Eat my shorts, Ivan!

Don't have a cowski, comrade!

It is kind of nice to know that pandering legislatures and reactionary/litigious parents aren't just an American thing.

No, wait a minute. It isn't.

D'oh!

'Simpsons' Looks Beyond 350th Episode

Apr 28, 9:46 PM (ET)

By LYNN EBLER

LOS ANGELES (AP) - When a show reaches an impressive 350 episodes, it's fair to reflect on its mortality. So how long can "The Simpsons," which hits the milestone Sunday, keep going?

"I don't see any end in sight," creator and executive producer Matt Groening told The Associated Press.

Those are reassuring words for the millions of fans who have remained loyal to the Simpson family through 16 seasons, and counting. Writers are already at work on episodes for 2005-06, the 17th season.

The key to its longevity is simple, Groening said: "We try to keep surprising the audience. That's what you're looking for in television - surprise."

As long as the show can meet that burden, "we'll keep going."

Executive producer Al Jean, who has been with the animated comedy since it was spun off Tracey Ullman's variety show in 1989, muses about other aspects of the equation.

With the ensemble cast signed through the next three seasons, "I would consider it highly likely we will do those seasons," Jean said. He added that he hopes they find the work rewarding enough to continue.

The series features the voices of Dan Castellaneta and Julie Kavner as parents Homer and Marge Simpson; Nancy Cartwright as son Bart, and Yeardley Smith as daughter Lisa.

Castellaneta and Kavner also voice a number of different characters, as do cast members including Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders among them) and Hank Azaria (police Chief Wiggum, Moe and others).

The future also depends on the continued profitability of the brand that has brought an estimated $1 billion-plus to Fox and parent company News Corp. (NWSA) through the TV show, DVDs and a vast array of other goods.

Although ratings are not stellar compared to top shows like Fox's own "American Idol,""The Simpsons" has held steady with just under 10 million weekly viewers for several years and remains Fox's Sunday bulwark.

It's a creative mainstay as well, say Groening and Jean.

"I'm particularly proud of our recent episodes. I think they're as sharp and surprising as anything we've done since the beginning of the show," Groening said.

(He concedes that some fans carp the new episodes are inferior to old ones; being measured against a fond memory is a standard problem for comedies, Groening argues.)

"Nothing lasts forever," said Jean. "But I do think this past year, in my view, is one of the best we've had in a long time."

For those who contend the show's satirical boldness has ebbed, Jean notes it has tackled the subject of gay marriage and points to a future episode that will make hay out of assisted suicide.

"The Simpsons" has been able to turn any number of subjects into comic fodder with scant interference from the network, virtually unheard of in television.

Groening attributes the freedom to the clout of executive producer James L. Brooks, a TV and movie heavyweight whose credits include "The Mary Tyler Moore Show,""Taxi" and "Terms of Endearment."

On Sunday's 350th episode (8 p.m. EDT), Ray Romano is heard as the voice of Homer's new best friend, a roofer. But there's a mystery behind the character that Jean compares to the film "A Beautiful Mind."

In a bonanza for viewers Fox is running two new "Simpsons" episodes back-to-back for the next three weeks. In Sunday's second episode (8:30 p.m. EDT), an ailing Bart has to attend a fitness camp, with Albert Brooks voicing one of the instructors.

Although "The Simpsons" has logged the most seasons of any TV sitcom, it has yet to match the episode count of two others: "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet," which holds the record at 435 episodes, and "My Three Sons" with 380.

A wry Groening said he's set his own dream goal.

"I want to get to 366 so we have one for every day of the year, including leap year."

Everybody knows about the Ayn Rand babycare episode with maggie, but what about that episode where Lisa gets chewing gum stuck in her hair, gets a new haircut and Nelson laughs at it and laughs at bunch of other things and then that tall man tells him off.
I have a strong suspicion that he is supposed to be Steve Ditko, he has the same hair, glasses and he is tall. And he lectures Nelson about not being able to afford a bigger car in a Ditko manner.
If I ever meet Matt Groening that would be my first question but what do you think.

This is the scene taken from http://www.snpp.com/episodes/3F18.html

Nelson does appreciate Lisa's new look -- he laughs at her ("HA-
ha!"). Lisa sighs and replaces her wool hat. Mrs. Glick walks by,
trips on the curb, and winds up head-first in a trash can. Nelson
laughs at this, too. An extremely tall man drives past in a VW
Beetle, scrunched up so his knees almost bang into his head. Nelson
laughs. This proves to be his undoing. The man pulls over, unfolds
himself from the car, and pursues Nelson. Realizing his predicament
("Crud.") Nelson runs off. The man rounds the corner, but sees only
Lisa, and an open manhole. Of course, the manhole is where Nelson
is hiding.

Wadlow: [lifts Nelson out of the sewer by his head]
Do you find something comical about my appearance when I'm
driving my automobile?
Nelson: Yeah.
Wadlow: Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall.
[turns Nelson to face the car]
This was the largest auto that I could afford. Am I therefore
to be made the subject of fun?
Nelson: I guess so.
-- Nelson, unclear on the concept,
"Twenty-Two Short Films About Springfield"

The tall guy forces Nelson to march down Main Street, pants down.
He drives slowly behind the ashamed bully.

Wadlow: Hey, everybody! Look at this -- it's that boy who laughs at
everyone. [Nelson] Let's laugh at him!
Crowd: HA-ha!
-- Stupid poetic justice, "Twenty-Two Short Films About Springfield"

Ketchup and mustard rain down on Nelson. From the bridge, Bart and
Milhouse laugh at him. Bart still remembers his comment from about
21 minutes and 10 seconds ago, and Milhouse agrees. "Everybody in
town's got their story to tell." Bart notes, "There's just not
enough time to hear them all."

I think that's quite a stretch!

**GROAN**

Sorry, I'll try not to waste your time again. *cowering ashamedly*

Ah, Robert, be aware that IMWAN's second (unwritten) rule, apparently is to make as bad and as many puns as possible, wherever they might present themselves. I thought the same thing about Bob's post, and was busily searching for the images of that deep-speaking character, until I realized he was punning "stretch" and the really tall dude....
As they say in Noo Yawk, "Fuggedaboudit!"











[rassing frassing Simko!]

Probably wasn't meant to be Ditko, but it is one of my favourite Simpsons bits.

I doubt it has anything to do with Ditko, but it's cool none the less.

EGGSellent

Very well done.

Very cool!

That was great!

It's funny how damn close they get in some parts, but others are so off they distract. When Bart's riding his board past Moe, Bleeding Gums Murphy, and TV sets with Krusty on them, it shows a definite attention to detail. But then you've got a Marge with short hair, a Lisa with red hair, and other superfluous details like their driveway that I wouldn't have been bothered with otherwise.

But just so I don't seem like a total grump, let me offer my Bart-like, "Cooooool!"

Very cool.

I believe that this is the intro to a british reality show called THE REAL SIMPSONS.

It would explain why the family is not a closer match look wise.

Also why the steering wheel was on the right of the car in Marge's car.