The Simpsons Yellow Fever D'oh! Ten years after
The Simpsons' irreverence, topicality and sheer volume of
jokes raised the bar for every other sitcom on the air, America
continues to have a cow over its favorite First Family
(Robert W. Getz)
Will Entrepreneurs Still Be Heroes? (Diana B. Henriquez)
The New York Times, New York, NY, Jan 1 2000, pE20, E32
List of the Top 10 shows in 2025 lists The Simpsons as the
only show from the 20th century still in production at number six.
Second article illustrated with picture of Ayn Rand and Mr. Burns.
"...even today, the evil Mr. Burns of The Simpsons is better
known that Ayn Rand's heroic capitalists."
Simpsons Headed This Way (Melanie Lee Johnston)
Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu, Jan 6 2000
Story about Honolulu's very own Carolyn Omine, who went on to write
for The Simpsons. Catch the entire article on the archive
right
here!
Bart Simpson, overachiever 10 reasons why the bad boy's show
still rules after 10 years (John Kiesewetter)
The Cincinnati Enquirer, Jan 6 2000
A good 10th anniversary article, including their own ten favorite
chalkboards and gags - which can be found on their site right
here!
D'oh! Can It Be Simpsons' 10th? (Seth Sutel)
Associated Press, Jan 11 2000
The Associated Press release which would inspire dozens of articles
across the country (indexed below!) can be found on the archive right
here!
Hurray for 'Simpsons' Family Values Underachieving
Bart & his kooky TV clan celebrate 10 happily dysfunctional years
(David Bianculli)
For 'Simpsons' Smarties (Associated Press)
Marketers Finding A Springfield of Dream$ (Tish Hamilton)
On 'Simpsons,' It's R.I.P. for Hartman Roles (David Bianculli)
The Best of 'The Simpsons' (David Bianculli)
The New York Daily News, Jan 13 2000, Cover, p2, p45-47
The New York Daily News version of the Associated Press story
announcing the 10th anniversary of The Simpsons. One of the
more impressive layouts, from the cover reference "The Simpsons
Hits The 10-Year Mark" to the cover of the New York Now section
featuring a ten candle Simpson family birthday cake with the heading
"Homer Run! Still going strong, The Simpsons hits the 10-year
mark". The main article, and the second sidebar article, can be found
on-line right
here!
The third article, covering merchandising, is right
here!
The fourth article, covering the departure of the characters of
Phil Hartman, does not appear in the hardcopy version (perhaps it was
too downbeat to include with such a great upbeat article), but is
linked online at the Daily News site with these other ones right
here!
Lest we miss any of this great layout on our favorite family, we've
transcribed the last and fifth sidebar article missing from the
articles the Daily News has online;
The Best of The Simpsons: (apparently arranged by character!)
Marge: Itchy & Scratchy & Marge (Dec. 20, 1990)
(7F09)
It's almost a tie between this episode and the 1992 musical show
"A Streetcar Named Marge"
(8F18)
but this brilliantly written episode got to the core of Marge's
character. Marge (Julie Kavner), despite being a cartoon
character herself, protested the violence in other cartoons, then
began advising writers on them herself and ultimately decided that
censorship was even more offensive than the cartoons.
Homer: Treehouse of Horror VI (Oct. 30, 1995)
(3F04)
Homer (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) has figured at the
center of dozens of terrific episodes, but a vignette in this annual
Halloween fantasy show allowed us to see Homer in a whole new
dimension - the third dimension, rounded out by computer graphics.
Bart: Bart Gets an 'F' (Oct. 11, 1990)
(7F03)
Bart (Nancy Cartwright) gave us a brief glimpse of his tender
side in this early episode. After goofing off in standard Bart
fashion, he actually applies himself by studying hard for a key
history test, but fails it anyway - and cries. The irony is, 10
years later, he's still in the fifth grade.
Lisa: Moaning Lisa (Feb. 11, 1990)
(7G06)
This episode, from the show's first season, defined the quiet, soulful
intelligence of Lisa (Yeardley Smith) by exploring her love of jazz -
and her emotional connection with the musical passion of saxophonist
"Bleeding Gums" Murphy.
Maggie: Who Shot Mr. Burns. Part Two (May 17, 1995)
(2F20)
Maggie doesn't have any lines in this episode - with one or two
exceptions to date, she never has - but in the resolution to this
clever mystery parody of Dallas and Twin Peaks, Maggie
is unveiled as the accidental assailant.
D'oh! Revisiting a Decade of 'The Simpsons'
(Seth Sutel)
The Times Herald Record, Jan 13 2000, p43
A verbatim copy of The Associated Press release which would inspire
dozens of articles across the country, which can be found on the
archive right
here!
'The Simpsons' X The cartoon celebrates its 10th birthday.
You forgot? (Adam Buckman and Don Kaplan)
The New York Post, Jan 13 2000, p87
The New York Post 10th anniversary story. illustrated with a
cartoon in the style of "The Last Supper" with Homer in the middle
behind a 10th anniversary cake and his twelve "apostles" Bart, Moe,
Apu, Marge, Barney, Maggie, Grampa, Lisa, Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders,
Chief Wiggum and Krusty the Clown. It begins:
If it was easy to make TV shows as good as The Simpsons,
there would be a whole lot more of them.
As it is, it's darn near impossible. That's what makes the 10th
anniversary of The Simpsons so remarkable. In the entire
history of TV, precious few shows have even come close to the quality
of The Simpsons. And none ever maintained as sharp as edge
after 10 years, a milestone reached by none but a handful of programs
anyway.
Created by Matt Groening, The Simpsons first came to TV in
1988 in a series of vignettes tucked in between sketches on Fox's old
Tracey Ullman Show.
The first Simpsons half-hour episode was a Christmas special
that aired on Dec. 19, 1989. The cartoon clan debuted as a regular
Fox series about a month later, on Sunday, Jan 14, 1990 - 10 years
ago tomorrow.
Except for the fact that the series' principal characters looked a
little different at the show's outset, Simpsons episodes from
recent seasons are as richly detailed as those from seven, eight or
nine seasons ago.
Credit for that goes to the people who made the program and the pride
they take in what they've accomplished.
"The show has had such a great reputation for quality, we would all
hate to see it get to the point where the public is saying, 'It's old and tired,
get it off the air.'" says executive Mike Scully, interviewed
this week at the annual winter TV Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif.
"It would be a shame to believe that it is."
Is The Simpsons the best show ever? Says Scully, "As unbiased
as I can be, I really believe that it is."
So do a lot of other people, Mike. Happy anniversary! Doh!
The 'Toon America Ate Up (Hank Stuever)
Washington Post, Jan 14 2000, pC01
The Washington Post article on the tenth anniversary of our
favorite family, which can be found on-line right
here!
Why we still love 'The Simpsons' (M. S. Mason)
Christian Science Monitor, Jan 14 2000, Arts & Leisure
The Christian Science Monitor article on the tenth anniversary of
our favorite family, which can be found on-line right
here!
It's 10th anniversary of funky "Simpsons" (William Porter)
The Denver Post, Jan 14 2000
Praise for The Simpsons on their tenth anniversary. Catch
it on their web site, right
here!
Homer's Odyssey Television's favourite dysfunctional
family celebrates its 10th birthday (Pat St. Germain)
Winnipeg Sun/Jam!, Winnipeg, Canada, Jan 14 2000
Singing their praises for The Simpsons with their 10th
anniversary arriving and their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The article can now be seen on the archive right
here!
For Love of The Simpsons (Jim Slotnek)
Toronto Sun, Toronto, Canada, Jan 16 2000
The last line is our favorite; "The Simpsons with a lobotomy would
still be smarter and funnier than 98% of primetime programming.
Better yet, the entire article can be found on-line right
here!
In the News (not supplied)
Charts (not supplied)
n832 Rolling Stone, Jan 20 2000, p24, 70
"In the News" section has the following: "Kid Rock and his
vertically challenged sidekick, Joe C., will play themselves
in a special springbreak episode of The Simpsons.
Chart of "Rolling Stone Readers TV Top 10" lists The Simpsons
first!
The Simpsons (not supplied)
Lee's Action Figure News & Toy Review #88, Feb 2000, Cover, p3, 22
Cover includes reference "Simpsons".
p3 in the table of contents includes a picture of the Homer doll
p22 Includes pictures and descriptions of the new line of Simpson
figures. "Last issue we tipped you off to the fact that Playmates
Toys would be doing action figures and playsets based on Matt
Groening's The Simpsons."
Britney Spears: The Girl Never Stops!
Goin' Cartooney On The Simpsons
n99 All-Stars, Feb 2000, p60
The first of the pre-teen magazine articles on the appearance
of Britney Spears on The Simpsons. We quote:
"If you're a fan of The Simpsons, you're gonna want to tape
this episode! Britney will guest star as herself! Can't wait to see
what she'll look like as a cartoon! She gave us a hint. "[The
writers of the show] said, 'Of course you're going to have the
overbite!'" Hey, we never noticed you had an overbite, Brit! But in
cartoon land, they take any feature and make it seem larger than life!
Britney says she - or her voice, actually! - will be playing itself.
"[My character] is hosting an awards show, and is kind of obnoxious
because I'm trying to take over the show!"
What a surprise.
The Spin 1999 Readers Poll Results: Better Fred Than
Cred
v16n2 Spin, Feb 2000, p66-68
Reader's poll has the following: "Best TV Show: The Simpsons.
Cartoons continue to be more interesting than flesh and blood -
That 70's Show and Friends lagged far behind."
'Simpsons' Actor Disputes Fox on Reason for Leaving
(Paul Brownfield)
Los Angeles Times, Feb 4 2000
Why did Maggie Roswell, aka Maude Flander, leave The Simpsons?
Well, according to
Maggie...
A Decade of Dysfunction Ten years after its first
episode, The Simpsons is routinely hailed as "the best thing on TV".
John Patterson goes behind the scenes of America's longest running
sitcom. (John Patterson)
The Guide, television insert for The Guardian, Feb 5-11 2000,
Cover, p4-7
Full Simpsons cover on this impressive British entertainment insert
to The Guardian featuring our favorite family with heading "America's
first family: Why they're still number one".
Nice writeup on The Simpsons after ten years. It begins:
It's a little disconcerting. In front of me is a mother of two
in her mid-thirties, well dressed witha lond bobbed hairdo.
She looks like an archetypal soccer mom from the wealthy suburbs,
probably drives a Ford Explorer, active in the PTA, gladly
volunteers to help out at the school bake sale. You know, someone
normal.
So why is she talking like Bart Simpson? Why is she saying "Don't have
a cow, man"? Most of the time she talks in the faintly nasal, reedy
tones one associates with the Midwest, which is natural enough since
she grew up in Ohio, the very middle of Middle America, but then her
voice rises an octave and takes ib that high-pitched timbre normally
only conferred by a dose of laughing gas. It's instant Bart. Very
wierd indeed.
Meet Nancy Cartwright, the voice behind America's most reprehensible
role model, El Barto, the self-styled "Captain Bart McCool", primary
nemesis of Principal Seymour Skinner and Grounds Keeper Willy, not to
mention his long-tormented parents and a large percentage of the
population of Springfield. She's talking about her encounters with
someone she calls "a non-believer".
Simpsons Character to Die A Simpsons cast member
will die this weekend - all in the cause of ratings
(not supplied)
n52 Heat, Feb 10-16 2000, p17
Article makes is appear they killed off Maude to garner ratings;
It would probably be more accurate to say they decided to kill off
Maude with Maggie Roswell leaving and decided to use it to garner
ratings. It goes as follows;
The Simpsons is set to take a leaf out of the soap operas' book
and kill off one of its characters on US TV this Sunday (13 February)
to help boost the show's ratings.
Executive producer Mike Scully says. "We thought ut should be
interesting to see how the surviving characters cope with the death
and maybe it will take them in a new direction.
"Plus, it's Sweeps," he adds, referring to America's twice-yearly
battle, the results of which are used to set advertising rates.
Scully is keeping quiet as to who the intended victim might be,
but the smart money is on the Simpsons' next door neighbour Maude
Flanders, wife of annoying do-gooder Ned Flanders.
Not only is the episode's title Alone Again, Natura-Diddly
a reference to Ned's annoying overuse of the word "diddly" - but
actress Maggie Roswell, who voices Maude, has left the show because
she was fed up with commuting to Los Angeles from Denver.
It's not the first time The Simpsons have aped the
sensationalist tactics of the soaps to boost ratings. In a previous
TV stunt, the show pulled of a Dallas-style Who Show J.R?
two-parter titled Who Show Mr. Burns? which revolved around an
OJ Simpson-style investigation. The attacker turned out to be baby
Maggie Simpsons who shot Mr. Burns by accident.
That time around, the show's creators were so determined to keep
the plot a secret that they made an alternative ending in which
Burns' assistant Waylon Smithers turned out to [be] the shooter.
Rush & Malloy (George Rush and Joanna Molloy)
Daily News, New York, Feb 15 2000, p18
From the gossip column of the Daily News comes the following:
"GET READY for 'The Simpsons: The Movie.' The sitcom's producers say
they're ready to make the jump to the big screen. That's what the
show's exec producer, Mike Scully, told Steve Martin, Martin Short,
Bill Maher, Janeane Garofalo and Barry Levinson and the rest of the
crowd gathered to watch the first-ever live performance of the show
starring Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer at the U.S. Comedy Arts
Festival on Thursday night in Aspen."
D'oh, 'Simpsons' flick Plot is all that's missing
(Joe Rubi)
New York Post, New York, Feb 17 2000, p61
The Simpsons Define Generation X (Nikolaus Olsen)
Rocky Mountain Collegian, Feb 28 2000
Colorado State University paper discussing how they grew up with
The Simpsons and how it defines their generation. We could quote at
length, but the entire article has been placed on the archive right
here!
Action News Briefs (not supplied)
n73 Action Figure Digest, Mar 2000, Cover, p7, 19
Cover includes drawings of various "action figures" including
Homer Simpson
p7 More news about the new line of Simpson figures. "Playmates will
be pinning major hopes on The Simpsons, seen in AFD last
month. The figures will all be interactive. The regular $5.98 action
figures will connect to an "Intelli-Tronic Environment" which allows
all eight figures to converse with each other using stored information
in the base. Three different environments will be available for $20
each. Each comes with a special figure - Homer, Marge or Apu. A
larger series of battery-operated 15" figures will use infared
technology to recognize other family members and bicker with them just
like they do on TV."
p19 "About This Month's Cover" describes the step-by-step process
used to draw and paint the painting of action figures on the cover
Idiotorial! (not supplied)
The Bicentennial Man
(Writer: Lou Silverstone; Artist: Wally Brogan)
The World is Not Enough (not supplied)
n342 Cracked, Mar 2000, Cover, p1, 19-24
Cover is Bart Simpson's head with SpongeBob SqaurePants, Bender,
Stan (From South Park), A Powerpuff girl and Scooby-Doo impaled on his
spiky hair
Back cover is 'upside down' with title "Toon People" and includes
"bart simpson: four fingers are hot, five fingers are not!"
Idiotorial on page 1 "..We proudly nominate our candidate for
president... Homer Simpson of Springfield!" and the last panel of a
four panel cartoon justifying the nomination: "So vote Homer Simpson
for President... You could do worse.. Bart: You already have...
Homer: Thank you, boy, for that vote of confidence.."
Bicentennial Man and The World is Not Enough are parodies using the
characters from Futurama and The Simpsons respectively
Charts (not supplied)
n835 Rolling Stone, Mar 2 2000, p112
p63 has a full page for the Global Fanfest Butterfinger contest.
Chart of "Rolling Stone Readers TV Top 10" lists The Simpsons
first!
Taking Humor Seriously George Meyer, the funniest man
behind the funniest show on TV (David Owen)
The New Yorker, Mar 13 2000, p64-75
Great article on The Simpsons that we'll have to transcribe.
Simpson Revealed as Models of Family Values
A scholar's praise: 'An enduring image of the nuclear family' embedded
in satire (Andy Lamey)
National Post, Mar 25 2000
Reporting that a recent issue of Political Theory, an academic
journal, defended The Simpsons as a rare example of a nuclear family.
The entire article can be found right
here!
Cartoon News: Mr. Bruns Burned (not supplied)
Homer is Where Her Heart Is Carolyn Omine is in her third
year writing for The Simpsons. She told David Lewman what it's
like to spend her days dreaming up things for Homer - and the rest of
Springfield - to say and d'oh! (interview of Carolyn Omine)
(David Lewman)
Cover of this children's/pre-teen magazine features Marge and Homer
and several other cartoon characters with caption "Nominees for
Favorite Cartoon: Rugrats, The Simpsons, Pok�mon, and CatDog.
Homer appears on the table on contents on page 4.
Cartoon News features several stories including "Mr. Burns Burned:
C. Montgomery Burns suffered third-degree burns today when hot
doughnuts shot out of the nuclear reactor at his plant. Safety
Inspector Homer J. Simpson commented. 'I guess the d'oh was too
hot! But they're cool enough to eat now...Mmmm. doughnuts."
Page 26 has picture of Simpsons' writer with this caption
"Carolyn Omine with her cockatoo, Gabby.." Sidebars include the
following; "In animated cartoons, actresses usually do the voice for
young male characters to to avoid the problem of a young actor's
voice changing" and "Many secondary characters on The Simpsons,
including Flanders, are name after streets in Portland, Oregon, which
is creator Matt Groening's hometown." Interview of Carolyn Omine is
as follows;
Did you watch The Simpsons before you started writing for
the show? Carolyn Omine: Yes! I've always been a huge, huge fan.
Which were your favorite episodes? CO: I loved "King-Size Homer,"
where Homer gains sixty pounds to get on disability, and the one where
Mr. Burns makes his employees go on a survival trek.
Which character were you most like when you were growing up? CO: Lisa,
I guess, but I wasn't quite as driven or as smart as she is. In my
preteens, I became much more like Bart.
Did you do any writing as a kid? CO: I wrote a Christmas play when
I was ten. The fifth grade performed it and I directed and acted in
it. I was the Narrator and Head Elf.
How long does it take to write a Simpsons episode? CO: About
nine months, but we're not writing the whole time. Whoever is assigned a story
takes about two weeks to write the first draft. After that, we keep
rewriting things. There are about fifteen of us, and we split up into
groups. W'ere always working on several episodes at a time.
Have you written for other shows? CO: I wrote for Full House.
I've also done episodes of AAAHH!!! Real Monsters and
The Wild Thornberrys.
How is writing for animation different from writing for sitcoms?
CO: With live action, you just write "He crosses to the couch," because
there's only one way a person can do that. With animation there's more
stage direction. You have to write it visually, because the characters
can do anything.
Where do you get ideas for new episodes? CO: Sometimes I look through
a book of old movies. I bought the game Scruples for the cards, to
ask myself those questions about what a character would do. I also
have tarot cards, I'll read Marge's cards and predict the future
for her, and that might become an episode. And sometimes I just bop
around on the Web.
Do you ever test out your jokes on anyone? CO: I have a few friends
who will read my scripts as I sit next to them, When they laugh I say.
"What'd you just laugh at?" It's a very annoying process. I've only got
a couple of friends who'll put up with it.
Kids Choice Awards have our favorite family as one of four choices
for favorite cartoon.
Bureaucrat of the Future As paper-pushing Hermes Conrad,
Phil Larmarr manages tomorrow for Futurama (Pat Jankiewicz)
n10 Sci-Fi TV, Apr 2000, p6, 80-82
p6 Section which has news items are upcoming shows has the following;
Futurama: New time and beginning February 6. Renewed for next
season. Rocket USA is doing a line of toys. See page 80 for a talk
with Phil Lamarr (who voices Hermes), Starlog #272 for Katey Sagal (Leela)
and Comics Scene 2000 #1 for Billy West (Fry). The Simpsons:
Renewed for 22-episode 2000-2001 season.
p80 Nice article to be transcribed.
Primetime Animation: The Ratings Viewers' appetite for
primetime animation fare may be limited as new series continue to
drop from network menus (Morrie Gelman)
Interesting article discussing the future of primetime animation,
Illustrated with five cartoons including our favorite family and
Futurama. It begins;
The renaissance of nightly animation on the broadcast networks,
ushered in by cartoonist Matt Groening'sThe Simpsons
in the 1989-90 season, may be fading. There's concern these days in
network television that the public's appetite is limited for primetime
animation fare and a couple of strong series may be all the audience is
willing to support in great numbers.
Evidence that this may be the case is that the great promise of
primetime animation seemed to hold a year ago, when Futurama
and Family Guy looked like the next big hits for Fox, has
quickly evaporated. All of a sudden live-action offerings, such
as That '70s Show and Malcolm in the Middle, look
much more like Fox's feature.
Futurama, Family Guy and King of the Hill have all
run into trouble trying to make it out from under the shadow of
The Simpsons. This is all a long way from spring 1999, when
three new animated comedy half-hours were prepping for regular network
TV primetime presentation.
Later it makes the observation "...The problem is with the exception
of the redoubtable The Simpsons animation in primetime is
laying an egg.
Still later we believe it get's to the heart of the matter in these two
paragraphs;
DIC Entertainment's Andy Heyward doesn't think any of these
developments means the television audience is overdosing on primetime
animation programming. Insread, he points out, "People don't choose
viewing based on animation or love. but simply on how engaging the
the characters and stories" are perceived. In other words, it's
program content not production technique that matters.
NBC Entertainment President Garth Ancier, who had the pleasure of
green-lighting The Simpsons when he was at Fox, agrees.
"History shows that the public is always eager to embrace a
well-crafted and colorful new series." Ancier says, maintaining
"it really doesn't matter whether the show is live action or animated,
as long as it's well-written."
The article concludes with the Nielson ratings for all primetime
animated shows since The Simpsons premiere.
America's First Family Dysfunctional and degenerate they
may be, but after ten years the Simpsons have proved that a family
that plays together stays together. Nick Griffiths meets the faces
behind America's best-loved family since the Waltons (Nick Griffiths)
v5n16 The Times Magazine, Apr 15 2000, p25, 27-28.
Another nice write-up, too nice not to see the entire article.
Which is why we've placed it on the archive right
here!
The Simpsons Has Fallen, but it Can Get Up (Adele Marley)
Baltimore City Paper, Apr 19 2000
Unbridled praise for The Simpsons with the caveat though that
the show isn't what is use to be. The entire article can be found
right
here!
Doh! Kid Rock Hangs Out with Homer Detroit rocker appears
on 'Simpsons' tonight (Mike Duffy)
Detroit Free Press, Apr 30 2000
Discuss the appearance of Kid Rock and Joe C. on The Simpsons
in episode
BABF16
"Kill the Alligator and Run".
The entire article can be found right
here!
The Simpsons (not supplied)
n75 Tomart's Action Figure Digest, May 2000, Cover, p3, 24-25
Cover includes the new "Bart in suit" doll from playmates.
Page 3 includes a picture of the Homer figure.
Pages 24-25 discusses the expansion of Playmates in June and
September to include Moe, Barney, Camp Krusty Bart, Nelson,
Ned Flanders and Chief Wiggum in June and Smithers, Milhouse, Lenny,
Ralph Wiggum Groundskeeper Willie and Otto as well as new interactive
playsets.
Voices of Futurama Billy West speaks for Fry - not to
mention Zapp Brannigan, Woody Woodpecker, Ren & Stimpy
(Pat Jankiewicz)
n1 Comics Scene 2000, May 2000, Cover, p27-33
Cover includes fourteen miniature characters from Futurama within
the lower left side.
Good article on Billy West, with details on how he portrays each
of the Futurama characters as well as his roles on other cartoons.
Homer Never Nods The importance of The Simpsons
(Jonah Goldberg)
National Review, May 1 2000
Another rave review of The Simpsons, making the point that
The Simpsons make fun of both the left and the right. Better still,
the entire article can be found right
here!
Homer's Odyssey Success hasn't spoiled The Simpsons,
whose creators continue to take bad taste to new heights and to have
way too much fun (Russell Shorto; Illustration by Matt Groening)
n275 US Weekly, May 22 2000, p52-57
Another great Simpsons article, which is why we've transcribed it
and placed it on the archive right
here!
Venture Capital In Crises (not applicable)
Forbes ASAP, May 29 2000, Cover, p22
This 220 page magazine was bagged with the regular issue of Forbes
sent to subscribers and did NOT appear to be available on newstands.
It features Bart Simpson leaning on a pile of money. Behind him in
the background stands Mr. Burns and his sidekick Mr. Smithers holding
a large bag of money.
Only other reference we could find (and I assure you it's painful to
even try to look through this magazine for one) is the list of
contributors on page 22 where we find this: "Simpsons
originator Matt Groening created the cartoon characters
portrayed on our cover. The Simpsons, which first appeared in
1987 on The Tracey Ullman Show, is now the longest-running
prime-time series on television."
Forbes ASAP (not applicable)
v165n13 Forbes, May 29 2000, p9
Just a plug for Forbes ASAP, but with a miniature picture of
The Simpsons' cover. Don't know if newsstand copies
had this, since newsstand copies didn't include Forbes ASAP...
Comic Catalogue (not applicable)
Dino Comic-Sonderb�nde, Summer/Autumn 2000, Cover and pp 2-5
Great Simpsons cover on this German Comic catalogue from Dino, and a
great source of information on past and upcoming Simpsons merchandise
in Germany.
Heading on first page reads "Der beweis: lachen ist gelb!", or if
you prefer, "The proof that laughter is yellow!"
If The Simpsons Were Guests on the Jerry Springer Show
(Writer: Greg Grabianski, Artist: Gary Fields)
Cover has OFF on the couch being interviewed with caption "The Simpsons Do Springer!"
with Marge showing her hair is a wig. Bart is saying "Aye Carumba! Mom's a Dude!" and
Homer exclaiming "D'oh!". Cover art is credited to John Severin (who would later work on THOH comic #11),
Walter Brogan, Dan DeCarlo (a Bongo artist) and J. Kelly.
Simpsons PC Frenzy! (unknown)
Planet PC Issue 7, Jun 2000, Cover, ?
Full Bart Simpson cover on this UK publication with heading
"Simpsons PC Frenzy! Websites! Simpsons online: cool free stuff on
the net; Games! Virtual Springfield and the games Bart plays!
Videos! Win the latest videos PLUS essential facts!"
Someday we'll get additional details!
For more information about all the Simpson games check out our
Simpsons Games list right
here!
Ten Things You Didn't Know About Bart (not supplied)
n17 FBX (For Boys eXclusively), Jun 2000, Cover, p8-9
Full Bart cover, aiming slingshot at the reader labelled with the
heading of the article.
Good write-up on Bart in this pre-teen UK publication, conveniently
transcribed by Hari Michael Wierney into the archive right
here!
The Future of Futurama (Melissa J. Perenson)
v6n6 Sci-Fi Entertainment, Jun 2000, p38-42
Nice Futurama article, and one which we expect to be available
on-line in a few weeks.
Toy Chest: Simpsons-arama! (Dan Digiancomo)
n105 Wizard, Jun 2000, Cover, p104-105
A miniature picture of a Homer doll appears near the bottom right
corner of the cover. Note however that there are two different covers,
and the Homer doll does NOT appear on the other cover!
Interesting way to announce the new Simpson Playmates figures.
"D'oh! Just when you thought your wallet was safe, along comes
Playmates with plans for two more Simpsons assortments!"
Your Favorite TV Characters Astro-Analyzed!
(Marina Akaziz)
v66n6 Dell Horoscope, Jun 2000, Cover, p15-22
I'm not sure what was more painful, buying this or reading it, but
with Homer Simpson on the cover (it figures...) who am I to judge.
Homer and Mulder (of X-Files) appear on the cover.
OK, I guess we'll supply Homer's analyses. Well, some of it. Lisa
would be so ashamed.
Homer Simpson: Homer's birthday was given as May 10, 1955
on Entertainment Tonight. Homer has the Sun in down-to-earth
Taurus. Part of him is a real homebody who wants everything to stay
the same. He's got three kids, two cars, and a house. He's worn a
deep groove into this living room couch, right in front of the TV.
Homer loves to eat - anything will do, but we can't forget the time
he went to the "all you can eat" seafood restaurant and almost ate
then out of business! He also loves to indulge in high-cholesterol
foods like bacon and eggs.
In seems like Homer's always worked at the nuclear power plant,
but his ideal job was much simpler - doing odd jobs at a bowling alley.
Unfortunately, he had to leave to support his growing family. Homer
has a T-square made up of the Sun, Saturn, and Pluto. He needs to
work hard to advance, but he has problems with authority, and he's
often lazy to motivate himself to move ahead. He's had plent of
opportunities to ingratiate himself with his boss, Mr. Burns, but
his ego and blundering often get in the way.
Still, Homer has had many exciting experiences in life... He's
won a Grammy, met President's Ford and Bush, and even been in space!
...Homer has had more than one close call in surviving a nuclear
meltdown.
Sneek Peek Your First Look at the New Simpsons Toys (Andy Serwin and Dan DiGiacomo)
Homer's Oddyssey "Playmates and Fox have produced a new line of Simpsons toys - and just like Bart, they talk back (James Busbee)
From Script to Screen The Making of Simpsons Toys (James Busbee)
Simpsons Fun Stuff (Zach Oat)
Toyfare Simpsons Collector's Guide, supplement to n34 Toyfare, June 2000, full cover, small (dolls)
Cover of this brochure feastures the Mr. Burns and Homer dolls and the the byline "Inside: Every new Simpsons Figure!, Toyfare's Top 5 Episode
Guide!, The Comic-Book Guy> and More!" and "Plus! In the studio with the Simpsons cast!"
As promised on the cover, this sixteen page guide is chock full of Simpsons goodness and goes far beyond an index to the
new Simpsons Playmates dolls.
Simpsons Cover
Daily Variety, Jun 8 2000, Cover, ?
Not sure if there was anything that referenced the Simpsons within,
but this issue of Daily Variety had pictures of 19 different shows up
for Emmys on the cover, including a picture of our favorite family.
(Under) Ground Breaking Television Moments (Michael Szymanski)
Emmy Awards 2000 Program, Jun 17 2000, p72
The Simpsons are a groundbreaking show. Even without
celebrities.
"The Simpsons' Celebrity Cameos (series premier:
September, 1989) The longest running prime-time animated TV
show has also featured more celebrity voices than any other show
including sports heroes, musicians, politicans and even Elizabeth
Taylor who said "Goo" as a baby Maggie."
What Elizabeth Taylor said as Maggie: "Daddy"
[9F08].
Ten years of bad boy Bart, glutton Homer and sweet Lisa -
the Simpsons are ageless and appealing, as a BBC2 tribute reveals.
To start our five-page special, Nick Griffiths turns back the clock..
(Nick Griffiths)
The World's Biggest Family Business One man and his yellow
pens alone can't create such a phenomenon. Jenny Cooney Carrillo
explores the industry behind making The Simpsons (Jenny Cooney
Carrillo)
Radio Times, Jun 17-23 2000, Cover(s)!, p25-29
Four fantastic Simpsons covers to choose from featuring
Homer, Bart, Lisa or Marge and Maggie on this full-sized UK
guide to television. Captions says "Party with the Simpsons:
Behind the scenes secrets! Celebrity fans' memorable moments!
Vote for your favourite episode!" Bottom of cover says
"Lisa (for example) Tenth anniversary souveneir: Take your pick
from four exclusive covers".
The introductory article begins this special issue as follows.
Of course, it would never work: a cartoon, half and hour long,
slap-bang in American prime time, the first stab in televisual heresy
since The Flintstones way back when. Cartoons were for kids
and featured ducks falling into canyons.
But, of course, The Simpsons did work, emphatically so.
Through wary Fox executives initially wanted three shorts, then a
single special, creator Matt Groening held out for an opening run
of 13 episodes. Forget the immediate hit ratings; following its
American premier in December 1989, the series generated $2 billion
worldwide in merchandise sales alone, during those 15 months ten
years ago. Now BBC2 is marketing the show's longevity with an
evening of celebration on Friday.
It began as a series of shorts within The Tracey Ullman Show.
Drawn by newspaper-comic strip cartoonist Groening, it focused on
a family of well-meaning life-bunglers - Homer, 36, Marge, 34, and
their children Bart, 10, Lisa, 8, and Maggie, 1 - widely described
as "dysfunctional", though in truth nearer to "normal". Around them
was the all-American town of Springfield, with its drunks, tyrants,
losers and heroes. Inhabitants of almost 100 nations now see their
antics, a clear testament to the watchability of the well written
family unit, cosseted in comedy. Since its syndication to Sky
(now on series 11) and the BBC (series six), catchphrases such as
Homer's "D'oh!" and Bart's "Eat my shorts!" have entered Britain's
vernacular. Some overweight man in China is probably saying "D'oh!"
right now.
That's just the dumb side. The Simpsons has its tender
moments, too: when Homer misses baby Maggie saying her first word
"Daddy", which he craved to hear; or when Lisa's caring substitute
teacher must leave for another secondment. Viewers shed tears,
honestly. (BG - I most certainly did.) Groening can even acknowledge,
"People have told me that they talk about The Simpsons in
group therapy."
Not only does the show have a heart, it also has a moral
conscience - among the countless awards are four Environmental Media
Awards - and corrupt local government. They throw in literary and
filmic references. If the family members don't boast much
intelligence, the show certainly does. It has featured in university
theses, while Professor Stephen Hawking, who voiced his animated
form in the show, themed his millennium party around the characters.
The insinuation of The Simpsons into the mainstream
cannot be overestimated, because it is so far-reaching. George Bush
declared that he wanted Americans to be more like the Waltons and
less like the Simpsons in his 1992 re-election campaign... and lost.
Without them, there would be no South Park or King of
the Hill, no Beavis and Butt-head. Networks would have
run a mile from them before The Simpsons set its precedent.
Try this. Swallow your pride: say "Aye, carumba!" to any
schoolkid in the country, and notice how they know precisely what
you're on about. If they reply with something like, "Don't have a
cow, man," you're out of your depth. Run. And mind you don't fall
into any canyons.
The centerpiece article includes the following quote;
"On paper, The Simpsons' track record is unparalleled. The winner of 15
Emmys, it was also recently ranked by Time magazine as the greatest TV
show of the 20th Century and The Guinness Book of Records lists it as
the longest-running prime-time animated series in history."
The entire main article was transcribed right
here!
Cowabunga, Dad! Think The Simpsons are undermining
family values? 'Eat my shorts,' says Bruce Dessau. Homer is a dad
that every man can relate to. To celebrate Father's Day, the people
who brought custard-yellow life to Springfield defend their cartoon
creations. (author not supplied)
Saturday (Daily Express) (UK), Jun 17-23 2000, Cover!, p16-18
Full Simpsons cover on this UK television insert of Homer carrying
Bart on his shoulders with the caption "Ten years of the Simpsons -
a Father's Day tribute: Homer's odyssey".
D'oh It's a decade (not applicable)
Vision, The Times (television insert) (UK), Jun 17-23 2000, Cover!
Full Simpson cover, Bart in a director's chair with shades on.
Covers says "D'oh! It's a decade. The Simpsons's Night Friday BBC2 6 pm".
Besides the listing itself only other mention is a picture of our favourite
family with the caption "Documentaries and two episodes to celebrate ten
years of The Simpsons (6pm)"
Pick of the Day (Chris Riley)
television & radio (The Daily Telegraph) (UK), Jun 17-23 2000, Cover!
Full Simpsons cover of Bart on his Krusty the Clown skateboard.
Caption at bottom reads "Born in the USA: Join Bart for Simpsons Night
on Friday, BBC2, with new and classic episodes, plus two behind-the-scenes
documentaries, America's First Family and My Wasted Life"
Recommending Simpsons Night on BBC2;
The Simpsons has proved to be an amazingly productive ratings
cow for BBC2, with the Friday evening shows regularly appearing in
the channel's top five, despite some episodes being so old they've
probably got a year or two's start on the series' younger fans. So
what would happen if the BBC made more of it, if perhaps it even occasionally
showed a new episode? Well, we're about to find out, as the show which
helped launch a network (parent station Fox in America was largely
built on Matt Groening's little yellow men and The X-Files' little
green men), which changed forever our cosy assumptions about the limitations
of small-screen animation, and which has been consistently impressive over a
remarkable 11 seasons - in short, the defining television show of the Nineties -
is celebrated with over three hours of programming.
We begin with two of Groening's favourite episodes from its debut run,
There's No Disgrace Like Homer and Krusty Gets Busted, and end with
whichever of five classic shows wins the night's viewers' vote. In between,
there's an episode which is new to terrestial TV, Much Apu About
Nothing (though this is from the 1995-96 season) and two documentaries,
America's First Family (meeting the show's voice-over stars, animators
and producers) and My Wasted Life, a hugely entertaining swallow dive
by Groening himself into the soup of personal and pop culture influences
(from his cartoonist/film-maker father Homer to cheesy American sitcoms such
as Leave It to Beaver) that have shaped his work. All in all, lots of fun
if somewhat overdue - and a little ironic, too. Years ago, the BBC might have
had a jump-start on The Simpsons phenonemon when it bought The Tracey
Ullman Show, where in brief animated sequences Groening's characters made
their TV debuts, but cut these bits out of the version shown to this country.
Home, Sweet Homer (Simon Ings, additional material by Ian Bradford)
TV Times, Jun 17-23 2000, p12-13, p79
p12-13 Another nice article worth transcribing.
p79 Friday's pick of the day - Simpsons Night - discussing the Simpsons
specials being broadcast on BBC2 that evening. Unfortunately, according to
some UK Simpson fans, it didn't live up to the hype.
Annual Report)
Fox Entertainment Group Annual Report, Jul 2000, Cover,
Bart Simpson appears on the lower right hand corner of the cover of
Fox Entertainment Group's 2000 Annual Report.
Totally Tubular (Samantha Miller)
v54n3 People Weekly, July 17 2000, p23
Article illustrated with a small Bart Simpson recommending the
web site epguides.com as a place
to see a guide to episodes "Whether your catching up with The
Simpsons or getting nostalgic over The Andy Griffith Show".
We email the author explaining that real fans hit the show
specific web sites - like this one!
The Simpsons lines up voices (Alex Strachan)
The Vancouver Sun, July 21 2000, pD5
Review of voices for the upcoming 12th season, as follows;
What does Vancouver thespian Joshua Jackson have in common with Drew
Barrymore, Michael Keaton and Edward Norton Jr.?
They will all supply voices during the coming season of The Simpsons.
The family Simpsons will also be visited by the otherwordly Stephen King, and,
in a separate episode, the Who, playing themselves.
The Who will appear in the 250th episode of the 11-year-old Simpsons -
acknowledged in the Guiness Book of World Records as the longest running
prime-time animated series in televisin history. In the landmark episode
"A Tale of Two Springfields"
(BABF20),
Homer launches a campaign to divide Springfield into two separate towns when the
phone company imposes an additional area code on the community. Homer elects
himself mayor of one side of Springfield and sparks a confrontation with the
other side of town, leaving it up to the Who to help Springfield come together
again ("can't we all just get along?"). "A Tale of Two Spingfields" kicks off
The Simpsons' new season Nov. 5 on Global and the Fox network.
Barrymore provides the voice of Sophie in "Inane Puppy Clown"
(Obviously they meant Insane Clown Poppy
[BABF17]}
(Nov. 12) in which Bart meets Sophie while waiting in line to see
Krusty the Clown at a book festival. Sophie reveals she is Krusty's
daughter, the unfortunate product of a one-night stand he had during the
Gulf War with a female special-forces commando. Krusty, hoping to make
up for lost time, looks to Homer for parenting advice.
Guest voices during the season will include Jackson, Keaton, Norton,
Patrick McGoohan, Robby Kreiger of the Doors, Leeza Gibbons and Kelsey Grammer,
who will reprise his role of Sideshow Bob.
It's home, Sweet Homer (Simon Ings)
v54n3 The TV Guide (New Zealand), July 22 2000, p6-7, 10
Cover of this New Zealand TV guide features our favorite family
with quote "Unstoppable: The Simpsons Surge"
Nice article on the tenth anniversary of the Simpsons to be
transcribed.
The Simpsons
n396 MAD, Aug 2000, p6-10
Supplying yet another opinion of the first season, they list one
of the "Worst Things About TV" as follows;
"Lame-ass, awkwardly-animated, first-season episodes of
The Simpsons where Homer's voice sounds bizarre and half the
town acts completely out of character. Take them out of
syndication and burn them!."
Fret not, they also suggested that South Park be taken off
the air altogether and also simply listed "MAD-TV".
F�hn Ich Den L�wen (unknown)
n23 MAD (Germany), Aug 2000, Cover and p4, 5, 6-10, 18-19, 20, 26-27, 28,
44-45, 59
Cover recycled from the MAD #299, Dec 1990, with Alfred E. Neuman
mowing Bart's hair, Cover says "MAD m�ht mordsm��ig: Sense f�r Die
Simpsons?"
There aren't many pages in this issue that don't reference our favorite
family. It begins with a parody of Lion King and ends with a Mad Fold-in
recycled from Mad #300, Jan 2000, Instead of "Our Own All Jaffee" it folds
in to say "Unser kollege Al Jaffee", i.e., Our colleague Al Jaffee.
This is a takeoff on Lion King, which is shown as if at a movie theatre
with The Simpsons watching. The opening dialogue;
Marge: Guten tag, wir sind die Simpsons-Familie und dies ist ein
Famalienfilm, deshalb waren die Xylakanten von MADD so nett, uns zu beten,
ihn zu beurteilen!
Homer: Dieser Film handelt von wilden Gesch�pfen, die br�llen und
kreischen, und sich untereinander auf's �bleste bek�mpfenm also f�rchte
Dich nicht, Sohn!
Helpful Hints for Potential Presidents (not applicable)
George, Aug 2000, p40-41
A two page color "comic", wherein our favorite family dispense political
advice. We see the following;
Marge, with a campaign straw hat perched on top of her bouffant saying;
"Presidential candidates just aren't respected the way they once were.
But it's a hard job and someone's got to do it. You hear lots of complaints
about business as usual. But if you're like me, you fear the unfamiliar.
It's so reassuring to see the same old faces on the campaign trail. And who
better to fix a problem than someone who has had a lot of them? After all, if
politicians were outlawed, only outlaws would be politicians. Rather than
make a mockery of these brave candidates, we should try to help them in any way
we can. It is in this spirit that The Simpsons offer these helpful hints to Republican
and Democratic candidates alike, and they really are alike, aren't they? Oh yes,
and to all those fringe parties that lend us the patina of real democracy --
better luck next time.
Bart is carrying a placard of "Slogans to Avoid" as follows;
"The lesser of two evils!";
"An iota is bigger than you think!";
"I promise I'll try!";
"Please let me kiss your ass!";
"Nice to cats!";
"Don't make me buy your vote!";
"Who's your daddy?";
"Not a convicted felon!";
"Linda Tripp can vouch for me!";
"Vote for me or I'll kick your butt!";
"Ask not whether $ has been given to me, but ask whether you have given me $!"
Homer appears dressed as "The Perfect Politician", as follows;
Weather Vane (on head) - Tells you which way the political wind is blowing;
Brain - Can be filled and emptied quickly;
Skin - A fine Teflon coating is ideal;
Jaw - Rugged set;
Spine - Stiffens and/or disappears on command;
Back Pocket - Large enough to encompass a senator or Fortune 500 CEO;
Sleeve - Stain-resistant and absorbent for baby-holding;
Hand - Able to withstand repeated clasping;
Legs - Would be nice if they reached the ground;
Brain - Overdeveloped name-storage lobe;
Eyes - Steely yet warm. Tears may well up, but no shedding;
Mouth - Must be able to talk with both sides;
Hand - Awareness of other hand's doings must be kept to a minimum;
Secret - Silver spoon pocket;
Tie - Must simultaneously evoke trust and awe;
Stomach - Can digest and metabolize horrible campaign food without noticeable
impact on the air quality. (Including but not limited to: fried chicken, corn dogs,
gloppy chili, deep-fried kosher dill pickles, nachos, fish boils, et cetera...);
Foot - Avoid proximity with mouth;
Regionally appropriate attire: Cowboy hat, Southwest; Hawaiian Shirt, West Coast;
Work Boots, Midwest; Suit Jacket, Big cities.
"Abe Simpson Sounds Off" has the following; "Sweet merciful megillicuddy! What's
all this complaining about the election being a popularity contest? We don't want an
unpopular prezzydent, do we? Not that there's much of anything popular about today's
candidates. It's like the Kentucky Derby with no herses, or eating a corn dog without
the sweet mysterious tang of variety meats. If God had wanted any of these bozos to
be president, we wouldn't need elections. They'd part the Potomac and walk to the
White House in their sandals, they would. Just like President Heston. When I was
a pup we had real candidates. People who could split rails - and people's skulls, if
they had to, by gum! Those were the days. Today's candidates won't even get their
fingers dirty. They need campaign managers, spin doctors, and handlers. I tell
you, if just one of them could handle a musket he'd get my vote! Darn Tootin'!!
Lastly, Lisa supplies "Debate, or the fine art of interrupting people";
The 12 Cardinal Rules: A good joke is worth a thousand essential policy points;
Get all huffy once in a while; No bow ties; Shaking hands - good!; Hand shaking - bad!;
Roll you eyes while the other guy talks; Anamatronic speech patterns engender negative
audience impact; No smirking; Add tabasco sauce to your opponent's water; No smoozing;
Act Folksy; It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you spin the game.
Homer's odyssey Ten years down the line and Homer's still slumped
on the sofa. Doh! So how did a no-good, white trash family called The Simpsons
become the world's favourite television show? (Sanjiv Bhattacharya )
The Observer Magazine (UK), Aug 6 2000, Cover!, p16-19, 21, 23
Great article, most of which The Observer has online for us to see right
here!
Missing all the great sidebars on the voices, though. To be transcribed.
Online article also missing all the italics. Oh well.
Matt Groening on...Simpsons-Mania Tour 2000 (Matt Groening)
Hot Tickets, Evening Standard, Aug 11-17 2000, cover, p1, p17
Cover says "Matt Groening on The Simpsons Live".
p17 Illustrated with a picture of a mini-van with Homer driving (on the right),
Santa's Little Helper in his lap, Grampa in the middle and Marge on the left,
with Lisa, Maggie and Bart waving a British flag on top with the luggage.
Seated in the rear is Smithers, Burns and Apu, with Chief Wiggum in a
bobby's uniform chasing after them.
Matt Groening's comments, as follows;
It will be fun bringing the actors who provide the voices for
The Simpsons to Britain. You won't believe it when you see them
actually talking in the characters' voices. We first did the live show
last February at a Comedy Festival in August. It went over so well that the
next obvious thing to do was take it overseas. It was either England or
Australia. Forget Australia - it's too far.
Actually, the live show is not that visually exciting. It's actors on high
stools saying the lines and ad-libbing. It's very close to the way the TV show
is produced. After the show is written, we sit around a gigantic table on the
Fox lot in Los Angeles. The actors perform the lines and the writers
furiously take notes, then go back to the Writing Room and get into
arguments about what was funny and what wasn't.
As well as performing a different episode each night, we will show
clips from the show, outtakes and some of my favourite things, such as an
actual French laundry commercial that features full-frontal nudity of Bart.
The amazing thing when you turn the spotlight on these guys who play the
voices is that they turn into such hams. Everyone recognizes actors such as
Julie Kavner (who plays Marge) from Woody Allen films. But on stage you may
suddenly recognise the multi-talented Harry Shearer, who played the bass
player in This is Spinal Tap, Watching Harry have a dialogue between
Smithers and Mr. Burns will make your head spin, because he plays both
characters.
I'd be thrilled if the theatres were filled with people resembling the
Comic Book Store Owner from The Simpsons. I don't want it to be filled
with VIP's and TV executives, I want real people. If they turn out to be
socially maladjusted weirdos, well so be it. Those are true The Simpsons
fans!
Article ends supplying information for the tour: "Sky One Simpsons Mania
Tour 2000, Thur 17 & Fri 18 Aug, Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue,
WC2 (020-7839 4292). The Simpsons special, Sky One, Sat 2 & Sun 3 Sep
(www.sky.com/simpsons2000).
Everything I Needed to Know About Life I Learned from Homer
Simpson (Ken Carriere)
v24n33 TV Guide (Canada), Aug 12 2000, Cover!, p1, p16-19
Homer and a schematic of his brain (SLEEP, DONUTS, DO'S DONT'S,
D'OH, SEX, DUFF BEER, TV TIME, FAMILY TIME, YOUR AD HERE) are featured
on the cover of this Canadian TV Guide with the caption "Inside
Homer's Head: Why The Big Guy is still so popular"
p1 Table of contents features "The Springfield Squares" (as in
The Hollywood Squares) scene with Homer Simpson as the center square
from episode
BABF02
"Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder"
The article includes a discussion of changes they've seen in the
show over the last ten years. We could quote at length, but instead
the entire article has been transcribed
here!
The Shorts That Ate The World Bart Simpson's underwear has found
a place in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations - and made Matt Groening
a very rich hippie indeed. Lewis Jones meets the creator of the world's
favourite cartoon show (Lewis Jones, Photograph by Larry Sultan)
The Sunday Telegraph Magazine, Aug 13 2000, p12-13, 15-16
Great article to be transcribed.
'The Simpsons' Take British Stages by Storm (John O'Callaghan)
Reuters, Aug 16 2000
Reuters article on the voice actors appearance in London, which can be
found on the Archive right
here!
Play on, MacHomer (Kevin Cullen)
The Boston Globe, Aug 21 2000, pA2
Homer Simpson playing Shakespeare? Can it be? Find out right
here!
All systems 'D'oh' for 'Simpsons' film
Daily News, New York, Aug 22 2000, p40
Another article taking what Groening casually remarked at The Simpsons
Mania Tour 2000 in London and blowing it out of proportion.
Homer's odyssey How did a good white-trash family from
Springfield become one of the most powerful influences of modern
times? Sanjiv Bhattacharya talks to Simpsons creator Matt Groening -
a man whose personal maxim is 'entertain and subvert'
(Sanjiv Bhattacharya)
Sunday Magazine (Australia), Aug 27 2000, Cover!, p12-15
Cover of this oversized sunday magazine insert in the Herald &
Weekly Times features Homer and Marge Simpson with the caption
"Homer's odyssey: A story of small-town subversion and global
domination".
Nice article to be transcribed.
Dumme Leute, kluge Witze US-Zeichner Matt Groening
�ber das zehnj�hrige Jubil�um der �Simpsons" und seine neue Serie
�Futurama" (Sabastian Hammelehle)
v56n36 Stern, Aug 31 2000, p225
German magazine with an Interview of Matt Groening: "Stupid people
and intelligent humour: Artist Matt Groening discusses the tenth
anniversary of The Simpsons and his new series Futurama"
Nice article to be transcribed....and translated.
Futurama (preview of new season) (Annabelle Villanueva)
Cinescape, Sep/Oct 2000, p50
Repeated passing references to our favorite family, including
the common complaint that Fox keeps schediling them at the wrong time.
"I think Futurama goes great with The Simpsons," he
[David X. Cohen] says. "The fact that we're on at 7 is especially
difficult with the show, and with all that's going on this fall there
may be very few Sundays available until February."
A Decade of D'oh Nick Bradshaw goes behind the scenes to
celebrate The Simpsons' birthday, after 10 years on Sky One...
(Nick Bradshaw)
Sky, Sep 2000, Cover!, p12-15
Full cover on this UK magazine of Homer Simpson with Santa's Little
Helper wearing a button reading "10 Years on Sky" with the caption
"Happy Birthday Homer! We celebrate 10 years of The Simpsons on Sky
with this exclusive cover. Find out more inside!"
The Simpsons Celebrating ten years of the planet's favourite
family - the birthday party starts on Sky One, September 2nd. Who's
connected to who? Here's our handy guide to the movers and shakers of
Springfield town, complete with key episodes and classic quotes, so you
need never be embarassed by your Simpson-ignorance ever again!
(not supplied)
n3 bite, Sep 2000, Cover!, p10-13
Full cover on this UK magazine of Homer Simpson consuming a doughnut with
heading "10 Years of The Simpsons".
Another great article to be transcribed.
The Simpsons Who'd have every thought that The Simpsons
would go for modelling? We check how Bart and Homer get on...
Model Mart, Sep 2000, Cover, p120-121
Story describing newly released model kits for Homer and Bart.
Perfect Ten Bart Simpsons is 10; well, he's still 10; that
is, he's been 10 for 10 years. Whatever, we've made it through the
first decade of The Simpsons. Malcolm Brown wonders how much more of
this can we take? (Malcolm Brown)
WHAT Satellite TV, Sep 2000, Cover, p61-66, poster
Great yellow cover of The Simpsons; it's two round Simpson eyes with the
caption "10 years of The Simpsons; episode guide, interview and more yellow
celebratory stuff inside"
Great six page article on The Simpsons to be transcribed. Also includes
a two-sided foldout Simpson poster.
A family affair On the eve of a visit to the UK to mark
ten years of The Simpsons, the hit show's creator, Matt Groening,
talks about success and his British comic influences. Interview: Brian Viner
(Brian Viner)
Telewest Cable Guide, Sep 2000, p1, 14-15
Nice interview to be transcribed.
Happy Birth-D'oh! Join the part as The Simpsons celebrate
10 years on British TV (not supplied)
The TV Mag, Sep 2-8 2000??, p13
We only have the article for this item so we need to verify the date!
Nice article we'll transcribe after we check out others from the same
time period.
Simpsons 10th Anniversary (Need to update this title)
TV & Satellite Week, Sep 2-8 2000, Cover!, p6-7
Full cover of the UK magazine with a view of Homer, Lisa, Bart and
Marge from behind sitting on the couch watching television. Caption
reads "Happy 10th Birthday: Simpsons Special Sky One"
Nice article to be transcribed.
Homer the Hero! You may think he's a doughnut-scoffing
dimwit, but Homer's saved the day loads of times. Don't believe us?
Then read on... (author not supplied)
n20 FBX (For Boys eXclusively), Sep 2000, Cover, p22-23, Back Cover!
Cover features a miniature Homer with caption "Homer the Hero!" but
rear cover is a full Homer Simpson cover.
Goes through seven shows demonstrating that Homer is indeed a hero.
Here's two of them;
"Homer Claus: When stingy Mr. Burns decided that none of his workers
were going to get a bonus one Christmas, who was it who put on a Santa
outfit and took a second job at the shopping centre, just so he could
buy presents for his family? That's right - Homer Simpson! OK, so he
didn't earn very much, but the family did get a new pet dog in the end
- Santa's little Helper. Now there's a Christmas gift."
(7G08)
"X Marks the Spot: No-one believed Homer when he said he saw an
alien in Springfield woods, but Bart trusted his dad and went with him
to catch the spook. Homer even got Mulder and Scully from The
X-Files to help, but still everyone thought he was crackers.
Then, sure enough, the glowing, bug-eyed creature showed itself to the
people of Springfield. Even though it turned out to be Mr. Burns, it
still took someone as brave as Homer to stand by his beliefs right
until the end, even when his family were wearing 'Homer is a Dope'
T-shirts!"
(3G01)
Wow, Man! Ten Years if Simpsons! (David (Otis) Miller)
v11n5 Non-Sport Update, October-November 2000, Cover, Back Cover, p3, p14-16
Cover features Bart on skateboard, leaping over a stack of Non-Sport Update
magazines. Caption says "Celebrating 10 Years!" and corner says
"FREE Exclusive Simpsons and Sailor Moon promos ...".
p3 Full page advertisement from Inkworks on the 10th anniversary of
The Simpsons.
Yet another nice article to be transcribed!
Back cover is another full page Bart advertisement for inkworks
Simpsons trading cards.
IMAX goes Cyberworld 3D Presented by Intel Ambitious
project opens doors for more large format 3D animation and the
exciting worlds it can create (Debra Kaufman)
v14n9 Animation Magazine, Oct 2000, p26-28, 102
Provides information on how Cyberworld 3D was born,
the 3D IMAX film which included the "Homer^3" segment from episode
3F04 "THOH VI".
and how The Simpsons ended up as part of it. We quote: "...(Steve)
Hoban and Murray (IMAX VP of Technical Production Hugh Murray) joined
forces to produce Cyberworld 3D. The project was kick-started
a few months earlier at SIGGRAPH '97 when, at a meeting for
large-format film Birds of a Feather, Murray announced the
upcoming project and encouraged attendees to submit samples. The
response was overwhelming..... Twentieth Century Fox Film
Corporation/PDI offerred up The Simpsons. On page 28 we see a
3-D Bart Simpson.
Maxim Uncut 2000 Calendar (not applicable)
n34 Maxim, Oct 2000, calendar insert
The calendar insert has the following on January 14: "The
Simpsons' premieres, legitimizing men's need to watch cartoons
well into adulthood".
Advertisers hit with record bill for 'ER' (Phyllis Furman)
Daily News, New York, Oct 3 2000, p35
Article noting the record breaking $620,000 price tag for a
30-second spot on ER also lists the "Most Expensive Prime-Time
Shows" on television where we find the top two Fox shows, tied for
tenth, are The Simpsons and Ally McBeal both listed at
$335,000 for a 30-second spot.
Cyberworld 3D (Marke Andrews)
Vancouver Sun, Oct 5-12 2000
Discussion of Cyberworld 3D illustrated with nice picture of Homer
from Homer 3D.
Cyberworld 3D (not applicable)
The New York Times, Oct 6 2000, pE23
Not an article, just noting that the opening day advertisements
for Cyberworld 3D appeared today, the 3D IMAX film which included the
"Homer^3" segment from episode
3F04 "THOH VI".
Witless script mars 'Cyber' effects 'Cyberworld 3-D' the
latest IMAX film, is dragged down by a plot superimposed over some
entertaining segments (Glenn Whipp)
Los Angeles Daily News, Oct 6 2000
Review of Cyberworld 3D, the 3D IMAX film which included the
"Homer^3" segment from episode
3F04 "THOH VI".
"Cyberworld 3D" packs the visual punch you'd expect from an IMAX
film, and the fact that this compendium of computer animation features
3-D effects only adds icing to the cake. But the movie is so geared
toward the taste of computer geeks and adolescent males that anyone
outside that age group can't help but feel left out. The cumulative
effect is more annoying than it is awe-inspiring.
When Homer Simpson appears about 35 minutes into the 48-minute
film, you realize what has been missing: Wit. Even as "The Simpsons"
clip begins in two-dimensional form, it is infinitely more
entertaining than anything the movie has previously offered. Fans of
"The Simpsons" will enjoy seeing Homer (and later, Bart) in 3-D, taken
from the series' sixth "Treehouse of Horror" episode.
"Cyberworld 3-D" also features an IMAX 3-D rendering of a scene
from "Antz" and some fantastic animated shorts including the marvelous
eye candy "Monkey Brain Sushi" from Sony pictures Imageworks and the
spectacularly animated Pet Shop Boys video "Liberation."
Unfortunately, the collection of clips is held together by a
storyline involving a cyberbabe, Phig (voiced by Jenna Elfman),
battling a bunch of annoying computer bugs intent on destroying her
universe. Packed with laser violence and poorly delivered
groan-inducing puns ("Hasta la vista, buggies") these segments can be
appreciated only by younger audiences members with short attention
spans. Unfortunately, Phig and friends take up about half of the
movie's running time.
But if you're able to get past this storyline, "Cyberworld 3-D"
offers plenty of fun, particularly in the way the filmmakers use fast
camera move to simulate the feeling of intense motion. (Like most
IMAX 3-D films, the queasy should not attend without packing their
Dramamine.) Kids will take delight in this, and, heck, they'll
probably like the cyber-critters, too. Adults can take solace in the
running time, and the fact they're here and not at "Digimon: The
Movie."
Insider (Tom Cunneff)
v54n17 People Weekly, Oct 23 2000, p63
Discussing the appearance of 'N Sync on The Simpsons.
"'N Sync was in the recording studio recently but not to cut a new
album. The hot-selling boy band was on the FOX lot in L.A. a few
weeks ago to play themselves in an episode of The Simpsons
entitled "New Kids on the Bleech." The show, which will air early
next year, revolves around Bart getting recruited to join a boy band.
And who should drop by but Tom Hanks, on the lot finishing
his work on Cast Away, due at Christmas. Although more than
200 stars, like Johnny Carson and Mel Gibson, have appeared on the
long-running show as themselves, Hank isn't among them. Maybe he
was angling for an invite?"
Autumn Artillery (Susan King)
TV Times, Los Angeles Times TV insert, Oct 29 2000, Cover, p2-3
Cover features Homer with The Who and two captions "The Simpsons: Treehouse of
Horror XI" (oddly enough, referring to a different episode that was broadcast
Wednesday, November 1st) and "Homer and the Who, the Seavers, Moses and Jackie O!
It's SWEEPS"
Article discussing the November sweeps has this to say about our favorite family:
"On the series front, Fox's 'The Simpsons' celebrates its 250th episode. Here's
a look at the highlights: 'The Simpsons': The long-running animated series
presents its annual Halloween special, 'Treehouse of Horror XI,' Wednesday;
The Who guest on the 12th season premiere and the 250th episode. Sunday, Fox."
People Express (Staff and Wire Reports)
Daily News Express, Oct 31 2000, p9
Under subheading "Being Bart" we find the following:
"Nancy Cartwright says she gets to enjoy two worlds by being
the voice of Bart Simpsons on the animated television series
'The Simpsons". She has the luxury of being a star without being
mobbed by fans or paparazzi. "I can either have it or not have it,
and it's sort of up to me to decide because people don't recognize
me. It's really kind of an ideal scene here," she told the Dayton
Daily News. Cartwright is scheduled to return to her hometown of
Kettering, Ohio, this week to begin a publicity tour for her book,
'My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy.' The book details her career, how the
show is made and the celebrities who have guest starred."
It's Work, Work, Work for 'N Sync (Lisa Gorman)
Vol. 1 Backstage Pass, Winter 2000
Interview of 'N Sync reveals our favorite family is one of their
favourite cartoons - good thing since they're soon to appear on it.
Backstage Pass: Do you ever watch cartoons?
J.C. Chasez: I'm actually very fond of The Simpsons.
I believe they turned into a modern day classic. People don't
realize that the cartoon has been on, for like, eight years or so.
And it's still on primetime TV, which obviously means it's
well-written with good material.
Note that the Nov 2000 Teen Beat documented below has the
exact same interview.
The Simpranos (A parody) (Writer: Barry Dutter Artist:
Rich Heddon Colorized by Suzie Estridge)
n349 Cracked, Nov 2000, Cover, p4-8
On the cover we find Homer, Granpa, Marge, Patty, Selma, Bart, Lisa,
Maggie, Captain McAllister amd Snake with the caption "We cross the
Simpsons with the Sopranos... Meet the Simpranos!"
Parody of Homer Simpson as head of the mob (as in The Sopranos).
Includes scenes with Dr. Marvin Monroe - wonder if they knew he was
dead?
'N Sync is TV Talkin'! (not supplied, for obvious reasons)
v23n10 Teen Beat, Nov 2000
Interview of 'N Sync reveals our favorite family is one of their
favourite cartoons - good thing since they're soon to appear on it.
Tean Beat: What's your favorite cartoon?
J.C. Chasez: I'm actually very fond of The Simpsons.
I believe they turned into a modern day classic. People don't
realize that the cartoon has been on, for like, eight years or so.
And it's still on primetime TV, which obviously means it's
well-written with good material.
Obviously.
Fat Chance Toyfare Picks The Simpsons Figures You'll
Never See... Or Will you? (Jake Rossen, Customs (i.e., the fake toys)
by Nick Cathery, Photos by Paul Schiraldi)
n39 ToyFare, Nov 2000, cover, p66-70
Cover has "Ay Carumba! 12 New Simpsons Toys" with a picture
of the toys "Obese Homer" and "Bumblebee Man". Also has caption
"30+ Sneak Peeks" next to a Futurama Bender toy.
p32 Illustrates Nibbler, Bender (with a suicide machine) and Leela
"work-in-progress" action figures to be released next year.
p66 Great article about potential Simpsons figures, it leads off
with a full page picture of Comic Book Guy in his shop, behind
a showcase full a figures labelled "Superman: Super expensive!;
Robin: Way Too Much $$$; The Pearl: More money than you will ever
have!; Famous Cartoonist: $.0001 (next to a doll of Matt Groening);
Wonder Woman: I dare you to ask the price!; Capt. America; More $$$
than in Fort Knox; Batman: Even if you had the cash you couldn't
afford it!"
We've got to transcribe this article!
The 125th Maxim Awards (not supplied)
n35 Maxim, Nov 2000, p190-19
In this article where Maxim magazine asks it's readers to select
the winners in various categories we find the following questions
under Television, where The Simpsons are the only show listed
under two categories;
Wackiest Neighbor Fez, That '70s Show; Ned Flanders,
The Simpsons; Ray's parents, Everybody Loves Ramond;
Mrs. Dubcek, 3rd Rock from the Sun
Best Male TV Character Homer Simpson, The Simpsons;
DA Adam Schiff, Law & Order; The Rock, WWF Smackdown!;
Adebisi, Oz
Better still, under Miscellaeneous;
Maxim Man of The Year Homer Simpson, Howard Stern,
David Wells, Drew Carey, Oliver Reed
TIME IN
n267 Time Out New York, Nov 2-9 2000, p174-180
Recommends and previews the Nov 5, 2000 premiere episode
BABF20
"A Tale of Two Springfields" saying "In tonight's season premiere,
Springfield is divided by two area codes. Somehow, Homer is
responsible, and somewhere, the Who (Pete Townsend, Roger Daltry and
John Entwistle) fit in. This episode is the series 250th, which
means it's nearly as old as Mr. Burns."
250th Anniversary Cover (not applicable)
v365n26 The Hollywood Reporter, Nov 3-5 2000, Cover
Full cover of our favorite family as a monument outside with inscription
"Icons of Comedy - The Simpsons - 250 Episodes"
No article, but full-page advertisements from ICM (talent agency),
FIlm Roman, and others.
Fox' Sunday best is looking good (David Bianculli)
Daily News, New York, Nov 3 2000, p129
Previewing this coming Sunday's season premiere episode (as well as
other Fox premiere's) it has the following;
The Fox Sunday comedy block - that two-hour collection of
animation and live-action lunacy - returns with new episodes this
weekend. For all four shows, it's a test of how well they're aging.
"Malcolm in the Middle" is back for its second season. The
comedies are older: "Futurama" is starting its third season, "King of
the Hill" its fifth, and "The Simpsons" with its 250th episode.
officially begins its 12th season - even though a fresh Halloween
episode was slipped onto the schedule two nights ago.
That annual "Treehouse of Horror" outing, and Sunday's season
curtain-raiser, prove that "The Simpsons" hasn't lost any steam.
The 250th episode isn't even one of the show's better efforts. It
underutilizes its guest stars, Pete Townsend, Roger Daltry and John
Entwistle of The Who, but even a less than terrific "Simpsons" is
delightful. Proof:
- With mere days to go before the national election, the opening
credits have Bart writing on the blackboard "I will not plant
subbliminal Messagores."
- When Homer skeptically sticks his head into the doghouse after
the kids tell him a badger has curled up there, we hear Homer getting
ripped to shreds. When he comes out of the doghouse, he says, "It's
a badger, all right. Or possibly a griffin."
- When Moe the bartender is upset that Homer has diverted The Who
from a Springfield concert to Homer's own site on the other side of
town, he alludes to "Pinball Wizard" by saying "That fat, dumb and
bald guy sure plays some real hardball!"
- The central plot device, about Springfield residents up in arms
because the phone company has divided their town into two different
area codes, hits a raw nerve that, by now, is nearly universal.
Oakily dokily! 'Simpsons' hits 250 (Bill Keveney)
USA Today, Nov 3 2000
Nice tribute to our favorite family hitting it's 250th episode.
It can be found on the archive right
here!
Animation That Really Seems Alive (Matthew A. Gurewitsch)
The New York Times, New York, Nov 5 2000, p9, 20
Positive review of Cyberworld 3D references the Homer^3
segment that appears within it. The article begins;
O Brave new "Cyberworld!" In the latest attraction from Imax,
golden heads fly by in formation on golden wings through clouds of
rods and cones that disperse like shimmering liquid. The patriarch
of The Simpsons slips into the universe of "that wheelchair
guy" and falls down a black hole, Wondrous moments, and who cares
about continuity? This is 3-D. for heaven's sake. Let's not get all
linear.
Later in the same article;
..in Cyberworld, the greatest pleasures crop up when space
itself is the subject, as in the plotless "Liberation," which
releases us into midair, blissfully untethered by gravity or reason.
The wit of "Homer^3" derives from the opposition of the flat and the
round - an effect perfectly plain to see when the segment is aired
on television, but uproariously enhanced here. "Joe Fly & Sanchez"
places its insect characters into the exaggerated Gothic perspective
we know from D.C. Comics. Add that extra dimension and the effect
is nothing less than superspacious.
'X' Still Marks the Spot for Fox (Richard Huff)
New York Vue (television insert), New York Daily News, New York,
Nov 5 2000, p6-7
Article about X-Files mentions Foxes entire Sunday evening line-up,
and thie article is illustrated with characters from Futurama and
the promo card picture of Homer with The Who.
New strings attached 'N Sync is saying 'bye-bye-bye' to
some of its old ways to remain in the game (Terry Morrow, Scripps
Howard News Service)
The Times Herald Record, Nov 8 2000, p38
This tidbit about 'N Sync's appearance next year on The
Simpsons appeared in this article; "All five guys are lending
their voices to a guest spot on "The Simpsons" (airing on February).
Salon For Kids Takes Edge off getting haircut (John Timpe)
Florida Today, Nov 17 2000, p2D
In an article concerning a barber shop aimed at children, we find the
following; "They [children] also want to look good, and nothing can make
stomach acid erupt like walking into a party with a Marge Simpson bouffant
when everyone else has a page cut."
In the News (not supplied)
n854 Rolling Stone, Nov 23 2000, p40
In the Rolling Stone News bites section we find the following;
"Although airdates have not yet been set, Beck will guest
star in an upcoming episode of Futurama and 'N Sync will
coach Bart's own boy band, the Party Posse, next year on
The Simpsons."
Play It Again, Lev Someday digital video recorders will
revolutionize the way you watch television. But not quite yet.
(Lev Grossman)
v156n21 Time, Nov 20 2000, p160
Article on digital video recorders begins with a Simpsons reference:
"Ever watch that Simpsons episode - the one where Homer goes
to his class reunion and Grampa Simpson gets a job writing cartoons?
Me neither. As far as I know, it's the only episode in the entire
series I haven't seen, and it's driving me nuts. Sure, The Simpsons
is on about every 15 minutes, but there's only so much TV one man can watch.
Or is there? The digital video recorder is changing all that."
Later in the same article; "If I double-click on The Simpsons
in the onscreen Channel Guide, ReplayTV knows to record it every time
its on, any time, any channel. That's a beautiful thing." It sure is.
"The latest ShowStopper comes with 60 hours of recording time (at the
lowest-quality setting), and that's more than enough for even the most
obsessive Homerphile." Oh yeah?
The Simpsons (illustrated toy checklist)
Lee's Top 11 Simpsons Dream Figures
n98 Lee's Action Figure News & Toy Review, Dec 2000, cover, p26-27
Cover lists toy reviews and includes single word "Simpsons".
p26 Photo of each of the available Simpson figures with a "Simpsonian
Fun Fact" for each one. Here's the only mildly interesting one;
"Lisa's first cat Snowball was run over by a Chrysler".
List of Simpsons Dream Figures; Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel, Mr. Sparkle,
Handsome Pete, Shary Bobbins, Matt Groening, Willie as Freddy Kruger,
Dr. Colossus, Knight Boat, The Pimple Faced Kid, Pepi, Selma from Lisa's
Hallucination.
A Christmas Cavil (Dan Barry)
The New York Times, Dec 22 2000, B1, B6
Article discussing the secularization (is that a word?) if not the
commercialization of Christmas discusses how the writer, disillusioned with
typical commercial displays, visits a house in Livingston, NJ which the owner
has transformed into a "Christmastime theme park." "A 30-foot
Christmas tree rotated in place, to the admiration of the mechanically operated
Winnie-the-Pooh and Bart Simpson." Article illustrated with photo of the
display, including Bart.
