Technology)
It's a good time to be Indian Feb 24, 2009
It's not like the U.S. has shunned India, but we've enabled the Apu stereotype of "The Simpsons" for a bit too long. Weirdly enough, did a lot to break Indian and Asian American ethnic stereotypes. Sure, they were positive stereotypes -- smart, driven, serious -- but they didn't allow for humanity and individuality. (Seacoast New Hampshire)
Murdoch's No. 2 quits News Feb 24, 2009
Mr Chernin, 57, whom Mr Murdoch has described as his "close and trusted colleague'', has been with the global media giant since 1989. Mr Chernin has been president and chief operating officer of News since 1996. He joined the company as president of entertainment of the Fox Broadcasting company, a position he held for three years, according to News' website. Under his watch, the network launched such TV hits as The Simpsons, In Living Color and Beverley Hills 90210. From 1992 to 1996 he served... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Catchphrase: College vocabulary influenced by pop culture Feb 24, 2009
Even "meh," also of "The Simpsons" fame, was added to the Collins English Dictionary. Today's frequently used TV-derived catchphrases include "bromance" (thank you, Brody Jenner), "That's what she said" (oh, Michael Scott) and "spotted" (as in "Spotted: At the steps of the Met, an S and B power struggle") from "Gossip Girl.". (Daily Orange, NY)
TV highlights, Friday 20th Feb 20, 2009
The Simpsons Channel Ten, 7 ... A THEORY developed over 20 seasons of The Simpsons that you can tell how good an episode is going to be by the opening 60 seconds proves to be anything but scientifically veracious this week when a promising opening salvo turns to dust before our very eyes ... All up, "Double Double, Boy in Trouble" isn't conclusive evidence for the prosecution that The Simpsons should be euthanased immediately, nor is it anything to get excited about. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
