The Complete Simpsons Bibliography

Part V - Magazine and Newspaper Articles - 1998

It's good to know that in 1998 The Simpsons are still being featured on covers, because The Simpsons will still sell a magazine.

The Springfield Files (Karen Lavell and Nick Peers)

v2n1 Cult TV, Jan 1998, Cover and p4-5, p24-30

Cover features exclusive Homer Simpson drawing with the heading "Exclusive! Homer Superior: Springfield's Everyman Talks to Us"

Fantastic seven page spread on The Simpsons with a Mike Scully interview, a Yeardley Smith interview and a Homer Simpson interview. Scully: "The Simpsons follows the tradition of character-driven shows like The Flintstones and Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, but visually I think it's very new. At the time, the colours were unique and jarring, and that was intentional. Matt Groening understands how people watch television - with the TV zapper in hand. So he wanted to create something different to make people who were casually surfing channels stop and say, 'Whoa! What was that?' ". Hmmm. Yeardley gives her top ten Lisa's episodes, with number one being one of my favorites, episode 7F19 Lisa's Substitute. The entire interview is on the archive, and can be found right here!

Read it (book review) (Justine Elias, Darcy Lockman, and others)

Us Issue #240, Jan 1998, p34

Another positive book review, it says "When a TV show is described as 'dense,' that's not usually meant as a compliment -- unless the show is The Simpsons. The Fox show is so rich in visual humor, celebrity cameos and social satire that it's hard for fans to catch every joke, even using their VCR's freeze frame. Luckily, Matt Groening has created The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to our Favorite Family, a hilarious, exhaustive, generously illustrated study of one of the '90s' best sitcoms."

A perfectly accurate description if you take out the "one of the" qualifier.

For a complete list of Simpson books see our list on the archive right here!

A Year We Won't Forget (not supplied)

v8n3 Disney Adventures, Jan 1998, p13, p40

p13 On the January 1998 calendar we find a picture of Bart Simpson on January 14th with the caption "Happy eighth birthday to 'The Simpsons'"

p40 As part of an unforgettable 1997 they have "Eeriest Guest Appearance", "'X-Files' meets 'The Simpsons'". "David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson guest starred on 'The Simpsons,' giving fans a Sunday-night double dose of the weird and wacky."

A New Homeric Age (book review and more!) (Michael Dirda)

The Washington Post, Jan 11 1998, pX5

Simpson fan Michael Dirda relates his personal Simpson favorites while reviewing the book "The Simpsons: A Complete Guide To Our Favorite Family". It's too good not to quote parts of it;

Like Trekkies or sports fans, addicts of "The Simpsons" know that the show's genius derives from its details. We look hard to see what Bart is scribbling on the blackboard at the opening of each program; we wait for power-mad Mr. Burns to place his fingertips together and murmur "Excellent"; we check to confirm that the guest voice was Meryl Streep or Patrick Stewart or Mandy Patinkin. And though Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie obviously remain the heart of the series, most connoisseurs particularly relish certain minor characters. For instance, and to use his trademark phrase, many of you may remember Troy McClure from such films as "Leper in the Backfield" and "Locker Room Towel Fight: The Blinding of Larry Driscoll." I, for one, yearn for a show that would spotlight the genial charlatan Dr. Nick Riviera, graduate of the Hollywood Upstairs Medical College (altogether now: "Hello, Dr. Nick"); and I savor every all-too-brief encounter with the slobbish owner of the Android's Dungeon comic book and gaming shop. Of course, everyone's favorite villain remains the one, the only, the inimitable Sideshow Bob, that fiend in human shape with LUV and HAT tattooed on his knuckles. Because so much happens in each Simpsons episode (multiple story lines, a barrage of sight gags, nonstop repartee), it's easy to miss some of the humor -- one reason why the shows bear repeated viewing. (Michael Dirda is a writer and editor for Book World)

Mind behind "Simpsons' the toughest critic of all (Joanne Ostrow)

Denver Post, Jan 14 1998, pG1

Another good Groening interview at a Los Angeles restaurant. Groening is applauded for being his toughest critic saying "The Simpsons' is about 50 to 60 percent of what I want it to be" "I want the animation better, the writing tighter." Talking to alt.tv.simpsons, he says "We knock ourselves out week after week, and then there are always a number of (Internet) postings saying "worst episode ever."' Also noted is how Simpson writers "..continue to devote obsessive attention to detail. With more jokes per page than any sitcom, it's part of what makes the series so rewarding for fans. They labor over what they call "freeze-frame moments," sight gags that go by too fast for the eye and can only be appreciated by taping, replaying and holding the frame on-screen. Groening recalls spending 'hours working on the tombstones' at the start of the annual Halloween specials. And while the series has its share of low humor and sex jokes, from the start Groening has had a few ground rules. 'I don't want any women on the show who look like they were drawn by horny animators.' "

Simpson fans owe debt to Kiwi sleuth (Keith Sharp)

TV Guide (New Zealand), Jan 16 1998, p20

Story of how our very own Trissa McGettigan, of Simpson Archive fame, alerted Television New Zealand TVNZ to the fact that three episodes from season six had never been broadcast. They contacted Twentieth Century Fox who indicated it was an oversight and they were broadcast on TV2 beginning January 26, 1998. Definitely cause to be declared a national hero! Read all about it here!

Comics' Relief: Cartoons and comics, from The Simpsons to South Park, take on the digital medium (Richard Gehr)

v2n2 The Web Magazine, Feb 1998, Cover and pp18-24

Nice full Homer Simpson cover with the South Park standing side by side (as they're always seen) across the bottom.

Interesting cartoon article that unfortunately misses the mark in a couple of ways.

Sounding Out The Simpsons If The Simpsons is any indication, modern animation is ready to recognise the value of a soundtrack where 'live' motion pictures often are not. Richard Buskin enters the strange world of the cartoon (Richard Buskin)

v40n2 Studio Sound (UK), Feb 1998, Cover, p54-55, 57, 59

Our favorite family and their pets on the cover, dancing across the stage. The caption reads "The Simpsons: Postproduction blah, blah, blah".

p54 Great article on Simpsons sound recording to be transcribed!

Ask Liz (not supplied)

v8n4 Disney Adventures, Feb 1998, p18

p18 Letters to the Editor column for kids, where we see the most asked Simpsons question of all time;

Dear Liz; I want to ask you a couple of questions about my favorite TV show, "The Simpsons." First of all, in which state do the Simpsons live? And what is Homer Simpson's middle name? All I know is that it starts with a J. - Christ Tsotsos, 12, Toronto, Canada.

Dear Chris; Great questions! I called film Roman, the animation studio that makes "The Simpsons." They said although the Simpsons live in Springfield, they don't live in any particular state. And Matt Groening, the "Simpsons" creator, has said Homer's J doesn't stand for anything; it's a tribute to Bullwinkle J. Moose, of "The Bullwinkle Show" fame. If you're hungry for more trivia, check out the ultimate Simpsons book, The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family. It's full of stuff like Bart's chalkboard sayings and "Homeris-mmmmms." All I have to say is "D'oh!".

For a complete list of Simpson books see our list on the archive right here!

TIME IN: A selective guide to what's on

n124 Time Out New York, Feb 5-12 1998, p128-129

Recommends and previews the Feb 8, 1998 episode 5F23 "The Joy of Sect" saying "Homer joins a cult called the Movementarians in an episode that spoofs Heaven's Gate. Let's hope that dimwit doesn't commit suicide. That would ruin the show."

TIME IN: A selective guide to what's on

n124 Time Out New York, Feb 5-12 1998, p128-129

Recommends and previews the Feb 8, 1998 episode 5F12 "Dumbbell Indemnity" saying "Helen Hunt guests as a new woman in the life of Moe, who is voiced by Hunt's real-life squeeze, Hank Azaria. Awww.

Skepticism in action: Simpsons religion vs. science episode (Marshall Berman)

v22n2 The Skeptical Inquirer, Buffalo, Mar/Apr 1998, p19

From the voice of science and skepticism, The Simpsons receive an endorsement. A positive review of episode 5F05: "Lisa the Skeptic" from The Skeptical Inquirer, a voice of reason in a world of National Enquirer's, the journal of The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (SCICOP). Not exactly written in the most exciting of styles, but remember, this is a science journal, not Entertainment Weekly.

Skepticism in action-and the price paid by skeptics-was delightfully and insightfully presented in an episode of Fox's The Simpsons. In the episode, which aired November 23, 1997, Lisa Simpson attempts to halt construction of a parking lot for a new megamall. The mall owners allow Lisa and her classmates to dig for fossils. Lisa finds what appears to be a skeleton with wings. The townspeople believe it is an angel. Lisa's dad, Homer, grabs the skeleton and takes it home.

Springfield residents flock to Homer's house to pray with the angel and have it bless them. Homer commercializes angel-viewing (fifty cents a look), along with the sale of trinkets, such as angel glow-sticks and angel ashtrays.

Lisa asks museum curator Stephen Jay Gould to analyze a piece of the skeleton. When she reports this, Homer claims that 'facts are meaningless. You can use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true. Facts shmacts." Gould claims his study is inconclusive. The minister says: "Science has faltered once again in the face of overwhelming religious evidence."

Interviewed on TV, Lisa says, "You can either accept science and face reality, or you can believe in angels and live in a childish dream world." This moves Moe, the bartender, to exclaim, "What's science ever done for us?" The Simpsons' deeply religious neighbor, Ned, says that "Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things."

A mob goes on an antiscience rampage, attacking the planetarium, robotics laboratory, the museum of natural history, and the Christian Science Reading Room. When a mammoth tusk falls on Moe, he prays that medical science can cure him.

Lisa is accused of destroying the angel. In court, the judge issues a restraining order: religion must stay five hundred yards from science at all times.

But the angel reappears on a hill. "The end will come at sundown" is now inscribed on the angel's base. The reverend proclaims "the day of reckoning is upon us.

The crowd gathers at sunset, while Lisa reads Scientific American. Suddenly, bathed in light, the angel begins to rise, saying, "Prepare for the end-the end of high prices. Behold the grand opening of the Heavenly Hills Mall." The mall owners claim that it was not a hoax, but a publicity stunt. Lisa complains, but the mob rushes to the mall. Gould confesses he never tested the specimen.

Lisa and her mother, Marge, reconciled again, walk off hand in hand.

Ay Carumba! It's David Silverman! "The Simpsons" animator paints a behind-the-scenes picture of America's favorite non-prehistoric Cartoon family (Christine Bielinski)

Art and Performance Magazine, Mar 1998

A great behind the scenes look from The Simpsons supervising animation director David Silverman, a copy of which can be found on the archive right here!

Animating in the Spotlight: Creating Prime Time (Mike Wolf)

v2n12 Animation World Magazine, Mar 1998

Great article on the world of difference between your Saturday morning cartoon and a prime-time feature cartoon. It can be found on the Animation World Magazine web site right here!

Coolest Cartoon Kids (author not supplied)

Toon In To Your Family (Deborah Barnes)

v8n5 Disney Adventures, Mar 1998, cover and p21-27, 37-39

Another Bart cover - Bart as one of six cartoon kids on cover! Before we say anything let's note something special here - Disney Adventures features all Disney cartoons and movie characters and only mentions the most popular of other cultural icons. This article in this children's magazine features six cartoon characters with Bart Simpson featured on page 26. It has a picture of Bart on a skateboard outside school with seven of his school friends dodging for cover. All of these pages were done in "interview list" style, with Bart supplying the following answers:

If I ruled the world I would: Accelerate the pace of global deforestation. Oh, and force everyone to speak that Bushman clicking language.

Favorite daydream: I'm the dean of Flame-thrower Academy

The one toy I never put away: My Krusty the Klown Frosting Catapult

Favorite amusement park ride: The Tooth Chipper

Written in script on the page: "You die after school, punk!" - Love Nelson; "Thank you for forging my hall pass. See you in summer school detention. - Milhouse; "Bart, We all can't wait to see you graduate from this school." - Ms. Krabappel"

The second article is a quiz to determine if your family is more like the Flintstones, Simpsons or Jetsons. The seven questions all lead to the specific family based on a point system, but if you were to simply answer them all truthfully you'll hit The Simpsons.

Bart's on the ball (Michael Idato)

TV Magazine, Mar 1998

Australian TV magazine reviewing upcoming episode 5F03 "Bart Star".

'Simpsons' Creator Near New Deal (unknown)

Buffalo News, Buffalo, Mar 8 1998, pA13

Our first Futurama reference. "The Simpsons creator Matt Groening is close to signing a 13-episode deal with Fox for a prime-time animated comedy called Futurama, set around the year 3,000. Futurama will be Groening's first television series since The Simpsons, Fox's most profitable comedy franchise, and the network hopes to launch it midseason next year. While the conecpt still is being hammered out, the show is expected to be both futuristic and nostalgic. None of the parties would comment on the negotiations."

TIME IN: 8 days of TV, radio and more (Emma Perry)

n1438 Time Out, Mar 11-18 1998, p195

This London based publication's Critics' Choice for Tuesday, Mar 17, 1998 on Sky One is the St. Patrick's Day episode being broadcast for the first time there in London 4F15 "Homer vs. the Eighteenth Ammendment" saying that "surely anyone who participates in the spirit of the day will be well into their cups by the time this airs."

From Hiroshima to Homer Simpson: Using literature to confront the impact of nuclear energy (Dennis N. Banks)

v62n4 Social Education, Arlington, Apr/May 1998, p196-200

Passing reference (despite the title of the article); "Ask a group of middle school students what they know about nuclear power and a likely first answer will be, 'Homer Simpson works there!' " Goes on to discuss ways to education middle school students on nuclear energy presenting a somewhat balanced if not neutral view on the subject.

Disney Adventures Calendar (no author)

v8n6 Disney Adventures, Apr 1998,

p12-13 Calendar for April 1998 has this entry under April 25; Hank Azaria, voice actor for Moe and other "Simpsons" characters, turns 34.

Brooks, James L. (author not supplied)

v59n4 Current Biography, Bronx, Apr 1998, Anonymous, P7-10

Wonderful biography of James L. Brooks, producer of The Simpsons and The Tracey Ullman Show.

Sagan's legacy: Astronomy shines in contact (Philip Plait)

v26n4 Astronomy, Milwaukee, Apr 1998, p50

On Hollywood productions Astronomy magazine names but three productions that got it right; 2001, Contact, based on Carl Sagan's novel of the same name, and The Simpsons, specifically the episode where Springfield is threatened by a comet, 2F11: "Bart's Comet". They award high grades for the facts that 1) Most comets are indeed discovered by amateurs, not professionals. 2) Bart then calls the observatory to confirm his discovery, which also is the correct procedure (he even gives coordinates using the correct jargon). The most significant item however, forever distorted in science fiction movies; "The part of the comet that gets through the pollution is only about the size 'of a Chihuahua's head,' and when it hits the ground, Bart simply picks it up and puts it in his pocket. Bart knows that, contrary to common belief, a small meteorite will not be burning hot when it hits the ground."

COMPANY TOWN; Drawing on Creativity; A Struggling Film Roman Tries to Reanimate Itself (Sallie Hofmeister)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Apr 2 1998, pD1

Discussion of Film Roman having difficult financial times despite actively creating cartoons. "...Film Roman Inc. produced almost as much animated television as the industry Goliath. While Walt Disney Co. churned out 183 half-hour episodes, Film Roman created 141 episodes of a wide range of programs, from Fox's two popular prime-time series, The Simpsons and King of the Hill, to children's shows such as Bobby's World, Mortal Kombat, The Mask and Bruno the Kid."

Simpsons Settle (none supplied)

USA Today, Arlington, Apr 3 1998, p3E

The voices of The Simpsons settle on salary. "Ending weeks of haggling over salary and backend compensation, Simpsons voices Dan Castellaneta, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer and Hank Azaria settled with Twentieth Century Fox TV late Wednesday, says Variety. No terms were immediately available."

Morning Report: Arts and Entertainment reports from The Times (Shauna Snow)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Apr 3 1998, pF2

Another comment on The Simpsons voices settling on contracts. "Doh! Simpsons Voices Back: The voices of Fox's The Simpsons - Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Harry Shearer (Smithers and others) and Hank Azaria (Moe the Bartender and others) - settled their contract dispute with Twentieth Century Fox Television and resumed production on the show Thursday. The actors had been holding out for $150,000 per episode, at least five times what most of them had been making. Although terms were not revealed, reports indicated that the deal will pay them at least $50,000 an episode, or $1 million a year. Nancy Cartwright, who provides the voice for Bart Simpson, settled for $50,000 per episode last week."

Flash! The latest entertainment news and more... (Diane Werts)

Newsday, Long Island, Apr 3 1998, pA12

Another blurb about The Simpsons voices settling their contract. "The latest talent holdout has ended: The voices of The Simpsons returned yesterday. Sandy Grushow, president of Twentieth Century Fox Television, which produces the Fox hit, said their differences have been settled amicably. Read: They got more money. Each cast member had been holding out for $100,000-plus per episode next season, up from $35,000. Variety reported yesterday that each had settled for around $50,000 per episode."

Back To Basics; Who Killed Homer? The Demise of Classical Education and the Recovery of Greek Wisdom. (book review) (Bernard Knox)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Apr 5 1998, p7

"Who Shot Burns?" may refer to The Simpsons, but they haven't killed off our Homer yet. "The Homer of this book's somewhat melodramatic short title is not, as one critic admits to having surmised at first glance, the cartoon figure of The Simpsons."

CULTURE WATCH / Why Soaps No Longer Give Romance the Soft Sell (Nicole Nolan)

Newsday, Long Island, Apr 5 1998, pB6

Article on Soap Operas contrasts their "..romantic, family-oriented and conservative..." nature and key to success with "...the '90s, "edgy" shows such as The Simpsons or South Park (which) are congratulated for questioning conventional morality."

The Insider (Danelle Morton)

v49n13 People Weekly, Apr 6 1998, p39

Interview with U2 concerning their appearance on The Simpsons. "How do you cope with being caricatured, as the band U2 was for the 200th episode of The Simpsons, airing April 26th? 'You know what they say: 'Hold your friends close, but your animator closer,' ', says lead singer Bono, who, nonetheless, has been portrayed with an overbite and no chin. Jokes guitarist the Edge: 'We know where [the animators] park their cars, so we'll be around.' "

Includes drawing of U2 in Moe's bar being served by Homer.

U2 appeared in the 200th anniversary episode, 5F09 "Trash of the Titans".

And now, the White House album (none supplied)

Times Union, Albany, Apr 6 1998, pC5

Passing reference says if The Simpsons has it own soundtrack for sale then shouldn't the White House? This was a tongue in cheek album put out by Gary Newman of BMG, "...a compilation of oldie favorites (by the original artists) that have become slightly suggestive thanks to recent headlines."

Home Video; Cybertainment; For X-Philes, the Truth Is Out There... on the Web Somewhere (Mark Glaser)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Apr 16 1998, pF45

This column expresses amazement that Fox is closing down Web sites that promote their shows. Surprise, surprise. "The Web has always been a haven for conspiracy theorists, sci-fi eccentrics and UFO true believers. So it's no surprise that Yahoo! turns up 500 sites in its X-Files file, brimming with plot threads, gossip and celeb obsession with the two lead characters. The surprise is that Fox's lawyers have been out to stop them. For the last few years, Fox has closed many fan sites of The Simpsons, The X-Files and Millennium, citing intellectual property rights. Fans have been in an uproar, blaming everyone from show creator Chris Carter to overzealous Fox execs."

We love to watch: Not only does metro Atlanta tune in more TV each day than the national average, but it's taste in shows is different (Phil Kloer)

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Apr 16 1998, pD1

Observing that Atlanta viewers favour "...shows on newer networks (Fox, WB, UPN) more than the rest of the country" and cites The Simpsons as an example of one of those shows.

'King' Staff Hardly Quick on the Draw (Kenney Littlefield)

Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Apr 16 1998, p8

Observing that King of the Hill is drawn entirely by hand at Film Roman, taking 100 artists 28 weeks to animate, mentions that another 100 artists work on The Simpsons.

'Simpsons' Creator on Poking Fun (M.S. Mason)

Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Apr 17 1998, pB7

This wonderful illustrated article is half Matt Groening interview, half commentary. Transcribed below.

There's a little bit of Matt Groening in Bart Simpson. The man who created the diminutive provocateur for The Simpsons says he grew up watching too much television and fantasized what he would do if he got his own TV show.

"Well this is what I would have done, and I did it," he says, adding wryly, "At an early age I was most strongly affected by Leave It to Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet. (The Simpsons) is my skewed reaction to those shows."

Mr. Groening's baby is the longest-running prime-time animated series in television history. It has won a Peabody Award, 12 Emmys, and a shelf-load of assorted others. About to hatch its 200th episode, "Trash of the Titans" (Fox, April 26, 8-8:30 p.m.), the "plausible impossible" family long ago achieved pop-icon status.

In the best tradition of TV families, the Simpsons love one another, no matter what. The show has all the elements of its live-action family-oriented prototypes, with a twist: an involved community; assorted villains; a sweet, annoying next-door neighbor; and the family itself - a goofy dad whose frailties get him into trouble; a loving, sensible mom who usually gets him out again; two adorable little girls; and one 10-year-old trickster.

Bart is Dennis the Menace with self-awareness - a kid so abused by the public school system that when he was labeled a failure in kindergarten, he found his self-esteem as the class stand-up comic. But Bart's pranks can be obnoxious, and he has worried many parents and teachers who fret publicly about his bad influence - his cheeky back talk, his enthusiastic naughtiness, and his inattention at school. He's no role model.

"Bart isn't a good example," agrees Groening. "He isn't a good role model. But I used to get letters saying, 'Homer isn't wearing a seat belt; he's a bad example.' But you can laugh at him because you don't want to be like him."

The nature of Bart's abrasive commentary is satirical. And the nature of the best satire is, of course, to poke fun at human foibles. When it's good, satire makes you think, and The Simpsons skewers everything from nuclear waste to alien abductions, the movies, TV, and official hypocrisy.

"For me, it's hard to approach satire directly. I don't think we sit down and say, 'How do we satirize this subject?' We are trying to make a solid half-hour of entertainment - cram as many jokes in there as we can. But everybody (on the writing staff), Republicans and Democrats, has a strong point of view. And we share a vision that our leaders aren't always telling us the truth, that our institutions sometimes fail us, and that people in media don't necessarily have any corner on wisdom - because we're in media ourselves and we know what idiots we are," he laughs.

"So we just have fun with it." Satire, says Groening, is about "not taking ourselves too seriously. Solemnity is always used by authority to stop critical thinking. 'You can't make a joke about that' is a way of shutting people up. It's a cartoon: (Making jokes) is what we're supposed to do."

Mining his own experience, Groening based his characters on people he knew and named many of them after people he loves. "Homer is not like my father, also named Homer, except that my father did get mad sometimes. But he wasn't stupid, fat, or bald.... My father was a cartoonist and filmmaker, so he's not like Homer....

"There is a little bit of my mother in Marge. My mom is long-suffering like Marge, and she did have tall hair when I was a kid. She always denied it, but we have photos. My sisters, Lisa and Maggie, aren't really like Lisa and Maggie (in the show) - although Lisa claims she always was the unrecognized talent, and (she thinks) it's great the way I captured that."

But, he emphasizes, the characters aren't designed to inflict vengeance on people in real life. "Over the course of the show, some of them have taken on doltish characteristics, and now I'm afraid to call up some of these people," he laughs.

"Overall," says Groening, "I've always said it is a celebration of the American family at its wildest."

Off-Kilter (Roy Rivenburg)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 20 1998, p4

An Internet poll by TeenPeople magazine shows that "...more people admire the marriage of fictional cartoon characters Marge and Homer Simpson than the marriage of real-life cartoon characters Bill and Hillary Clinton."

We certainly admire Homer and Marge more!

Fox fights to stay in top three (not supplied)

USA Today, Arlington, Apr 20 1998, p3D

Fox Entertainment president Roth proclaiming that Fox can hold their own during the sweeps against NBC despite the fact that NBC is showing the Seinfeld series finale. Fox can do this because they'll be showing "...four original episodes of Ally McBeal and Party of Five, the big wedding of Brandon and Kelly on Beverly Hills, 90210, and the 200th episode of The Simpsons."

Fox Grooms Artists-in-Training (Beverly Beyette)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 21 1998, p2

A passing reference; "Although they know more about Fox's Bart Simpson than about Fox's Rupert Murdoch, the 400 youngsters visiting Fox Studios for a wrap party for their in-school storytelling program were all ears as the pretty blond woman--Mrs. Murdoch--said, 'I hope one day a lot of you are going to be working here at Fox.' "

Glued to the Tube / Fake Sport, Real Injuries: This Is as Good as It Gets (Diane Werts)

Newsday, Long Island, Apr 21 1998, pB27

Just a passing reference in this article in defense of wrestling recommends watching The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling, an A&E documentary. "Talk About a big TV night - Sunday is it! Not only does Fox have the 200th episode of The Simpsons (8 p.m. on WNYW / 5), but A&E offers a full two hours (at 9 p.m.) telling The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling!

The Hollywood Reporter Salute to the 200th Episode of 'The Simpsons'

The Odyssey The adventures of Homer's nuclear family hits the double-century mark with no signs of slowing (Harold Goldberg)

The Write Duff Stomach pumps and animated asses are all in a day's work (Chuck Crisafulli)

Q & A: Matt Groening 'The Simpsons' creator talks about the future of the show and ageless Homer (with Harvey Deneroff)

Sketch Artists Making Changes on the fly sets 'The Simpsons' apart (Harvey Deneroff)

v352n14 The Hollywood Reporter, Apr 24-26 1998, Cover, pS-1 to S-12 and additional full-page congratulations on inside front cover, inside back cover and back cover

Fantastic tribute by The Hollywood Reporter has several articles we'll be transcribing shortly.

Family; The Next Chapter; Kids will get a chance to meet the authors of some of their favorite books (Laurie K. Schenden)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Apr 23 1998, pF40

Not only can 'kids' meet their favorite authors, but more importantly, they can meet their favorite animators. Can I come? "At 11 a.m., Bill Morrison will talk with animators and artists from The Simpsons on the Perloff Quad."

Ay Caramba! Trailblazing toon still in top form after nine seasons (Ray Richmond)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

Back on Track Earlier contract dispute behind voice cast (not supplied)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

'Question Reality' Simpsons writers have unique challenge (Ramin Zahed)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

Merchandising madness to milk major mass appeal Fox revamps Simpsons marketing strategy (Paul Karon)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

World gets a kick out of twisted U.S. family International auds gradually accepting Bart and co. (Sharon Swart)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

Pumping the tunes in toontown Vet Clausen's received nine Emmy noms for Simpsons scoring (Jon Burlingame)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

Channel Surfer 'The Simpsons' 200th has the smell of success (Phil Kloer)

The Atlanta Constitution/The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Apr 24 1998, pF4

An article in praise of The Simpsons on their 200th anniversary. We quote this wonderful write-up.

Seinfelds come and Seinfelds go, but The Simpsons is forever.

Not to detract from our Great National Wallow in Jerry-grief, but when Seinfeld debuted, The Simpsons (8 p.m. Sunday on Fox (8713)) was already such a hit it was being paraded all over town on pirated T-shirts. After Seinfeld calls it quits in three weeks, The Simpsons will keep on rolling into next season and beyond.

Pound for pound, which show is better, the one with big-haired Kramer or the one with big-haired Marge? That's debatable, but what's worth noting is that The Simpsons has been so good for so long that it's somewhat taken for granted. It was replaced on some arbitrary "Hot List" of hip animation first by Beavis & Butt-head, then King of the Hill, now by South Park. But when you total up cleverness, inspired spoofery and outright laughs, all three of those combined can't touch The Simpsons.

On Sunday, Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa and Maggie become part of the 14th prime-time entertainment series in history to reach 200 episodes. Next fall, when Murphy Brown is off, The Simpsons will be the longest-running comedy or drama on the air.

So what is this blissfully dysfunctional nuclear family up to this week? It starts when no one wants to empty the kitchen garbage can, piling it on, mashing it down, everyone subscribing to that time-honored philosophy: "He who tops it off drops it off, and it isn't filled until it's spilled."

Homer ends up being the fall guy, gets into a fight with the garbage collectors, who boycott pickup at the Simpson home, and before the first commercial break, Homer is running for sanitation commissioner of Springfield against the incumbent, Ray Patterson (voiced by Steve Martin). Rock band U2 also shows up to do the usual spoof-our-persona bit, and there's one of those big musical numbers, this one a parody of The Candy Man transposed into The Garbage Man.

The Simpsons makes it all look easy. May they keep on doing so.

Tuning Out the TV / Contra Costa families channel their attention into life (Sam McManis)

San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, Apr 24 1998, p1

Article reviewing the effects of TV Turn-Off Week on one California family. Surely they can watch one show! The Simpsons, the absence of which is no doubt the greatest of pain, is repeatedly referenced. It begins; "Take a stroll down a suburban street any night during those post- dinner, pre-sleep hours of repose. At house after house, take note of that bluish light flickering through the family-room curtains. Hear the faint echoes of canned laughter and catchy 30-second jingles. Peek inside at families transfixed in front of television sets as if in supplication before an altar." Only when out favorite family is on. Later in the same article; "It takes a brave parent with boundless energy, patience and perhaps even a masochistic streak not to let the kids watch a rerun of The Simpsons so they can get dinner ready." Not perhaps, definitely masochistic. In reference to their ability to keep the television off; "Truth be told, Loren had more meltdowns that week than the fictitious nuclear power plant on The Simpsons. The other Carter kids would whine occasionally, but Loren wailed." They subsequently list the children's favorite shows; "...Dawson's Creek, The Simpsons, King of the Hill" to which mom comments 'Sometimes, I'll sit down and watch Dawson's Creek with them, and it's so bad it's embarrassing...It's really hard. It's impossible for me to say no, that they can't watch a certain show. At least, to the kids in high school." No, you can say no do Dawson's Creek. It's O.K., really. "But," dad adds, "they do have to abide by our values in choosing programs." Implying, of course, that The Simpsons abide by their values. Bravo!

What's On TV (Suman Bandrapalli, Yvonne Zipp, M.S. Mason)

Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Apr 24 1998, pB7

Recommends episode 5F09: "Trash of the Titans" saying "Homer digs up his dream job: sanitation commissioner. In his quest for glory, he runs a - what else - trashy campaign involving a rock concert, smear tactics, and that political staple: promises he can't keep. Steve Martin and U2 are on hand to help prime time's longest-running animated show celebrate its 200th episode."

Animation fest films a particularly lively bunch (Renee Graham)

Boston Globe, Boston, Apr 24 1998, pD6

Passing reference, giving some excellent independent animation it's due but perhaps choosing some of the wrong enemies. "To many, animation begins and ends with the craven children of Comedy Central's South Park, Matt Groening's The Simpsons or such Mike Judge creations as Beavis & Butt-head and King of the Hill. While all are entertaining, they can't come close to the inventiveness of the 17 shorts presented here with such things as inebriated Australian flies playing chicken with an electronic fly zapper; a voracious feline with an appetite for everything in its path; and a fiddle-loving devil who challenges a young boy to a musical duel." Right.

200 'Simpsons'? D'oh! Cartoon clan has put fun back in dysfunctional (Don Aucoin)

Boston Globe, Boston, MA, Apr 25 1998, pC1

A wonderfully positive review of the show in it's ninth season, one that demands retelling here.

With the 200th episode of The Simpsons set to air tomorrow night, it was only fitting that Yeardley Smith (the voice of Lisa Simpson) took a moment yesterday to ponder The Meaning of It All.

Smith couldn't help contrasting her show with a certain other '90s comedy series reaching the end of the line just as The Simpsons hits a milestone that further cements its status as TV's longest- running prime-time animated show ever.

"The Seinfeld rule is 'no hugging, no learning,' but on The Simpsons, we hug a lot and learn a lot," mused Smith on the phone from Los Angeles. "The show is not without a moral."

True enough, although the moral is often as cockeyed and hilarious as the Simpsons themselves.

Here's a typical moral from the lips of Homer Simpson, beer-bellied Everyman, advising son Bart when the would-be rocker has trouble mastering the guitar: "If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." Or this one from ever-supportive Marge after Homer damages a radioactive pipe, forcing the shutdown of the nuclear power plant where he works: "There, there, Homer. You've caused plenty of industrial accidents and you've always bounced back." Or this Homeric epiphany from another show: "When will I learn? The answers to life's problems aren't at the bottom of a bottle. They're on TV!"

And so, blessedly, is The Simpsons. Still.

As it nears the end of its ninth season, the Fox show (seen locally at 8 p.m. Sundays on WFXT-Ch. 25) remains so brilliantly original that it threatens to deplete the nation's storehouse of superlatives. But there are still a few left, so here goes: The Simpsons is the best-written comedy on TV, the deftest social satire on TV, and -- steel yourselves -- one of the staunchest defenders of family values on TV.

But that's here-and-now. It is also fair to ask, on the occasion of the show's 200th episode, "The Trash of the Titans": What will posterity have to say about The Simpsons?

"That this is a show for all time, beyond eras," responded Vince Waldron, author of Classic Sitcoms: A Celebration of the Best in Prime Time.

"Like I Love Lucy and The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Simpsons is a member of a very small and esteemed group of shows that are worthy of the title 'classic,' " said Waldron. "It will be as fresh to viewers in the new millennium as it is to us now."

But what makes it fresh to us now?

"Its incredibly rich texture and its astonishing range," replied University of Massachusetts journalism professor Ralph Whitehead.

"Dozens of characters, dozens of settings, sendups of all kinds of media genres: The Simpsons ranges so widely across the social and cultural landscape of the country that it allows you to channel-surf without touching the channel selector," said Whitehead.

Added Smith: "We take no prisoners. We go after everyone."

In the beginning, The Simpsons triggered considerable controversy -- remember those schools that banned the wearing of Bart Simpson T-shirts? -- but now, as Whitehead says, "it's turned into a classic piece of Sunday evening family entertainment. It's taking its place up there alongside The Ed Sullivan Show."

And just as Ed Sullivan defined CBS entertainment for many years, so did the attitude-laden Simpsons define the Fox network. In fact, Steven D. Stark, author of Glued to the Set: The 60 Television Shows and Events That Made Us Who We Are Today, argues that Fox might not have survived without the show.

Stark argues that the quality of The Simpsons, which he calls "the most writer-driven show in TV history," helped "legitimize" Fox at a time when the network seemed terminally lowbrow. (Today, Fox often finishes third or higher in the ratings.)

Beyond helping change the TV landscape by bolstering a fourth network, The Simpsons also opened the nation's eyes to the satiric possibilities of a cartoon aimed at adults, taking the innovations of Rocky and Bullwinkle to a whole new level.

The influence of The Simpsons can be seen in the spate of other animated shows that have cropped up in its wake, from South Park to Dr. Katz to King of the Hill, and in the activities of Simpsons alumni such as Conan O'Brien, who began as a writer for the show.

"In the long run, despite all the hype for Seinfeld, The Simpsons is a much more significant show culturally for TV history," said Stark.

Dr. Will Miller, a psychiatrist who discusses sitcoms as the on-air "TV therapist" for Nick at Nite, said The Simpsons appealed to viewers because they saw a cracked-mirror version of their own families in the Simpsons.

"Homer is as much of a butthead today as he was in the first episode, and millions of people can relate to that, because they too had an imperfect parent, and they became better than their parent, like Lisa and Bart try to do," said Miller. " The Simpsons did the real family better than any sitcom ever did."

Like real families, The Simpsons is not immune to discord. Smith, along with Dan Castellaneta (the voice of Homer), Harry Shearer (Smithers and many others), and Hank Azaria (Moe the bartender), recently ended a five-week holdout and settled a contract dispute with 20th Century-Fox Television, producers of The Simpsons. Their salaries will increase to at least $50,000 per episode, according to reports.

"It was a brilliant lesson in human behavior, those five weeks," said Smith. "It got ugly, and it got messy. But we felt we had to make a stand on principle. If they lost the voices, they would lose a good deal of the heart and soul of the show."

As for still being Lisa after all these years, Smith professes contentment. She is pleased that the writers never lost sight of the fact that Lisa Simpson is 8 years old, and that Lisa, while remaining as precocious as ever, "gets on her soapbox" a lot less these days. More broadly, Smith is buoyed by an awareness that in giving voice to one of the characters on The Simpsons, she's been part of something big.

"I do think it will be part of TV history," she said.

For Parents, Ways to Childproof the Net; Workshop Suggests Software, Steps for Minimizing Danger (Wendy Melillo)

The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Apr 26 1998, pB1

In attempting to control children's use of the Internet one parent only allows access to three categories of material. "Right now, they are limited to sports, the Simpsons and Beanie Babies on the Internet..." Hmmm. Maybe they're reading this now.

Best...The Beautiful...and the Bizarre; Cast Aways; Cow-a-Bono, Dude (Janet Kinosian)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 26 1998, p10

From the So Socal column of The Los Angeles Times Magazine, this article points out that it was U2 who prompted the appearance on The Simpsons. "It wasn't Bart's idea to have U2 drop by Springfield, USA, for the 200th episode of The Simpsons tonight. That idea came from a phantom phone call when someone in the Irish band's camp - no one remembers whom - expressed interest in a Simpson-U2 collaboration, 'if something worked out.' Says Mike Scully, the show's executive producer: 'We made darn sure something worked out.' "

The Simpsons Never Change But the Audience Does (Charles Strum)

New York Times, New York, Apr 26, 1998, p59

Scully discusses The Simpsons' changing audience. " 'The audience is changing,' said Mike Scully, the executive producer since 1993. 'Initially a lot of parents wouldn't let their kids watch the show. But I think a combination of things - Beavis and Butt-head and South Park - have suddenly made The Simpsons the preferred choice. Many families watch the show together. Does this mean The Simpsons is now bourgeois, fuddy-duddy, old hat? No, Mr. Scully says. It means that Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie and dozens of other regulars are 'characters so well established' that the audience can jump quickly into any script and feel right at home."

A '90s-Style Tarzan and Jane (Bob Heisler)

Newsday Long Island, NY, Apr 27 1998, pB19

Just a passing reference, saying that although "...producer Stanley Canter and director Carl Schenkel have created a Tarzan for our times", "...someone should have reminded them that our times have produced such cultural heroes as George Costanza and Homer Simpson." It goes on to point out what's wrong with this modern day Tarzan.

TV Milestones (Harry Levins)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, Apr 28 1998, pA2

From the Newsmakers column, a mention of The Simpsons passing the 200-episode mark. "Yeardley Smith says the show has stayed fresh by making fun of everything and everyone. 'We take no prisoners,' Smith says. 'We go after everyone' "

Rebel Without a Clutch (Story: Barry Dutter, Art: Shaun Cashman, Letters: Chris Ungar, Colors: Nathan Kane, Hooligan: Matt Groening)

v8n7 Disney Adventures, May 1998, p81-86

p6 Table of contents illustrated with Bart on skateboard to highlight the Simpsons comic within.

A Bongo Simpsons mini-comic within the pages of Disney Adventures. Always impressive since it's not a Disney property and because it wouldn't have always been considered Disney appropriate.

Arquivo X Encountra Os Simpsons Isso s� pode ser uma conspira��o para matar os f�s... de rir (Sergio Miranda)

n67 SCI-FI, May 1998, p38-40

Even I can translate the article title: "X-Files Encounter The Simpsons". Article discusses X-Files on The Simpsons, Patrick Stewart playing "N�mero Um" in the Stonecutter's episode, Michelle Pfeiffer as Mindy Simmons and all the other stars that have appeared on the show. Translating the article is a little more difficult; of course, that doesn't stop us from quoting some of it.

Averdade est� l� fora. E para Homer Simpson, ela pode continuar l� que n�o vai fazer diferen�a nenhuma, E ainda mais: por que esta tal de verdade n�o vai perturbar o Flanders para variar?

Toon Time Does it sometimes seem as if animated shows are taking over your television? Nick at Nite's Dr. Will Miller explains what the toons you watch say about you. (Will Miller)

Teen People, May 1998, p34

Evaluation of six shows has this about our favorite family;

what it's about: a contentedly dysfunctional family

if you watch it: Though you may not come from a dysfunctional family, you feel you're smarter than your own parents. Therefore, you feel comfortable taking care of yourself.

Are You a Man or a Wuss (Mark Golin)

v2n4 Maxim, May 1998, p76-79

One of the newer men's magazines. No, not pornographic.

p79 In a box titled "The Wuss Hall of Fame" we see seven men who qualify, being Boy George, Abel (of biblical fame), Michael Flatley ("Lord of the Prance"), Richard Simmons, Gallagher, Arnie (with a caption that says "Just kidding, big guy") and the only fictional character, Ned Flanders, with the caption "Wuss-a-diddly-dokly". He's pictured petting Santa's Little Helper with Bart, with Principal Skinner surreptitiously looking on.

A Tale of Three Cities (James Martin)

v178n15 America, New York, May 2 1998, p21-22

Excellent positive commentary and analyses of The Simpsons, King of the Hill and South Park, noting that they offer "accurate and astute social commentary" not available in other forums. While many articles have made the point that The Simpsons act "more human" than there non-animated sitcom counterparts, it begins "Three of the most creative shows on television today employ characters with few or no human characteristics (and I'm not talking about soap operas)." It continues "Doubtless you've seen at least one of the shows in question, since last year it surpassed The Flintstones as the longest running prime-time cartoon in television history: The Simpsons." It then notes a bias we've observed by the uninitiated towards The Simpsons; "Does the idea of watching cartoons at age... whatever your age is...strike you as a bit juvenile?". Actually, the idea of watching most sitcoms is what strikes me as juvenile! It continues, " ...missing these shows...would be a pity, since their writers are surprisingly astute social critics. The Simpsons and King of the Hill skewer American culture better than almost any other show, and can do so largely because their plots have fewer limitations than live-action comedies, and the programs are unconstrained by actors who are afraid to alienate their fans by doing or saying something that might give offense." It then does a nice biographical description of Simpson characters. "In case you don't already know - the Simpson family begins with Homer, a supremely indolent, beer-drinking prole, and his wife, Marge, of the towering blue hairdo. Homer's raison d'�tre, besides sleeping and quaffing his beloved Duff Beer, is eating. 'Mmmm...' he says frequently. (Upon hearing a passing reference to the late Chief Justice Warren Burger: 'Mmmm.... burgers!') Marge, on the other hand, wants nothing more than a quiet home, a noble and somewhat unrealistic goal, considering her son, Bart (whose name is an easy anagram), their intellectual daughter, Lisa, and the toddler Maggie. With this small group, The Simpsons manages to make light of just about every lamentable aspect of contemporary American culture. Homer, to take but one example, toils as a 'worker drone / safety inspector' in the local nuclear power plant, located by a river that, during one episode, produced a three-eyed fish ( 7F01). This wonderfully written series, created by Matt Groening, is also home to a host of memorable minor characters who populate the fictional town of Springfield. There is C. Montgomery Burns, for instance, Homer's deliciously evil, Croesus-like boss. Mr. Burns lives primarily to cheat his employees, and his frequent successes in this line are marked by his hunched frame slowly hissing out a single word: 'Excellent!' Also enjoyable is Apu, the manager of the local convenience store, the Kwik-E-Mart. Apu puts in countless hours in his store (which is continually being robbed) but tirelessly belts out his standard greeting: 'Welcome to the Kwik-E-Mart! Would you like a Squishee?' Apu is, believe it or not, named after the character created by the Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray." After then commenting on King of the Hill and South Park (which he describes as a cartoon with characters that look like the characters from Peanuts but talk like the characters from Fritz the Cat) it then concludes quite nicely as follows; "...if you're looking for some accurate social commentary, forget about the tired inanities of Dateline or 20/20. After all, how many tainted meat/evil-H.M.O. shows can you watch? Better to spend a half hour in Springfield or Arlen, and find out what's really going on in this country."

Homes & Gardens: Growth area It is a place to mope, dote, fret, dream, where Bart Simpson and lizards keep company with lava lamps and road signs. Yes, it's the teenage bedroom and, adults, it's none of your business, okay? Well . . . Lesley Gillilan visits some of these Blu-Tac temples. (Lesley Gillilan)

The Guardian, Manchester, May 2 1998, pTT60

Article on the decor of British teen bedrooms repeatedly references The Simpsons. Lucy, age 13, has a gallery of her poster Romeo's - including Bart Simpson. In general teenage boys have "adopted Homer Simpson as a role model", and for girls, "...Bart was voted number 33 in Bliss magazine's `100% reader voted' poll of the world's top 50 sexiest lads" and "He appears (Bart, that is) in the current issue with his kit off."

Culture Watch: The 'Seinfeld' Age and the Culture of Narcissism (Scott McLemee)

Newsday, Long Island, NY, May 3 1998, pB6

An analyses of Seinfeld, the show whose theme was a show about nothing, notes negatively that "Seinfeld used to be" his favorite show, and "...better that it die now than meet the fate of The Simpsons (another once-inspired show now deserving a mercy killing)." Oddly enough, I believe he merely alludes to the most important point, that "syndication-overload undermines his devotion", i.e., it's not so much a decline in quality necessarily as the fact that people grow tired of the show. Moreover, when looking back we compare every episode to the cache of great episodes we remember, pleasantly forgetting the episodes that many would sooner forget. It is often noted that we would rather watch a 'lousy' episode of The Simpsons then just about any episode of most sitcoms.

Scott McLemee writes in response to the above:

"You wonder if my statement that The Simpsons deserves euthanasia might not be an effect of seeing it too much in syndication. I'd say no, not at all. At some point in the last few years -- I date it about the time of the "George Bush" episode (3F09: "Two Bad Neighbors") -- the writing started to stink like a week-old mackeral. I still love the shows that ran before that point, and once in a while afterwards, but now find it so bad as to be unable to finish an episode. The only thing syndication has done has been to increase my appreciation for the show's good days. Anyway, that's how it looks to one fanatical viewer. And as such, I think your bibliography is a marvel -- even if it does include the years when The Simpsons were replaced by soulless zombies."

Getting a Piece of the Pie; Television: Audiences take note of 'Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place,'... (Steve Weinstein)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 6 1998, pF1

Passing reference about the Simpsons notes that Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place didn't have what was needed to be on Fox; it was unlike The Simpsons, saying "It's not loud. It's not form-breaking. It's not genuinely distinctive. It's just a bloody well-done little show."

TV Portrayals of Minorities Criticized; Poll: Children say blacks, Latinos are depicted more negatively than whites, Asians.

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 7 1998, pB1

Interviews of 300 white, Latino, Asian and black children show that they all associate positive qualities with white characters and negative qualities with minority characters. The Simpson tie-in here; "Minority children primarily admire black television figures such as Michael Jordan, Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey, while white children admire white and 'crossover' figures: Jerry Seinfeld, Bart Simpson, Tim Allen and George Clooney, as well as Jordan and Smith."

Hitting a Homer--Simpsons' artist shocked by success (Ben Rayner)

Ottawa Sun, May 8 1998

David Silverman visiting Ottawa at a conference of information-technology professionals at the Congress Centre is interviewed. A transcript of this can be found right here!

Last night's TV: The backlit banality of Evil (Adam Sweeting)

The Guardian, Manchester, May 8 1998, pT30

Another backhanded compliment for The Simpsons in this review of Touching Evil, saying that "Green plays DI Dave Creegan, but you get better-drawn characters in The Simpsons. Take it as you may, but I'm just assuming that he forgot to mention that The Simpsons also has more intelligent characters, better plots, superior scripts and fine acting.

New Fox unit to revitalize 'Simpsons' merchandise (Jeff Jensen)

Advertising Age, May 11 1998

Considering the continuing popularity of The Simpsons and the money to be made it's amazing that the merchandising machine has slowed down to a crawl.

No raise . . . no big deal (staff)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, May 11 1998, p1

Given the events that were to follow later that year, it makes this story all the more sadder. "Homer, Lisa and Bart Simpson held out for pay raises this year. What about the venerable star of D-movies and infomercials, Troy McClure? 'No,' sighs Phil Hartman, who gives Troy his voice. 'There was no raise for Troy.'" He goes on to say "I've probably done 50 of the 200 episodes, but it's the one thing that I do in my life that's almost an avocation. I do it for the pure love of it. Yeah, it's one of the great success stories in modern television. When all is said and done, it's the favorite thing I do. I love NewsRadio, but nothing makes me laugh more than Troy McClure."

Newsmakers (author not supplied)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, May 11 1998, p2

Same Associated Press story as described in Times-Picayune, May 11 1998.

'Godzilla' Star Wins Famed Fiancee 'Audition' Lands Role in Real Life (people column) (author not supplied)

Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA, May 11 1998, pA6

Passing reference noting that Hank Azaria, whom appears in the movie Godzilla is "...also a veteran voice performer who does characters on The Simpsons including Moe the bartender, Apu the store clerk and Police Chief Wiggum."

Daimler wants free-wheeling American spirit to rub off on risk-averse Germans (Jon Pepper)

Detroit News, Detroit, MI, May 15 1998, pB1

Passing reference to The Simpsons noting how Germans (like much of the world) love American pop culture, observing that "Television is riddled with American shows such as Die Simpsons, reruns of Drei Angels fur Charlie and commercials for Slim Fast, McDonald's and Coca-Cola."

Homer's favorite brew underground hit in Australia

Times Union, Albany, May 18 1998, pA2

Now that the South Australian Brewing Co. was banned from selling Duff by a court order in 1966 it's price has skyrocketed. They report inflated prices of $750 for a six-pack and from $2800 to $6300 a case. A November 1998 check of the market found $50/can to $1000/case.

Gimmicks, Glamour And Guts At Cannes (Janet Maslin)

New York Times, New York, May 18 1998, pE1

Passing reference to the Simpsons, observing if not bemoaning the fact that the Cannes Film Festival is no longer the cultural icon it once represented and has now assumed a more trendy air, and a representative fact of this is that "...a poster vendor along the Croisette is selling 22 different portraits of Leonardo DiCaprio, 5 of the Simpsons, 3 of the Spice Girls, 2 of Bob Marley, 1 of Che Guevara and 1 of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.".

Gee, I wonder which 5...

Q & A: HANK AZARIA; He Faced the Lizard and Lived to Tell (Steven Smith)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 20 1998, pF1

Hank Azaria, observing that the directors of Godzilla "...wanted it to be a very New York character dealing with Godzilla. I used to know Dean (Devlin) because he was an actor, I'd see him on auditions. One day I ran into him at a restaurant. He's a big Simpsons fan, and he said, 'You know, we're doing 'Godzilla,' there's a part in it for you. . . .' I figured, I'll either get killed in the first 10 minutes or it'll be three scenes. . . . Nobody offers a good part in a restaurant."

The Best Of The Simpsons: Wave 3 (video review) (Catherine Applefeld Olson)

v110n21 Billboard, New York; May 23, 1998, p26

Positive review of the third installment of Simpson episodes released on tape (not counting the initial Christmas show) notes that "Series creator Matt Groening hand-picked these six uncut episodes".

For a list of all The Simpsons Audio and Video releases, see our list on the archive right here!

New book celebrates Rolling Stone covers (book review)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, May 24 1998, p26

I won't stop typing until I get my picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone! Book review of "Rolling Stone: The Complete Covers, 1967-1997", by Jann S. Wenner, which includes, naturally, Bart Simpson from the Jun 28, 1990 issue of Rolling Stone.. The book itself is indexed right here!

10 cool things you don't know about 'Godzilla' -- and Elvis (Andy Seiler of USA Today)

Detroit News, Detroit, MI, May 27 1998, pE8d

Item number 5; "The Simpsons connection. Simpsons voices Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer and Nancy Cartwright are in the movie. Azaria (Police Chief Wiggam, Moe the Bartender, Apu) plays cameraman Animal; Shearer (Mr. Burns, Smithers, Principal Skinner, Ned Flanders) plays anchorman Charles Caiman; and Nancy Cartwright (Bart) has a cameo. Her big line: 'Your story just walked past the window,' as Godzilla passes."

The Elvis connection at number 7; "Elvis has two voices. When French star Jean Reno does an Elvis impersonation to convince the authorities he's an American, his voice is a computer-blended combination of Reno's and Azaria's Presley imitations. (Azaria did it better.)"

Retro; Where Couch Potatoes Can Go to Console Themselves (Joan Fantazia)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 28 1998, pF61

Expressing concerns that the Museum of Television & Radio's bring name doesn't quite convey the exciting things that can be found within, they hypothesize that a better name could be "Place Where You Can Watch a Lot of Really Cool TV Shows You Might Not Be Able to See Anywhere Else." More importantly, however, is the fact that the number one show requested is The Simpsons!

The Comedian's Final Tragedy `SNL' Alumnus Phil Hartman Found Dead; Wife Commits Suicide (Sharon Waxman)

The Washington Post, Washington, DC, May 29 1998, pB1

By far the saddest Simpsons related story of the year, the death of Phil Hartman, aka Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz. His role with our favourite family is described as doing "...regular voice-overs as a series of satirically smarmy characters on The Simpsons"

Hartman hid genius behind his versatility Chameleonic 'true professional' built career away from limelight (Andy Seiler)

USA Today, May 29 1998, p 2E

By far the saddest Simpsons related story of the year, the death of Phil Hartman, aka Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz.

"Everyone at The Simpsons is devastated by the death of Phil Hartman," says the show's creator Matt Groening. "His brilliant comic acting and easygoing enthusiasm made him a joy to work with, and he will be sorely missed."

No motive known for Hartman shootings (Jefferson Graham)

USA Today, Arlington, May 29 1998, p3A

Within another article about the sad story of Phil Hartman's death, a mention of his role as several voices on The Simpsons.

Comedian Hartman found dead wife shoots self as police come through front door (Sharon Waxman of the Washington Post)

Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA, May 29 1998

Same story that appeared in The Washington Post, May 29 1998.

Murder-Suicide Claims Actor, Wife; Tragedy: Phil Hartman, star of 'NewsRadio' and a 'Saturday Night Live' alumnus, was shot apparently by his spouse. Couple's children are unharmed. (Solomon Moore, Greg Braxton, T. Christian Miller)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 29 1998, pB1

Another Simpsons mention within this sad story.

Phil Hartman: An appreciation: He became anybody he wanted (Lyle V. Harris)

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, May 29 1998, pF1

Discussing with his passing how Phil Hartman could morph into anyone he wanted to, including "...the incompetent 'toon lawyer Lionel Hutz on The Simpsons" A brief biography; "Hartman was born Sept. 24, 1948, in Brantford, Ontario, the fifth of eight children of Doris and Rupert Hartmann (the star later dropped the second "n" from his family name and became a U.S. citizen in 1990). The family settled first in Connecticut before moving to California, where Hartman spent his childhood surfing. He attended Westchester High School with Squeaky Fromme, would-be assassin of President Gerald Ford, and was voted class clown for his impersonations of Jack Benny, John Wayne and Lyndon B. Johnson." He had a flair for drawing and got a degree from California State University in graphic design. He landed a job designing album covers for rock groups such as Crosby, Stills & Nash, America and Steely Dan. But the work bored him, and in 1975, he joined the Los Angeles sketch comedy troupe the Groundlings to improve his social life. There, Hartman hooked up with another virtual unknown, a skinny comic named Paul Reubens who was developing a character he dubbed "the worst stand-up comedian in the world." Hartman helped Reubens craft his pasty-faced, bow-tied alter ego, Pee-wee Herman, who would go on to stardom in his own Saturday morning kids show --- Pee-wee's Playhouse --- in which Hartman had a recurring role as Kap'n Karl. When Reubens hit the big screen in Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Hartman co-wrote the screenplay.

Hartman Made Mark On 'SNL' / Comedian lent talent to 'Simpsons,' other shows (Mick LaSalle)

San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA, May 29 1998, pC1

Another article with just a passing Simpsons reference.

Whatever Hartman did, he always made a great impression (Jennifer Weiner)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, May 29 1998, p2

MG's comments about this sad story. "...Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, said in a statement that everyone at the show was 'devastated' by Hartman's death. 'His brilliant comic acting and easy-going enthusiasm made him a joy to work with, and he will be sorely missed.' ".

Englewood woman recalls 'Simpsons' work (Mark Harden)

Denver Post, Denver, CO, May 29 1998, pA5

Comments by Maggie Roswell, aka Helen Lovejoy, Maude Flanders, Ms. Hoover, Luann Van Houten et. al. who recalled Phil Hartman as "a brilliant entertainer" whose death will "crush the comedy community." Maggie Roswell said Hartman's death Thursday "is extremely sad news. ... It just doesn't make any sense." Roswell described Hartman, 49, as "truly one of the most warm and genuine people. A lot of comics are 'on' all the time, but that was so not Phil's style."

Friends Shocked By Slaying of Hartman (Sharon Waxman - Washington Post)

Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY, May 29, 1998, pA14

Same story that appeared in The Washington Post, May 29 1998.

Comedian Hartman is slain in apparent murder-suicide (Lynda Gorov)

Boston Globe, Boston, MA, May 29 1998, pA1

Another passing Simpsons reference within the story of this sad event.

The Week That Was (no author supplied)

The Post-Standard, Syracuse, May 30 1998, pA6

Another passing Simpsons reference within the story of the passing of Phil Hartman.

Bart Simpsons leaves his mark (Verena Dobnik, Associated Press)

Times - Picayune, New Orleans, LA, May 31 1998, pA34

Hmmm. Now were indexing articles about other articles. Commenting on Time's choice of artists and entertainers who most influenced life in the 20th century, and in particular, Bart Simpson. Describing him as "The cartoon hellion of the popular television sitcom, The Simpsons", they call this an "offbeat choice" supplying Time's justification for his inclusion.

Deaths Last Week.

Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL, May 31 1998, p6

Another passing Simpsons reference within the story of the passing of Phil Hartman.

Monica's Frowny Face (Maureen Dowd)

New York Times, New York, May 31 1998, D17

Scandals! Adultery! Those are amongst the index entries this article can be found under, but for us it's a passing reference as follows; "On top of all the other indignities she has suffered during her career as White House gofer and scandal babe, she had to spend hours on Thursday at the F.B.I. field office in Los Angeles. She had to write down in longhand whatever came into her head. The 24-year-old must have felt like Bart Simpson, forced by Schoolmaster (Ken) Starr to stay after class and copy out the same sentence a hundred times on the blackboard."

Bart Simpson on Time's Most Influential List (Verena Dobnik - Associated Press)

Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY, May 31 1998, pA8

Same Associated Press story as described in Times-Picayune, May 31 1998.

Bart Simpson makes Time's `most influential' list

Boston Globe, Boston, MA, May 31 1998, pA8

Same Associated Press story as described in Times-Picayune, May 31 1998.

Me and Mr. Burns (Jon Bradley Snyder)

I Bent My Wookiee! Celebrating the Star Wars/Simpsons connection (Scott Chernoff)

n38 Star Wars Insider, Jun/Jul 1998, Cover!, p7, p52-54, 56-57

Cover features great picture of Bart dressed as Luke Skywalker with light sabre in hand battling Homer as Darth Vader (or should we say Dark Helmet?) officially provided by Fox for this issue

p7 Editor's column indicates he doesn't refer to The Simpsons by name but instead calls it "The Only Reason I Own A Television". He grew up on "Life is Hell" comics and then followed The Simpsons from Tracey Ullman through to present. Quoting: "...Matt Groening, like George Lucas, is a visionary who genuinely loves his medium and supports the work of fellow artists. It seems like every year at San Diego Comic-Con International, I see Groening cruising the floor buying and supporting self-published and independent publications..".

p52 Table of Contents refers to this as "A complete rundown of every Star Wars reference on our favorite animated sitcom." (No need to add the qualifier animated, thank you.) The article begins with all the lavish praise The Simpsons so richly deserve. "If I had to get into a schoolyard fist fight over what was the funniest show of all time, I'd go to the mat for The Simpsons. No show has stayed so consistently brilliant for such a sustained period of time (production is under way on the show's 10th season), nor has any show sent me into so many uncontrollable fits of laughter. I don't know about you, but I've never made it through an episode of The Simpsons without laughing. Hard. Several times.

It continues; "That's thanks not only to the show's incredible cast of voice actors but also to its heroic writing staff, who over the years have used the animated citizens of Springfield USA to analyze and satirize nearly every aspect of American society and culture. Each episode of the Fox powerhouse is crammed with so many jokes and ideas that fans are richly rewarded with new laughs for every repeat viewing, and every story is played out by characters that have become more beloved - and real - to viewers than most of their live-action counterparts. Indeed, Homer's oft-repeated cry of 'D'oh' has become as ubiquitous a phrase in the pop culture pantheon as 'May the Force be with you'."

Article goes on to list a partial list of references to Star Wars on The Simpsons. Our complete list of Star Wars references is here!

Speaking in 'Toons (not supplied)

n42 Nickelodeon, Jun/Jul 1998, Cover! and pp52-53

Cover says "The Simpsons".

Nickelodeon (children's magazine) interview of Dan Castellaneta (aka Homer et. al.) and Kathy Najimy (Peggy on Kin of the Hill)

Which of your characters is most like you? Dan: Grandpa Phil is actually closer to me than Homer. (Phil on KOTH)

Did you know what Homer or Peggy would look like when you auditioned? Dan: Matt Groening [The Simpsons' creator] showed me a drawing of Homer and said, "Come up with a voice for him."

Have your characters changed over time? Dan: Homer has become dumber and more lovable. In the early episodes he was a lot more grouchy and mean.

Are the characters you play similar to one another? Dan: Well, both Grandpas I play are pretty much the same age - in their early eighties. Grandpa Simpson is an old fussbudget, whereas Grandpa Phil is very vibrant and doesn't really complain. Their similarity is that they both love telling long stories.

Do you do any other voices? Dan: I do about ten regular characters on The Simpsons, including Krusty the Clown, Mayor Quimby. Sideshow Mel, and Barney Gumble.

Which voice is harder to do, Homer's or Grandpa Phil's? Dan: I guess Homer is a little bit more taxing, because his emotions change like the wind. And he does a lot more screaming.

Do you record animated voices with other cast members or alone? Dan: We try to record The Simpsons together, because sometimes we ad lib off one another.

Would you want to spend time with your characters in real life? Dan: I don't think I'd hang around Homer, because I wouldn't have the patience.

Do you think you look like your characters? Dan: Only in being bald. I'm not yellow, and I don't have big bulgy eyes. I used to eat doughnuts, but not anymore.

loaded 50 (none)

Parklife (Phil Robinson)

n50 Loaded, Jun 1998, p72-76, 79-80, 82-83, 85-86

p113 British magazine Celebrating it's 50th issue with quotes from various stars has in one corner a picture of Homer reading Loaded with Bart, Snowball II and Santa's Little Helper with the Homer quote; "A world without donuts is like a donut without a hole... wait, a donut without a hole - that would mean more donut! I'm a genius!" This picture is taken from the cover of Loaded, August 1996.

p126-p132 Article on South Park explains the shows merits by describing a scene and saying "..it's up there with the best of The Simpsons. On page 132 we find a picture of Bart at the blackboard and one of Homer exclaiming "D'oh!" with an interview of South Park creators Trey and Matt Stone talking about The Simpsons;

Trey: The Simpsons is brilliant. They do so much family stuff. It's great, but that's why we didn't want to do any more family stuff, and wanted to do a bunch of friends.

Matt: Watching The Simpsons now, it's a great show but it burns me out. It's like they've done everything.

Trey: You have to ignore it, because it ties your brain up. For nearly every show we've done so far, people have said, 'Oh, The Simpsons have alread done that', but there's obviously different ways of doing everything.

Just a Note (not applicable)

v8n8 Disney Adventures, Jun 1998

This really is just a note - no Simpsons references in the June issue, and no Bongo Simpsons mini-comic within the pages. Sorry.

The Cartoon Character Bart Simpson Talk about arrested development - this kid has been 10 for 11 years! And we hope he stays there. Deplorable, adorable, Bart is a brat for the ages (Richard Corliss)

v151n22 Time Magazine, June 8 1998, p144-145

Great article, and one that Time has online right here! Let's also note here that the article has a link back to us!

Het Grote Simpsons-Alfabet Ze kleven net zo aan de jaren negentig als de GSM, triphop en megabedrijvenfusies. E�nogige kijkers houden hen nod altijd voor een soort Beavis and Butt-head in familieverband. Kinderen weten wel beter. 'The Simpsons' zijn nooit minder dan goed, en meestal briljant. Voor fans en leken: een alfanetische ontdekkingsreis door de wonderlijk aardse wereld van een gestoord modelgezin. (Alex Stockman)

v24n3013 Humo, Jun 9 1998, Cover, p150-151, 153.

Full cover on this television magazine from Belgium says "The Simpsons Cadeau" with a footnote that says "100 video's".

An A to Z description of our favorite family, with 'B' for Bart Simpson, 'H' for Homer Simpson, and 'T' for Tegenstanders.

New Orleanian Animates MTV (Mark Lorando)

Times-Picayune, Jun 21 1998, pT10

A article that truly got my dander up. I quote.

"As the cartoonist who gave birth to The Simpsons, Matt Groening has gotten most of the credit for launching TV's current Golden Age of animation. But no one has done more to make cartoons cool again than New Orleans native Abby Terkuhle, the President of MTV Animation."

Credit here clearly goes to Groening, where credit is due. How could they print this? Easy, they're even more biased than we are. Abby Terkuhle is from New Orleans, home of the Times-Picayune. I hate to be picayune about it, but the credit goes to Groening. MTV, while doing some interesting work, can hardly claim to be even a leader. They even turned down South Park to the Comedy Channel's advantage.

Are Women Like Beer? (Constanza Villalba)

New York Times, Jun 21 1998, p20

Quoting from what Homer told Bart, this story uses an illustration of Homer and Marge to point out the real health differences between men and women, largely based upon the fact that women produce estrogen until menopause and men produce testosterone all their lives. For example, for the Heart and Circulatory System, "While Marge is young, she is less likely than Homer to develop high blood pressure over Bart's shenanigans. Her higher levels of estrogen prevent cholesterol deposits from forming on artery walls. By the time Lisa graduates from Yale, however, Marge's risk for heart disease will begin to match his."

Behind Every Homer Is a Very Tall Man (Charlotte O'Sullivan)

The Independent, England, Jun 22 1998, p22

An interview of Ian Maxtone-Graham, writer for The Simpsons and the person on whom 'the very tall man' character is based.

A copy of this can be found right on the archive here!

Cartoons are King! But How Long Will They Rule? Cartoons haven't enjoyed their current primetime heyday since the early 60s when Rocky and Bullwinkle, The Flintstones, The Jetsons and Johnny Quest occupied the family hour time slot. But what is it that has sparked the rise in animated fare and put South Park on every T-shirt and magazine cover nationwide? Critics and fans alike all point in one direction - The Simpsons. And along with it, Beavis and Butthead, Ren and Stimpy and King of the Hill (to name a few) have made the 90s the decade of the cartoon. Is there anywhere left for them to go? (Ken Lieck)

Gadfly of the Month: The Simpsons (G. Michael Dobbs)

The List: Simpsons by the Numbers (not supplied)

Cartoons on the web (not supplied)

v2n7 Gadfly, Jul 1998, Cover, p5, 6, 7, 8-11, 13-17

Cartoon cover with our favorite family front and center dominating the cover for this cover story on cartoons. With the (long!) title of the cover story correctly crediting The Simpsons for the rebirth of animation we knew this article was on the right track.

Lot's of good stuff to be transcribed here!

If The Simpsons Starred in a TV Drama (a parody) (Lou Silverstone, Andy Simmons and Todd Jackson; Artist: Don Ohehek)

Cracked #326, Jul 1998, cover and p17-19

Cover has Homer and Bart, Hank (King of the Hill), Kenny and Stan (South Park) on the cover with title "We 'Toon Out!"

p17 Parody of The Simpsons starring in various television shows including E.R.R., Simprose Place, N.Y.P.U Blues, Star Wreck: Ohboyager

The Actors Underfoot (Marc Shapiro)

Godzilla, (Jul) 1998, p50-54

With appearances by Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer this movie magazine has several references to our favorite family. "Azaria, who balances steady gigs as a voice on The Simpsons and the dog walker on Mad About You, is a newcomer to this kinds of action filmmaking..". "...it's been years since I acted to imaginary things, and I was wondering why I wasn't having a problem. Then it dawned on me that I was doing The Simpsons all along, and in that I was totally acting to nothing." Later, Harry Shearer: "I knew some of these people already, and the rest of us just kind of bonded. So many of us being in The Simpsons (Nancy 'Bart' Cartwright is also in the cast) actually helped us out."

Tales of the Briny Deep Featuring Captain McCallister in "Down the Hatches Boys" (Script: Jamie Angel, Pencils: Phil Ortiz, Inks: Tim Bavington, Letters: Jeannine Black, Colors: Nathan Kane, Landlubber: Matt Groening)

v8n9 Disney Adventures, Jul 1998, p92-96

p11 The Hot-O-Meter for this month, as judged this month by Natasha Dara's sixth-grade language arts class at Vernon Middle School in Leesville, Louisiana, lists "The Simpsons" as one of four things that are NOT hot. Poor misguided children. Illustrated with picture of Homer slapping his head appearing to say "D'oh!".

A Bongo Simpsons mini-comic within the pages of Disney Adventures.

Price Guide

n69 Lee's Action Figure News & Toy Review, Jul 1998, p98

Recorded here since we have the issue and since it's a good way to see the price trend for these items, specifically, the 1990 Mattel 5" figures. Prices are Loose and MIP (mint in package).

Bart, $12, $25

Bartman, $12, $25

Homer, $12, $25

Lisa, $20, $55

Maggie $20, $55

Marge $12, $36

Melson $12 $30

Sofa Set $12, $35

Down On The Corner Raising a Glass to Some Well-Loved Corner Bars (Mary Kunz and Toni Ruberto)

Buffalo News, Jul 2 1998, pG16

Article on well-loved bars mentions a few famous ones in story lines, including mentioning that "Homer Simpson hangs out at a bar (Moe's)". Once again, the level of detail known about the Simpson's outshines any other program.

Imagination Does Matter for Hank Azaria in `Godzilla' (Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News)

Chicago Tribune, Jul 3 1998

Discusses why Hank Azaria from the Simpsons (aka Apu, Moe, et. al.) was a perfect fit for a role in Godzilla, and why so many Simpson alumni ended up in the movie Godzilla.

"For a man who's more accustomed to being heard more than seen, Hank Azaria is really out there these days. The longtime voice of such Simpsons cartoon characters as Moe the bartender and Apu the convenience store owner, not to mention the scene-stealing bat Bartok in last year's animated feature Anastasia, Azaria is making quite a splash in the flesh this year. He's had three features released so far -- Great Expectations, Homegrown and, the biggest one of all, Godzilla -- with two on deck, Mystery, Alaska and The Cradle Will Rock."

The reason so many Simpson voices ended up on Godzilla...

"In the case of Godzilla, all those years off-camera in the Simpsons recording booth paid off doubly. The monster mash's producer and co-writer, Dean Devlin, was such a fan of the show that he offered film roles to several of the show's voice talents, including Harry Shearer and Nancy Cartwright.

It then goes on to discuss why Azaria works well in Godzilla.

"Since Azaria's humongous co-star was by necessity computer generated, he found himself acting opposite a big, imaginary nothing on the film's New York locations and cavernous L.A. soundstages." Azaria then comments " I think I found it, maybe, easier than other actors would. Obviously, we record the Simpsons' with nothing there, like a radio play that they animate later. You have to imagine, very vividly, what's going on."

The Mysterious Tattoo Hoax (Erin St. John Kelly)

New York Times, New York, Jul 5 1998, Section 14, p8

A hoax accidentally perpetuated in a letter from New York's Sanitation Officers Association that temporary tattoos of Superman, Bart Simpson, Mickey Mouse are soaked in LSD and that some are laced with ''deadly strychnine.''

Beyond the bestsellers (author not supplied)

Boston Globe, Boston, MA, Jul 5 1998, pE6

A passing reference, noting that the small non-profit publisher Graywolf Press, which calls it's books literary and serious, is "Risking oblivion in Bart Simpson's America" by not appealing to the lowest denominator.

Stepping Out of Character; Looking for a reality bite? Check out the cartoons (Nicolai Ouroussoff)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, Jul 5 1998, p4

Once again pointing out that The Simpsons, a cartoon, is closer to reality than the 'real' shows. "...I find the cynical irreverence of animated shows like The Simpsons - and more recently South Park - so fascinating. The Simpsons are so knowingly in on the joke. The show mocks our addiction. Its references are the films and TV shows we grew up on - Hitchcock, Citizen Kane, Dallas - all part of our common culture, and its genius is to elevate these shared memories to a kind of subversive Pop art, to a form of deep social criticism."

It Might Lack Fox Stock's Glamour, but USEC Could Enrich Investors as Well as Uranium (Allan Sloan)

The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Jul 7 1998, pE3

This investment column begins by asking what Rupert Murdoch's Fox entertainment empire and the federal government's uranium-enrichment plants have in common? It then answers by saying it's not that they both produce toxic waste, and it's not Homer Simpson, it's that they both announced plans last week to sell stock to investors in initial public offerings. It then goes on to point out that the glamorous Fox offering is not as good a buy as the uranium-enrichment plant.

Talking with...Harry Shearer (Deanna Kizis)

v49n27 People Weekly, Jul 13 1998, p34

Noting how surprised Harry Shearer, who makes fun of media heavyweights, was to be asked to speak in honor of anchor Dan Rather. Mentions how until recently (including his role in Godzilla) he was "...a guy known mostly for providing the voice of The Simpsons' Mr. Burns." Provides a brief biography saying Shearer "...debuted at (age) 7 on Jack Benny's radio show" and "At 13, he played an Eddie Haskell-type character in the pilot for Leave It to Beaver but then quit showbiz for a serious life that included graduating from UCLA."

'Simpsons,' pop culture and Christianity (John L Allen Jr)

v34n34 National Catholic Reporter, Kansas City, Jul 17 1998, p25

Personal narrative about a 33-year-old guy who finds himself isolated with a ten-year-old (while the wife and other women are off talking) and looks to find a way to strike up a conversation with a common topic of interest. The answer? The Simpsons! He relates that the "..10-year-old's face lit up" when he " asked if he remembered the episode where Sideshow Bob framed Krusty the Clown" (episode 7G12 "Krusty Gets Busted") thereby confirming that the two of them "were of the same tribe." Goes on to discuss how pop culture can be the starting place for "...spirituality for the current generation. It provides a way for people to connect with one another..." The story is illustrated with a picture of them watching episode wherein Marge becomes a cop, episode 2F21 "The Springfield Connection". Author at JLA12065@aol.com.

How to Get Nassau Hub Rolling (author not supplied)

Newsday, Long Island, NY, Jul 19 1998, pB3

This strange article on the lack of impetus to redevelop Nassau County's hub (despite the fact that it's been attempted a dozen times) points out that fact that the boundaries bear "...an uncanny profile of cartoon character Bart Simpson." The resemblance doesn't stop there though; "...politicians and officials have demonstrated the principle that Simpson scrawled on a blank blackboard at the opening of one show: I will finish what I star"

D'oh! `Simpsons' interrupted (author not supplied)

Boston Globe, Boston, MA, Jul 21 1998, pE8

Describing a "network feed problem" that interrupted The Simpsons in Channel 25 for twenty minutes. They're lucky it was a repeat episode, given the riots that would have occurred otherwise.

Channel Surfer 'Simpsons' creator has his eye on future (Phil Kloer)

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Jul 23 1998, pD7

(This article appeared in both The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution.)

A write-up for Futurama, wherein Groening describes the character Bender as "our robotic Homer Simpson. He's lovably corrupt, loves his vices. I think he's the first robot in science-fiction history who shoplifts."

Coming Attractions (Robert Bianco, Elizabeth Snead, Edna Gundersen)

USA Today, Arlington, Jul 24 1998, p1E

Another Futurama write-up. A footnote for Simpson fans is that "One of the Futurama characters was written for the late Phil Hartman, a familiar and, Groening says, beloved presence at The Simpsons, but his role has been recast. His legacy, however, will remain". They've named the central character Phil Fry, in honor of Phil Hartman.

`Simpsons' creator to premiere new animated series on Fox (Ann Hodges)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, Jul 24 1998, p1

Another Futurama article, but one with a lot of Simpsons material. Notes that "...when a panel of top TV producers was asked to name their favorite TV shows, four out of six - Chris Carter of The X-Files and Millennium, Tom Werner and Marcy Carsey of The Cosby Show and Roseanne, and Matt Williams of The Cosby Show and Home Improvement - said The Simpsons." Mentions the fact (11?) that "After 11 years, The Simpsons is now the longest-running comedy hit on television, and the longest-running prime-time animated series in TV history." Also notes that some of the writers "...grew up watching The Simpsons."

Groening's Hand In Fox's Future / `Simpsons' creator offers new series (John Carman)

San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA, Jul 28 1998, pD1

Passing Simpson references in this Futurama article, including upcoming Simpson season details that "keeping a secret proves difficult for Homer when he lands a personal assistant job working for Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger." In addition we hear that "Homer raises a lobster -- you know, he goes to the store and he wants a lobster. It's too expensive, so he gets a baby lobster to raise it." Also refers to episode where "Ned Flanders will suffer a midlife crisis and go to Las Vegas with Homer, where they'll waken one morning in the company of two cocktail waitresses." There will be "our obligatory Jerry Springer appearance," and a show in which Homer tries to become a more adept inventor than Thomas Edison. Since The Simpsons appear within a cartoon on Futurama, that means we'll now have Itchy and Scratchy within Krusty the Klown, Krusty the Klown within The Simpsons and The Simpsons within Futurama.

Oh My God, They Made a Movie! (Michael Angeli)

Details, Aug 1998, p116-121

Article about Matt Stone and Trey Parker of South Park fame. Stone points out that on South Park "...humans are reduced to an anatomy of construction-paper squares, triangles, and circles that make The Simpsons look like Fantasia.

Don't Have a Cow, Dude (Benjamin Rudolph)

v1n3 Beckett Hot Toys, Aug 1998, p88-89

About Craig Vinton, one of the few people on planet who may have more Simpson merchandise than I do. The article lists his email address as cvinton957@aol.com.

Just a Note (not applicable)

v8n10 Disney Adventures, Aug 1998

This really is just a note - the only Simpsons references in the August issue is in the "coming up next month" section where they advise that a Bongo Simpsons mini-comic is coming.

Stop, Look and Listen to Warber-Chappell's Music (Doris Bloodsworth of The Orlando Sentinel)

Chicago Tribune, Aug 3 1998, p7

This review of web sites includes the Butterfinger Simpsons Contest at http://www.butterfinger.com. "Each week, the Web site will post trivia questions based on the Simpsons. Answer the questions and you could win a case of candy bars. The site also includes a game where players help Bart chase his arch nemesis, Sideshow Bob."

Fox delivering cream of the crop, TV watchdog says (Bob Longino)

The Atlanta Constitution, Aug 4 1998, pD4

The Viewer's for Quality Television award Fox with their Network Commitment to Quality Award for the 1997-1998 season for such shows as Ally McBeal, The X-Files, The Simpsons and King of the Hill. Article explains that the 'other' shows not withstanding, (which The Simpsons have parodied) Fox is nonetheless producing quality work.

Bennett never compromises integrity for the sake of his career (Greg Haynes)

Times Union, Aug 6 1998, p8

How Tony Bennett, now 72, staged "...one of the most successful comebacks in the history of pop music -- capturing the MTV generation with a cameo appearance on The Simpsons," amongst other things.

What's Wrong With TV? Just Do the Math (Jeff Macgregor)

New York Times, Aug 9 1998, p27

Comments on the abysmal state of television, leading off with his take on Magic Johnson's late-night television talk show. However, " We all have our personal exceptions that prove the rule: i.e., The Simpsons..." (The only show he names as an exception). Goes on to make the point that television executives sole rule on whether to broadcast a show is based upon profit, and worse still, they can't even hit that mark most of the time.

TELEVISION / FOX FAMILY VALUES / The goal of the newest cable network is to get parents and kids to watch together (Verne Gay)

Newsday, Aug 9 1998, pD12

Pointing out the irony of Fox now being a 'Family' channel, given that "The Fox Network, after all, did more to demolish the concept of all-family programming than any other major program service; Married . . . with Children and The Simpsons were (and are) bald-faced send-ups of the cherished institution."

Television Has Been Hard on Fathers (Ellen Gray)

Chicago Tribune, Aug 11 1998, p6

Discussing how fathers of the 90's are a far cry from the fathers of the 50's. "Robert Young may have died last month, but the idealized, all-knowing American father he played on the '50s classic Father Knows Best pretty much disappeared from television sitcoms long ago. The Springfield of Father Knows Best is a long, long way from the Springfield of Fox's The Simpsons."

Brits send stress fest to U.S. audiences (Ann Hodges, TV Critic)

Houston Chronicle, Aug 12 1998, p1

Article about Stressed Eric calls it an "...animated cartoon for grown-ups - another in a growing list drawn to primetime by those sly Fox hits, King of the Hill and The Simpsons. This one's already big in its homeland of Britain, but for its American debut, NBC ordered a major change. Eric Feeble, the stressed-out one, is no longer British. Eric's been dubbed with a new American accent (supplied by actor Hank Azaria), and a new American identity to explain how he came to be the pitiful patriarch of an English-accented family living in London."

Groening's `Futurama' to Join Fox's Lineup (John Carman of the San Francisco Chronicle)

Chicago Tribune, Aug 14, 1998, p2

Article about Futurama has various Simpson references...

I'd rather listen to Matt Groening proclaim "Simpson's Forever" than listen to all the naysayers who say The Simpson's may be on their last season. " The Simpsons perks along merrily to the delight of Fox and the show's creator, Matt Groening, who can see 'no end in sight.' "

Article discusses the advantages of cartoons for a network, since "...cartoon characters seldom ask to have their contracts ripped up and renegotiated. Or ask networks to grease their four-fingered hands with fat production deals. Or demand on-set trailers equipped with hot and cold running sycophants and personal trainers." True, but the producers and voices can ask for those things! Describes Homer Simpson as "...the same unadorned, beer-swilling slug we met a decade ago." Groening says that as for The Simpsons, he's promising a 1998-99 season "as good as any we've ever done, or better."

Mary Riddell (Mary Riddell)

v11n518 New Statesman, Aug 21 1998, p12

Arguing that Hillary is in a better position now than prior to the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal, she makes repeated analogies between (Bill and Hillary) and (Homer and Marge). Since the basis of Hillary's marriage is power, and since she's in a stronger position now, the marriage is more secure, not less secure. "Not quite the Bobbits... Hillary and Bill have emerged as the Marge and Homer Simpson of presidential politics." Refers to Bill's confession to the American people as "Homer-esque". "Whatever hurt she endured this week, the public perception of the Clintons (as) the heel and the loyal wife; Homer and Marge - plays now to her cause." "Assuming that the US public - reverent and sympathetic - continues to confuse the latter for the former, this may, after all, not have been such a dire week for the Marge Simpson of the White House.

Tales From The Crib (Letter to the Editor)

The Los Angeles Times, Aug 23 1998, p87

In this letter to the editor, the former senior story editor of Rugrats is "...delighted to see Paul Germain receiving credit as a main creative force behind the series. He points out that Rugrats charm is derived "...in large part from the distinctive Klasky Csupo art style (there was a reason Paul chose this studio over numerous competitors to produce The Simpsons)"

Voice of our Times `Simpsons' Fans Won't Recognize Nancy Cartwright Until She Speaks (Nancy Mills)

Chicago Tribune, Aug 24 1998, p3.

There are relatives I wouldn't recognize, but Nancy Cartwright I would certainly recognize! In this interview we hear again the usual trivia of how Nancy Cartwright was originally going to try for the voice of Lisa and ended up as Bart. More interesting is how she connected with her mentor, the late Daws Butler, "..who voiced such legendary cartoon characters as Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound." Cartwright relates, "I called him up in California and got his answering machine. This was Ohio, 1977. I didn't know what an answering machine was. Anyway, I'm listening to this message, and Daws was doing his British butler voice. I just picked up on it and did this little Cockney response, asking him to call me collect. He did, and we had this incredible conversation that started our long-distance student/mentor relationship. He'd send me scripts, and I'd talk into a tape recorder and send him tapes to critique. He'd write back things like, `Here's a challenge. She's older than you.'"

Having said all that, there's now a copy of this article on the archive right here!

Evergreen property (Paul Brownfield)

Houston Chronicle, Aug 25 1998, p1

As so often happens, animation shows are compared to The Simpsons. Rugrats here is described as an "evergreen property", meaning that "...hundreds of millions of dollars in global merchandising rights that the show brings in each year will likely stay as strong as the green leaves of that tree." While truly intended for children, "Rugrats is a show that's closer in spirit to The Simpsons than Barney."

Prime-Time TV Rankings; White House Scandal, Red-Hot Viewing (Brian Lowry)

The Los Angeles Times, Aug 26 1998, pF10

Discussing the reason we lucked out with a new episode in August, which was to provide a strong audience lead in to the new Fox sitcom That '70s Show. Notes that That '70s Show will have to sink or swim the next three weeks without an original Simpsons episode in front of it.

'The Simpsons' Snags Its Fifth Trophy in Six Years (Brian Lowry)

The Los Angeles Times, Aug 31 1998, pF3

Another article about the Simpson 1998 Emmy awards. See Houston Chronicle, Sep 1 1998.

Yellow Fever: The Simpsons as cultural phenomenon (Jim Gleeson)

The College Tribune, Universiary College Dublin, Autumn 1998

Simpsons now and forever. Read it on the archive right here!

Puzzlement (Tim Morris)

v67n4 The American Scholar, Washington, Autumn 1998,

Great article and a must read for any jigsaw puzzle fan includes this passing reference to Homer Simpson; "Much as I might like to put Homer Simpson in the Sistine ceiling, the damn piece just won't fit."

This is Springfield, Not Shelbyville! (not likely)

Collecting Simpsons (Patrick interviewing William LaRue)

Simpsons Quiz (no way!)

Homer and Dan (Two interviews reprinted from ? and Cult TV)

Matt Groening interview (reprinted from E-Online)

I Can't Believe It's a Simpsons Site! (Patrick interviewing Chad)

Simpsons Test (taken from our web site!)

How is Each Simpsons Episode Created? Executive Producer Mike Scully Explains the Process

Thanx, Matt Groening Whoever the Hell You Are

Don't Change, undated (Sep 1998), Cover and many many unpaginated pages

Cover of these punk/hard core zine has a truncated and partially covered head of Krusty the Clown.

This entire issue is dedicated to The Simpsons, and has on the cover "Simpsons, Punk, Hardcore, Basketball... What More Could You Want?" It included the Music CD This is Springfield, Not Shelbyville which we're documenting under "Other Media References" in the last part of this document.

This is just the beginning of this entry, we plan to add a lot more!

Channel Hopping: Emmy Nominations

Feare-Some! Big hair, big shoes and big ideas - it can only mean one thing: Sideshow Bob's back in town! (Peter Griffiths)

Cult Times #36, Sep 1998, cover, p10, 16-17

Cover of this British publication says "Simpsons: Sidesow Bob returns!"

p10 Cites Simpsons Emmy wards: "Hank Azaria picked up Outstanding Voiceover Performance for convenience store operator Apu in The Simpsons..."

p16-17 Rave review of the episode Cape Feare (9F22) as it is about to appear on BBC2.

Simpsons Collectibles Lee's takes you on a photographic "collectors' tour" through Springfield, and the land of Simpsons collectibles (J. Thomas Aimes)

Price Guide

n71 Lee's Action Figure News & Toy Review, Sep 1998, cover, p22-24, p98

Cover simply says "The Simpsons".

Nice three page article profusely illustrated with 49 photographs of different Simpson collectibles. Well worth transcribing some day.

p98 Recorded here since we have the issue and since it's a good way to see the price trend for these items, specifically, the 1990 Mattel 5" figures. Prices are Loose and MIP (mint in package).

Bart, $12, $25

Bartman, $12, $25

Homer, $12, $25

Lisa, $20, $55

Maggie $20, $55

Marge $12, $36

Melson $12 $30

Sofa Set $12, $35

Do You Hate Your #$*! Boss?

v2n7 Maxim #11, Sep 1998, p86-89

Article is illustrated with a miniature picture of Burns and Smithers, with the snarling residents of Springfield looking at him from outside through the window.

The Day the Nagging Stopped (Story: Ian Boothby, Pencils: Julius Preite, Inks: Tim Harkins, Letters: Karen Bates, Colors: Chris Ungar, Editor: Bill Morrison, Nitpicker: Matt Groening) (Bongo Simpsons Comics)

v8n11 Disney Adventures, Sep 1998, p92-95

A four page Bongo Simpsons Comics within the pages of this magazine.

`Simpsons' again named best animated program by Emmys

Houston Chronicle, Sep 1 1998, p4

In this item that describes all the Emmy awards they focus the title on OFF. "Despite competition from newer programs such as King of the Hill and cable's South Park, The Simpsons was named best animated program for the fifth time in six years by the Emmy Awards." Fox picked up six honors, including three for The Simpsons, including "Music and lyrics - The Simpsons, Fox, song title: You're Checkin' In (A Musical Tribute to the Betty Ford Center)" and for Voiceover performance by Hank Azaria.

3 Emmys for `Simpsons' (Brian Lowry, Los Angeles Times)

Times Union, Sep 1 1998, pD5

Another article about the Simpson 1998 Emmy awards. See Houston Chronicle, Sep 1 1998.

MORNING REPORT; Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press (Shauna Snow)

The Los Angeles Times, Sep 2 1998, pF2

Describes a live seminar hosted by the Museum of Television & Radio on Oct. 8, 1998 with the creators of The Simpsons (Matt Groening), King of the Hill (Mike Judge) and South Park (Trey Parker and Matt Stone).

We'll see if we can put up a transcript of this after it takes place!

Matt our of Hell Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, and Life in Hell, discusses his cast of sketchy characters (Chaunc� Hayden)

n154 Time Out New York, Sep 3-10 1998, Cover, p160

Cover along bottom includes "Toon Titan Matt Groening" as a hint of the interview inside.

Interview of Matt Groening to be transcribed.

Teenagers in survey show what they know: TV trivia, not history

Boston Globe, Sep 3 1998, pA7

Same Associated Press story as described in Houston Chronicle, Sep 4 1998.

Democracy Quiz Stumps Many Teens

Chicago Tribune, Sep 3 1998, p22

Same Associated Press story as described in Houston Chronicle, Sep 4 1998.

Constitution Crises/What people don't know could fill a TV network

Houston Chronicle, Sep 4 1998, p38

In the editorial section, commenting on the survey by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia that determined that only 41 percent of the 600 American teenagers (ages 13-17) surveyed in a nationwide phone poll can name the three branches of government, but 74 percent can name the city where cartoon character Bart Simpson lives (Springfield). Only 12 percent know where Abraham Lincoln lived (Springfield, Ill.).

Most no doubt said "Who's Abraham Lincoln?".

That Homer, He Just Keeps Rolling Along

Chicago Tribune, Sep 4 1998, p5

Complementary article anticipating the 10th season dishes out the following complements; "Still crazy after all these years. The Simpsons just keeps rolling along, funnier than about any other comedy series you can imagine. After nine seasons, Matt Groening's cartoon creation remains wickedly witty, smart and in the creative groove." It goes on to describe details we all know by now from the 10th season.

TV'S ho-hum harvest Familiar favorites return in fall, but crop of new shows looks frail (Robert Bianco)

USA Today, Sep 4 1998, p1E

Points out that "lucky viewers" can ignore newer shows and just watch the good old shows such as The Simpsons, saying "With so many shows worth watching, does it matter if you've watched them before?"

Future perfect As creator of The Simpsons, Matt Groening has made TV history. With his new series he's about to change the future too. John Patterson shares his vision in an exclusive interview. (John Patterson)

The Guide, television insert for The Guardian, Sep 5-11 1998, Cover, p12-13, 15, 89

Full Futurama cover featuring Fry, Bender and Leela looking up at the stars

Interview of Matt Groening which me may get online sometime soon!

Page 89 has an advertisement for the new Simpsons video "Heaven and Hell" including a contest to win your own personal caricature.

Black Holes (video review) (Catherine Applefeld Olson)

v110b36 Billboard, Sep 5 1998, p28

This review of a video on Black Holes, formed when a star dies, collapses on itself, and forms such a massive object that not even light can escape, "includes a computer-generated segment featuring Homer and Bart Simpson on the verge of discovering a black hole." While we loath the idea of promoting anything, we also don't want to drive the curious insane by not supplying the obviously missing information; Available from Ark Media Group for $19.95, who can be contacted at 1-800-727-0009.

3,000 students vow to `stop violence' during summit / Mayor asks youths for their ideas (Armando Villafranca)

Houston Chronicle, Sep 5 1998, p43

In a city funded rally to encourage students to "stop the violence" Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson) speaks. No information on what she said though!

Only 41 Percent of American Teens Can Name the Three

Christian Science Monitor Sep 8 1998, p9

They always seem to release these surveys as if they're a big surprise. Only 41 percent of American teens can name the three branches of government, but 59 percent can name the Three Stooges, and more importantly to us, 74 percent can name the city where cartoon character Bart Simpson lives!

Same Associated Press story as described in Houston Chronicle, Sep 4 1998.

Two offbeat series ideas sputter out (Joanne Ostrow)

Denver Post, Sep 8 1998, pE5

Favorable review of Stressed Eric notes that; "As a concession to the domestic audience, it was dubbed with Hank Azaria's American accent in the lead role. He has more fun as Apu on The Simpsons but, oh well."

Let's rewrite that last sentence into ATS style;

In a sheer stroke of genius the network wisely decided to use Hank Azaria in the lead role.

They also noted that Stressed Eric was a cross between Absolutely Fabulous and The Simpsons. They go on to say that Stressed Eric is "Not as raunchy as South Park but, in its way, saucier than The Simpsons."

It's always interesting to see how other shows attempt to build audiences by comparing themselves against The Simpsons, the standard against which new cartoons are judged.

The 'King' of Tuesday TV Fox's second animated hit comedy rules the roost; here's a behind-the-scenes look at how the show comes to life (Drew Jubera)

The Atlanta Constitution, Sep 8 1998, pF1

Notes the popularity of King of the Hill by comparing it to The Simpsons. It states that "King is the most successful prime-time cartoon since The Simpsons debuted nine years ago, and it's one of the few network hits of any kind the last two seasons. It ranked 22nd last year in overall ratings (The Simpsons ranked 29th) and 10th in the advertising-rich 18-49 age group." In addition, "Just as Fox once used The Simpsons to kick-start different nights of programming on its crawl toward network legitimacy, it has moved King from Sundays to Tuesdays in a bold attempt at catching two wheezing network standbys, Home Improvement and Mad About You." Repeatedly references writers/directors John Vitti, Greg Daniels and Shaun Cashman as being Simpsons alumni.

Fall Speed Ahead (Fall Preview: Television)

n155 Time Out New York, Sep 10-17 1998, p19

Television fall preview beginning on page 48 with the following; "All points in the circle of life are represented on television - the infantile (Working), the adolescent (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), the middle-aged (Frasier), the ancient (The Simpsons) - giving us fickel viewers both blessed renewal and much-needed continuity."

The Simpsons represent ancient? As in Burns and Grandpa?

TIME IN: A selective guide to what's on

n156 Time Out New York, Sep 17-24 1998, p188

Recommends and previews the Sep 20, 1998 10th season opening episode 5F21 "The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace" saying "Homer attempts to become an inventor, but you can expect him to fail hilariously."

Doh! Simpsons' Archivists Go Overboard Detailing Every Episode (Stacey Cara Cohen)

The Daily Herald, Sep 18 1998, Time Out! section

Hey! They're talking about us! Wonderful article, which you can read on the archive right here!

Papa Homer Cominciamo questa settimana un viaggio in una delle famiglie pi� amate d'America, i Simpsons, per conoscere i pregi (pochi) e i difetti (molti) del personaggi creati da Groening. Iniziando dal capofamiglia (Elisabetta Sala)

n38 Telepiu', Sep 19-25 1998, p20-21

This italian television magazine kicks off a person by person weekly review of Our Favorite Family. From the title (translated); "We begin this week of exploration into one of the most loved families of America, The Simpsons, in order that we may know them a little and see the defects of the personages created by Matt Groening. Beginning with the head of the family." Anyone care to correct my Italian? In Italian Homer is Voiced by Tonino Colla. (This is part one of a four part series)

Robert Pinsky on 'The Simpsons' (Robert Pinsky)

The New York Times Magazine, Sep 20 1998, p55

The poet laureate of the United States tells why The Simpsons is his favorite television show.

"Why do I like The Simpsons so much? Because the show is funny, brilliantly written for masterful vocal actors. But also, I think there is something about The Slmpsons that penetrates to the nature of television itself. The most powerful television of my lifetime has been broadcast live, what the book industry would call 'nonfiction': sports events, trials, assassinations, funerals, wars, missions into space. What all of these spectacles have in common is that they are unpredictable. Even a one-sided World Series game or a carefully planned state funeral might suddenly erupt into surprise, some spontaneous marvel of passion or comedy, as large as a bombing or as small as some unanticipated facial expression. Television has a unique power to bring the dynamic, potentially startling event into the viewer's private, intimate space, immediately. Perhaps television's greatest artist, Sid Caesar, by genius and historical circumstance, had it both ways. His carefully written, disruptive comic sketches were performed live.

The Simpsons touches the same power by going to the other extreme, It isn't simply that these characters are not live - they were never alive. Repeatedly, the show mocks and embraces its own genre. It even mocks disruption itself, regularly, beginning with the bit over each episode's opening credits, when Lisa, jamming funky improvisations on her cartoon baritone sax, is ejected by the music director.

The simulation of faked live events - that's the only way to describe it - defines many episodes: Bart as the little boy supposedly lost down a well (it's really a walkie-talkie) draws massive, stagy live coverage. The uprising at his corrupt summer camp is covered by the ultra- fatuous newsman Kent Brockman, with Rather- esque exaggerations of understatement.

In one favorite moment, after Bart leads a paramilitary attack on the school bully, he appears in a moralistic epilogue, addressing the camera directly. out of character, to say that war is not as much fun as it seems, but something terrible. As Bart makes exceptions for 'the American Revolution, World War II and the 'Star Wars' trilogy,' the viewer has the pleasurable feeling of having been had again. In Bart's addressing us solemnly 'as himself,' calling attention to the fact that every rude remark he makes has been lovingly planned by experts, I find the appeal of television: its absurdly paradoxical grounding in extremes of the actual and the synthetic."

Conan the Comedian (James Kaplan)

v31n36 New York, Sep 21 1998, p26-32, 99

A Bibliography of Conan O'Brien, current Late Night talk show host and former writer for The Simpsons. In 1993, he was burned out; an engagement to be married fell through, a sitcom pilot he created wasn't picked up and he quit writing for Saturday Night Live. "His self-esteem was so shot that when The Simpsons called he wasn't sure he was up to the job. But after a year, he was happy again. He was doing his best writing ever in The Simpsons best season; he had become a supervising producer of the show."

Mamma Marge Non lasciatevi ingannare dalla voce stridula e dalla capigliatura: � lei el cuore (e li cervello!) della scombinata famiglia di Springfield (Betty Sala)

n39 Telepiu', Sep 26 - Oct 2 1998, p24-25

This italian television magazine's second installment of a weekly review of Our Favorite Family. From the title (badly translated); "Don't be fooled by the voice and hairdo: She is the heart (and the brains) of this ? family of Springfield". Help! In Italian Marge is voiced by Li� Bosisio. (This is part two of a four part series)

This Month, The Simpsons' Mr. Smithers Feels the Burns (Sara P. Nolan, illustration by Hanoch Piven))

Details Magazine, Oct 1998, p196

Interview of Waylon Smithers by a taxi driver, illustrated with a creative collage of Waylon. The entire interview can be found on the archive right here!

Unbelievable Disruptions (Buffy Rojas)

Contingency Planning & Management, Oct 1998, Cover! and pp 12-15

Cover features Charles Montgomery Burns with an angry mob. For research on who hasn't appeared on a magazine cover, here's list of everyone on this cover; Montgomery Burns, Mayor Quimby, Nelson Muntz, Grampa, Moe Szyslak, Milhouse Van Houten, Barney Gumble, Snake, Homer, Otto Mann, Principal Seymour Skinner, Bart, Miss Elizabeth Hoover, Waylon Smithers, Sideshow Mel and Hans Moleman.

Article opens describing the loss and recovery of a disk drive containing original Simpson scripts.

"When scripts for 13 episodes of the popular Fox network television series The Simpsons were accidentally deleted from the executive producer's laptop computer hard drive, it looked like it was curtains for Bart and family. But the show must go on and it did, thanks to DriveSavers, a Novala, CA-based company that retrieved the lost data.

Believe it or not, "the executive producer (Bill Oakley) had been backing up onto floppies and got sick of doing that." says Scott Gaidano, DriveSavers president. "Since he never had a computer crash, he just stopped doing the backups and that, of course, is when it happenned. We recovered 13 scripts that had not yet been produced. There were no other copies."

Pictured on our cover is another incidence of potential disruption to Springfield, the Simpsons' fictional hometown. C. Montgomery Burns, owner of the town's biggest business, the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, is faced with an angry mob of townspeople - a confrontation every CEO hopes to avoid. He's also the employer of Safety Inspector Homer Simpson, a perpetual screw-up and not the person most business continuity experts would charge with corporate safety.

But the Simpsons aren't the only unlikely victims of bizarre business disruptions and nonsensical near misses. There are reports every day of things gone awry in the world of business. Some you might anticipate. Others are unimaginable. But all reinforce the need for business continuity plans, because although there's no business like show business, for every business the show must go on."

As you might assume, the article digresses from there, and does not reference The Simpsons again.

Trick or Treat Down Memory Lane (author not supplied)

v2n8 Maxim #12, Oct 1998, p54

Article is illustrated with a miniature picture of Lisa and Bart, with the latter saying "Trick or Treat, Man". When we say miniature, we mean miniature - less than an inch high. Maxim appears to have some Simpson reference in every issue.

Bertwatch (a parody) (D. Goulet, Art by C. Daigle)

Nuts #10, Oct 1998, cover and p19-22, 26-27

Strange full page drawing of Homer Simpson on cover

Kids TV Shows Are Battling It Out for Viewers in the 12-and-under Crowd (Martha Raddatz)

Child, Oct 1998, p1, 22-24, 26

Picture of Homer superimposed on a television used to illustrate the table of contents on p1 and this story on p24 on children's television. No mention of The Simpsons in the article though.

Klasky Csupo: What's in a Name? (S.G. Norman)

v12n10 Animation Magazine #72, Oct 1998, p8-10, 76

Although focusing more on their current work, in the sidebar it supplies the history of Klasky Csupo with the following entries:

1988: KC animates Matt Groening's The Simpsons as bumpers for the Tracy Ullman Show.

(1989): The Simpsons made into half hour series. First of three Emmy Award winning seasons.

Insider (Tom Cunneff)

v50n12 People Weekly, Oct 5 1998, p59

Preview of an upcoming episode in November! "D'oh! On an episode of The Simpsons set to air in November, Homer winds up in bed with Alec Bladwin and Kim Basinger after he crashes through their skylight during a parasailing mishap on Lake Springfield. (The actors like to vacation in Springfield they tell Homer, to escape the phoniness of Hollywood). After reading the script, Alex and Kim happily agreed to the parts since they're big fans of the FOX animated sitcom. There's a funny scene about the cartoon Kim's habit of overpolishing her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for``L.A. Confidential''. They thought the script was hysterical," says executive producer Mike Scully, adding that there's also a joke about Baldwin punching out a tabloid photographer, a reference to his legal troubles after he allegedly hit a lensman trying to videotape his wife with their newborn daughter. (Alec was acquitted of the misdemeanor battery charge.) "Kim might have laughed a little harder at that one."

It includes a picture of Homer in bed with Kim and Alec with an inset photo of Kim and Alec on the right. Cartoon doesn't do Kim justice... Caption reads "Basinger and Baldwin (right, and at their most animated) pinch-hit for a Homer run."

Bart � la volta del monello di casa, Bartholomew J. Simpsons detto Bart, pessimo alunno e figlio ribelle. Egoista, imbroglione e falso, ha preso tutto del pap�. Che, naturalmente, va fiero di lui (Elisabetta Sala)

n41 Telepiu', Oct 10-16 1998, p18-19

This italian television magazine's third installment of a weekly review of Our Favorite Family. This title we're not even attempting to translate. Help! In Italian Bart is Voiced by Llaria Stagni. (This is part three of a four part series)

Lisa Intelligente, giudiziosa, persino un po' pedante: Lisa Simpson � una ragazzina sensibile e particolare. Tutto merito di mamma Marge e di un Quoziente intellettivo decisamente superiore alla media (Elisabetta Sala)

n42 Telepiu', Oct 17-23 1998, p20-21

This italian television magazine's last installment of a weekly review of Our Favorite Family. Picture of Lisa Simpson has the following caption supplying her birth date and Italian voice actor: "Lisa Marie Simpson, secondogentia di Homer e Marge, � nata el 3 luglio 1984; in italia � doppiata da Monica Ward." (This is part four of a four part series)

Can West Global Communications Corp. (company profile) (Not supplied)

v12n2 Canadian Shareowner, Nov/Dec 1998, p15-35

This investment publication gives Can West Global Comm, known to many as just Global (and by other names when they cut and censor shows and use half a screen to show credits) high marks on the strength of advertising revenues, saying Global Television "enjoys high ratings and large audience shares, especially in prime time in the key 18 to 49 age demographic segment due to popular programs like Seinfeld, Frasier, Friends, The Simpsons, Beverly Hills 90210, NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope, The X-Files and Party of Five."

Letters (Letters to the editor column)

v253n5 Popular Science, Nov 1998, p11

In the letters to the editor column Keith Vickers of Newport Beach, Calif. blames television for poor math and science scores in schools. "Your Article 'Falling Grades' (Science and Technology Newsfront, July), which partly blames teachers for poor math and science scores in schools throughout the United States, didn't mention other important factors: American pop culture and lazy parenting. Perhaps students from other countries aren't raised on MTV, The Simpsons, Beavis and Butthead, and South Park." Besides the fact that all of those shows are shown in other countries, we should certainly suggest an alternative list of shows.

Homegrown muscle (Matt Fitzgerald)

v13n9 Men's Health, Nov 1998, p150-155

Passing reference to The Simpsons in a list of excuses not to go out to the gym to exercise, saying "One more workout gets blown off in favor of fast food, a controlled climate, and Simpsons reruns."

The internet as a tool for exploitation? Exxxxxcellent! (Chris Clark)

v18n11 MC Technology Marketing Intelligence, Nov 1998, p82

Chris Clark uses a imaginary (hey, the show is real) dialogue between Burns and Smithers to teach about the possibilities of Internet access over power lines, as follows;

"Smithers?"

"Yes, Mr. Burns?"

"The days of charging a dollar for energy that costs us a nickel are almost over. Soon, dozens of entrepreneurial rapscallions will be swarming over our local power monopoly, forcing us to compete for every kilowatt at prices that make Amway look honest. We're doomed, Smithers...." "Sir, if I may make a suggestion? Have you considered the Internet?"

"The Internet? That pornography-riddled excuse for a global communications network is the shame of civilization. Even I, the operator of a nuclear power facility, wouldn't stoop so low as to .."

"But that's exactly the point, Mr. Burns. Thanks to Bill Clinton, the Internet is the biggest thing to hit Middle America since Magic Fingers, and unless the power industry gets its act together pronto, we're going to be left standing on the sidelines while those ninnies at WorldCom reap zillions for something we already have stuck in the wall of every room in every building in every village, town and city on the planet ... namely, bandwidth and a network jack:"

"Do tell, Smithers, do tell...."

"We're still using nerd-encrusted Wintel PCs and twisted-pair copper lines the size of a cocktail straw as the only way to access the web. But booting a computer to check football scores is dumber than watching Ally McBeal in a movie theatre. We don't need a Pentium 333 running Windows NT to download the Starr Report. The Model T equivalent (think iMac, sir), or a TV set, or even a telephone hooked up to an inkjet printer, will work fine. But we do need a bandwidth pipe big enough to hold a cigar, if you catch my drift..."

"Now I'm starting to ..."

"And what do utilities have? Big fat cables in every room of the house! So we start running Internet access through the power grid ... plug and play for real. Now, that's great for people who simply want to screen-grab doctored photos of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but how are we going to make sure the TV, the phone, the printer and the toaster can talk back to the Net, much less each other? Basically, we need a network operating system, but who wants to build Gates another rec room with license fees? Instead, we take the source code for Linux, Apache and Netscape, and create a no-cost, universal access paradigm that ports to a central hub that controls ..."

"Wait a minute, Smithers. What about Java? And who is going to build these central hubs? This is starting to sound suspiciously like the "set-top box" scam of 1994...."

"Exactly, only this time, the companies that are going to win the war have already begun building brand awareness at the consumer level, unlike those pikers at Scientific Atlanta, Jerrold and General Instruments. Java is great for applications, but lousy for routing. Tomorrow's home network infrastructure is going to come from Cisco, Lucent and 3Com. Our main pipe goes into their box, which delivers Net access and, incidentally, coordinates interactivity between household appliances through existing power lines."

"So let me get this straight... we deliver the Internet through our power lines. Cisco builds a central nervous system that runs everything from the TV to the toaster. The operating system is modified freeware...."

"Think internal combustion engine, Mr. Burns ... every car uses one, but no single company controls the system."

"But what about Microsoft? Intel? AOL? AT&T?

These companies have huge installed bases:'

"So did Digital, Wang and NYNEX in 1985. They're barely letterhead today. After all, the Internet is nothing more than enhanced electricity. Let Cisco and 3Com fight over who gets to be Ford and Toyota, while we lock up the gasoline market for Internet access in ways that make Rockefeller's monopoly look like an Oregon commune's checking account"

"Are you sure this is legal, Smithers?"

"Sir, may I remind you that this is a nuclear power facility. I believe we can make our own laws, if necessary."

"Quite right, Smithers. Carry on. And be sure to send a nice juicy surge down the line to Redmond during the NT 5.0 launch event" MC

Goodbye to all that (Christopher Hitchens)

v297n1782 Harper's, Nov 1998, p37-47

Article discussing techniques for teaching history makes a passing reference to The Simpsons observing that today's youth are not as naive as student's of years past, saying "The youngest of them share the wised-up humor of The Simpsons ("Springfield Youth Center: Building Unrealistic Hopes Since 1966").

Brand-name opera (Terry Teachout)

v106n5 Commentary, Nov 1998, p56-59

Passing reference to The Simpsons in this negative review of the operatic version of A Streetcar Named Desire. "Fifty-one years after it opened on Broadway, A Streetcar Named Desire remains one of the most frequently produced plays of the 20th century - it is still well-known enough, for instance, to have been parodied on The Simpsons - and the 1951 film version, directed by Elia Kazan and starring Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando, continues to be shown regularly on TV. As a result, most literate Americans know the story of Blanche Du Bois, the impoverished Southern belle who comes to New Orleans to live with her sister Stella, runs afoul of Stanley Kowalski, Stella's brutish husband, and ends up in an insane asylum, having proved incapable of reconciling her fantasies of gentility with the coarse realities of working-class life."

Pressure High (Cynthia Hanson)

v47n11 Chicago, Nov 1998, p108-113

Article about the evils of competition at New Trier High School in Winnetka IL, known for its "supersmart students..(that).. is recognized nationally for excellence" mentions that they have an official school club "...devoted to the cartoon series The Simpsons." Naturally.

Data Dog (Robert P Libbon)

v20n11 American Demographics, Ithaca, Nov 1998, p37-42

Article analyzing to what extent we still go "..over the river and through the woods" to grandma's house comments on the aging of America saying "So long, Simpsons; hello, Ex-Lax Files." thereby confusing generational issues with age.

Trying to build brand? Don't have a cow, man! (not supplied)

v31n11 Potentials, Minneapolis, Nov 1998, p8-11

Interview with Steven M. Ross, the general manager of Fox Licensing and Merchandising, during which they ask; "Not everyone is lucky enough to promote something as fun as Bart Simpson. What advice do you have for marketers promoting more mundane products?"

Beyond age-old stereotypes (Gene Huntley)

v17n3 NEA Today, Washington, Nov 1998, p45

In discussing the generation gap between teachers that are "older than dirt and some .. young enough to play in it" they list their different interests; "Ally McBeal, 20/20. Roller blade scrapes, shoulder blade aches. Dating, potatoing. Party hardy, hardly party. Third Eye Blind, Three Dog Night. Homer Simpson, Carol Simpson."

The iffy man: Why Mr. Wrong could be Mr. Right (Eve Golden)

v225n5 Cosmopolitan, New York, Nov 1998, p224-227

Passing reference to Matt Groening in this article about evaluating the right man says you shouldn't pass someone up simply because their unemployed; in this case, "working as a temp gives him time to follow his true calling: cartooning. He could take a high-power, high-pay, high-stress job just to impress people, but that would take him away from what he truly loves to do. And who knows? He may even be the next Matt Groening." I don't think so.

Males dominate in cartoons (Bobbi Ciriza Houtchens)

v88n2 English Journal, Urbana, Nov 1998, p109

Researchers complaining that "...female characters in television cartoons are still portrayed as dummies" with one notable exception; "Homer Simpson is dumb and Marge is wiser and more practical". Not to mention Lisa vs Bart.

If The Simpsons Were Guests On the Jerry Springer Show (a parody) (Gary Fields)

Cracked #330, Nov 1998, cover, p46-49 and back cover

Simpson family on cover, on Jerry Springer show

Back cover has small inset of Homer strangling Hank Hill

A parody of the Jerry Springer show, wherein Marge reveals she's really a man, the Flanders reveal they're Nazi white supremacists, and Grandpa reveals he's a male strip dancer, who takes off everything during the show including his pacemaker and dies.

Nice, 'Scary' Morality Tales Are Sirius Fun (Jeff Kapalka)

Syracuse Herald American, Syracuse, Nov 1 1998, p13

Review of Comics includes this review of "Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror". "Since the annual Simpsons Halloween specials have done so well on TV, Bongo Comics has done its own four-color version for the comic racks. And since the TV specials feature guest stars (this year's special had Regis and Kathy Lee, Ed McMahon and Jerry Springer! Scary!), the comics version also follows suit. Of course, in the case of the comics, the guest stars are the writers and artists. And so Batman writer Chuck Dixon gives us a marvelous monster epic titled "I Faced Tahn-En-Bahm: the Christmas Tree From Another World"; Batton Lash, creator of "Wolff and Byrd, Counsellors of the Macabre" (even monsters need lawyers), serves up a Ray Bradbury pastiche in "The Illustrative Man"; and Geoff Darrow (of "Hardboiled and Big Guy" and "Rusty the Boy Robot" fame) draws an insane two-page pinup titled "Rigel Four, Springfield Zero."

Intel hires Homer to push Pentium (Terry Stanley)

v48n44 Adweek, Nov 2 1998, p4

Intel hires Homer for their advertisements. According to Adweek, "The 30-second commercial is set to break this month on the season premiere of The X-Files. The spot will air through December on Fox and several cable networks during prime time, late night and sports programs." The logic behind using Homer: "Intel, which recently latched onto baseball's renewed popularity in ads touting the speed of its Pentium II, wants to tell consumers in easy to understand terms the benefits of using their product. 'We wanted to try to educate our consumer audience about what role the processor plays in their PC and the value of it,' said Joanne O'Brien, manager of consumer advertising at Intel. 'We make PCs smarter.' ". Ironic, since the Intel chipset that can be installed with the Pentium II does "make PCs smarter", while the Pentium chip itself just makes things faster. Beyond the traditional television commercials, Intel was also considering "...print ads and point-of-purchase materials", "Internet banner ads... (and)... in-store demonstrations in the form of a loop program on Pentium II PCs likely incorporating elements of a Simpsons CD-ROM game. Intel is working with Fox on an array of licensed goods, including mugs, T-shirts and caps." We did witness the Internet banner ads. It also mentions prior use of The Simpsons; "The stars of The Simpsons have been used as spokescharacters since 1989 for Nestle's Butterfinger candy, as well as in adult-- targeted efforts for Ramada Inn, MCI, TGI Friday's and MilkPEP."

Too Old to Buy, but Not to Fly (Richard Cohen)

The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Nov 3 1998, pA17

Passing reference to The Simpsons notes that "...television programs that appeal to older audiences can't ask the same advertising rates as those that have younger audiences. Shows with high ratings -- but older audiences -- do not do as well as shows with young audiences and lower ratings. A year ago, for example, Fox commanded a higher advertising fee for The Simpsons, ranked 32nd in prime time, than ABC got for 20/20, ranked 15th." Of course we think there's a better reason for that, even if the advertisers don't agree.

Game manufacturers are starting to look at a long-forgotten market: younger children (Michael Brick)

New York Times, New York, Nov 3 1998, pC7

Passing reference noting that the Playstation was the first game system "...marketed directly at 18- to 35-year-olds with advertisements on programs like Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.".

Toon Town takes over Baby boom consumers trust animated spots (Melanie Wells)

USA Today, Arlington, Nov 4 1998, P3B

Article about the increasing use of animation in advertising notes Intel's use of Homer Simpson. "Baby boomers grew up with animation, and our kids are watching animated TV - The Simpsons and South Park - so it's familiar to us," says Bill Ludwig, chief creative officer of Campbell-Ewald Advertising. "Creatively, it also allows us to suspend reality." Always useful in a commercial.

In My Opinion Beaver's World Nice to Visit (letters column)

The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Nov 4 1998, pA15

Letter to the Editor by Phil Perrier of Watkinsville, Ga., notes that "The Cleavers are gone, replaced by the Bundys of Married with Children, The Simpsons and South Park, all of which are products of a harsher world than the one Beaver grew up in."

TIME IN: A selective guide to what's on

n163 Time Out New York, Nov 5-12 1998, p190-191

Recommends and previews the Nov 8, 1998 episode 5F19 "When You Dish Upon a Star" saying "Lovey-dovey couple Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin parody (and insult) themselves when they hire Homer to be their personal assistant."

WB shows make it tops with teens (Neal Justin)

Times Union, Albany, Nov 5 1998, pD9

Discusses how Jamie Keller at Fox revitalized the network by starting up youth-oriented programs such as The Simpsons, Beverly Hills 90210, Married...With Children and Melrose Place and is now doing the same thing at the WB network with such shows as Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, Charmed, and 7th Heaven.

'X-Files' marks the start Movie, out on video, a good precursor to Sunday's TV season premiere (Mark McGuire)

Times Union, Albany, Nov 5 1998, pD1

Another reference to Homer on the X-Files season premier. "By the way, if you ever wanted to see what a live-action Homer Simpson looked like, check out Sunday's episode. No, we are not saying any more than that, other than it is a fun moment."

'X-Files' Returns With a New Look Plot thickens in desert as show moves to L.A. (John Carman)

San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, Nov 5 1998, pE1

Notes appearance of Homer Simpson on the X-Files; "Note to people who care about such things: Pay close attention to the power plant sequence for a little chuckle over The Simpsons"

No Tricks: 'Treehouse of Horror' is Bongo's Halloween Treat (Scott Brick)

v28n45 Comics Buyers Guide #1303, Nov 6 1998, Cover!, p24

Great full Simpsons cover featuring Milhouse, Bart, Lisa and Maggie standing in a candle lit room behind a wooden table with a picture of "Maggoty Matt Groening" and behind them are Simpson style pictures of all the writers in Treehouse of Horror Simpson style.

Describing the latest in the Treehouse of Horror comic book series, as a "rare case of art imitating art" where Bongo comics is imitating the televised Simpsons' special of the same name.

A to Z: A Preseason Primer on What to Expect From November Nonsense Through March Madness (Vahe Gregorian)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Nov 6 1998, pD4

Article describing the upcoming basketball season from A to Z makes an insulting reference to Homer Simpson; "H is for . . . Homer Drew, the effervescent, gracious Valparaiso coach and Webster Groves native. His team's NCAA Tournament run last season restored dignity to the name sullied by Homer Simpson.". Go back to basketball and leave our Greek god out of this.

Critic's Corner (column) (Robert Bianco)

USA Today, Arlington, Nov 6 1998, p16E

Recommending Simpsons episode 5F19: "When You Dish Upon a Star" saying "Basinger..., husband Alec Baldwin and director Ron Howard lend their voices and profiles to an episode that finds Homer employed as the stars' none-too-reliable personal assistant."

"X-Files" Premiere Muddled Popular Show is Almost Becoming a Self-Parody, and the Insider Jokes Continue to Mount. (William LaRue)

The Post-Standard, Syracuse, Nov 6 1998, p19

Negative review of the season premiere of X-Files, complaining of too many insider jokes, notes that there's "... even an inside joke for fans of The Simpsons, another Fox show. A burly, balding employee at a nuclear power plant is greeted at the controls by a co-worker shouting, 'Wake up, Homer.' ".

Channel Surfer 'The X-Files' returns with more questions (Phil Kloer)

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Nov 6 1998, pF4

Yet another X-Files review making a passing reference; "...there's also a little homage to The Simpsons".

Will the truth ever be in here? (Matthew Gilbert)

Boston Globe, Boston, Nov 6 1998, pD1

Yet another X-Files review making a passing reference; "There's also a small, sly reference to another Fox show, The Simpsons."

Retro Spirits of '76; Television Young actors on Fox's 'That '70s Show' get down with their bad hair and wild bell-bottoms (Steve Weinstein)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Nov 7 1998, p1

Mentions that ratings for That '70s Show "...in the cushy time period between The Simpsons and The X-Files were decent enough for the network to order a full season of 22 episodes." Mmmmm...cushy.

The pleasure of ignorance (Not supplied)

v317n7168 British Medical Journal, London, Nov 7 1998, p1260

Gee, I wonder how many other American cartoons have been referenced in foreign medical journals. Saying that "The great pleasure of ignorance is the pleasure of asking questions." the normally staid British Medical Journal inserts a questionnaire for fun. Sample question; "Which of the following are benefits of continuous positive airways pressure (p 1304)? (a) Recruitment of collapsed alveoli; (b) Improved lung compliance; (c) Reduced work of breathing; (d) All three." Those getting a good score were told to "feel free to continue watching the Simpsons every evening".

IPO Outlook: Fox and MONY Plan Their Debuts (Dunstan Prial)

Wall Street Journal, New York, Nov 9 1998, pB3A

Article on Fox Entertainment's initial stock offering mentions that in the current conservative market they are one of the few who can make this offering at this time, given their current wave of success. "Fox Entertainment's film credits include the record-setting Titanic, as well as the summer hit There's Something About Mary. The company's television lineup includes such hits as The Simpsons, Ally McBeal, The X-Files, King of the Hill, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dharma & Greg, The Practice and Chicago Hope."

Never Heard of 'Em? You Will (unknown)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Nov 9 1998, p2

Article about the Annie Awards, giving a broad stroke look into the current success of animation. "The public at large may never have heard of the Annie Awards, but on Friday some of the big Hollywood studios will be slugging it out to win one. That's because whoever wins an Annie will hold bragging rights for the year in a field that is growing in importance to Hollywood: animation. For years, Walt Disney Studios has been the 800-pound gorilla in the world of animation and it still rules much of the landscape. But with 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon testing the waters in animated feature films, and with South Park, The Simpsons and King of the Hill drawing huge viewership on TV, animation has never been hotter. "I think people have come to realize that animation has a far broader appeal than just being for children," said Antran Manoogian, an associate producer at Walt Disney Television Animation. Created in 1972 by June Foray, the voice of Rocky the Flying Squirrel, the Annies (short for animation) recognize outstanding achievements in feature films, television programming, commercials, home videos and interactive productions."

Roth tunes in new 'toons (John Consoli )

v8n42 Mediaweek, Brewster, Nov 9 1998, p12-14

Article about the next hot things in animation, "With 2 successful animated sitcoms - The Simpsons on Sunday and King of the Hill on Tuesday - already on the air, Fox and many in the ad-buying community are eagerly anticipating the addition of 3 more in the next quarter: Futurama, The Family Guy and The PJs." Roth makes some observations here worth repeating; "Roth believes viewers watch shows because of story lines and characters, not because of any preference for animation over live action. 'I think viewers watch a show that is well-crafted,' he said. 'An animated show is not a cartoon. It will succeed or fail based on the same criteria as a live-action show. [It's] good writing and whether the viewers get into the characters. King of the Hill is not a hit because it is animated,' Roth continued. 'It's popular because it honors the common-sense conservative.' " Article goes on to cite Simpson marketing data; "The Simpsons is strongest among the male teen 12-17 demo (13.4/35 season-to-date) but also does well in men 18-34 (9.3/27) and adequately in women 18-34 (6.7/20) and men 35-49 (6.8/15)."

Loyalty to employers wanes through '90s: But now businesses are starting to work on rebuilding it (Dave Murphy of the San Francisco Examiner)

Detroit News, Detroit, Nov 9 1998, pC1

Article discussing how companies just now learning it's worth retaining employees. "It won't be long before loyalty is in again, though. Businesses are realizing they lose a lot of time and money recruiting and training employees, and the street smarts their best workers have developed over the years can't ever be replaced. The other boot will drop as soon as they take a lesson from The Simpsons. In one classic episode, Bart sold his soul to a friend. After all, he'd never seen his soul, so it couldn't have been worth much, right? Once it was gone, he realized how much it had been a part of him and how badly he needed it back. If a cartoon character can figure that out in 15 minutes, the leading CEOs in the most powerful country on Earth ought to be able to figure it out in, say, 15 years."

Offerings in the offing: Not so crazy fox (Scott Reeves)

v78n45 Barron's, Chicopee, Nov 9 1998, p49

Describing why Fox's IPO will do well, crediting Murdoch. "Murdoch is successful because he does the unconventional. Fox gambled on an animated cartoon, and The Simpsons became a hit. King of the Hill duplicates this success on a smaller scale."

Extremes effective for Fox (Joanne Ostrow)

Denver Post, Denver, Nov 10 1998, pE05

In discussing Fox's descent into "pandering to the basest human instincts" they kick off by referencing The Simpsons parody of Fox. "The censor-defying writers of The Simpsons took a stab at their own network in this year's Halloween installment, 'Treehouse of Horror IX.' (Episode AABF01) On the TV in the Simpsons' living room, an announcer plugged an upcoming special on Fox, When Skirts Fall Off. So far, that one's fictional." So far.

Yellow Fever (Jim Gleeson)

The College Tribune, University College Dublin, Nov 11 1998

Another great article about Our Favourite Family, reproduced on the archive with the author's blessings right here!

TIME IN: A selective guide to what's on

n164 Time Out New York, Nov 12-19 1998, p190-191

Recommends and previews the Nov 15, 1998 episode AABF02 "D'oh-In in The Wind" saying "Homer finds out that his mother was a hippie and tracks down two of her spaced-out buds (voiced by George Carlin and Martin Mull). Cool, man!"

Surfing: Perturbations, pleasures and predicaments on the I-way

The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Nov 12 1998, pC04

A bit of trivia via a Volkswagon Beetle web site; Itchy & Scratchy appeared in a Beetle at one time.

Company Town; Fox Entertainment Shares Climb 8.9% in 1st Trading Day (not supplied)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Nov 12 1998, p5

Fox Entertainments IPO success, attributed to The Simpsons. "Fox Entertainment Group Inc.'s shares climbed 8.9% on Wednesday after the producer of The Simpsons and The X-Files raised $2.81 billion in the third-biggest initial public offering in U.S. history."

What happened to good TV? Even beloved standbys turning off audiences in autumn of discontent (Phil Kloer)

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Nov 12 1998, pE1

Article about the radical drop-off in the ratings of some shows attributable to the drain in writers to other shows, not mentioning The Simpsons but referencing them in the ratings chart. The Simpsons are listed as down 2% in the Nielsen's, from 15.1 in the 1997-98 season to 14.1 in the '98 season.

Film Notes (Louis B. Parks)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, Nov 12 1998, p24

Passing reference in interview of Edward Norton playing a skinhead in the movie "American History X". "Part or no part, one wonders if Norton was uneasy wearing that big swastika on his chest. 'Well, when you're acting, it's an artifice,' he said. 'You take it all off at the end of the day and hang it on a nail and go home and hang out with your friends and watch The Simpsons. Then you pick it up the next day.' "

Newsmakers Husband No. 2 accuses Seinfeld (author not supplied)

Detroit News, Detroit, Nov 12 1998, pA2

Mentions that Jace Richdale, husband of former Seinfeld writer Jennifer Crittenden, met when they were writers on The Simpsons.

The Back Page (Renee Peck)

Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Nov 15 1998, pT54

Recommends this weeks Simpsons episode AABF02: "D'oh-in' in the Wind" saying "Homer rides the current rave for retro on The Simpsons this week, as he gives a farout greeting to latter day hippies Seth and Munchie, the guest voices of Martin Mull and George Carlin."

Best spots: October (Not supplied)

v39n46 Adweek, Nov 16 1998, p36-44

List of the best commercials in October includes this description; "Luden's 'Blind Date': Bouquet in hand, a guy nervously walks down a hallway looking for his blind date's apartment. At the door, he tells himself, 'Hey, you look great' and rings the bell. Sounding like Marge Simpson's raspy-voiced sister Selma, the woman answers, 'Just a minute. I'm freshening up. I can't wait to meet you.' Well, our hero heads for the hills, leaving a trail of flower petals behind him. Of course, she's beautiful-but who knew?"

Screen Break: Real men don't need blondes (unknown)

The Guardian, Manchester, Nov 16 1998, p11

Negative review of British comedy shows ends with this compliment of The Simpsons; "Then, maybe, we could lay to rest the absurd nonsense that we produce better TV comedy than the nation that gave us Seinfeld, Frasier, and The Simpsons."

News Corp.'s Peter Roth Steps Down As Top Fox Entertainment Programmer (Kyle Pope)

Wall Street Journal, New York, Nov 17 1998, pB8

Replacing the top programmer at Fox, Peter Roth, under whose reign The Simpsons were born, with Doug Herzog, who, as president of the Comedy Central cable network, helped develop the raunchy animated comedy South Park.

Fox Entertainment Chief Bows Out (Lisa de Moraes)

The Washington Post, Washington, Nov 17 1998, pB7

The end of the reign of Peter Roth, the Fox Entertainment President under whose auspices the The Simpsons were born, after a disastrous new-season launch that He was shown the door after a terrible new-season launch.

Family TV Everything Seems to be Relative on the Little Screen This Season (Gail Pennington)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Nov 17 1998, pD1

In describing the return of shows based on families after a period of absence it notes that "Chromosomally connected families never disappeared from television entirely, of course. The Simpsons are related by blood (er, ink), and the Taylor family of Home Improvement is a TV fixture."

Album Releases (Joey Guerra)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, Nov 19 1998, p6

Announcing the release of The Yellow Album. The Yellow Album (Geffen): The Simpsons round up an impressive list of guest stars on this fun album, including Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson, who team up with Lisa on Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves and Linda Ronstadt, who duets with Homer on Funny How Time Slips Away.

For a list of all The Simpsons Audio and Video releases, see our list on the archive right here!

Our New Gang: 'The Rugrats' (Michael O'Sullivan)

The Washington Post, Washington, Nov 20 1998, pN50

Review of the new Rugrats movie describes it as "Dizzy, delightful and just a bit deviant, The Rugrats Movie blends all the sarcastic sensibility of The Simpsons with the old-fashioned silliness of Soupy Sales."

King and the Silver Screen (Michael Colton)

The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Nov 20 1998, pF4

In listing all the places Larry King has shown up lately on television they specifically mention that he's been on The Simpsons twice.

Friday Night Fight Over Young Viewers (Brian Lowry)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Nov 20 1998, p2

Noting that cable television has taken over most of the viewing amongst kids age 2 to 11, with the only network shows cracking the top 20 "...are Fox's The Simpsons, King of the Hill and Guinness World Records: Primetime, as well as NBC's Friends and Jesse.".

"The Last Temptation Of Homer Fox" (video review) (Rob Mackie)

The Guardian, Manchester, Nov 20 1998, pT14

Preaching to the converted; " Settle yourself in the vibrating La-Z-Boy recliner, place a six- pack of Duff beers within easy reach, add a few extra flavourings to the pizza and savour four episodes in the life of the simplest Simpson and, in Dan Castellanata's comfortingly stupid voice, its most loveable. A great unknown star of our time, Castellanata also plays Grandpa, Krusty, Itchy, the Scottish gardener and many more memorable characterisations. They routinely call the Simpsons a dysfunctional family. Why? The females do the genius stuff, nurturing and saxophone solos. The males do bunking off, watching television and advanced stupidity and gluttony. This is the family I always dreamed of. Best episode: Homer's near-fatal encounter with Japanese food. Simpsonic."

Day in the life of a censor (unknown)

The Guardian, Manchester, Nov 20 1998, pT3

Reviewing everything from porn ('Girls who strip for the very first time...') to Teletubbies he notes the following in reviewing The Simpsons: Marge Vs The Monorail. (episode 9F11): "Compilation tape. Language, sexual references pass it at PG. Love it. Highlight of the day, a genuine laugh to take us through to 4.30."

Mouthy Rugrats turn off some parents: Parents of some Metro Detroit toddlers won't be lining up for hit movie (Suzanne Chessler)

Detroit News, Detroit, Mich, Nov 20 1998, pE1

In noting that some parents don't allow their children to watch Rugrats saying "Rugrats has unsupervised children who look sloppy and get out of hand," it ends with a list of shows "... most parents say they don't let kids watch", being South Park, The Simpsons and Power Rangers.

Mayflower home port gives thanks for Yanks (Bert Roughton Jr.)

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Nov 20 1998, pB1

Article about Plymouth (England) plan to celebrate Thanksgiving notes Brits awareness of the holiday. "Despite a full embrace by many Britons of such American cultural icons as McDonald's, shopping malls and Homer Simpson, there is only a vague awareness that there is any significance to the fourth Thursday of November."

A Tangle Over Biases About Hair When a woman's dreadlocks cost her an invitation to her black sorority's ball, discrimination charges fly. For some, the dispute calls to mind pressures for racial conformity.(Sam Fulwood III)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Nov 20 1998, p1

Dreadlocks stir hair-raising issue for black sorority Teen's hairdo called unacceptable for ball (Sam Fulwood III)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, Nov 21 1998, p8

Black Sorority Splits Hairs by Barring Teen With Dreadlocks From Debutante Ball (Sam Fulwood III)

Buffalo News, Buffalo, Nov 21 1998,

Three articles by the same writer covering the same topic and with the same quote. When a black sorority refuses to let seventeen-year-old Michelle Barskile appear in dreadlocks to the Alpha Kappa Alpha debutante ball (hard to believe, isn't it?) insisting instead that she pin them up she proclaims "I'd look like Marge Simpson if I did that".

Beaming Over Satellites: This Deep-Dish Pizza Has Everything On It (Alan Pergament)

Buffalo News, Buffalo, Nov 21 1998, pB2

Article about Sports fanatics discusses rapidly switching between satellite dish channels to catch everything; "The game within the game is learning to avoid the annoying promos for network stars like Sammo Hung and Bart Simpson and switching to another game before returning to your original game."

The Monitor Movie Guide (staff)

Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Nov 20 1998, p14

Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Nov 27 1998, p14

In a list of movie reviews, we find the following comment in a review of The Rugrats Movie; "The animation is rough around the edges, and the sometimes vulgar jokes lack the wit of a good Simpsons episode, but fans of the TV series will find much to please them."

Simpson invation sure to entertain (not supplied)

Denver Post, Denver, Colo., Nov 22 1998, pL2

Yes another reference to eliminate confusion; "The Simpsons are invading the Denver legal scene. No not Homer, Marge and Bart, but rather ex-Wyoming senator Alan Simpson..."

Rather? Brokaw? The Choice is Homer; More Offerings Erode Networks' Viewership (Tim Jones)

Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Nov 22 1998, p1

Simpsons cream the current crop of carefully coifed newsanchors. "...Homer Simpson is clobbering Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather and is breathing down Peter Jennings' neck. At 6 o'clock, when an average of 330,000 Chicago-area households tuned into Channel 7 during a 20-day time period ending Nov. 17, about 275,000 households watched reruns of "The Simpsons." That's more than the combined audiences for the news on Channels 5 and 2."

Chuckie, Phil, Lil--you're wanted on the set! (Malcolm Jones Jr. and Corie Brown)

v132n21 Newsweek, New York, Nov 23 1998

Article about the history of Klasky-Csupo and The Rugrats Movie. In discussing the success of Klasky-Csupo they note "Not bad for an animation production company that started in 1982 in the spare bedroom of a Hollywood apartment. Animators Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo improvised their way to success, using friends and neighbors as staff, buying a computer here and a camera there, as money became available. 'Low budget has kept us alive,' says Klasky. The duo got a break in 1988 when director James Brooks hired them to help create The Simpsons - they get the credit for giving Marge blue hair. Rugrats popped out three years later when the couple started having children. Klasky and Csupo modeled Stu and Didi Pickles on themselves, and their boys became the Rugrats. The show in some ways is like a family album, and sweeter for that. Where the Simpsons' existence is squalid, the extended Pickles clan on Rugrats live lives that can be honestly described as merely stained. As who with children does not?"

Speed Mom the Battle to Beat the Clock in a World of Frozen Waffles and Melted Crayons (Haliman Abdullah )

Buffalo News, Buffalo, Nov 23 1998, pC7

Modern life and the lack of time is discussed. With what little time they have though, they obviously use it wisely; "In what little spare time they have, Mr. and Mrs. Bristol watch Frasier and Simpsons reruns. Because they rarely watch TV, the episodes are still new to them." Of course, I'm sure they only watch Frasier to hear more Sideshow Bob.

Viacom's itty-bity, synergistic, billion-dollar franchise (Henry Goldblatt)

v138n10 Fortune, New York, Nov 23 1998, p223-226

Passing reference to Bart and Homer in the Rugrats article; "According to Marketing Evaluations/TvQ, 8-year-olds recognize Rugrats like Tommy and Angelica more readily than they do Bugs Bunny. But for the rest of us, Rugrats don't yet enjoy the buzz garnered by the foul-mouthed tykes of South Park or by Bart and Homer Simpson."

Fox seeks off-cable hit in Herzog (Michael Stroud and Joe Schlosser)

v128n48 Broadcasting & Cable, New York, Nov 23 1998, p10-14

Doug Herzog replacing Roth as new president of Fox Entertainment after a disappointing showing in ratings for the new Fall lineup. "Fox has canceled all of its new comedies this season except for its modestly successful That '70s Show and Holding the Baby. Neither of the two has developed the audience of such Fox staples, past and present, as Married...with Children, The Simpsons and King of the Hill. 'Fox is generally understood to be the renegade network," says Herzog, who is used to playing that role, particularly since the irreverent and sometimes scatological South Park. 'I think there is an expectation when you tune in to Fox that you're going to see something different and distinctive that the other guys wouldn't do.' " Continuing with the discussion of this season; "The Simpsons remains strong on Sunday night. But Fox's other animated hit, King of the Hill, has slid in the ratings since Roth decided to move it from Sunday night to Tuesday night in an attempt to establish a programming beachhead there. That ' 70s Show's ratings haven't matched King of the Hill's scores last year on Sunday night."

Shelter (Toni Schlesinger)

v43n47 The Village Voice, New York, Nov 24 1998, p20

Article about the agony of finding an apartment in New York City or worse still (is anything worse?) sharing one with inconsiderate roommates described as follows; "I'd be in the bathroom naked with the door shut and he'd walk in and say, 'Sorry, dude', like Otto, the bus driver on The Simpsons."

Patriots' win wipes out gloom (Dan Shaughnessy)

Boston Globe, Boston, Nov 24 1998, pA1, E1

New England Patriot's jilted fans are understandably out to lynch the current owner Kraft after he sold off the team to a Connecticut owner, and likewise blame Massachusetts Speaker of the House Thomas Finneran. "In the stands, a man held a sign with photos of Finneran and Montgomery Burns, the power plant owner of The Simpsons. The sign read, 'Separated at birth.' Another man held a 'Sack Finneran' placard." Somehow the Hartford Patriots doesn't sound right.

Be Nice: TV Gadget Screens the Foul Language Device reads encoded signals to mute specified words or even substitute with less offensive ones (Bernard T. Davidow)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Nov 25 1998, p16

No longer do you have to wait for syndication to cut up your Simpsons, you can do it in the comfort of your own home! "When the box picks up one of the 100 or so words or phrases deemed offensive, it mutes the audio for a second or two. That way, you don't hear what you don't want to hear or, more to the point, what you don't want your kids to hear." "The 'tolerant' setting allows about a dozen words the 'strict' setting doesn't: 'butt,' 'sucks' and 'crap' among them. Stuff you might hear on The Simpsons."

Design choice: Polo (Caroline Bevan)

Marketing, London, Nov 26 1998, p7

Passing reference to Homer in this description of candy packaging; "The dispenser certainly passes the Homer Simpson 'lid goes up, lid goes down...' novelty test."

Forget Turkeys, Give Many Thanks for TV's Best (Frazier Moore)

Buffalo News, Buffalo, Nov 26 1998, pD8

TV reviewer, listing what he considers TV's Best, includes; "Katie Couric. She can do it all. From the toughest interview to the fluffiest hosting chore (say, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast), each on-air role she assumes, in or out of NBC News, seems tailor-made for her skills. She is Edward R. Murrow, Oprah Winfrey and Lisa Simpson combined." Lisa Simpson could run circles around Katie Couric, Mr. Moore.

Today's military tougher on families (Andrea Stone)

USA Today, Arlington, Nov 27 1998, p1A

Sad article about life in the military, where one can get called away from one's family unexpectedly for months at a time. "Of the Fournier children, Robert has had 'a rougher time' than Nicole, Chris says. 'He needs his dad.' Robert misses their Sunday nights watching The Simpsons and The X-Files and the evening mile-and-a-half runs around a nearby track."

Vengeful Pets, Secretaries in Sweeps Month (John Carman)

San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, Nov 27 1998, pC1

A rundown of extremes reached by stations trying to woo viewers during the sweeps includes "Homer Simpson was hired as a personal assistant to Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin. Not for long. He stole their underwear." Illustrated with the classic drawing of Homer in bed between them taken from that episode, 5F19: "When You Dish Upon a Star"

Music: Not CDs of the week: Toon tunes Bah, says Caroline Sullivan - don't buy the sonic spin-offs of South Park and The Simpsons (Caroline Sullivan)

The Guardian, Manchester, Nov 27 1998, pT22

Rave review for the new Simpsons and South Park albums. Not. A negative review of "Chef Aid: The South Park Album" and " The Yellow Album". About the latter, she says "The Yellow Album is more straightforward. The jaundiced munchkins simply sing a clutch of songs with titles like The Ten Commandments of Bart and Hail to Thee, Kamp Krusty. A small guest contingent - including Linda Ronstadt, who deigns to duet with Homer - eases the pain slightly."

For a list of all The Simpsons Audio and Video releases, see our list on the archive right here!

For Cook's Sake (Neil Kulkarni)

v75n48 Melody Maker, London, Nov 28 1998, p45

Rave review of "Chef Aid: The South Park Album" has multiple Simpson references. "OK, a quick self-outing before I'm caught in a public toilet splashing out on a wipe-clean glossy of Extreme Dinosaurs: fancying cartoon characters has become a way of life for me. Started out as a silly teenage crush on Foghorn Leghorn, moved on to dizzy adolescent daydreams about Cruella De Ville and Captain Caveman, before degenerating into obsessive-compulsive shaving-pleasure fantasies involving Marge Simpson, Mrs. Krabappel and the cast of Wait Till Your Father Gets Home. Yeah, of course Cartman gives me a warm fuzzy. He's got so much to give." Thank God for South Park. Now us losers have another world we can dream of living in after Springfield, can decide whether it's Lisa or Wendy we want to be infatuated by." No competition; Wendy's just a cartoon. ;-)

Channel surfing: So many channels (Vera Rule)

The Guardian, Manchester, Nov 28 1998, p5

Television critic while indicating she doesn't have the time to casually watch TV surfing channels she does make time to meet her own addictions. "So if we wanna keep up with what we feel obliged to - and catch up with what we missed - and maybe reserve 30 minutes for a private appointment with a personal addiction (like last night's wicked little Simpsons episode, Treehouse Of Horror V, (episode 2F03) on Sky One, which took on Wes Craven and Stanley Kubrick and won on points), we don't dare surf."

A Little Respect, Y'all (Scott McLemee)

In These Times, Nov 29 1998, p30, 29

Article that should be required reading for King of the Hill fans (KOTH, to the fans) also discusses our favorite family.

Three video cassettes later, King of the Hill is still on the air - the most successful animated series on broadcast television since The Simpsons, to which it is often compared. This is misleading. Both shows are set in imaginary small towns, but there the resemblence ends.

A legend has it that there is a Springfield in every state of the union. Not so, in fact. Yet The Simpsons is defined by its geographical non-specificity. And while Lisa Simpson is unhappy about living in such a backwater, her home town often seems remarkably urban and sophisticated. (As evidence, one might point to the Springfield Review of Books, with its amusing caricatures of Gore Vidal and Susan Sontag.) The best episodes of The Simpsons contain layer after layer of cultural references - to literature, film, current events, Gilbert and Sullivan, what have you. The show's pace and texture constantly subvert the premise that The Simpsons take place in Anytown, USA. If the global village had a name, it might be Springfield.

Later in the same article in continues:

The world of King of the Hill is far smaller and more intimate that Springfield. On The Simpsons, minor characters represent a surprisingly broad range of social strata; from the fabulously wealthy Mr. Burns to the homeless. In Arlen, the extremes of class hierarchy somehow seem narrower."

The giggle machine (Matthew Gilbert)

Boston Globe, Boston, Nov 29 1998, p7

Tirade against laugh tracks, and praise for the shows that don't have them. "The comedies that have escaped the laugh track are formula-busters like the hour-long Ally McBeal, animated shows like The Simpsons, and cable series like The Larry Sanders Show and Sex and the City that aren't dogged by executives obsessed with guarantees. They are shows that have avoided the least appealing tendencies of TV comedy writing in the 1990s: immediate-gratification humor, the stand-up aesthetic that offers the cycle of punch line and laugh track without much character or wisdom sandwiched in between. They aim to be something better than doses of good feeling to fill the space between ads."

From the mouth of Bart (Ned Byrne)

Boston Globe, Boston, Nov 29 1998, pN14

Letter to the editor from Ned Byrne of Weymouth quotes the Bard, eh.. the Bart. "I read Matthew Gilbert's article 'TV's Rotten Season" (ArtsEtc., Nov. 15). When you look at the television itself, we've come a long way from the days of the small black-and-white screen. Unfortunately, the quality of the shows has gone downhill. He may be only a cartoon character, but in one episode of the The Simpsons, Bart Simpson said, 'TV sucks.'".

Animators, sharpen your pixels (Michael Krantz)

v152n22 Time, Nov 30 1998, p108-110

In article about the increasing use of computer animation in movies and television it notes what's important; "...the ease with which the crudely drawn two-dimensional, or 2-D, worlds of South Park and The Simpsons have won over America's couch-potato masses is proof that story matters more than even the most eye-popping special effects." ...and may they never forget it.

The Most Powerful People in Their Twenties (author not supplied)

v5n1 Swing Generation, Dec 1998/Jan 1999, Cover, p50-81

The cover and pages 50-51 features another takeoff on the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour Album with pictures of fifty personalities including Bart Simpson on the covers' edge. Unfortunately in the list of the most powerful people we can't find any reference whatsoever to any Simpson related person, be it voice, writer or director or anyone from related companies like Fox. Maybe it's Bart, but he's not old enough yet...

Bartman in Identity Crises (Story: Terry Delegeane, Pencils: Phil Ortiz, Inks: Tim Bavington, Letters: Karen Bates, Colors: Nathan Kane, Editor: Bill Morrison, Boy Wonder: Matt Groening)

v8n11 Disney Adventures, Dec 1998, p91-94

Subscription card after page 72 shows a Disney Adventures cover with Bart Simpsons - 'cause The Simpsons' sells.

A four page Bongo Simpsons Comics within the pages of this magazine

Ready, Steady, Shag! (not supplied)

The 50 Funniest Moments... Ever! (not supplied)

n148 Sky Magazine, Dec 1998, Cover, p42, p98-100, 102, 104, 106

Cover quote: "That's disgusting! Emma Harrison Gail Porter Finley Quayle Homer Simpson tackle our sex test"

Following interview of page 42 titled "In Bed With... Homer Simpson: Disfunctional Dad"

Sky: When did you last have sex?

Homer: Um, last Thursday at 10:25 pm. I know because Kent Brockman was doing a special report about "The Power of Positive Blinking" on his My Two Cents' Worth TV news programme.

Sky: Is there anything better than sex?

Homer: Mmmm, donuts. Double-glazed. Cream-filled. With sprinkles!

Sky: Is there an episode from your sexual history that you'd rather forget?

Homer: Well, there was that one...um, oh...I just forgot it.

Sky: What's your favourite sexual accessory?

Homer: Food!

Sky: Have you ever had a homosexual experience?

Homer: Uhh... I think you mean a Homersexual experience. Yes, all the time - I've having one right now.

Sky: What turns you on?

Homer: Donuts. No beer! No wait...donuts! No, beer! No, donuts! No... donut beer! Beer donuts! Ohhh... is this a trick question?

Fifty funniest moments ever article includes this bit on The Simpsons: "49. Radioactive man on The Simpsons: The Radioactive Man movie is being filmed in Springfield with Bart's mate Milhouse cast as his sidekick Fallout Boy. A stunt scene is set up where RM, played by a thinly disguised Arnie Schwarzenegger, is captured. Fallout Boy must save him before the evil villian unleashes a tidal wave of toxic waste, and everyone dons safety goggles because the producers are using real toxic waste to save money. However, Milhouse so pissed off with the way he's being treated, he's gone home, leaving no one to save Radiactive Man. He's promptly washed away by the acid bile, screaming 'My eyez! Da goggles do nutheenk!'".

To boldly go: we have to look beyond The Simpsons for a true medical hero (Michael Yeo)

Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dec 15 1998, p1476-1477

Editorial taking issues with the article immedieately below this one. Yes, you should read that one first! See the entire Editorial online right here!

D'oh! An analysis of the medical care provided to the family of Homer J. Simpson (Robert Patterson and Charles Weijer)

Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dec 15 1998, p1480-1481

An article that (tongue in cheek) concludes that Dr. Nick Riviera should be Canadian's model for doctors and not Dr. Julius Hibbert. See the entire article online right here!

The Art of Making Bart (Christopher Loudon and Carole Keagy)

v22n52 Issue 1148 TV Guide (Canada), Dec 26 1998, Cover and p1, p12-17

Cover features Homer with mistletoe on this head and kisses all over with Marge looking over his shoulder lovingly.

p12 Lengthy article about producing The Simpsons from working on the script to final production. Heavy use of photography makes a trasncript a bit difficult to do here, but here's the opening;

How difficult can it be to make a cartoon? Well, if the 'toon in question is The Simpsons and the man at the helm is genius creator Matt Groening, living up to the series' remarkable standards is no easy feat. From concept to airdate, it take nine months to complete a single episode. Along the way, more than 300 of the finest writers, producers, directors, designers, artists, technicians and musicians in Hollywood (and beyond) add their expert touches. In the 12 years since the Simpsons clan were first introduced on The Tracey Ullman Show, Homer and family have become the most popular (and longest-running) animated characters in TV history. Executive Producer Mike Scully, an Emmy Award-winning writer who joined The Simpsons in 1993, aptly refers to the series as "a writers paradise," explaining that, "animation removes an element of reality that other shows have to deal with. We don't want the show to ever appear dated. Bart will always be 10, Lisa 8. We have aged Homer a few years, but not Marge. The characters' behavior is so established that we can get away with a lot. Everyone's so familiar with them that viewers buy into stuff - like Bart driving a car - that they'd otherwise never buy into."