NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Simpsons family

The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening. It is the longest-running American sitcom and longest-running American animated program of all time, with 17 seasons and 378 episodes since it debuted on December 17, 1989, on Fox. The Simpsons is the highest rated animated series of all time, and at one point in time averaging higher than 25 million viewers.^[1] The television series is a spin-off of a series of animated shorts originally aired 19 April 1987 on The Tracey Ullman Show. The Simpson family. ... Homer Jay Simpson (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) is one of the main characters in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Marjorie Marge Simpson (nÃ©e Bouvier) (voiced by Julie Kavner) is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Margaret Maggie Simpson is a fictional character featured in the animated cartoon television series The Simpsons. ... Santas Little Helper (voiced by Frank Welker) is a fictional character in the television series The Simpsons. ... Bartholomew Jo-Jo Simpson, better known as Bart, is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Snowball II Snowball II (a fictional cat in the television series The Simpsons) was the Simpson familys cat. ... Elisabeth Lisa Marie Simpson (voiced by Yeardley Smith) is a fictional character on the animated television series The Simpsons. ... An animated television series or cartoon television series is a television series produced by means of animation. ... 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode. ... ... Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening (born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon; his family name is pronounced /greÉªnÉªÅ‹/, rhyming with gaining and raining) is an American cartoonist and the creator of the American animated television series The Simpsons [1] and Futurama. ... James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a Hollywood producer, writer, and film director. ... Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening (born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon; his family name is pronounced /greÉªnÉªÅ‹/, rhyming with gaining and raining) is an American cartoonist and the creator of the American animated television series The Simpsons [1] and Futurama. ... Sam Simon was one of the original developers of The Simpsons, along with Matt Groening and James L. Brooks. ... Al Jean is a TV comedy writer most known for his work on The Simpsons. ... James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a Hollywood producer, writer, and film director. ... Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening (born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon; his family name is pronounced /greÉªnÉªÅ‹/, rhyming with gaining and raining) is an American cartoonist and the creator of the American animated television series The Simpsons [1] and Futurama. ... Sam Simon was one of the original developers of The Simpsons, along with Matt Groening and James L. Brooks. ... Dan Castellaneta Daniel Louis Castellaneta (born September 10, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor best known for providing the voice of Homer Simpson and other characters on the animated series The Simpsons. ... Julie Kavner Julie Deborah Kavner (born September 7, 1951) is an Emmy Award-winning Jewish-American actress, best known for her role as Brenda Morgenstern on Rhoda in the 1970s and for providing the voice of Marge Simpson on the animated television show The Simpsons. ... Nancy Campbell Cartwright (born October 25, 1957) is an American actress striper and voice actor. ... Yeardley Smith Martha Maria Yeardley Smith (born July 3, 1964 in Paris, France and raised in Washington, D.C., USA) is an American actress and voice actor who is best known for providing the voice of Lisa Simpson (and occasionally, both on the Tracy Ullman shorts and the half-hour... Hank Azaria Hank Albert Azaria (born April 25, 1964) is an Emmy Award-winning American actor and voice artist. ... Harry Julius Shearer (born December 23, 1943, Los Angeles, California) is an American comedic actor and writer who began his career as a child actor in 1950s movies (The Robe) and television (The Jack Benny Program). ... Marcia Wallace (born November 1, 1942) is an actress from Creston, Iowa. ... Pamela Hayden is an United States actress, best known for providing various voices for the animated television show The Simpsons (1989). ... Tress MacNeille (born June 20, 1951) is an American voice actor who is best known for providing various voices on the animated television shows The Simpsons and Futurama. ... Maggie Roswell is an actress best known for her voice work on The Simpsons depicting the characters of Maude Flanders, Helen Lovejoy, Miss Hoover, and Luann Van Houten among others. ... Russi Taylor is the current voice actress for Disneys Minnie Mouse character. ... The Fox Broadcasting Company, usually referred to as just Fox (the company itself prefers the capitalized version FOX), but rarely as FBC, is a television network in the United States. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... See also: 1988 in television, other events of 1989, 1990 in television and the list of years in television. For the United States network television schedule, please see 1989-90 United States network television schedule. ... This is an episode list of the long-running animated television series The Simpsons. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... An animated television series or cartoon television series is a television series produced by means of animation. ... Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening (born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon; his family name is pronounced /greÉªnÉªÅ‹/, rhyming with gaining and raining) is an American cartoonist and the creator of the American animated television series The Simpsons [1] and Futurama. ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... An animated series or cartoon series is a television series produced by means of animation. ... This is an episode list of the long-running animated television series The Simpsons. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Fox Broadcasting Company, usually referred to as just Fox (the company itself prefers the capitalized version FOX), but rarely as FBC, is a television network in the United States. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... A spin-off (or spinoff) is a new organization or entity formed by a split from a larger one such as a new company formed from a university research group. ... Animation refers to the process in which each frame of a film or movie is produced individually, whether generated as a computer graphic, or by photographing a drawn image, or by repeatedly making small changes to a model (see claymation and stop motion), and then photographing the result. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... the simpsons is on sky one and channel four ...

The show has now been renewed for a nineteenth season, which will take place in 2007 and 2008. In May 2007, it will celebrate its 400th episode.^[2] A feature-length movie is now being produced simultaneously with the television series, to be released on July 27, 2007. It is produced by Gracie Films for 20th Century Fox. Additionally, The Simpsons will be celebrating its 20th anniversary as a franchise in 2007. 2007 (MMVII) will be a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up May in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2007 (MMVII) will be a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Simpsons Movie is an animated film based on the television show The Simpsons. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) will be a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gracie Films logo Gracie Films is a film and television production company, created by James L. Brooks in 1986 for The Tracey Ullman Show. ... 20th Century Fox logo Fox Plaza, the company headquarters. ...

Highly satirical, the show lampoons many aspects of the human condition, but primarily parodies the "Middle American" lifestyle epitomized by its titular family, as well as American culture, society, and even television itself, particularly its own Fox Broadcasting. It has had a significant influence on post–Cold War popular culture^[3]. The Simpsons has also been cited as an influence on many adult-oriented cartoons in the late-90's, such as South Park, King of the Hill and Family Guy. The World According To Ronald Reagan - a Finnish satirical poster from 1984 Satire is a literary technique of writing or art which exposes the follies of its subject (for example, individuals, organizations, or states) to ridicule, often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change. ... Middle America is an American colloquialism usedâ€”in contrast to coastal Americaâ€”to describe a region of the United States that, geographically, comprises the bulk of the nation. ... This article very generally discusses the customs and culture of the United States; for the culture of the United States, see arts and entertainment in the United States. ... Human relationships within an ethnically diverse society. ... The Fox Broadcasting Company is a television network in the United States. ... The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after World War II between the global superpowers of the Soviet Union and the United States, supported by their alliance partners. ... Popular culture, or pop culture, is the vernacular (peoples) culture that prevails in any given society. ... South Park is an American animated television series created, written and voiced by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. ... King of the Hill is a satirical American animated television series produced by Deedle-Dee Productions, Judgemental Films, and 3 Arts Entertainment for 20th Century Fox. ... Family Guy is an American animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane for FOX in 1999. ...

Production

History

Matt Groening first conceived of the Simpsons in the lobby of James L. Brooks' office. He had been called in to pitch a series of animated shorts, and had intended to pitch his Life in Hell series. Upon realizing that he would need to rescind his publication rights for his life's work, and needing to create a new idea from scratch, he hurriedly sketched out his version of a dysfunctional family. He named the characters after his own family.^[4] Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening (born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon; his family name is pronounced /greÉªnÉªÅ‹/, rhyming with gaining and raining) is an American cartoonist and the creator of the American animated television series The Simpsons [1] and Futurama. ... James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a Hollywood producer, writer, and film director. ... Life in Hell is a weekly comic strip by Matt Groening. ...

The Simpson family first appeared in animated form as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show, with the first short, "Good Night," airing on April 19, 1987. Matt Groening admits the reason that they were so crudely drawn in the beginning was because he could not draw well and the animators traced over his drawings. The shorts were aired by the BBC in the U.K. the first time the shows were broadcast, but not subsequently, though some of them, including "Good Night," were included in a Simpsons anniversary episode. The Simpsons was converted, by a team of production companies that included what is now the Klasky Csupo animation house, into a series for the Fox Network in 1989 and has run as a weekly show on that network ever since. The first full length episode shown was "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", however the intended first episode was "Some Enchanted Evening", but when the episode was completed it was rejected due to poor animation, so Fox aired "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" first. The Simpsons was the first true TV series hit for the Fox Network; it was the first Fox show to appear in the top twenty highest-rated shows of the time. It also sparked controversy, as Bart Simpson was portrayed as a rebel who caused trouble and got away with it. Parents' groups and conservative spokespersons felt that a cartoon character like Bart Simpson provided a poor role model for children. When a Simpsons T-shirt was marketed featuring Bart and the legend "Underachiever ('And proud of it, man!')" as well as "I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?," Simpsons T-shirts and other merchandise were banned from public schools in several areas of the United States. The outcry against Bart was reflected in the second season opener, featuring an episode called "Bart Gets an F" where Bart's school wants to make him repeat the fourth grade. In this episode, the school counselor quotes the controversial T-shirt by stating, "He is an underachiever... and proud of it." The Simpsons on The Tracey Ullman Show. ... The Simpsons on The Tracey Ullman Show. ... The Simpson Family Further information: The Simpsons The family featured in The Simpsons TV Show. ... the simpsons is on sky one and channel four ... The Simpson Family Further information: The Simpsons The family featured in The Simpsons TV Show. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... See also: 1986 in television, other events of 1987, 1988 in television and the list of years in television. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world. ... Motto: Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto; French for God and my right) 3 Anthem: God Save the Queen4 Capital London Most populous conurbation London Official language(s) English de facto 5 Government Constitutional monarchy â€¢ Queen â€¢ Prime Minister HM Queen Elizabeth II The Rt Hon Tony Blair MP Establishment January... Klasky Csupo Inc. ... The Fox Broadcasting Company, usually referred to as just Fox (the company itself prefers the capitalized version FOX), but rarely as FBC, is a television network in the United States. ... See also: 1988 in television, other events of 1989, 1990 in television and the list of years in television. For the United States network television schedule, please see 1989-90 United States network television schedule. ... Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, also known as The Simpsons Christmas Special was the first episode of the half-hour length Simpsons series to air, though it was the eighth episode produced in season one. ... Some Enchanted Evening was the thirteenth non short Simpsons episode released on television. ... Role model refers to a person who fills his or her role as a good or bad example for others. ... In marketing, a product is anything that can be offered to a market that might satisfy a want or need. ... Bart Gets an F is the first episode of The Simpsons second season, airing on October 11, 1990. ...

The Simpsons made an appearance on a 1991 episode of Sesame Street, where the family, along with Ray Charles and other celebrities performed the Wubba Wubba Wubba song with the character Grover. Sesame Street is an educational American childrens television series designed for preschoolers, and is recognized as a pioneer of the contemporary standard which combines education and entertainment in childrens television shows. ... Ray Charles was the stage name of Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 â€“ June 10, 2004). ... Wubba Wubba Wubba is the chorus of a sing-along The Monster in the Mirror written by Christopher Cerf and Norman Stiles in 1989 for the childrens television series Sesame Street. ... Grover and a girl on Sesame Street A Celebration of Me, Grover DVD cover Grover shown alongside another character from Sesame Street, Kermit the Frog, on the cover of The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street. ...

In 1995, Western Pacific Airlines repainted a Boeing 737 jet with Simpsons characters to promote the series. The creator Matt Groening and some of the writers didn't go for the plane's first trip as they feared it would crash, and they would die with the Simpsons. Early Beginnings Western Pacific Airlines took up service on April 28, 1995 using eight Boeing 737-300 jets. ... The Boeing 737 is the worlds most popular medium range - narrow body commercial passenger jet aircraft. ...

On February 9, 1997 The Simpsons surpassed The Flintstones as the longest-running prime time animated series in America. In 2004 it replaced The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952 to 1966) as the longest-running sitcom, animated or live action, ever in the United States. February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This is a list of television-related events in 1997. ... The Flintstones, an American animated television series created by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, is one of the most successful animated television series of all time, originally running in American prime time for six seasons, from 1960 to 1966, on the ABC network. ... Prime time is the block of programming on television during the middle of the evening. ... The Nelson family The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, an American radio and television series, was once the longest-running, live-action situation comedy on American television, having aired on ABC from 1952 to 1966 after a ten-year run on radio. ... In film and video, live action refers to works that are acted out by flesh-and-blood actors, as opposed to animation. ...

In October 2004, Scooby Doo, a Hanna-Barbera animation, overtook The Simpsons with 350 episodes, with the Simpsons count at 335. In April 2005, Scooby-Doo was cancelled again, and ended with 371 episodes, whilst the Simpsons have over 370 by their seventeenth season. Scooby-doo has been renewed again under a new name airing in Kids WB in 2006 giving it another chance to catch up to The Simpsons. A few qualifiers also come into play, namely that Scooby-Doo had experienced several incarnations with each one arguably being a separate show while The Simpsons had been in continuous production since becoming its own show. While this is a large number of episodes for an American animated show, some foreign animated shows, most notably Japanese anime series, including Dragon Ball and Pokémon, have reached episodes numbering into the hundreds and thousands. Most notable are the series Sazae-san, which has been airing new episodes weekly since 1969, and Doraemon, both with well over 1,500 episodes. Detective Conan has an episode count slightly higher than the Simpsons despite premiering seven years later. Scooby-Doo is a popular and long-running American animated television series produced for Saturday morning television by Hanna-Barbera Productions (now Cartoon Network Studios) in several different versions from 1969 to the present. ... Anime ) is a medium of animations originating in Japan, with distinctive character and background aesthetics that visually set it apart from other forms of animation. ... Dragon Ball tankÅbon volume 1 (Japanese version). ... PokÃ©mon (ãƒã‚±ãƒ¢ãƒ³ Pokemon, pronounced //, although frequently, and even intentionally mispronounced //), is a multi-billion dollar media franchise[1] created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996 (it celebrated its tenth anniversary on February 27, 2006). ... The Wonderful World of Sazae-san is a series of twelve comic books published for Japanese people learning English; selected comic strips have been chosen to be published in the books, which are sold overseas and in Japan. ... Doraemon ) by Hiroshi Fujimoto, pen name Fujiko F. Fujio, is a Japanese manga about a robotic cat, Doraemon, who has travelled back in time from the future to aid a schoolboy, Nobita Nobi. ... Poster for Countdown to Heaven, the fifth Detective Conan movie Case Closed, known in Japan as Detective Conan (名探偵コナン, Meitantei Konan), is a detective manga and anime series by Gosho Aoyama (青山剛昌), published in Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine. ...

In 2006, the series was renewed through its 19th season. This put the series one season behind Gunsmoke's US entertainment record of 20 produced seasons, however, Gunsmoke's episode count (635) is unlikely to be matched by The Simpsons for several years, if renewed. The cast of radios Gunsmoke: Howard McNear (Doc), William Conrad (Matt), Georgia Ellis (Kitty) and Parley Baer (Chester) Gunsmoke was a long-running old-time radio and television Western drama created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. ...

Executive producers

Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon have been executive producers during the entire run. There is a more important position on the show, which is known as show runner. The show runner serves as head writer and is in charge of every aspect of the show's production. The show runner receives the first credit on the closing credits as executive producer. Executive producer is a role in the entertainment industry that is sometimes difficult to define clearly. ... Especially in the United States television industry, the show runner is the person responsible for the day to day operation of a television series. ...

Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening (born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon; his family name is pronounced /greÉªnÉªÅ‹/, rhyming with gaining and raining) is an American cartoonist and the creator of the American animated television series The Simpsons [1] and Futurama. ... James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a Hollywood producer, writer, and film director. ... Sam Simon was one of the original developers of The Simpsons, along with Matt Groening and James L. Brooks. ... Al Jean is a TV comedy writer most known for his work on The Simpsons. ... Mike Reiss is an American TV comedy writer. ... David Mirkin is an American actor, television director, writer and producer. ... Bill Oakley (born in 1966) is an American TV writer, best known for his work on The Simpsons. ... Josh Weinstein (born May 5, 1966) is an American TV writer, best known for his work on The Simpsons. ... Mike Scully is a former executive producer of the Fox series The Simpsons (seasons 9-12, 1997-2001). ... Al Jean is a TV comedy writer most known for his work on The Simpsons. ...

Voice actors

All episodes with the exception of one list only the voice actors and not the characters they voice, in keeping with the mystique of having the audience not associate any one character with an actor — this is to discourage the audience from easily identifying exactly which voice actor did what. Yeardley Smith, voice actress of Lisa Simpson, and Marcia Wallace, voice actress of Edna Krabappel, are the only cast members who regularly do one voice, though both have on occasion voiced one-shot characters. Dan Castellaneta performs the voices of Homer Simpson, his dad Abraham Simpson, and Krusty the Klown, among others and was the only cast member so far to guest star as himself in the episode "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife". Julie Kavner performs the voices of Marge Simpson and her sisters, Patty and Selma, mother, and her aunt. She is also known for refusing to perform Marge's voice in public to not break the mystique of the animated character. Nancy Cartwright performs the voice of Bart Simpson and other children from the school that he attends. Hank Azaria voices Moe, Chief Wiggum, and Apu, as well as other miscellaneous characters. Pamela Hayden voices Milhouse Van Houten, as well as Rod Flanders and Jimbo Jones, among others. Tress MacNeille voices Agnes Skinner, among other minor characters. Russi Taylor voices numerous school children, most notably Martin Prince, Sherri and Terri and Üter. Maggie Roswell voices Helen Lovejoy, Miss Hoover, Luann Van Houten, and the late Maude Flanders. After the 1999 season till the 2002 season she did not appear because of a pay dispute. During this time she was replaced by Marcia Mitzman Gaven. Harry Shearer performs perhaps the largest array of characters, including Mr. Burns, Smithers, Principal Seymour Skinner, Otto Mann, Ned Flanders, Kent Brockman, Reverend Lovejoy, Dr. Julius Hibbert, and others. Guest stars have performed as well. Dan Castellaneta This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Dan Castellaneta This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Dan Castellaneta Daniel Louis Castellaneta (born September 10, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor best known for providing the voice of Homer Simpson and other characters on the animated series The Simpsons. ... Homer Jay Simpson (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) is one of the main characters in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... A voice actor (also a voice artist) is a person who provides voices for animated characters (including those in feature films, television series, animated shorts), voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides. ... Yeardley Smith Martha Maria Yeardley Smith (born July 3, 1964 in Paris, France and raised in Washington, D.C., USA) is an American actress and voice actor who is best known for providing the voice of Lisa Simpson (and occasionally, both on the Tracy Ullman shorts and the half-hour... Elisabeth Lisa Marie Simpson (voiced by Yeardley Smith) is a fictional character on the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Marcia Wallace (born November 1, 1942) is an actress from Creston, Iowa. ... Edna Krabappel is a fictional character featured in The Simpsons, voiced by Marcia Wallace. ... Dan Castellaneta Daniel Louis Castellaneta (born September 10, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor best known for providing the voice of Homer Simpson and other characters on the animated series The Simpsons. ... Homer Jay Simpson (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) is one of the main characters in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Sergeant Abraham Jasper Simpson (Grampa or Abe) is a fictional character featured in the animated cartoon television series The Simpsons. ... Herschel Pinkus Yerucham Krustofski (1930s- ), more commonly known as Krusty the Clown, is a fictional character in the cartoon The Simpsons. ... Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife is an episode of The Simpsons, that aired on March 26, 2006. ... Julie Kavner Julie Deborah Kavner (born September 7, 1951) is an Emmy Award-winning Jewish-American actress, best known for her role as Brenda Morgenstern on Rhoda in the 1970s and for providing the voice of Marge Simpson on the animated television show The Simpsons. ... Marjorie Marge Simpson (nÃ©e Bouvier) (voiced by Julie Kavner) is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Patty Bouvier Selma Bouvier [[ The Bouvier Sisters (Patricia Patty and Selma, voiced by Julie Kavner) are fictional characters on The Simpsons. ... Jacqueline Jackie Bouvier is a character on The Simpsons, specifically the mother of Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, and Selma Bouvier, and the wife of Clancy Bouvier. ... Gladys Bouvier Gladys Bouvier was a character in The Simpsons. ... Nancy Campbell Cartwright (born October 25, 1957) is an American actress striper and voice actor. ... Bartholomew Jo-Jo Simpson, better known as Bart, is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Hank Azaria Hank Albert Azaria (born April 25, 1964) is an Emmy Award-winning American actor and voice artist. ... Moe Szyslak (pronounced SIZZ-lack, as opposed to the Polish pronunciation, SHISS-lack) is a fictional character on the animated series The Simpsons, voiced by Hank Azaria. ... Chief Clancy Wiggum (voiced by Hank Azaria) is a fictional character from the animated TV show The Simpsons. ... Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Ph. ... Pamela Hayden is an United States actress, best known for providing various voices for the animated television show The Simpsons (1989). ... Milhouse Mussolini Van Houten is Bart Simpsons best friend, the son of Kirk and Luann Van Houten, and is most distinctive for his extreme nearsightedness requiring thick glasses to correct. ... Ned Flanders In the animated cartoon series The Simpsons, the Flanders are a family consisting of Ned, Maude and their two sons Rod and Todd. ... James Jimbo Jones (voiced by Pamela Hayden) is a character of the TV show The Simpsons. ... Tress MacNeille (born June 20, 1951) is an American voice actor who is best known for providing various voices on the animated television shows The Simpsons and Futurama. ... Agnes Skinner (voiced by Tress MacNeille), is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons, and Principal Seymour Skinners mother, with whom he still lives. ... Russi Taylor is the current voice actress for Disneys Minnie Mouse character. ... Martin Prince Jr. ... Sherri and Terri In The Simpsons, Sherri and Terri Fisk (voiced by Russi Taylor) are two rather sickly looking twins with purple hair. ... Ãœter (urter) is a fictional German foreign exchange student in the TV series The Simpsons. ... Maggie Roswell is an actress best known for her voice work on The Simpsons depicting the characters of Maude Flanders, Helen Lovejoy, Miss Hoover, and Luann Van Houten among others. ... Helen Lovejoy is a fictional character on The Simpsons, voiced by Maggie Roswell and Marcia Mitzman Gaven while Roswell was involved in a pay dispute. ... Elizabeth Hoover is a fictional character on The Simpsons, voiced by Maggie Roswell and Marcia Mitzman Gaven while Roswell was involved in a pay dispute. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Kirk Van Houten. ... Maude Flanders is a fictional character on The Simpsons. ... Marcia Mitzman Gaven (born on 28 February 1959 in New York City, New York, USA) was the voice for Maude Flanders, Helen Lovejoy, Miss Hoover and others on The Simpsons from 1999 until 2002, when Maggie Roswell returned after a pay dispute. ... Harry Julius Shearer (born December 23, 1943, Los Angeles, California) is an American comedic actor and writer who began his career as a child actor in 1950s movies (The Robe) and television (The Jack Benny Program). ... Charles Montgomery Burns (usually or , even Monty Burns), a fictional character, is the sinister owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant in The Simpsons cartoon series. ... Waylon J. Smithers Jr. ... W. Seymour Skinner (1961?- ) is a fictional character on The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer. ... Otto is a fictional character on The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer. ... Nedward Ned Flanders (circa 1939?- ) is a fictional character on The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer. ... Kent Brockman is one of the recurring fictional characters from The Simpsons, and is voiced by Harry Shearer. ... Reverend Timothy Lovejoy is the local minister in the long-running animated TV show The Simpsons, He is voiced by Harry Shearer. ... Julius Hibbert, M.D. is a doctor and physician from the TV series The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer. ...

The voice actors have been involved in much-publicized pay disputes with Fox on more than one occasion. In 1998, the voice actors stopped working, forcing 20th Century Fox TV to increase their salary from $30,000 per episode to $125,000. The actors were supported in their action by series creator Matt Groening.^[5] As the revenue generated by the show continued to increase through syndication and DVD sales, six actors who are playing over 50 characters — Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer — stopped showing up for script readings in April 2004 after weeks of unsuccessful negotiations with Fox. They asked for $360,000 per episode, or $8 million for a 22-episode season. On May 2, 2004, the actors resolved their dispute with Fox after having their demands met.^[6] 20th Century Fox logo Fox Plaza, the company headquarters. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

This is a complete listing of cast members from the long-running animated comedy television series The Simpsons. ...

Writing

During its initial run, and well into its first several seasons, The Simpsons had been widely heralded as a unique form of television satire that took an intelligent look and examination of common everyday life.^{[citation needed]} While it was in animated form, it did not rely on the medium for its comedic basis, but rather focused on realistic situations and events, poking fun at the absurdity of what society consider the norm. Fair targets included family, work, religion, school. Image File history File links Simpsons_writing_team. ... Image File history File links Simpsons_writing_team. ... Al Jean is a TV comedy writer most known for his work on The Simpsons. ... Mike Scully is a former executive producer of the Fox series The Simpsons (seasons 9-12, 1997-2001). ... David Mirkin is an American actor, television director, writer and producer. ... Mike Reiss is an American TV comedy writer. ... A family of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 1997 A family consists of a domestic group of people (or a number of domestic groups), typically affiliated by birth or marriage, or by comparable legal relationships â€” including domestic partnership, adoption, surname and (in some cases) ownership (as occurred in the Roman Empire). ... Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ... Primary or elementary education is the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood. ...

As seasons progressed, new producers and teams of writers took the helm, gradually introducing new visions and style to the show. While wit and satire were still key in stories, a shift from realism to more fantasy occurred. In order to fit this new style, character changes also came to pass, trading depth for somewhat of a one-dimensionalism to better blend into the types of zany and outlandish situations that stories were now introducing, particularly physical and visual humor often taking the place of dialogue.

The writers have shown a love for cameo appearances by celebrities and extended pastiches of contemporary and classic movies, as well as subtle visual jokes. Martin Scorsese appears briefly in an uncredited role in this scene from Taxi Driver, the first scene in which Cybill Shepherd appears. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed. ...

John Swartzwelder is the most prolific writer on the Simpsons staff, personally writing over 50 episodes. According to the DVD commentaries, he used to write episodes while sitting at a booth in his favorite restaurant "drinking copious amounts of coffee and smoking endless cigarettes" (Matt Groening). When the state of California passed an anti-smoking law, Swartzwelder bought a diner booth and installed it in his house. John Swartzwelder (born November 16, 1950) is a writer for the animated television series The Simpsons. ...

George Meyer became a writer for the show in 1989, and in 2000 was called "the funniest man behind the funniest show on TV" by The New Yorker.^[7] George Meyer is a producer and writer for The Simpsons, and arguably the writer who has contributed the most to the show over its long run. ... The New Yorkers first cover, which is reprinted most years on the magazines anniversary. ...

Current late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien was a writer during the fourth and fifth seasons. He wrote "New Kid on the Block" (9F06), "Marge vs. the Monorail" (9F10), "Homer Goes to College" (1F02) and part of "Treehouse of Horror IV" (1F04). Conan Christopher Oâ€™Brien (born April 18, 1963) is an American comedian best known as host of NBCs late-night talk show/variety show Late Night with Conan OBrien. ... New Kid on the Block is the 8th episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... Marge vs. ... Homer Goes to College is the third episode of The Simpsons fifth season. ... Treehouse of Horror IV is the fifth episode of The Simpsons fifth season, first aired on October 28, 1993. ...

Ian Maxtone-Graham has been a prominent writer for The Simpsons since the eighth season. Ian was the basis for the Very Tall Man character in the Season 7 episode "22 Short Films About Springfield". Ian Maxtone-Graham is a television writer and producer. ... 22 Short Films About Springfield is the twenty-first episode of The Simpsons seventh season, airing on April 22, 1996. ...

The character Professor John Frink was named for a friend of Al Jean's, John Frink, who later became a writer/producer of the show. Professor Johnathan I. Q. Frink, Jr. ... John Frink (born 1959?, Whitesboro, New York) is a American producer and writer who is most noted for his work on The Simpsons. ...

In 2004 English comedian Ricky Gervais was asked to write an episode.^[8] Entitled "Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife". The episode aired March 26, 2006. Ricky Gervais Ricky Gervais (born June 25, 1961) is an English comic writer and performer from Reading, Berkshire, England. ... Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife is an episode of The Simpsons, that aired on March 26, 2006. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Animation

Overseas animation studios involved:

AKOM—200 episodes AKOM is a South Korean animation studio that has provided much work since its conception in 1985 by Nelson Shin. ...

Exclusively produced the first two seasons of the series.
Produced various episodes throughout the run of the series.

Anivision—55 episodes Anivision is a division of Sunwoo Entertainment, a large Korean animation studio. ...

Produced animation for episodes from seasons 3–10.

Rough Draft Studios—120 episodes Rough Draft Studios is an animation studio founded by Gregg Vanzo, that resides in Glendale, California with its sister studio, Rough Draft Korea in Seoul, South Korea. ...

Produced animation for episodes from season four onwards.

U.S. Animation, Inc.—2 episodes U.S. Animation, Inc. ...

Jointly produced "Radioactive Man" with Anivision.
Produced "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular"

Toonzone Entertainment—2 episodes For the character and Bongo comic, see Radioactive Man Radioactive Man is the second episode in the seventh season of The Simpsons. ... The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular is the tenth episode of The Simpsons seventh season, and is, as the title suggests, the 138th episode. ... Toonzone Entertainment is an animation studio that has worked on The Simpsons (Seasons 15+) and King of the Hill (Seasons 8+). The overseas director for Toonzone Entertainment is Eom Hyoung Sik. ...

Produced "The Fat and the Furriest" and "She Used to Be My Girl".

* The numbers are based on Speedy Boris Official Site ^[9]

The Simpsons has been animated by many different studios over the past 18 years, both domestic and overseas. Throughout the run of the animated shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show, the animation was solely produced domestically at Klasky Csupo. Klasky Csupo was also the animation studio during the first three seasons of the half-hour length series, however, due to the increased workload, production was now being subcontracted to overseas studios, usually in South Korea. While character and background layout is done by the domestic studio, inbetweening, coloring and filming is done by the overseas studios. Throughout the years, different overseas studios have animated different episodes, even episodes within the same season. The Fat and the Furriest is an episode from The Simpsons that aired in the fifteenth season on November 30, 2003. ... She Used to Be My Girl is an episode from the sixteenth season of the animated TV series The Simpsons. ... Klasky Csupo Inc. ... Inbetweening refers to the art of creating intermediate cartoon cels between the more major ones created by a more senior cartoonist, such as the artistic director. ...

During season four, Gracie Films made a decision to switch domestic production to Film Roman, which continues to animate the show to this day. The last episode to be animated by Klasky Csupo was "Kamp Krusty", in production order. Gracie Films logo Gracie Films is a film and television production company, created by James L. Brooks in 1986 for The Tracey Ullman Show. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Kamp Krusty is the first episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ...

After season 13, production was switched from traditional cel animation to digital ink and paint. The first episode to experiment with digital coloring was "Radioactive Man" in 1995, and again during season 12 with the episode "Tennis the Menace", but after seeing the results, Gracie Films decided to hold off for two more seasons. "Tennis the Menace," however, being already completed, was broadcast this way. Traditional animation, sometimes also called cel animation or hand-drawn animation, is the oldest and historically the most popular form of animation. ... Traditional animation, sometimes also called cel animation or hand-drawn animation, is the oldest and historically the most popular form of animation. ... Radioactive Man is the second episode in the seventh season of The Simpsons and was the first one to use Digital Ink and Paint. ... Tennis the Menace is the twelfth episode of the twelfth season of The Simpsons. ...

Broadcasting

The Simpsons has originally been shown at the Fox network in the United States. It has been widely distributed internationally afterwards. The episodes are sometimes altered in order to fit the broadcaster’s needs. Reasons for altering episodes includes getting more time for advertising, updating the show so e.g. it is the current teams that play in the Super Bowl that are mentioned and adjusting the material to suit a foreign country’s culture or humor. An example of the latter includes Arabic-speaking markets in which they cut out or modified references to alcohol, pork and non-Muslim religions. The animation in The Simpsons makes the show more frequently dubbed in foreign countries rather than subtitled. The Simpsons has originally been shown at the Fox network in the United States. ... The Fox Broadcasting Company is a television network in the United States. ... TV Show Reference Episode is the word usually used to refer to a part of a serial television or radio program. ... Note: broadcasting is also the old term for hand sowing. ... Advertising, generally speaking, is the promotion of goods, services, companies and ideas, usually performed by an identified sponsor. ... The winning Super Bowl team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... In chemistry, an alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom of an alkyl or substituted alkyl group. ... Two halves of a pig being delivered Pork is the meat taken from pigs. ... 12 frames per second is the typical rate for an animated cartoon. ... In filmmaking, dubbing refers to the recording of voices for a movie. ... In printed material In printed material, a subtitle is an explanatory or alternate title. ...

Storyline

Characters

The main characters were originally created by Matt Groening as part of a series of original animated segments for The Tracey Ullman Show. Over the course of the series Groening has used many of the themes present in his long-running comic strip series, Life in Hell. (For instance, the idea of creative school children constantly being persecuted and suppressed by totalitarian grown-ups stems from the strip). Many of the characters in The Simpsons take their names from important people and places in Groening's life — for example Lisa, Maggie, Marge and Homer share names with Groening's sisters, mother and father respectively. Bart, however, is an anagram for brat, with Groening having stated that he thought naming the boy "Matt" would be too obvious. Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening (born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon; his family name is pronounced /greÉªnÉªÅ‹/, rhyming with gaining and raining) is an American cartoonist and the creator of the American animated television series The Simpsons [1] and Futurama. ... the simpsons is on sky one and channel four ... This article is about the comic strip, the sequential art form as published in newspapers and on the Internet. ... Life in Hell is a weekly comic strip by Matt Groening. ... This page may meet Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

Despite the fact that numerous years and birthdays clearly pass (for example, many Christmas episodes), the Simpsons do not appear to age. Some characters' ages have fluctuated throughout the years; this is most likely due to simple oversight on the part of the writers. Homer Jay Simpson (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) is one of the main characters in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, from The Simpsons Road Rage. ... The term Buffoon is a somewhat derogatory yet amusing term for a humourous character who provides his amusement principally through stupidity rather than talent. ... Attention span is the amount of time a person can concentrate on a single activity. ... A chocolate-glazed doughnut A doughnut, or donut, is a deep-fried piece of dough or batter. ... Duff Beer (with Homer Simpson) Duff Beer is a fictional brand of beer in the animated series The Simpsons. ... Marjorie Marge Simpson (nÃ©e Bouvier) (voiced by Julie Kavner) is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A homemaker is a person whose prime occupation is to care for their family and/or home. ... Bartholomew Jo-Jo Simpson, better known as Bart, is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Elisabeth Lisa Marie Simpson (voiced by Yeardley Smith) is a fictional character on the animated television series The Simpsons. ... For animals adapted to eat primarily plants, sometimes referred to as vegetarian animals, see Herbivore. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, SiddhÄrtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... Bold textHello ... Jazz is an original American musical art form originating around the start of the 20th century in New Orleans, rooted in Western music technique and theory, and is marked by the profound cultural contributions of African Americans. ... Margaret Maggie Simpson is a fictional character featured in the animated cartoon television series The Simpsons. ... Margaret Maggie Simpson is a fictional character featured in the animated cartoon television series The Simpsons. ... In popular culture, especially in properties which continue over a long period of time, a strange phenomenon is observable whereby the characters are always the same age (or age much more slowly than real time) and it is always the present day, even though the series may have run for...

Homer describes his family as "upper lower middle class," similar to a quote which George Orwell used to describe his own family. The Simpson family lives in a relatively large double-story four-bedroom house bordering a friendly neighbour, Ned Flanders. Homer's father, Abraham "Abe" Simpson, who inexplicably refuses to recognize Missouri as a state and accordingly flies a 49-star American flag, lives in the Springfield Retirement Castle. The Simpson lifestyle yo-yos depending on whether or not Homer is employed at the time; Marge is largely a stay-at-home mom. The Simpsons go several years into the internet age before acquiring a computer, reflecting the fact that the Simpson family is perpetually several years out of date. There are other clues as well, such as the avocado-green kitchen equipment (this color was popular in the 1960s and 1970s) and the family's two cars, both of which appear to have been manufactured in the early 1980s. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1020x358, 408 KB)The Simpsons animated cast. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1020x358, 408 KB)The Simpsons animated cast. ... Eric Arthur Blair (June 25, 1903 â€“ January 21, 1950), much better known by the pen name George Orwell (pronounced ), was a British author and journalist. ... Nedward Ned Flanders (circa 1939?- ) is a fictional character on The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer. ... Sergeant Abraham Jasper Simpson (Grampa or Abe) is a fictional character featured in the animated cartoon television series The Simpsons. ... The Springfield Retirement Castle is Springfields retirement home for the elderly. ...

The show also has a vast array of quirky supporting characters, including co-workers, teachers, family friends, extended relatives, and local celebrities. Originally, most of these were supposed to either say something funny in one episode and not return, such as Groundskeeper Willie, or simply fill a function that someone had to fill, such as newscaster Kent Brockman. However, many characters have gotten many episodes of their own, like Krusty the Klown or Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. Many of these characters have developed a vast cult following of their own and serve to represent facets of the USA society that the show scathingly critiques. Some of these, like Itchy and Scratchy, ultraviolent versions of Tom and Jerry, are fictional even within the Simpsons universe. Major changes to a character are generally undone by the end of the episode (excluding deaths), annoying some fans who want more variety or consider the change an improvement. Groundskeeper Willie (AKA - G. K. Willington, Esq. ... Kent Brockman is one of the recurring fictional characters from The Simpsons, and is voiced by Harry Shearer. ... Krusty the Clown, or Herschel Schmoikel Krustofski (full name: Herschel Pinkes Remochel Krustofski), is a fictional character in the cartoon The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ... Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Ph. ... The Itchy & Scratchy Show. ... Tom & Jerry title card from the 1940s Tom and Jerry were an animated cat (Tom) and mouse (Jerry) team who formed the basis of a massively successful series of theatrical short cartoons created, written and directed by animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera (later of Hanna-Barbera fame). ...

The following is a list of characters featured in the American animated television series The Simpsons. ... A list of animals featured on the long-running animated TV Show The Simpsons. ...

Setting

The Simpsons is set in a fictional city of Springfield. The state in which it is located has never been made clear. In some episodes it has the fictional postal abbreviation NT. Throughout the show's history fans have tried to determine where Springfield is by taking the town's characteristics, surrounding geography and nearby landmarks as clues. Both the town itself and its location are fictional; nearly every state and region in the U.S. has been both suggested and ruled out by conflicting "evidence" of a location for Springfield, so that the town could not really be anywhere. Creator Matt Groening has stated that Springfield has much in common with Portland, Oregon, the city he grew up in,^[10] and the name "Springfield" was chosen because virtually every state has a town or city with that name. It seems it is kept indeterminate on purpose so that the location can suit any plot, as Springfield and its surrounding areas have been shown to contain coastlines, deserts, vast farmland, and tall mountains, or whatever the story requires. For further discussion on the location of Springfield, see Where is Springfield. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening (born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon; his family name is pronounced /greÉªnÉªÅ‹/, rhyming with gaining and raining) is an American cartoonist and the creator of the American animated television series The Simpsons [1] and Futurama. ... Nickname City of Roses, Stumptown, Bridgetown Location Location in Multnomah County and the state of Oregon Government Country State County United States Oregon Multnomah County Mayor Tom Potter (D) Geographical characteristics Area - City - Land - Water 145. ... Springfield is a common name and known, in part, for being a common place-name in the United States. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Animation scholars and fans have noted that the series uses the medium of animation to its advantage, allowing the show to take place in many settings and feature a far greater cast of characters than a live-action sitcom. The cost of having an episode of The Simpsons take place in the mountains, Europe, the city park, or a cruise ship on the ocean is hardly more than placing the family in the more conventional sitcom settings of a living room, a kitchen, and perhaps one or two related settings. This allows for far more flexibility in plot development than in a typical live-action sitcom constrained by physical limitations and logistics. 12 frames per second is the typical rate for an animated cartoon. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ...

Themes

The show routinely mocks and satirizes show business conventions and personalities. Krusty the Klown has an enthusiastic following among Springfield's kids, but offstage he is a jaded, cynical hack, in poor health from a long history of overindulgence, gambling and substance abuse. He will endorse any product for a price. Kent Brockman is a self-important, spoiled TV news anchorman with little regard for journalistic ethics. Even Rupert Murdoch—whose corporate empire includes The Simpsons broadcast network, Fox—has been gently spoofed in a couple of episodes. In fact, ridiculing Fox has become a running joke, of sorts. Krusty the Clown, or Herschel Schmoikel Krustofski (full name: Herschel Pinkes Remochel Krustofski), is a fictional character in the cartoon The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ... Kent Brockman is one of the recurring fictional characters from The Simpsons, and is voiced by Harry Shearer. ... Journalism is a discipline of collecting, analyzing, verifying, and presenting information gathered regarding current events, including trends, issues and people. ... Rupert Murdoch Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KCSG, (born 11 March 1941) is an Australian-born American citizen, based in New York City, who is a major shareholder and the Chairman and Managing Director of News Corporation. ...

The show mocks politicians from any political background. Mostly the target is former or current presidents of the United States. George H. W. Bush was portrayed as Mr. Wilson in Dennis the Menace in one episode and Bill Clinton said "I'm a pretty lousy president" in another episode. Fox News however, has been portrayed as having an extreme conservative bias. George Herbert Walker Bush, Hon GCB (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States (1989â€“1993). ... Dennis the Menace is one of two cartoon characters. ... William Jefferson Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... Fox News Channels slogan is We Report, You Decide The Fox News Channel is a U.S. cable and satellite news channel. ...

Some social conservatives have come to embrace the show.^{[citation needed]} One of the main explanations is that The Simpsons portrays a traditional nuclear family among a lineup of television sitcoms that portray less traditional ones. The show has toyed with the possibility of extramarital affairs, such as when Homer falls for a female nuclear technician who shares his love of donuts, or when Marge's ex-boyfriend Artie Ziff tries to rekindle their old romance. Nevertheless, these affairs never occur, and by the end of every episode, Homer and Marge's marriage is strongly affirmed. Social conservatives and some evangelical Christians have also pointed to the positive role model of devout Christian Ned Flanders, whose fretfulness is occasionally ridiculed but whose decency never wavers despite constant provocation from Homer. In several episodes, God actually intervenes to protect the Flanders family, invoking such Protestant concepts as Predestination. As compared with the Simpson family, the Flanders family is relatively well-off and less dysfunctional, although the Flanders family is quirky in its own way, with over-the-top devotion and their fundamentalist interpretations of the Bible. // Akira Akira As one of Springfields most prominent Japanese American citizens, Akira is the owner of a karate dojo (which Bart briefly attended) and also works at The Happy Sumo sushi restaurant. ... Evangelicalism, in a strictly lexical, but rarely used sense, refers to all things that are implied in belief that Jesus is the savior. ... Nedward Ned Flanders (circa 1939?- ) is a fictional character on The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Predestination is a religious idea, under which the relationship between the beginning of things and the destiny of things is discussed. ...

The show has had several plots where homosexuality was the central theme. These episodes have been generally tasteful and portrayed gay characters in a positive light.

US President Richard Nixon in The Simpsons Politics is a common theme in the animated television series The Simpsons, and this phenomenon has had some crossover with real American politics. ... Along with politics, religion remains a major theme on the animated show The Simpsons. ...

Plots

A standard "template" Springfield situation, in terms of characters and events, has emerged over the years. Each episode presents some sort of change in that situation, its consequences, and almost always how things get back to normal. Episode plots rarely follow any sort of linear course, often taking several digressions to move story lines in unexpected directions, often termed plot drift. The first direction that the plot goes in can have nothing to do with where it ends up. For example, the description of the 2003 episode "Dude, Where's My Ranch?" offered to Shaw Cable subscribers reads: "After David Byrne turns Homer's anti-(Ned) Flanders song into a monster hit, the family vacations at a dude ranch, where Lisa falls in love." Dude, Wheres My Ranch? is the eighteenth episode of The Simpsons fourteenth season. ... Shaw is Canadas second largest cable television operator, after Rogers Communications. ... David Byrne (born May 14, 1952 in Dumbarton, Scotland) is a musician best known as a founding member and the principal songwriter of the New Wave band Talking Heads. ... Dude Ranch is a blink-182 album that was released on June 17, 1997 by Cargo Music/MCA. This was blink-182s second album, containing songs such as Dammit and Josie that helped the group gain popularity. ...

While plot drift is seen in the majority of episodes, there is also another plot structure that is frequently used. This structure comprises of three short stories, often with an introduction in between. It is mostly used in the Treehouse of Horror episodes, but is also used for regular episodes, typically redoing a classic story with the Simpsons characters. Treehouse of Horror (onscreen title: The Simpsons Halloween Special) was the first Halloween-themed episode of The Simpsons. ...

The plots of many episodes focus on the adventures of one particular family member, frequently Homer. However the plots have never been particularly predictable or constant and tend to be very character-driven. Recurring themes for the main family members in the episodes include:

The episode can also focus on the problems of a secondary or tertiary character, such as Apu Nahasapeemapetilon or Krusty the Clown, which is usually solved with the help of a member of the Simpson family. Homer Jay Simpson (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) is one of the main characters in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Get-rich-quick schemes promise high rates of return for a small investment. ... This is a list of jobs held by the fictional character Homer Simpson from the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Marjorie Marge Simpson (nÃ©e Bouvier) (voiced by Julie Kavner) is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Bartholomew Jo-Jo Simpson, better known as Bart, is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Elisabeth Lisa Marie Simpson (voiced by Yeardley Smith) is a fictional character on the animated television series The Simpsons. ...

When the whole family is part of the plot, they will often go on vacation, during which time Homer or Bart gets into some sort of trouble. These episodes are introduced by Homer saying, "The Simpsons are going to ---!", although sometimes this is used as misdirection. With all the vacations the Simpsons have been on, they have visited every continent on Earth with the exception of Antarctica. Misdirection is a form of deception, where one feints in a particular course, and then exploits the misled pursuers mistake to escape, or remain undetected. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Earth (often referred to as The Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth in order of size. ...

Hallmarks

Opening sequence

The Simpsons opening sequence is one of the show's most memorable hallmarks. Almost every episode opens with the camera zooming in on the show's title while moving forwards through cumulus clouds. It continues to zoom in on the town and then through a window of Springfield Elementary, where we see Bart writing lines on the class chalkboard, presumably set as a punishment by one of his teachers for some mischievous deed or wayward comment. The next shot shows Homer leaving the power plant. Mr. Burns and Mr. Smithers are seen in the background looking at a layout plan when the end-of-shift whistle blows. Burns puts his watch up to his ear and shakes it, as if he believes it has stopped. During the first season opening sequence, an employee eating a sandwich is seen in the place of Burns and Smithers. The next shot has Marge and Maggie checking out at a supermarket with Maggie inadvertently being scanned along with the groceries. The cashier rings her up at $847.63, widely believed to be the monthly cost of raising a baby, but in reality just a random number. The sequence then introduces Lisa, who leaves a band rehearsal while playing her saxophone. The family is shown on their way to their house at 742 Evergreen Terrace. The members of the family weave dangerously through traffic and in between fellow Springfield denizens. The Simpsons all miraculously reach home at the exact same time. Upon entering their house, they speed towards the family room couch where, in comedic parallel with the audience, they settle down to watch their "must-see" TV show. A Simpsons chalkboard gag from the opening sequence, taken from a season five episode. ... A Simpsons chalkboard gag from the opening sequence, taken from a season five episode. ... Bart writes The Pledge of Allegiance does not end with Hail Satan The chalkboard gag is a running visual joke that occurs during the opening credits of many episodes of The Simpsons. ... Simpsons couch gag This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Simpsons couch gag This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... The couch gag is a running visual joke in the opening credits of the animated television series The Simpsons. ... This example of a title sequence, from long-running serial drama Another World, was seen from 1966 to 1981, making it one of the longest-running continuous title sequences on television. ... Cumulus can also refer to Cumulus Media (also known as Cumulus Broadcasting) A cumulus cloud (Cu) is a cloud belonging to a class characterized by puffs, mounds or towers, with flat bases and tops that often resemble cauliflower. ... Lines at a school typically refers to a form of punishment either meted out by schoolmasters or prefects at an establishment such as a British public school. ... Blackboard Inc. ...

In the syndicated version, part or all of the opening sequence is usually cut in order to include more commercials in the show's allotted timeslot. Saxophones of different sizes play in different registers. ... Kay Sage. ... In the television industry (as in radio), syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast television programs to multiple television stations, without going through a broadcast network. ... A television commercial (often called an advert in the United Kingdom) is a form of advertising in which goods, services, organizations, ideas, etc. ...

The couch gag sequence is frequently used to help show staff make the show longer or shorter, depending on the length of the episode itself. Most couch gags last only about five seconds, but the longest one on record lasted 46 seconds. There are several kinds of opening; as of season 17, the show frequently just uses the clouds, driveway and couch gag. Homer leaving work, the chalkboard, Lisa's sax solo, etc. are not used so much, albeit they are not entirely gone. Cape Feare is the second episode of The Simpsons fifth season. ... Hurricane Neddy is an episode from the eighth season of The Simpsons. ... The couch gag is a running visual joke in the opening credits of the animated television series The Simpsons. ...

The first season opening sequence featured a number of differences from the later seasons, including a scene in which in place of Mr. Burns and Smithers at the Power Plant was a co-worker eating a sandwich with tongs. In addition, Bart snatched a bus stop sign, forcing several dazed Springfieldians to chase the bus, which was replaced from the second season by a sequence showing Bart weaving his skateboard between a group of characters, and a shot of Lisa riding her bike on the way home, which was changed to a camera whip pan across a crowd of characters towards the Simpsons' house.

The series' distinctive theme tune was composed by musician Danny Elfman in 1989, when Groening approached him wanting a "retro" style piece. Taking two days to create, it is perhaps the most recognizable music piece of his career. In a 1999 L.A. Times article, Elfman joked that the theme earns him $11.50 every time it is played.^[11] A composer is a person who writes music. ... A musician is a person who plays or composes music. ... Daniel Robert Danny Elfman (born May 29, 1953, in Amarillo, Texas) is a Jewish-American pop musician, composer and writer of film scores, most famous for his frequent collaborations with director Tim Burton. ...

The current arrangement, which dates back to the third season, is orchestrated by Alf Clausen. In Episode 1F11 — "Bart Gets Famous", Bart is whistling the tune and Marge tells him "not to whistle that annoying tune." Alf Clausen orchestrates music for cartoon shows. ... Bart Gets Famous is the twelfth episode of The Simpsons fifth season, first aired on February 3, 1994. ...

In 2006, Sky One in the United Kingdom began advertising The Simpsons using a live-action recreation of the series' opening sequence. ^[12] This was then used by Fox to open the March 2006 episode "Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife". Sky One is British Sky Broadcastings flagship entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. ... In film and video, live action refers to works that are acted out by flesh-and-blood actors, as opposed to animation. ... Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife is an episode of The Simpsons, that aired on March 26, 2006. ...

Bart writes The Pledge of Allegiance does not end with Hail Satan The chalkboard gag is a running visual joke that occurs during the opening credits of many episodes of The Simpsons. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The couch gag is a running visual joke in the opening credits of the animated television series The Simpsons. ...

Halloween episodes

An annual tradition is a special Halloween episode consisting of three separate, self-contained pieces. These pieces usually involve the family in some horror, science fiction, or supernatural setting; they always take place outside the normal continuity of the show (and are therefore considered to be non-canon), and completely abandon any pretense of being realistic. Regular Simpsons characters play humorous special roles, occasionally being killed in gruesome ways by zombies, monsters, or even each other. Groundskeeper Willie has died many times in the Treehouse of Horror episodes, mostly by being stuck in the back or impaled by a sharp object or dolphin. Homer and Maggie have killed Willie a number of times. In "Treehouse of Horror V", for example, he was axed in the back in all three segments: by Homer in the first act, by Maggie in the second, and by Principal Skinner in the third, at which point he says, "Oh...I'm bad at this..." In addition to parodying many classic horror and science fiction films such as The Shining, these Halloween segments frequently spoof episodes of The Twilight Zone such as "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", "To Serve Man", "Living Doll", "It's a Good Life", "A Kind of a Stopwatch" and "Little Girl Lost". It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Treehouse of Horror. ... Screenshot from Treehouse of Horror IV This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Screenshot from Treehouse of Horror IV This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Treehouse of Horror IV is the fifth episode of The Simpsons fifth season, first aired on October 28, 1993. ... Rodman Rod Edward Serling (December 25, 1924 â€“ June 28, 1975) was a screenwriter, most famous for his science fiction TV series, The Twilight Zone. ... Night Gallery was Rod Serlings follow-up to The Twilight Zone, airing on NBC from 1970 to 1973. ... Halloween is an observance celebrated on the night of October 31, most notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets or money. ... DVD cover showing horror characters as depicted by Universal Studios. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. ... In the popular cartoon The Simpsons, there have been deaths throughout the series. ... Treehouse of Horror V is the sixth episode of The Simpsons sixth season, as well as the fifth Halloween episode. ... The Shining may mean: The Shining (novel), by Stephen King The Shining (film), Stanley Kubricks adaptation of the novel The Shining (mini-series), the ABC mini-series scripted by Stephen King The Shining (band), an English music group named after Kings novel This is a disambiguation page: a... The Twilight Zone original opening The Twilight Zone is an anthology series created (and often written) by its narrator and host Rod Serling. ... â€œNightmare at 20,000 Feetâ€ is an episode of the television series The Twilight Zone. ... Actors Richard Kiel and Lloyd Bochner in the Twilight Zone episode To Serve Man â€œTo Serve Manâ€ is an episode of the television series The Twilight Zone. ... â€œLiving Dollâ€ is an episode of the television series The Twilight Zone. ... â€œItâ€™s a Good Lifeâ€ is an episode of the television series The Twilight Zone. ... â€œLittle Girl Lostâ€ is an episode of the television series The Twilight Zone. ...

The yearly Halloween special was named "Treehouse of Horror" because the original special depicted the Simpson children in their treehouse telling scary stories to one another. In later years the series dropped the framing device of characters telling stories, but kept the Treehouse title. For several years the characters broke the fourth wall and introduced their pieces directly to the audience. In "Treehouse of Horror II" the writers decided to give the cast and crew of the show scary names in the opening and closing credits (like "Mad Matt Groening" and "James Hell Brooks"). This also became a tradition, and has been done in every Halloween episode except I, XII, and XIII. The names have changed in subsequent seasons. Another mainstay of the Halloween shows is the appearance of the two space aliens Kang and Kodos, introduced in the second segment of the first "Treehouse of Horror". Treehouse of Horror (onscreen title: The Simpsons Halloween Special) was the first Halloween-themed episode of The Simpsons. ... The fourth wall is the imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play. ... Treehouse of Horror II is the seventh episode of The Simpsons third season, and the second Simpsons Halloween episode. ... The existence of alien beings (intelligent extraterrestrial life) has been one of the enduring themes of science fiction. ... Although The Simpsons is itself a show populated by fictional characters, there are also several characters within the shows universe who are fictional to the Simpsons characters themselves (see show-within-a-show). ...

In a section of "Treehouse of Horror VI" called "Homer³," Homer and Bart go into a three-dimensional world, which Homer likens to Tron, created by Pacific Data Images, a computer animation company. This segment from the Halloween episode was also used as a segment of a film shown in the IMAX 3D film Cyberworld. This was the first and one of the few times The Simpsons have strayed from their traditional 2D animation, and the longest, as other moments consisted of live action couch gags or short claymation or CGI television and film parodies. Other Treehouse segment name parodies include "Citizen Kang", "The Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace", "The Thing and I", "House of Whacks", "I've Grown a Costume On Your Face", "The Shinning" and "Reaper Madness". Treehouse of Horror VI is the sixth episode of The Simpsons seventh season, as well as the sixth Halloween episode. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Tron has several meanings: a movie, see Tron (film) an arcade game based on the movie, see Tron (arcade game) a German hacker whose nickname was Tron, see Tron (hacker) a real-time operating system kernel, see TRON Project. ... DreamWorks Animation, L.L.C., doing business as DreamWorks Animation SKG (NYSE: DWA) is an American animation studio, producing primarily feature animated films. ... Computer animation is the art of creating moving images via the use of computers. ... IMAX theatre at the Melbourne Museum complex. ... Cyberworld is a 3D film that was shown in IMAX. A segment of the film was from The Simpsons, episode Treehouse of Horror VI. Category: ... The term Claymation is a registered trademark created by Will Vinton Studios to describe their clay animated movies; the more generic term is clay animation, but the portmanteau claymation has entered the English language as a genericized trademark. ... The seawater creature in The Abyss marked CGIs acceptance in the visual effects industry. ...

The final gag of the Treehouse series comes after the end credits where the production companies are mentioned. This is set to organ-played minor-chord versions of the Gracie Films and 20th Century Fox Fanfare closing logo themes.

Although the Treehouse series is meant to be seen on Halloween, in recent years new installments have premiered after Halloween. This is due to Fox's current contract with Major League Baseball's World Series. If the Series does not go the full seven games, Fox usually airs the previous season's Treehouse episode on the Sunday before Halloween (or if Sunday happens to fall on Halloween). However, it has been known on many occasions for new shows to premiere on the West Coast only in time for Halloween regardless of how long the World Series lasts. It gets the full national premiere, of course, as scheduled in November, after Halloween. Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in the world. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ...

Recurring jokes

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

The Simpsons catch phrases

There are many running gags on The Simpsons, many of which have been retired during the series or implemented later on in the run. The Simpsons has perhaps most entered the public consciousness in the form of the numerous catch phrases that are repeated by characters of the show. Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: The Simpsons catch phrases There are many running gags on The Simpsons, many of which have been retired during the series or implemented later on in the run. ... Image File history File links Wikiquote-logo-en. ... Wikiquote logo Wikiquote is a sister project of Wikipedia, using the same MediaWiki software. ... The running gag is a popular hallmark of comic and serious forms of entertainment. ...

Homer, when frustrated or making an obvious blunder, shouts out the famous catch phrase "D'oh!". Homer strangles Bart in an exaggerated fashion for even minor offenses, and threatens his children with the words "Do it..." when they are uncertain about his leadership. Doh! Doh! is the comical catch phrase of Homer Simpson, from the long-running animated series The Simpsons. ...

Bart's trademark "¡Ay, caramba!", "Don't have a cow, man!" and "Eat my shorts" were also featured on t-shirts in the early days of the show's run. Bart often makes a prank call to Moe's Tavern, asking for someone with a name such as "Amanda Huggankiss", "Al Coholic", "Mike Rotch", "Jacques Strap", "Oliver Clozoff", "Heywood Jacuddleme" or "Hugh Jass". Moe falls for the trap every time, and when he realizes that the joke is at his expense shouts threats back at Bart. Â¡Ay, caramba! (pronounced ; from Spanish Â¡ay! (interjection denoting surprise) and caramba, lace worn on the head, (euphemism for carajo, an exclamation of disgust), from Caramba, nickname of MarÃa Antonia FernÃ¡ndez, music composer of the 18th century who wore that kind of laces; carajo in south america means hell... A prank call, also known as a crank call or hoax call, is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. ...

Many main characters have catch phrases that serve to illuminate the nature of the speaker's character. This is sometimes shown explicitly, as the characters' thoughts are broadcast for the audience to hear. Homer's "Mmmm... [name of food]" shows his weakness for pleasure, while Marge's disapproving throat noise displays her innate uncertainty and nervous nature. Lisa is perhaps the only speaking member of the core family with no "catch-phrase" vocalization with the possible exception of the rarely heard "I'll be in my room". Finally, Abraham Simpson's frailty is demonstrated by the ease and speed at which he falls asleep in the middle of telling a story.

Numerous phrases also exist for other characters, including Barney Gumble's belch, Nelson Muntz's "Ha-ha!" and Mr. Burns' "Excellent...". Characters frequently rush out of a room to escape an embarrassing situation, followed by the sound of screeching tires. Finally, certain groups are represented by stereotypes, such as the ginger-haired and green-clad Irishman who occasionally appears. Barnard Barney Gumble born (April 20 or June 15, 1967) is a fictional character on The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ... Burping, also known as belching, ructus or eructation, is the release of gas from the digestive tract (mainly esophagus and stomach) through the mouth. ... Nelson Muntz (voiced by Nancy Cartwright) is a character from The Simpsons. ... Mr. ...

Many commercial establishments on the Simpsons have comically farcical names such as "Try-N'Save," (a discount store) "Nuts Landing" (a pet sterilization clinic), and "Blood, Bath, and Beyond" (a gun shop). One store name seen on the screen briefly was "Sneed's Feed and Seed [formerly Chuck's]" and there was also a hair salon called "The Perm Bank". Pic N Save was the second-largest closeout retail store chain in the United States. ... Knots Landing was a primetime television soap opera that aired from December 27, 1979 to May 13, 1993 on CBS and was at that time the second longest-running primetime drama on U.S. TV, after Gunsmoke. Set in the fictional Knots Landing, a small community on the California coast... Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. ...

Guest stars

Many episodes feature celebrity guests contributing their voices to the show, as either themselves (especially during the middle of the Simpsons years, i.e. seasons 7 to 13) or as fictional characters (mainly during the early and later seasons). In fact, the highest rated episode featuring celebrity guest voices was "New Kids on the Blecch", shown on February 25, 2001, during the 12th season, in which pop stars 'N Sync supplied their voices to give helpful advice and dance moves to Bart's boy band "The Party Posse". British comedian Ricky Gervais wrote an episode of The Simpsons, which aired in April 2006. A celebrity is a person who is widely recognized (famous) in a society and commands a degree of public and media attention. ... New Kids on the Blecch is an episode from the twelfth season of The Simpsons. ... N Sync (often stylised *NSYNC) is a five-part boy band, formed in Orlando, Florida, USA. The group members are Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, and Justin Timberlake. ... Ricky Gervais Ricky Gervais (born June 25, 1961) is an English comic writer and performer from Reading, Berkshire, England. ...

Many episodes of iconic animated series The Simpsons feature celebrity guests contributing their voices to the show, whether as themselves or as fictional characters. ...

Cultural impact

Many of the characters, concepts and catchphrases from The Simpsons have become common knowledge in modern society. A number of neologisms originated on The Simpsons have become a part of the universal lexicon, the most famous of which is Homer's saying: "D'oh!," which is referred to in scripts, as well as four episode names, as "annoyed grunt". So ubiquitous is the catchphrase that it is now listed in the Oxford English Dictionary, but without the apostrophe. "D'oh" is the accepted spelling, and is certainly the most common; the closed captions for the program (at least in the U.S.), however, spell it "D-OHH". A much earlier use of the same expression, often similarly used to denote thwarted expectation, was established in the long-running BBC (U.K.) radio series The Archers, where it was used, almost as a catch-phrase, by the character 'Walter Gabriel' (voiced by actor Chris Gittings). Dan Castellaneta has explained that he borrowed the phrase from James Finlayson, an actor in early Laurel and Hardy comedies, who pronounced it more stretched-out and whiny. Castellaneta was told by the show's director to shorten the noise, leading to the annoyed grunt we know today. In the German translation of the show, Homer says 'Nein!' (No!). A neologism is a word, term, or phrase which has been recently created (coined) â€” often to apply to new concepts, or to reshape older terms in newer language form. ... Doh! Doh! is the comical catch phrase of Homer Simpson, from the long-running animated series The Simpsons. ... The Oxford English Dictionary print set The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP). ... Closed captioning allows deaf, hard of hearing / hearing_impaired, and other people to read, through captions, a transcript of the audio portion of a video that they cannot hear. ... BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station which broadcasts a wide variety of chiefly spoken-word programmes including news, drama, comedy, science and history. ... This entry is about the radio series; for other meanings, see The Archers (disambiguation). ... Actor Jimmy Finlayson James Jimmy Finlayson (born August 27, 1887 in Falkirk, Scotland; died October 9, 1953 in Los Angeles) was a Scottish-American actor who worked in both silent and sound comedies. ... Laurel and Hardy Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were perhaps the most famous comedy duo in motion picture history. ...

Other Simpsons expressions that have entered into popular use include the word "excellent" — drawn out as a sinister and breathy "eeeexcelllent…" in the style of Montgomery Burns — Homer's triumphant "Woohoo!" and Nelson Muntz's mocking "HA-ha!". "Woohoo" subsequently became the catch phrase of Melissa Joan Hart's portrayal of Sabrina in Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Character Barney Gumble, whose name is in reference to The Flintstones' Barney Rubble, is also famous for frequently delivering long belches. For some time Bart used the catch-phrase 'Don't have a cow, man!' which was fairly popular, though it hasn't been used much in recent years. This phrase was later joined by another Bart catchphrase, 'Ay Caramba!' which is used far more often by Bart in later episodes. Charles Montgomery Burns (usually or , even Monty Burns), a fictional character, is the sinister owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant in The Simpsons cartoon series. ... Nelson Muntz (voiced by Nancy Cartwright) is a character from The Simpsons. ... Melissa Joan Hart in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Melissa Joan Hart (born April 18, 1976) is an American actress who is best known for playing the title roles in two successful television series, Clarissa Explains It All and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Barnard Barney Gumble born (April 20 or June 15, 1967) is a fictional character on The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ... The Flintstones, an American animated television series created by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, is one of the most successful animated television series of all time, originally running in American prime time for six seasons, from 1960 to 1966, on the ABC network. ... Barney Rubble. ...

The character Waylon Smithers is another such example. Since the debut of the show, the term "Smithers" has become a common eponym for a spineless underling. The show's creators also take pride in having passed on schoolyard rhymes to a new generation of children who otherwise may not have heard them. Waylon J. Smithers Jr. ... An eponym is the name of a person, whether real or fictitious, which has (or is thought to have) given rise to the name of a particular place, tribe, discovery or other item. ...

Specific citings

Groundskeeper Willie's description of the French as "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" was used by conservative National Review columnist Jonah Goldberg, a fan of the show, in 2003, after France's opposition to the proposed invasion of Iraq, and quickly spread to other journalists. Groundskeeper Willie (AKA - G. K. Willington, Esq. ... Cheese-eating surrender monkeys is an insulting phrase, referring to the French, which gained notoriety in the United States, particularly in the run-up to the war in Iraq. ... National Review (NR) is a conservative/libertarian political magazine founded by author William F. Buckley Jr. ... Jonah Jacob Goldberg (born March 21, 1969) is an American conservative commentator, probably best known for his contributions on politics and culture to National Review Online, where he is the editor-at-large. ... Combatants Coalition Forces (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland) Iraq Commanders Tommy Franks Saddam Hussein Strength 263,000 375,000 The 2003 invasion of Iraq, termed Operation Iraqi Freedom by the US administration, began on March 20. ...

The VCPR radio in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City has the line "I, for one, welcome our new Russian masters", echoing Kent Brockman's "I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords!" quote from the episode "Deep Space Homer". Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (released in October 2002) is the fourth video game in the hit Grand Theft Auto series. ... Deep Space Homer is the fifteenth episode of The Simpsons fifth season. ...

During the finale leg of progressive metal band Dream Theater's Metropolis 2000 tour, guitarist John Petrucci often played part of the series' theme tune as part of "A Change Of Seasons" instrumental break. Progressive metal (often shortened to prog, or prog metal when differentiating from progressive rock) is a genre of heavy metal music which shares traits with progressive rock including use of complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate instrumental playing. ... Dream Theater is a progressive metal band, formed by three students at the Berklee College of Music in 1985. ... A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. ... John Petrucci live with Dream Theater. ... A Change Of Seasons is a 1995 EP by progressive metal band Dream Theater. ...

It has been suggested that Overlord meme be merged into this article or section. ...

Impact on television

The Simpsons has been referred to on television by several other tv shows. Homer Simpson's catchphrase D'oh is said by some characters in several television shows. Homer Jay Simpson (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) is one of the main characters in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... Doh! is the comical catch phrase of Homer Simpson, from the long running animated series The Simpsons. ...

Academia

Critical reactions

Awards

The Simpsons has won dozens of awards since it debuted as a series, including 21 Emmy Awards, 22 Annie Awards, a Peabody and numerous others. On January 14, 2000 the Simpsons were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This is a list of the awards won by the animated sitcom The Simpsons. ... Download high resolution version (1280x960, 420 KB)The Simpsons star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, courtesy of http://apavlik0. ... Download high resolution version (1280x960, 420 KB)The Simpsons star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, courtesy of http://apavlik0. ... An example of a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, for the film actress Carole Lombard. ... An Emmy Award. ... The Annie Awards are given to an animation award show created by the International Animated Film Society ASIFA-Hollywood, and are animations highest honor[1]. Originally designed to celebrate lifetime or career contributions to animation in the fields of producing, directing, animation, design, writing, voice acting, sound and sound... The George Foster Peabody Awards, more commonly known as simply the Peabody Awards, are annual international awards given for excellence in radio and television broadcasting and cable television. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... An example of a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, for the film actress Carole Lombard. ...

In its 1998 issue celebrating the greatest achievements in arts and entertainment of the 20th century, TIME magazine named The Simpsons the century's best television series. In that same issue, Bart Simpson was named to the Time 100, the publication's list of the century's 100 most influential people. He was the only fictional character on the list. In 2002 it made the top 10 on TV Guide's list of the greatest shows of all time. A pocket watch. ... This is a list of television-related events in 2002. ... TV Guide is the name of two North American weekly magazines about television programming, one in the United States and one in Canada. ...

Over the years, virtually every Simpsons character has appeared on a magazine cover, ranging from TIME to Christianity Today and even Airliners. Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. ... Airliners Magazine is a magazine that is dedicated to the airline industry. ...

Criticism

As The Simpsons has progressed over the years, it has also received some criticism. With turnovers in the writing staff, the tone and emphasis of the show has gradually changed. By 2000, a segment of long-term fans became disillusioned with the show's movement from its older, more character-driven plots to what they perceived as an overemphasis of zany antics, with some critics going so far as to call the show "tired" ^[13]^[14]. Of course, while some fans left the show for these reasons, others who enjoy the current format have replaced them. As a result, there is a significant divide between those who believe the show has jumped the shark, and those who believe it is fine. In 2003 to celebrate the show's "300th episode" "Barting Over", USA Today published a pair of Simpsons related articles: a top-10 episodes list chosen by webmaster of the The Simpsons Archive fansite^[15], and a top-15 list by the Simpsons' own writers^[16]. The most recent episode listed on the fan list was 1997's "Homer's Phobia"; the Simpsons' writers most recent choice was 2000's "Behind the Laughter". This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Barting Over is an episode of The Simpsons advertised by FOX to be the 300th episode of the show. ... USA Today is a national American newspaper published by the Gannett Corporation. ... A webmaster (some women prefer webmistress) is a person responsible for designing, developing, marketing, or maintaining website(s). ... Homers Phobia is the Emmy Award-winning 15th episode of The Simpsons eighth season, aired on February 16, 1997. ... Behind the Laughter is an episode from the eleventh season of The Simpsons. ...

In 2004, Harry Shearer critiqued the show's sliding quality in an interview: "I rate the last three seasons as among the worst, so Season 4 looks very good to me now."^[17] Harry Julius Shearer (born December 23, 1943, Los Angeles, California) is an American comedic actor and writer who began his career as a child actor in 1950s movies (The Robe) and television (The Jack Benny Program). ...

In May 2006, The Onion A/V Club published a feature article on the best quotes from The Simpsons, the most recent entry on the list was from 1999's "Mom and Pop Art"^[18]. The Onion is a parody newspaper published weekly in print and on the Internet. ... Mom and Pop Art is the nineteenth episode of The Simpsons tenth season. ...

Simpsons publications

Numerous different Simpsons-related comic book series have been published by Bongo Comics since 1993. The Simpsons, Futurama, and Bart Simpson comics are also reprinted in the UK, under the same titles, with various stories from the other Bongo series reprinted in the main Simpsons comic. The comics have also been collected in book form; many other Simpsons books such as episode guides have also been published. The Simpsons comic books. ... The Simpsons comic books. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... Examples of comic book titles published by Bongo Comics Bongo Comics is a comic book publishing company founded in 1993 by Steve and Cindy Vance, Bill Morrison, and Simpsons creator Matt Groening. ... Futurama is an American animated television series created by Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons) and David X. Cohen (also a writer for The Simpsons). ...

Music is prominently featured in The Simpsons, with virtually all members of the cast breaking into song at least once during the course of the series. Perhaps the best known song is "Do The Bartman," which was released as a single and became an international success. The Simpsons Sing the Blues and The Yellow Album contained cover versions of songs, as well as some originals (including "Do The Bartman"). Songs in the Key of Springfield and Go Simpsonic with The Simpsons are CD collections of original music featured in the TV series. Do the Bartman! is a song from The Simpsons 1990 album The Simpsons Sing the Blues. ... The Simpsons Sing the Blues is the 1990 album released as an offshoot of The Simpsons. ... The Yellow Album is the 1998 Simpsons album released as a follow up to the 1990 album The Simpsons Sing the Blues. ... In popular music a cover version is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ... Songs in the Key of Spingfield is a 1997 soundtrack album from The Simpsons compiling many of the musical numbers from the series. ... Go Simpsonic with The Simpsons is the 1999 soundtrack album from The Simpsons. ... It has been suggested that CD rot be merged into this article or section. ...

// Comics Simpsons comic books Numerous different Simpsons-related comic book series have been published by Bongo Comics since 1993. ...

DVDs

Many episodes of the show have been released on DVD and VHS over the years. When the first season DVD was released in 2001, it quickly became the best-selling television DVD in history (although it would later be overtaken by the first season of Chappelle's Show) ^[19]. The seven DVD volumes rank as the best-selling television DVD series of all time. In particular, these DVDs have been released in North America (Region 1), Europe (Region 2) and Australia/New Zealand/Latin America (Region 4). Chappelles Show is a comedy series starring comedian Dave Chappelle. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... The following is an excerpt of the article entitled DVD. For the sake of convenience, the terms Region 0, Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4, Region 5, Region 6, Region 7 and Region 8 redirect to this page. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... The following is an excerpt of the article entitled DVD. For the sake of convenience, the terms Region 0, Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4, Region 5, Region 6, Region 7 and Region 8 redirect to this page. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... The following is an excerpt of the article entitled DVD. For the sake of convenience, the terms Region 0, Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4, Region 5, Region 6, Region 7 and Region 8 redirect to this page. ...

A number of The Simpsons episodes have been released on DVD since 2001 in different regions all over the world. ...

Video games

With the popularity of The Simpsons, especially amongst children, it was only natural for the video game industry to turn to the characters and world of Springfield. While critical and public reaction has been mixed, several of the Simpsons games did very well commercially and some (such as Konami's arcade game The Simpsons and Acclaim Entertainment's The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants) are considered minor video game classics in their own right. A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... Konami Corporation (ã‚³ãƒŠãƒŸ) TYO: 9766 (NYSE: KNM) (SGX: K20) is a leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling computer and video games. ... Centipede by Atari is a typical example of a 1980s era arcade game. ... The Simpsons is an arcade game produced by Konami in 1991. ... Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. ...

Numerous video games have been released, including The Simpsons Hit & Run, The Simpsons Road Rage, and Krusty's Super Fun House. However, other than the classic arcade game, most Simpsons video games were reviled by critics for their poor workmanship. However, the recent generation has been somewhat more well-received by the general public, starting with The Simpsons Road Rage (based on Crazy Taxi); while not widely considered an excellent game, Road Rage was generally conceded to be an improvement on previous games using the license. Perhaps the most well-regarded Simpsons game is The Simpsons Hit & Run, which incorporated the free-roaming environment made popular by the Grand Theft Auto series as well as the involvement of The Simpsons writing staff, creating an authentic, interactive Springfield that was praised by critics and the fanbase alike. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Simpsons Road Rage is a video game that was released in 2002 by Electronic Arts. ... Krustys Super Fun House Krustys Fun House (also released as Krustys Super Fun House) is a video game based on the cartoon series The Simpsons, and was much like Lemmings where the player must direct small creatures to a goal through complicated maze-like levels. ... Crazy Taxi was first released in arcades in 1998 and was ported to the Dreamcast in 1999. ... Post-GTA2 design of the Grand Theft Auto logo Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is a computer and video game series created and developed by Scottish developer Rockstar North (formerly DMA Design), published by Rockstar Games and debuted in 1998. ...

There are at least two Simpsons pinball games as well, one released after the first season, and the other still available. This article is about the arcade game. ...

Vivendi Universal Games, the publisher of recent Simpsons games, announced shortly after the release of The Simpsons Hit & Run that there was a sequel in the works. However, no news or any development has been announced since then. These plans by Vivendi to create a sequel were no doubt cancelled when Electronic Arts announced in November 2005, that they would purchase the exclusive licensing rights to publish future Simpsons video game titles, perhaps as a tie-in to the upcoming Simpsons feature film, as Electronic Arts has successfully overseen many film-to-video game projects. The new Simpsons games are supposed to be on next-generation game systems like Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and Wii. With the release of these games, Simpsons videogames will have spanned five generations of consoles. Image File history File links Simmonopoly. ... Vivendi Universal (VU) is a French company active in media and communications with activities in music, television and film, publishing, telecommunications and the Internet. ... EA redirects here. ... Ongoing events â€¢ Abramoff-Reed gambling scandal â€¢ Al Jazeera bombing memo â€¢ Avian influenza (H5N1) outbreak â€¢ Black sites scandal â€¢ Conservative leadership race (UK) â€¢ Fuel prices â€¢ Irans nuclear program â€¢ Jilin chemical plant explosions â€¢ Kashmir earthquake â€¢ Malawi food crisis â€¢ Malaysian prisoner abuse scandal â€¢ New Delhi bombings investigation â€¢ Niger food crisis â€¢ North Indian cyclone... The Xbox 360 (pronounced three-sixty), known during development as the Xenon, Xbox 2, or the Xbox Next, is the successor to Microsofts original Xbox video game console. ... The PlayStation 3 ) (abbreviated PS3) is Sonys seventh generation era video game console in the PlayStation series. ... The PlayStation Portable (officially PSP) is a handheld game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment. ... Wii (pronounced we, IPA: ) is Nintendos 7th generation video game console, Nintendos fifth home console and the successor to the Nintendo GameCube. ...

There was also an unofficial Simpsons mod of the popular PC title Doom. In this partial conversion, which supplied a modified game resource file, nearly every texture, sound file, and object in the game was replaced with an equivalent from the TV series, while the level architecture remained unchanged. For example, in the HUD, the portrait of Doomguy was replaced by a picture of Homer and the word "health" was replaced by the word "cholesterol"; in-game "medkits" became boxes of donuts and exploding barrels became drums of nuclear waste. The sound of Maggie sucking her pacifier substituted for gunfire, and in place of enemy growls were voice samples including Mr. Burns and Barney Gumble. 2004 Banshee car modification for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - replacement of original Banshee by Suction Testicle Man Mod or modification is a term generally applied to computer games, especially first-person shooters and real-time strategy games. ... Doom (or DOOM)[1] is a 1993 computer game by id Software that is among the landmark titles in the first-person shooter genre. ... Doom Construction Kit: Mastering and modifying Doom was one of many guide books for creating WADs. ... Screenshot of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. ... The Doom Marine battles a horde of demons, as seen on the cover of the Doom 1 game box The Doomguy, also known as The Marine, is the protagonist of the Doom series of computer and video games created by id Software. ... Cholesterol chemical structure Cholesterol is a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol) and a lipid found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and transported in the blood plasma of all animals. ... Radioactive waste is waste material containing radioactive chemical elements that does not have a practical purpose. ...

The Simpsons film

Talk about a possible feature-length Simpsons movie has been going on since the early days of the series. The episode "Kamp Krusty" was originally going to be a movie, but became a regular episode after difficulties were encountered in trying to expand the script to feature-length; other rumours about a live-action movie were hoaxes. It is now confirmed that a Simpsons movie is in the works.^[20] It is produced by 20th Century Fox, Gracie Films, and Film Roman, and is scheduled to be released July 27, 2007. A teaser trailer was released before the movie Ice Age: The Meltdown, as well as appearing during The Simpsons episode "Million Dollar Abie" on April 2, 2006. The Simpsons Movie is an animated film based on the television show The Simpsons. ... Kamp Krusty is the first episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... In film and video, live action refers to works that are acted out by flesh-and-blood actors, as opposed to animation. ... 20th Century Fox logo Fox Plaza, the company headquarters. ... Gracie Films logo Gracie Films is a film and television production company, created by James L. Brooks in 1986 for The Tracey Ullman Show. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) will be a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Million Dollar Abie is an episode from the seventeenth season of The Simpsons. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ...

Contents

Production

History

Executive producers

Voice actors

Writing

Animation

Broadcasting

Storyline

Characters

Setting

Themes

Plots

Hallmarks

Opening sequence

Halloween episodes

Recurring jokes

Guest stars

Cultural impact

Specific citings

Impact on television

Academia

Critical reactions

Awards

Criticism

Simpsons publications

DVDs

Video games

The Simpsons film

See also

References

Print

Footnotes

External links

Fan sites

Database entries

Articles

Contents

Production var ACE_AR = {Site: '756743', Size: '300250'};

History

Executive producers

Voice actors

Writing

Animation

Broadcasting

Storyline

Characters

Setting

Themes

Plots

Hallmarks

Opening sequence

Halloween episodes

Recurring jokes

Guest stars

Cultural impact

Specific citings

Impact on television

Academia

Critical reactions

Awards

Criticism

Simpsons publications

DVDs

Video games

The Simpsons film

See also

References

Print

Footnotes

External links

Fan sites

Database entries

Articles

Production