andPOP » The Simpsons

Create Your Own Simpsons Character

Sara Harowitz — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:30:47 +0000

Tired of seeing the same-old characters on The Simpsons? Well, now you’ve got the chance to add a fresh face to the town of Springfield.

In honour of its 20th season on the air, The Simpsons is celebrating by allowing fans the chance to create their own Simpsons character, according to myfoxboston.com.

The Simpsons Character Contest gives viewers, who must be at least 18 years old, the chance to create their very own yellow cartoon and have it featured on the show.

Entrants will be given the chance to create the character’s basic traits, including name/nickname, age, physical appearance, occupation, and catchphrase.

The winning entry, which will be selected by the show’s producers, will be animated into an episode of The Simpsons set for late January, 2010.

The grand-prize winner will also receive a tirp to Los Angeles to meet the show’s producers and an animator, and will be able to work with the team to bring their character to life on the small screen.

The deadline for submissions is 11:59 PM ET on Oct. 24, 2009. All entries are to be submitted to thesimpsons.com.

As it says on the website, the team behind The Simpsons want you to “unleash your yellow.”

“For 20 years, the artists and writers of The Simpsons have loving laboured to create a parade of hilariously memorable characters beloved by the whole world,” it says on the site. “Well, that’s all over now. The simple fact is, we’re tired. Tired and, frankly, too rich to care anymore. That’s where YOU come in! While we coast on our long ago achievements, you have the chance to shame us off our lazy butts by designing your very own Simpsons character!”

The blurb wraps up with one final plea: “Come on, people, show us how it’s supposed to be done. You’ll have the satisfaction of creating a character seen by millions. And we’ll have the satisfaction of not having to do our jobs.”

Full contest rules and guidelines can be found at thesimpsons.com.

Playboy Gets First Cartoon Covergirl

Vanessa Baker — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:09:37 +0000

Marge Simpson is about to become the first cartoon character to grace the cover of Playboy, reports CBC. Simpson will be featured in the November issue of the magazine, which hits newsstands next Friday.

The magazine reports a three-page spread will “imply nudity,” but the matriarch won’t bare all.

Scott Flanders, the new chief executive at Playboy, says he hopes the move attracts more readers in their 20s. Currently, the average reader’s age is 35.

Seth Rogen newest Simpsons celebrity

Emma Renda — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:53:19 +0000

As the saying goes, you know you’ve made it once you’re on The Simpsons. Well, after a few years climbing the ranks of stardom, Seth Rogen is finally there.

Much like the rest of his career, Rogen is taking charge. He co-wrote the script for his character in the 21st season of the acclaimed cartoon, becoming only the second celebrity to do so (next to Ricky Gervais.) The season premier, “Homer the Whopper”, aired on Sunday night, and featured Rogen as the gym trainer who helped Homer get in shape for his upcoming movie role as “Everyman”, written by the Comic Book Guy, Perez Hilton reports.

Other celebrities appearing on this season of The Simpsons inclue Chris Martin (Coldplay), Sarah Silverman, Anne Hathaway, Jonah Hill and Neve Campbell.

Rogen said The Simpsons has always been something of “a Holy Grail” and he can “die a happy man now” having made the credits of the show.

Rogen has been busy otherwise gearing up for his role as the Green Hornet, another screenplay he wrote alongside Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express). The film, directed by Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), was pushed back to a December 2010 release date.

‘Simpsons’ Stamps Are Coming

Eva Lam — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:59:56 +0000

Springfield’s first family is being honoured by the U.S. Postal Service.

The dysfunctional clan at the centre of “The Simpsons” – Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie – will be featured on five 44-cent first-class mail stamps to be launched later this year.

The special stamps, designed by show creator and executive producer Matt Groening, will coincide with the two-decade milestone of primetime’s long-running comedy.

“This has been a dream for Fox and The Simpsons creative teams for some time and we are very proud to have been granted this honor. The timing couldn’t be better as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show,” Elie Dekel, executive VP of Fox Licensing and Merchandising, said in a statement.

Fans can get a sneak peek at the stamps via the USPS website here on April 9, at which time the post office plans to announce the date the stamps will go on sale and how to pre-order them.

The USPS receives 50,000 stamp suggestions each year, but only about 20 are given the final seal of approval for circulation.

‘The Simpsons’ To Make History

Eva Lam — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:54:28 +0000

“The Simpsons” has been renewed for two more years, setting it up to become the longest-running prime-time series in U.S. TV history.

The animated show, which debuted in December 1989, will air through the 2010-11 season for a record 22-year run.

By the end of that season, it will have aired 492 episodes.

“Gunsmoke” held the previous record with a 20-year run on CBS before ending in 1975.

Now in its 20th season, “The Simpsons” has received a slew of accolades, including 24 Emmy Awards, 23 Annie Awards and a Peabody Award.

The show already holds Guinness World Record titles for longest-running prime-time animated television series and most guests stars featured in a television series.

Take a Spin with ‘The Simpsons’

Irene Ogrodnik — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:37:39 +0000

Universal Studios Hollywood deputed “The Simpsons Ride” Saturday with a yellow carpet premiere.

Show masterminds Matt Groening and James L Brooks came out for the celebration, as did Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa—who got into character. “Today, my name is Mayor Quimby,” he said, giving the ride thumbs up.

The ride is said to be packed with twists and turns, a “Pirates of the Caribbean” spoof, a radioactive Maggie and many more surprises.

Those who wish to take a spin with “The Simpsons” will have to wait after the weekend, when the ride officially opens to the public on Monday.

Voice of Bart Simpson is a Scientologist

andPOP Staff — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:42:57 +0000

Everyone knows that Lisa is Buddhist buds with Richard Gere, but who knew Bart was skateboarding off to the Church of Scientology?

The voice of the infamous 8-year-old cartoon character, Nancy Cartwright, donated $10 million to the church last year, reports PageSix.com.

In comparison, Tom Cruise donated $5 million over the year in an “instalment plan.”

The money goes toward spreading the church’s anti-psychology message. “It was all part of Scientology’s Global Salvage effort, which aims to ‘de-aberrate’ Earth ? meaning to rid mankind of psychology ills and other ‘aberrant’ behavior,” the site reported.

Kirstie Alley matched Cruise’s donation, while John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston pitched in $1 million each. They all reportedly received awards recognizing their contributions.

China Bans ‘Simpsons’ During Primetime

andPOP Staff — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:03:09 +0000

China’s ruling Communist Party has banned American cartoons like “The Simpsons” and “Mickey Mouse” during prime time television viewing hours.

The BBC reports that the move is meant to protect Chinese animators and culture from the growing popularity of Western entertainment. The country’s government is said to be worried about the impact of foreign culture on Chinese youth.

According to the state media, foreign cartoons will not be aired on television between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., starting September 1. Programs that mix animation and live characters will be included in the ban.

Media outlets in China were quick to lash out against the move.

“This is a worrying, shortsighted policy and will not solve the fundamental problems in China’s cartoon industry,” said the Southern Metropolis News. “The viewing masses, whether adults or children, will have no choice but to passively support Chinese products.”

Currently in China, and based on a government order issued just two years ago, homegrown cartoons must account for at least 60% of the total animated shows broadcast in prime time.

New ‘Simpsons’ Guests Include Sutherland, White Stripes

andPOP Staff — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:22:26 +0000

Kiefer Sutherland, the star of hit TV show 24, and rock group The White Stripes have been confirmed as the newest guests set to appear on The Simpsons upcoming season.

According to the BBC, the Detroit-based band will play themselves in an episode that sees Bart organizing a benefit concert. Sutherland, however, will voice an original character — a tough colonel in an episode that finds Homer accidentally joining the army.

Natalie Portman, Eric Idle and television’s most famous psychologist, Dr. Phil McGraw, are also set to appear throughout the 18th season of the animated show.

The new set of Simpsons episodes will begin airing on September 18, with the 400th episode to be shown the following May.

A feature-length Simpsons film is also being produced and is set for a 2007 release to celebrate the characters’ 20th anniversary.

Fox Offers Much of the Same Next Year

andPOP Staff — Thu, 18 May 2006 14:32:28 +0000

The Fox network introduced its fall schedule today, and the schedule is looking familiar.

?The Bernie Mac Show? fell victim to the cancellation axe, but most of FOX?s schedule remains as it is this season ? right down to the nights and times of its shows.

Returning shows include ?Bones,? ?Prison Break,” ?24,? ?American Idol,? ?House,? ?The Simpsons,? ?The O.C.,? “Family Guy,” “American Dad,? “King Of the Hill” and ?The Loop.?

New shows include ?Vanished,? airing Mondays at 9 p.m., ?Standoff,? ?Justice,? from ?CSI? executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer, ?Til Death? starring Brad Garrett, and ?Happy Hour.?

Mark Burnett?s new reality show ?On the Lot? will also air on Fox this fall. It brings 16 aspiring filmmakers to Hollywood. The winner gets to meet Steven Speilberg and gets an office at the Dreamworks lot. Sounds an awful lot like ?The Apprentice? except without the hair.