p>Fox is always looking for new ways to encourage people to kill themselves. With their plans for an all-Simpsons channel having failed to materialize, it looked like their attempts to integrate The Simpsons into their master plan were dead on arrival.
Luckily, the Guinness Book of World Records stepped up to the plate and came up with a brilliant scheme that protects Fox from any liability: locking a bunch of people in a room and forcing them to watch all 500 episodes of The Simpsons, including the 300 or so that comprise The Bad Seasons. Whoever is still alive at the end of this charade will obtain 10,500 US dollars in hush money.
Here is the press release:
In celebration of THE Simpsons’ historic 500th episode milestone, FOX invites fans of the iconic animated series to participate in THE Simpsons Ultimate Fan Marathon Challenge at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles. Beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 8, fans will come together to watch up to 500 continuous episodes of THE Simpsons in an attempt to break the current Guinness World Record of 86 hours, 6 minutes and 41 seconds for the longest continuous television viewing. The contest winner will take home a $10,500 prize and an array of THE Simpsonsmerchandise, including products exclusively designed to commemorate the 500th episode.
Remember when world records used to involve actually building or doing something, instead of just sitting in front of a TV? Yeah, me neither. Anyway, this sounds like the perfect way to kill yourself if you’re feeling depressed the week before Valentine’s Day – no muss, no fuss, a bunch of handy witnesses nearby. Fair warning: the last thing you see might be Grampa marrying Aunt Selma.