The Simpsons Movie lost out to a Michael Bay movie based on a cartoon from the 1980s designed to sell toys in a worthless category (“Best Summer Movie You Haven’t Seen Yet”) at Sunday night’s MTV Movie Awards. [No Homers Club]
Citizens of Springfield, Minnesota: Assholes
Springfield, Minnesota is not participating in the contest to be the Springfield chosen to host the premiere of The Simpsons Movie because those pompous elitists think they’re too good to make a silly video and showcase a cartoon movie.
Meanwhile, a comedian is in the running to become the state’s next junior senator. [TV Squad]
Could Phil Hartman Return From The Dead???
Could the late, great Phil Hartman be revived to reprise his characters in an upcoming Simpsons video game? It’s possible, say the intrepid reporters over at Joystiq.com:
EA even said that it could go back to old shows to pull dialogue; while the company didn’t confirm any specific plans to do so, this method could bring Phil Hartman’s old stable of characters into the game.
On a related note, Hartman’s introductory dialogue in Virtual Springfield is some of my favorite Troy McClure material: “Welcome to Springfield, I’m Troy McClure. You might remember me from such computer travel guides as [randomized joke] and [randomized joke]. You know, the great Calvin Coolidge once called this town ‘a pea-size town with lima bean size dreams.’ So warm up your clicking fingers, and let’s explore a town the poets call Springfield, U.S.A.! *coughs, then walks offscreen*” (Paraphrased from memory. Thanks for nothing, internet). [Joystiq]
Simpsons Movie One Week From Completion, Animators To Be Put Out Of Work
The Simpsons Movie staffers are pretty much in their final days on the Yellow Family picture. I got lots of questions from artists about other work around town (“When is ‘Princess and the Frog’ going to start hiring? Anymore hand-drawn projects out there?”)
Hello? 2-D animator looking for work? I went to CalArts… Is anyone out there? Hello…? [TAG Blog]
Fall Out Boy Forced To Be On Simpsons Movie Soundtrack?
Some music sites are reporting that rock band Fall Out Boy, whose name unintentionally comes from Radioactive Man’s young ward, will be on the upcoming Simpsons Movie soundtrack. But is it possible they were forced into it, in lieu of being sued by Fox for copyright infringement? What else is Fox forcing the band to do? Developing… [The Rock Radio]EXCLUSIVE: Top Secret Character Revealed!
Wondering who or what the “top-secret character” is? Well, wonder no more, ’cause we’ve got the scoop!
Has Anyone Else Noticed That The Simpsons And OJ Simpson Have The Same Last Name?
I realize I’m guilty of making a bunch of lame OJ Simpson jokes on this site. But come on:
O.J. Simpson in “The Simpsons”? An internet parody of The Simpsons featuring O.J. Simpson has infuriated bosses at 20th Century Fox.
The studio has asked online video site Broadcaster.com to take down three animated clips, titled The OJ Simpsons that re-imagine the series with the ex-American footballer.
…
The clips also parody the opening scene of The Simpsons, with Simpson being chased by several police cars – just like he was chased live TV in the US, after the pair were found dead in Los Angeles in June 1994.
Hey uh that joke’s about thirteen years too late guys [The Post Chronicle]
Matt Groening in Playboy!!!
The aloof creator of The Simpsons will be appearing in an upcoming issue of Playboy! Here is a funny quote:
As a parent, Groening says, “I’m the dad I wished I had. I try to let my kids have a good time.” His reward? “[My kids] tell me I’m not funny anymore. … My son said he wishes [‘Family Guy’ creator] Seth MacFarlane were his father.”
Groening Makes Good On Threat, Axes Minnie Driver
Al’s Pal
In a top ten list of the top ten environmental films (#9: FernGully), Ken Eisner rounds off his appraisal of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth with a solicitation to “look for some of these themes to emerge in The Simpsons Movie, from Al’s pal Matt Groening.” [straight.com]