All posts containing the tag: "Simpsons"
Posted Apr 15th 2008 12:03PM by TMZ Staff
The long awaited "Simpsons Ride" will open at Universal Studios Hollywood next month - but don't expect Smithers to be its flamboyant host. In fact, a whole slew of characters won't be featured - namely Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns and his man Smithers - all voiced by Harry Shearer. Not so exxcccellent.
Early rumors had the ride's theme, allegedly called Project FISH (after Blinky, the 3-eyed toxic waste critter), focusing around Burns' power plant, but Shearer's decision not to participate changed all that. Instead, the ride will have a Krustyland theme where Homer and crew are strapped into a wacky teen-operated "thrilltacular". Hilarity ensues.
A rep for Mr. Burns, er Shearer, says the actor did not lend his voice due to scheduling and availability conflicts.
Filed under: Wacky & Weird, Denied!
Tags: harry shearer, HarryShearer, simpsons
Posted Mar 11th 2007 3:01AM by TMZ Staff
Fans of "The Simpsons" have wondered for years which real-life Springfield is the model for the Springfield in the long-running show -- and now, once and for all, they're going to find out. Sort of.
20th Century Fox has challenged each of the 16 Springfields around the country to compete for the honor of hosting the premiere of "The Simpsons Movie" in July. TMZ spoke to several Springfields, and some of them think they have a legitimate claim at the title. Springfield, Illinois, for instance, tells us that it's got big power plants right in the city, a school that looks a lot like where Bart and Lisa go to school, and even a donut plant.
Springfield, Ore. thinks it's in the running because creator Matt Groening hails from Portland, and Springfield, Mass. cites the fictional Mayor Joe Quimby's Mass-inflected accent as proof.
Other Springfields, on the other hand, might need a little help. In fact, at three of the Springfields we talked to (and who will remain stateless to protect their chances of winning), the press relations rep said they'd never even seen the show. D'oh!
Filed under: Wacky & Weird
Tags: Simpsons
Posted Jan 29th 2006 5:30PM by TMZ Staff
For every 'Seinfeld,' there are 100 like 'Emily's Reasons Why Not.' Why do most shows go so wrong, and a select few become iconic? TMZ has the secret to five great comedy TV shows, courtesy of two truly iconic funny people: 'Saturday Night Live' legend Cheri Oteri, and writer Alan Zweibel ('SNL,' 'The Garry Shandling Show,' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm').
Homer: The Committed Imbecile
When the animated series about a yellow family with funny hair premiered on FOX in 1989, no one expected it to live through the millennium. Seventeen seasons later, it's clear there's something quite genius about 'The Simpsons.'
The secret here is that the characters, although animated, are completely relatable. "It's fun to watch Homer speak directly from the empty place in his mind," Oteri says. "Everyone wants to say their stupid thoughts, but stops themselves." To Zweibel, the people of Springfield makes no apologies for the bigoted beings that they are, and because it's a cartoon, laughing at the screen doesn't seem so dirty.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: TV, The Biz
Tags: comedy, I Love Lucy, ILoveLucy, monty python, MontyPython, saturday night live, SaturdayNightLive, seinfeld, Simpsons, The Daily Show, TheDailyShow
