The Simpsons

Springfield is NOT in Oregon ... or Illinois ... or Delaware ... or Ohio, Nevada or Maine ... so says creator Matt Groening.

Matt was leaving Nobu in Malibu this weekend ... posing for photos and signing autographs ... when our photog asked the cartoon god to finally settle the Springfield debate once and for all.

For years, Simpsons writers have given clues about the true location of Bart's hometown ... but they've never given an official answer.

But last night, Groening FINALLY gave us the answer we were looking for. Maybe.

Here is Spain's Doña María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba, 85, in Madrid the other day (left) -- and Marge Simpson's sister Selma Bouvier-Terwilliger-Hutz-McClure-Stu-Simpson-D'Amico on "The Simpsons" (right).

One is quite the character.

Fans of "The Simpsons" rejoice -- the show will be back for two more seasons.

The show's future had been in doubt after Fox demanded the show's voice cast take a pay cut.

Harry Shearer never told his fellow cast members he was planning on making a new demand to FOX ... and it has both surprised them and thrown a monkey wrench in the negotiations ... sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ.

As we already reported, FOX is asking the entire cast to take a 45% pay cut. Shearer publicly stated this morning he would take a 70% pay cut in return for some profit participation -- something he says FOX is unwilling to do.

But here's the problem -- we've learned ... up until now all 6 cast members have been negotiating as a group with FOX, and the group NEVER asked for what Shearer is asking for now.

We're also told Shearer's profit sharing offer might actually be economically worse for FOX, given how much money "The Simpsons" currently generates. So, chances are slim the network would accept since it's said the standoff is all about saving money.

Harry Shearer -- who voices Smithers, Mr. Burns and several other major characters on "The Simpsons" -- says he is willing to take an even BIGGER pay cut than FOX wants him to ... but he has a demand of his own.

Shearer and the rest of the cast have been asked to take a 45% reduction in salary in order for the show to continue. Shearer says he's willing to cut his salary a whopping 70% -- but he wants a percentage of the show's profits ... something he says the cast has been denied for years.

Shearer says his reps approached FOX with the idea ... but we're told there are "simply no circumstances under which the network would consider allowing me or any of the actors to share in the show’s success."

Ironically, Mr. Burns would probably have the same answer.

Homer Simpson just sold his Pacific Palisades home to none other than Duff Beer peddler Moe Szyslak ... for $5.5 million.

Voice of Homer -- Dan Castellaneta -- knocked $200 thousand off the listing price of his 4,414 square Tudor -- before Hank Azaria -- who voices Moe -- snatched it up.

The house has 4 bedrooms, 3 and a half baths, a studio and a saltwater pool.

The only thing the house is missing -- a friendly neighborhood tavern and an endless supply of Duff.

Smith was outside the Red O restaurant in L.A. this weekend, when she explained, "[Michael] was not allowed to sing on the show, so he literally hand-picked a guy to sing like him."

During the famous episode, "Stark Raving Dad," Michael provided the voice to a mental patient who thought he was MJ ... but according to reports, Jackson's record label blocked MJ from singing the Lisa birthday song.

MJ ultimately selected a man named Kipp Lennon -- and Yeardley explains, "How unnerving would it be to sing like Michael Jackson in front of Michael Jackson?"