Don't Have a Cow, Mickey!
By Jouni Paakkinen (jouni@snpp.com) - June 1, 1998
As a part of its overview of the 20th century,
Time Magazine listed the 20 most important and influential entertainers of
the period. The list consisted of familiar names like The Beatles, Steven
Spielberg, Frank Sinatra and Pablo Picasso. Bart Simpson, being the only
animated character on the list, left other famous cartoon stars, such as
Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny, behind to lick their wounds.
In a related Time Magazine article Bart is
described as "a complex weave of grace, attitude and personality, deplorable
and adorable, a very '90s slacker who embodies a century of popular culture
and is one of the richest characters in it."
The news of Bart's achievement has made headlines
across the planet and the story has been popular material for speculation.
BBC suggested that Bart made the list because of what he represents rather
than who he is. CNN stated that the list as a whole is bound to spark
controversy, because several important figures were left out. Controversy or
not, the left-out people will have to wait for "Everybody Gets a Trophy Day"
while the fans of the Simpsons celebrate Bart's nomination. Cool, man!
Phil Hartman Dead in Murder-Suicide
By Jouni Paakkinen (jouni@snpp.com) - May 28, 1998
Actor-comedian Phil Hartman, made famous in his
many roles on Saturday Night Live, was shot to death Thursday
by his wife, Brynn (Omdahl) Hartman, who later turned the gun on
herself.
Los Angeles police responded to a report of
shots fired at Hartman's luxury Encino estate at approximately 6:18 am PDT.
Upon entering, officers found their children, Sean, 9, and
Birgen, 6, in a "shaken" but unharmed state.
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As the girl was being removed from the home,
police heard a second gunshot from the upstairs master bedroom.
A public relations officer for the Los Angeles
Police Department stated that Mrs. Hartman shot her husband at
approximately 6 am and then took her own life later as police
entered the residence. LAPD commander David Kalish said the motive
appeared to be "domestic discord." The former couple's children have
since been placed into protective custody.
Hartman was the star of NBC's sitcom "News Radio,"
which had just been renewed for a fifth season on the network. Harry
Shearer, who worked with Hartman on "The Simpsons" during his numerous
guest voice appearances, told MSNBC his fellow comedian "was a great
presence, was always a source of humor and reason to laugh."
NBC West
Coast President Don Ohlmeyer issued a statement on behalf of the
network. "Everyone at NBC mourns the tragic passing of Phil Hartman.
Phil was blessed with a tremendous gift for creating characters that
made people laugh. But more importantly, everyone who had the pleasure
of working with Phil knows that he was a man of tremendous warmth, a
true professional and a loyal friend who will be deeply missed."
Matt Groening, creator and executive producer of
"The Simpsons," said everyone on-staff who worked with Phil was devastated.
Phil Hartman first appeared on "The Simpsons" as
the voice of shifty lawyer Lionel Hutz, later bringing to life other
characters such as B-movie actor Troy McClure and crooked monorail
salesman Lyle Lanley. Hartman was only 49 when he died.
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Duff Beer for Sale
By Jouni Paakkinen (jouni@snpp.com) - May 20, 1998
According to a recent CNN report, remaining
untapped cases of Duff Beer are now selling for nearly $3,000 dollars.
Homer's favorite ale was reportedly changing hands at only one fifth
that price last year.
The South Australian Brewing company, a subsidy
of Lion Nathan, produced the beer up to mid-1996 when Fox successfully
sued the brewery, forcing them to cease its manufacture. The network's
attorneys sited a violation of Fox's copyright on the Duff Beer name
and logo in their lawsuit.
True-to-life Duff cans have since become a
highly sought-after collector's item among fans of the show.
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Go Simpsonic is a Go!
By Jouni Paakkinen (jouni@snpp.com) - May 8, 1998
After three months of uncertainty, Rhino Records
has at last issued an official release date for "Go Simpsonic With
The Simpsons: A Whole Lot More Music From The Television Series,"
the follow-up album to last year's "Songs in the Key of Springfield."
The album, set for release on September 1,
will feature 60 tracks from many of the best Simpsons episodes of all time,
including four never-before-heard outtakes.
For more details on the upcoming release, please
see Rhino Records' official
press release.
Simpsons $trike Settled
By Jouni Paakkinen (jouni@snpp.com) - April 3, 1998
Cast members behind Fox's "The Simpsons" agreed yesterday to
end their strike against 20th Television, settling for salaries of
$50,000 per episode. The actors originally requested $150,000 per
episode, threatening to leave the show if their demands weren't met.
Studio executives also secured the possibility of two
additional seasons following the 10th, set to begin on September 21
of this year. Each actor, including Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith,
Nancy Cartwright, Hank Azaria and Dan Castellaneta, is said to
receive a $10,000 pay increase for each subsequent season, and a $1
million bonus in the year 2005.
The cast and studio reportedly celebrated the agreement
with wine served in plastic cups.
Simpsons-L Hits 1K
By Jouni Paakkinen (jouni@snpp.com) - April 22, 1998
The Simpsons Archive's popular Simpsons-L mailing list reached
a landmark on April 22 when David Rueth became a member, bringing the total number
of participants to 1,000. David, located in Indianapolis, IN, planned merely to
lurk on the list, but was instead showered with attention when he added a forth
figure to the list's roster count.
Formed in 1996, the Simpsons-L mailing list provides a moderated
alternative to alt.tv.simpsons and the sometimes
grating messages and personalities that dwell within. For more information on
Simpsons-L, click here.
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