Simpsons Film in Preproduction

93,000 writes "According to Yahoo news, a Simpsons feature film is now in preproduction. In TFA, Nancy Cartwright is quoted as saying "We've just done the table read for The Simpsons movie, so although we've been promoting that we're going to do it, now we're actually doing it and are in production . . ." Also from TFA: "'They are working on hammering out a script, but there's no title or production date or release date,' studio spokeswoman Antonia Coffman told E! Online Wednesday. 'We always wanted the show to end first but it just keeps going. Now they've worked out a team to simultaneously do [both the film and show].'""

Comments

No script?

[Anonymous Coward]

D'oh!

Re:No script?

[OneEyedFool]

I bet it'll make lots of "Doh!" mmm, Dough... arglarglearlge

Re:No script?

[Trollstoi]

No script? Hmmm. That sounds more like a Seinfeld movie...

Re:No script?

[evolutionaryLawyer]

How do you have a table reading with no script? Seems like you would need to have something to read.

Re:No script?

[Anonymous Coward]

Ha Ha!

Re:No script?

[Anonymous Coward]

Smithers: Sir I'm afraid there's still no script for the movie.
Mr. Burns: Very well. Begin the thawing of Jim Nabors

Re:No script?

[spizkapa]

Maybe it's because with every idea they come up with, a little 8-year old kid shouts: "Simpsons did it!"

Re:No script?

[jlerner]

It's exceedingly hard for animated characters to ad-lib...

Re:No script?

[sharkey]

Actually, it will be ad-libbed live on-air, just as soon as they finish breeding up super-animators with wrists that can take it.

Re:No script?

[STrinity]

No script now, just like there wasn't a script seven years ago when the rumor first started going aorund. Every couple years, some Simpsons staffer will mention that they'll be doing a feature film Real Soon Now, and nothing ever comes of it.

Re:No script?

[aichpvee]

Yes, because the voice cast can't possibly adlib while recording their lines before any animation is ever done.

Re:No script?

[Jozer99]

There was a quote like that in the Simpsons once. When Lisa and Bart tour the Ichy & Scratchy studio, they ask the manager if Ichy and scrachy is done live, and he replies "No, it puts too much strain on the animators' wrists."

...I

[ch0p]

I for one, bow down to our new fat beer-guzzling yellow overlords.

Jumping the Shark

[leather_helmet]

in movie format... simpsons stopped being funny a few years ago... Aqua Team Hunger Force tickles me fancy

Re:Jumping the Shark

[over_exposed]

I wouldn't go that far. Simpsons has evolved, but I wouldn't say it's stopped being funny. There's a reason it's still around. It's because people watch it and are entertained by it. Matt Groening has had the foresight to keep the Simpsons a "living" thing by changing it slightly with the times. I think a movie has big potential as long as they don't let someone else take the reigns.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Anonymous Coward]

Matt Groening has had the foresight to keep the Simpsons a "living" thing by changing it slightly with the times.

I don't think that's foresight on Matt Groening's part so much as the fact that they keep losing and hiring writers with different writing styles. I miss the days when Conan O'Brien wrote for the Simpsons...

Re:Jumping the Shark

[aztektum]

*bored at work* It's Aqua _Teen_ Hunger Force

Re:Jumping the Shark

[dustinbarbour]

I think you and the whole "Jump the Shark" phrase has Jumped the Shark! Quit using that stupid phrase. How the hell does that phrase tell me that something is no longer considered cool?

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Reddragon220]

What we really need is a Family Guy movie.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Hogwash McFly]

The trouble is that with a show that has gone on as long as The Simpsons has, even good writers will struggle to advance the characters or create interesting episode plots because so much has already been done. Even down to the basic level of jokes, a lot of good puns and sketches have already been 'invoked', so what can you do now? Pretty much the only choice is to reference contempary affairs such as politics and pop culture, and this type of humour doesn't age well and isn't usually that funny in the first place. The desperation is obvious in some of the newer episodes (The 'bread maker maker' gag being a particular example where you can almost hear the writer screaming 'help me I'm suffocating.').

Re:Jumping the Shark

[coolestdickofall]

http://www.jumptheshark.com/

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Anonymous Coward]

Just like any other word or phrase in any language...

If you don't know what it means then you don't know what it means.

clue++?

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Hogwash McFly]

Try learning the meaning and origin of something before chirping in.

QUIT USING THAT PHRASE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS!

'Jumping the shark' references a Happy Days sketch in which the Fonz jumps over a shark on water skis. For many, this episode epitomised the moment that the show stopped being funny (or in a broader sense, as good as it once was) and thus the phrase has been adopted to reference similar points in other shows and even non-television situations. For example:

Slashdot jumped the shark when it hit 700 thousand members.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[PakProtector]

/. jumped the shark when we had our first dupe.

I feel sorry for the ten people who were here to witness the end of an era.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Gruneun]

How the hell does that phrase tell me that something is no longer considered cool?

Wait, Marge. Maybe if you're truly cool, you don't need to be told you're cool.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[TCaptain]

Start a petition...worked with the series.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[lpangelrob2]

Dang. And here I thought the phrase "jump the shark" had something to do with the "frickin' laser beams on their heads!!@!@".

My bad. I regret the error.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[jskiff]

Slashdot jumped the shark when it hit 700 thousand members.

Damn...just missed it. And here I was going to add you to my friend's list due to your Lost sig...

Re:Jumping the Shark

[gosand]

I wouldn't go that far. Simpsons has evolved, but I wouldn't say it's stopped being funny. There's a reason it's still around. It's because people watch it and are entertained by it. Matt Groening has had the foresight to keep the Simpsons a "living" thing by changing it slightly with the times. I think a movie has big potential as long as they don't let someone else take the reigns.

I have found over the years that episodes are better the 2nd time I see them. I'll see a new episode, adn think "Hmm, it was just OK." Then I'll see it a year or so later in re-runs, and I like it more. Some of the episodes that I just thought were OK from several seasons ago are hilarious to me now. I don't really know what to attribute this to, but it has been pretty consistent to me. Once in particular was the Tomacco episode. I just thought it was OK when it first ran. Of course, my favorite episode has always been Selma's Choice, where Homer eats the rotten sandwich, and the kids go to Duff Gardens. Absolutely hilarious. Behind the Laughter is really good too, as well as their 138th Episode Spectacular. Too many good ones to list.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Anonymous Coward]

Slashdot jumped the shark when it hit 700 thousand members.

How conveinent Mr. UID (678207). It was more like when it hit 100,000 members. Of course, you're too young and immature to really understand what constitutes quality even by the lowest standards. Why don't you just continue being a high school loser, as if you had the choice.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Hogwash McFly]

Thanks for telling me what my UID was, I was completely unaware of the proximity to the 700 thousand in my example and thus the humour therein. And how convenient that the poster who was complaining about the phrase and to which I replied had a UID of 721795. I guess what with being British, I expect people to acknowledge subtle, self-deprecating humour without needing to add JOKE tags.

Oh and thanks for the keen observation about my current social and working situation as well as the genius of linking UID to age and maturity. If you represent the archetypal Slashdot 'golden-oldie' then perhaps I feel glad that I didn't register until I did. I'm sure such a venomous comment is really indicative about how much of a 'winner' you are.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Hogwash McFly]

Heh, the fact that I'm close to the point of shark-jumping and the complaining parent was just past it was no coincedence. My example was more of a joke than a serious personal opinion. I've nothing against the newbies and I am well aware that I'm no veteran either, and as such apologise to those 700k+ Slashdotters who got hit on the nose by my extremely low-flying dig. :)

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Schemat1c]

What we really need is a Family Guy movie.

What we need is movies with fresh plots, new ideas and in no way connected to anything on TV.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Travelsonic]

Better yet, why do you, like any others rely on others, and hell, even words to consider what is cool and not, instead of using your own judgement? I think that we have become too following as a society, which is truely sad. The cliques are dead, we can make our own decisions now! Hell, even if they weren't, I would tell somebody who harassed me for liking something they don't to fuck off.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[evilviper]

Simpsons has evolved, but I wouldn't say it's stopped being funny.

That's okay, you don't have to say it. I'm sure EVERYONE ELSE will be happy to say it for you...

Re:Jumping the Shark

[fermion]

And not only that, it is a quite common image, used quite often in pop TV. For example, South Park used it in 'Probably'. I think many other shows have had very direct homages.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[MutantHamster]

About jumptheshark.com: I want to punch whoever keeps spelling Leela's name "Layla" in the face. If you don't know anything about a show you have no right to say when it jumped the shark, even if you're letting other people vote.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Anarkhia]

Slashdot has never jumped the shark. Considering how long it's been around, and how popular it has become, it's shockingly similar to how it started. There has always been questionable editors, (anyone remember Katz?) and plenty of unfunny trolls. All-in-all, it's pretty much the same as it has always been.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[Anonymous Coward]

>What we need is movies with fresh plots, new ideas and in no way connected to anything on TV.

Yeah, like, I dunno, yet another Marvel super-hero movie like Spider-Man, or another old classic movie remake like War of the Worlds.

There's nothing really new out there, and haven't been for like 2 decades or so.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[drsquare]

but I wouldn't say it's stopped being funny.

I would. The sort of humour in the Simpsons gets old pretty fast. It's largely based on clichés and stereotypes, which is OK if used briefly but eventually you get sick of it. It becomes predictable, you can see the jokes a mile away so they're not funny. You know when Lionel Hutz comes on it's going to be a joke about him being an corrupt lawyer, when Chief Wiggum comes on it's going to be a joke about the police being incompetent, with Fat Tony it's endless mafia jokes.

If you want something funny watch Family Guy, the jokes are more original and they're unexpected, so they're actually funny. Not funny in a Simpsons-esque 'raises a brief smirk' sort of funny, but laugh out loud funny. For example in real life if someone sits on a chair and it collapses, it's hilarious. If you know beforehand that the chair is going to collapse, it's nowhere near as funny. That's the problem with basing your jokes on satire and stereotypes, it's predictable. Also Family Guy doesn't have the endless sentimentality and morality-plays that Groening is obsessed with.

There's a reason it's still around.

Probably the same reason Friends was around so long, and a lot of other programs which continued long after their expiry date. People watch it out of habit and because they like the characters, rather because it's well-written. It's more like a soap in a way. As Troy McLure said, it'll continue as long as it remains profitable. There's too much money in the Simpsons to cancel it, even if they have long since run out of ideas.

Re:Jumping the Shark

[bill_mcgonigle]

There's nothing really new out there, and haven't been for like 2 decades or so.

You could argue that every story is just a reworking of ancient archetypes, but there's plenty of talent in and around Hollywood: Wachowski Brothers, Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarrentino, M. Night Shyamalan, Clint Eastwood, John Lasseter, Miyazaki, James Cameron, et. al, all doing interesting things.

Of course, if you're standing in line to see Scooby Doo and Catwoman there's some pre-filtering skills that need to be learned.

About bloody time!

[uberdave]

I've been wondering why they haven't done this long ago.

Re:About bloody time!

[quinto2000]

From the fine summary:

studio spokeswoman Antonia Coffman told E! Online Wednesday: 'We always wanted the show to end first but it just keeps going. Now they've worked out a team to simultaneously do [both the film and show].'""

Looks to me like (drumroll please) they were waiting to do a film until the show ended. I guess they changed their minds though.

Re:About bloody time!

[climbon321]

Who cares? The important thing is that according to the creators, an Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie is in the works.

Re:About bloody time!

[Anonymous Coward]

Because a Simpsons movie will be like paying $11 to watch four episodes of the Simpsons back to back, with the 30 mins of commercials at the beginning, rather than spaced throughout the show so you can use the bathroom or get snacks.

Re:About bloody time!

[jnhtx]

You say that likes its a bad thing.

Let me be the first to say

[tourettes]

I, for one, welcome our new cinematic overlords!

Re:Let me be the first to say

[Zediker]

isnt that a futurama quote? But I will let that slide because futuama kicks the simpsons buttox. =)

Re:Let me be the first to say

[jayhawk88]

Nope, this comes from "Deep Space Homer" (I think that's the name), the one where Homer gets launched into space with Buzz Aldrin and Race Bannon. At one point in the episode Homer accidently breaks a container containing an ant colony (Now they'll never know if ants can be trained to sort tiny screws in space!), just as the news is breaking in with live coverage. The world gets a shot of what looks to be a giant ant (floating right next to the shuttle camera).

Anchor Kent Brockman draws the only assumption that can be drawn: (stolen from snpp.com)

Kent: Ladies and gentlemen, er, we've just lost the picture, but, uh, what we've seen speaks for itself. The Corvair spacecraft has been taken over -- "conquered", if you will -- by a master race of giant space ants. It's difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the captive earth men or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain, there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords. I'd like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves.

Re:Let me be the first to say

[SquadBoy]

Then you would think that you would know which show which quotes are from. Which you clearly do not.

It's Kent Brockman from Deep Space Homer, poser.

Kent: Ladies and gentlemen, er, we've just lost the picture, but, uh, what we've seen speaks for itself. The Corvair spacecraft has been taken over -- "conquered", if you will -- by a master race of giant space ants. It's difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the captive earth men or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain, there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords. I'd like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves.

Re:Let me be the first to say

[StarWynd]

Slashdot needs a new moderation category, Cliche. Someone mod parent +1 Cliche.

Re:Let me be the first to say

[bitrodya]

But shouldn't cliche be looked at as a bad thing? Ah, what do I know. Cliches are fun, but, y'know, hackneyed. It would be nice as a mod category, though.

Re:Let me be the first to say

[That's Unpossible!]

Ummm

-1 Cliche

is more like it.

All your base belong to FUCK OFF.

Re:Let me be the first to say

[lastchance_000]

Hackneyed is a better word. Almost as much fun as saying smock.

Smock Smock Smock Smock Smock!

Re:Let me be the first to say

[StarWynd]

I was wondering the same thing about whether cliche should be +1 or -1. There are some that are appropriate and funny, but not funny enough to earn Funny +1. Then there are some that are bad, but not bad enough to earn any of the negative moderations. However, most of the time it seems that the cliches fall into the latter category. I just want to have a category that indicates "Your attempt at humor by using the current Slashdot cliche of the month has been noticed, but we do not find it particularly funny, insightful or interesting." So, I guess in that case, it should be a -1, but I wouldn't want to put Cliche down at the level of Flamebait and Troll. Wow, I really must have nothing to do today if I can spend my time thinking of stuff this this.

Re:Let me be the first to say

[bdoliver]

or bites it's shiny metal ass

Re:Let me be the first to say

[BakaHoushi]

This was the last place I expected to see a Calvin and Hobbes Reference. Well played, man. Well played.

Woohoo!

[Anonymous Coward]

Woohoo!
-Homer

More info at Wikipedia

[Psionicist]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simpsons#Movie

Re:More info at Wikipedia

[Psionicist]

Thats nice and all but the wikipedia article actually _have_ info not in TFA, such as the release date (2008).

Re:More info at Wikipedia

[Fletch]

Even more info on The Simpons Archive Movie News page, including this ray of hope:

Director James L. Brooks said the nine original members of the animated show's creative team, including himself and creator Matt Groening, will reunite for the film version.

"The idea of the movie is that all of us who ran the show at one point and who have been there from the beginning come together as the writing team for this movie,"

Hey!!!

[notnAP]

I Got First Pos....

D'OH!!!!

Re:Hey!!!

[MagicDude]

Old and Busted - Homer's "D'OH"

New Hotness - Darth Vader's "NOOOOOOOO!!!"

Re:Hey!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Old and Busted: quoting Men in Black.

New Hotness: not quoting Men in Black.

Simpsons Movie???

[dbleoslow]

That's unpossible!!!

Re:Simpsons Movie???

[Rude Turnip]

It sounds perfectly cromulent to me.

Re:Simpsons Movie???

[SiO2]

"Oh, I concur."

Cut to Carl holding a word of the day card, which reads "conquer".

SiO2

Re:Simpsons Movie???

[craash420]

You're just using the word "cromulent " to embiggen your image.

Re:Simpsons Movie???

[That's Unpossible!]

You rang

Re:Simpsons Movie???

[acq3]

A good vocabulary embiggens the smallest man.

simpsonsmovie.com

[Arctic Dragon]

Fox owns simpsonsmovie.com

Registrant: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (DOM-365367) 10201 W. Pico Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90035 US Domain Name: simpsonsmovie.com Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com Registrar Homepage: http://www.markmonitor.com/

(http://www.whois.sc/simpsonsmovie.com)

Re:simpsonsmovie.com

[demaria]

Yes but they also own familyguymovie.com

Simpsins movie?

[iminplaya]

Cool. Even I will put off the boycott until after I see this one...at home...on DVD.

Re:Simpsins movie?

[Anonymous Coward]

Worst film ever.

Any chance..

[Attrition_cp]

Any chance the movie will have a script that doesn't suck as bad as the latest seasons? I don't hold out too much hope..

Re:Any chance..

[JPortal]

Yeah, the Simpsons is awesome but the last few seasons get a big "meh" from me.

Er, who cares

[FatRatBastard]

This would have been good news any time during the first 5-6 seasons. If the last 7 or so years are anything to go by its just gonna blow. /oblig. "the Simpsons haven't been funny in years" rant

Re:Er, who cares

[geekoid]

you are no way oblidge to complain about a show you no longer like anymore.
In fact, common courtesy dictates that you shut the hell up.

I know, it's a shoker, but your opinion on slashdot changes NOTHING.

Re:Er, who cares

[FatRatBastard]

In fact, common courtesy dictates that you shut the hell up.

New to Slashdot are we? (what, are you borrowing your big brother's ID number)

I know, it's a shoker, but your opinion on slashdot changes NOTHING.

When has ANYONE'S opinion on slashdot changed a thing. Shit, apparently if you had your way the comment count on any given /. story wouldn't pass ten.

Lighten up Francis.

Table read without script?

[Tjoppen]

Are you familiar with the old robot saying "DOES NOT COMPUTE"?

Oops, wrong show...

Re:Table read without script?

[game kid]

Doing table reads without a scripts? That's like creating a Web site without scripts! --oh wait...

Jump Shark

[BoomerSooner]

As long as they have a scene dedicated to jumping a shark I'll go see it. I just started watching the Simpsons again because it is on before Family Guy and it's amazing at how well written it is after all these years. I always expected they'd add a "Poochie" for real. The naming of the Comic Book Guy episode was funny, too bad I forgot his name.

Re:Jump Shark

[uberdave]

Hasn't Homer already jumped a shark? Or was that a flashby scene in their "We've got episodes for years" montage.

Re:Jump Shark

[Anonymous Coward]

There was a shark jumping scene in a clip show, and also a couch gag.

Re:Jump Shark

[OakDragon]

The naming of the Comic Book Guy episode was funny, too bad I forgot his name.

It's Jeff Albertson. Thirty seconds after it was uttered on TV, this site appeared : http://www.jeffalbertson.com/.

Please just kill it...

[EnronHaliburton2004]

Simpsons isn't funny any more. Same old gags, same lines, every episode has a celebrity appearance. BOOOORING!

So, instead of ending on a high note, the Simpsons keeps sinking lower and lower and lower and lower.

Oh, I know. For added humor, let's have a scene where Homer chokes Bart, because it's new and clever. That would be funny. Ha ha.

Please, just end it while you still can.

Re:Please just kill it...

[garett_spencley]

I agree that the Simpsons aren't funny anymore .. but not because it's the same old gags over and over .. but because the NEW jokes aren't funny.

In fact the show has gotten CORNY.

I own the first 5 seasons on DVD ... and even though I still very much enjoy the 5th season episodes.. it already shows signs of why the Simpsons are completely unwatchable now ..

In the 4th or 5th season episode "Marge On A Lamb", their next door neighbour, Ruth, comes over and asks Marge if she can borrow a power sander. Marge asks Homer if he owns one to wich he responds "No" and then there's a cut scene of homer's feet resting on a power sander currently sanding up the carpet.

It's lame jokes like similar to that that the new episodes seem to be all about. Just dumb slapstick comedy.. rather than smart political and social satire that the earlier episodes were all about.

Re:Please just kill it...

[Anonymous Coward]

Stewie, is that you???

Re:Please just kill it...

[itcomesinwaves]

I agree that Simpsons have gone downhill since the glory days. But there have been a few recent episodes that contained some of the "smart political and social satire that the earlier episodes were all about." My favorite example from this season was the episode on the "Left behind" series. I'm not saying that they are as good as they used to be. But they are on an upswing.

Re:Please just kill it...

[poormanjoe]

The cut scene shows a tag that says "Property of Ned Flanders" the joke is Maud needs a sander...they should have one but Homer never returns what he borrows. Love they neighbor....is that still a commandment? Is religion political satire?

Please refrain from using the term slap-stick when you have no clue as to what it is.

Re:Please just kill it...

[paRcat]

I have to laugh at those that insist on nothing good happening after the 5th or 6th season. My favorite season is #8, and I'd love to hear anyone try to knock the calibur of the humor throughout. I mean, seriously...

Season Eight:
(personal fav's marked with *)
You Only Move Twice*
El Viaje Misterioso Nuestro Jomer
The Springfield Files*
Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala-D'oh*
Lisa' s Date With Density*
Treehouse Of Horror VII*
The Homer They Fall*
A Milhouse Divided*
Burns, Baby Burns
Bart After Dark
Hurricane Neddy*
Twisted World Of Marge Simpson*
Grade School Confidential*
Mountain Of Madness*
Homer's Phobia*
Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show*
My Sister, My Sitter*
Brother From Another Series***
Homer Vs. The 18th Amendment*
The Canine Mutiny*
The Old Man And The Lisa*
In Marge We Trust
Homer's Enemy*
The Simpsons Spin-off Showcase*
The Secret War Of Lisa Simpson

And that's right in the middle, after the time that so many say the series was headed downhill.

I'll admit it, I've found myself thinking that the humor is getting more and more stupid/slapstick, but then something occurred to me: New episodes don't seem as funny, but in a few years they get quoted along with everything else. So even though I might complain about not laughing through a whole episode, in 4-5 years I'm quoting pieces of it and proclaiming that it's genius.

To me, it just shows that the writers do know what they're doing. The things that tend to be best (books,music,movies,simpson's episodes) may not strike you as amazing the first time around, but after a few exposures to them you suddenly realize how cool they really are.

Re:Please just kill it...

[dinivin]

Wow, you're not the brightest. It's not Maude that needs a sander, it's the new neighbour, Ruth. Your parent even clearly says that.

Re:Please just kill it...

[dinivin]

While seasons 9 through 13 leave much to be desired, the last few seasons have had any number of outstanding episodes.

SPOILERS: Here's the plot outline

[theurge14]

The movie begins with the same theme song sequence as the show, the family ends up in the living room staring at the TV, but the TV is missing. A road trip begins as the Simpsons search for their missing TV. Their search takes them across deserts, to the Hoover Dam, in the trunks of cars, and ends up in Washington DC, all while being chased by cops and robbers. By the end of the trip, they finally find their TV and they go home. /err wait

Re:SPOILERS: Here's the plot outline

[nkh]

A road trip begins as the Simpsons search for their missing TV.

You almost got me with this one until I read everything. You described "Beavis & Butthead do America" ;)

Re:SPOILERS: Here's the plot outline

[Anonymous Coward]

You almost got me with this one until I read everything. You described "Beavis & Butthead do America" ;)

Wow - good thing you caught that little slip-up! To celebrate, why don't you go hug and kiss some posionous snakes?

Re:SPOILERS: Here's the plot outline

[Anonymous Coward]

Bart gets in trouble in school for misbehaving and it's the last straw. The Principal Skinner brings in the doctor who invented Focussyn proposes giving Bart a neural implant to curb his reambunctiousness by shocking him. The kids sneak into the new Itchy and Scratchy movie and pick up some really obnoxious behavior from it. Their parents blame the producers of "The Itchy and Scratchy Movie", who are Cananadian, and Springfield ends up going to war with Cananadia. And there's some damn sub-plot with Satan and George Bush being secret homosexual lovers.

Slashdot requires you to wait 2 minutes between each successful posting of a comment to allow everyone a fair chance at posting a comment.

It's been 16 minutes since you last successfully posted a comment

Taco, you're a fuckin' idjit.

Re:SPOILERS: Here's the plot outline

[theurge14]

And while the Springfield army is fighting the Canandains, Lisa stays out in the garden all night waiting for the Great Parsnip to arrive and bring order to the universe. Instead it turns out to be Santa's Little Helper rooting through an empty trash bag. /and then some doofus in a tie takes a picture of it, weeping about how beautiful it is

Re:SPOILERS: Here's the plot outline

[Anonymous Coward]

No no no. Homer cuts off Bart's hand, who then goes on to discover Lisa is his sister.

Fortunately they're able to rescue Milhouse and Santa's little helper from Fat Tony, and blow up the Springfield Nuclear Plant, persuading Homer to give up his allegance to Mr Burns.

(Hey, that actually works quite well)

Re:SPOILERS: Here's the plot outline

[Lars T.]

"Huh, huh, he said 'damn'" - "Shut up, Beavis. Heh, heh."

Re:SPOILERS: Here's the plot outline

[Sage Gaspar]

I'd like to think the Simpsons decide to take a trip to the Grand Canyon, where Bart and Lisa meet some friendly Native Americans who are taking part in their annual Festival of the Spaghetti Western Stereotype.

Or maybe Hawaii... yes, Hawaii...

obMisquote

[yotto]

South Park did it!

Re:obMisquote

[antiMStroll]

Now we're talking, a South Park / Simpsons movie along the same lines as Aliens vs. Predators.

I'm sure they'll have trouble practicing

[Man in Spandex]

for the movie.

Guy: Up and atom!
McBain: Up and at them!

God help us all

[billybob]

Maybe if they got their good writers back, ya know, the ones that left after season 8 or so, it could actually be a good movie. But, if it's anything like the last 7 seasons, it's going to be pure diarhea.

Official jumped the shark season

[Anonymous Coward]

Most everyone gripes now about how The Simpsons has fallen off in quality. If you are one of these people, what season do you think the show jumped the shark? I think it was around season five, when the show stopped being original and instead resorted to monotonous instances of celebrity stunt-casting, endless in-jokes and cross-references.

Re:Official jumped the shark season

[Stardate]

I believe it was the end of season 9 (or 8) -- the last episode I found very very funny was the "simpsons spin-off spectacular", which was the same episode that Troy McClure said the show would end "when it stops being profitable". I thought he was joking at the time...

So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[CheechBG]

Is Maggie finally going to speak? Smithers finally coming out of the closet? We get to find out where Springfield actually is?

Come on guys, there has to be some big unveiling for the movie!

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Fr05t]

Is Maggie finally going to speak?

I believe Maggie has in one of the halloween episodes, but I'm not 100% sure.

Smithers finally coming out of the closet?

Seriously? I think he's been out of the closet for a while now.

We get to find out where Springfield actually is?

There was an episode that showed the exact location of Springfield in the intro.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[FidelCatsro]

Maggie speaks ,in the eppisode Lisa's first words.
Smithers is a burnsosexual and i don't really think he is in the closet to anyone except Mr Burns who has a fairly good idea anyway

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Rude Turnip]

It's in northern Kentucky.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[decipher_saint]

Come on guys, there has to be some big unveiling for the movie!

Uhh... Marge naked and petrified??

A cluster of Itchys?

The family visits Soviet Russia?

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[poormanjoe]

We already know where the Simpsons live, KY. It's the only Springfield with a Shelbyville as the neighboring county. Everyone thinks it's supposed to be Anywhere, USA, but writers don't just pull insperiation out of thin air. And if you think about sterotypes.."the further north you go the fatter people are" vs. "the further south you go the stupider people are" KY is about smack dab in the center, and homer is a little of both.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Drachemorder]

"the further north you go the fatter people are"

Clearly you've never been to Mississippi.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[the_weasel]

In Soviet Russia, family visits you.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Democratus]

According to Homer's drivers license, Springfield is in a fictional state called "North Takoma".

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Anonymous Coward]

Kentucky. Yes, because it's so easy to take Mr. Burns' yacht on a quick trip out to international waters from Kentucky.

http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/GuidePageServ let/showid-146/epid-1523/

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[AdamWeeden]

Can't.....resist.....

In Soviet Russia, Simpsons watch you!

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Anonymous Coward]

I assure you Shelbyville was mention first. Before any other misclues where ever put in place

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Anonymous Coward]

How about they cancel the TV show? If they agreed to do that, I'd see the movie.

Or maybe if they agreed to cancel it and retract the last 4 or five years of episodes.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[hwyengr]

Springfield is one of the more common town names in the country. The writers probably thought it was funny to have elements of every Springfield in the Simpson's Springfield. Such as Quimby's heavy New England accent. BTW, let me welcome you to Shelbyville, IL. A stone's throw away from Springfield.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[dinivin]

Uhh, no, it's not.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[zamboni1138]

Why is everyone saying Kentucky?

It is Portland, Oregon. Matt has made that very clear over the years.

His address was 742 SW Evergreen Terrace when he was growing up in Portland.

Check the Wikipedia entry.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Have Blue]

We can at least be sure all of those things will *almost* happen at least once in the movie, just to yank everyone's chains.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[FidelCatsro]

Its in a generic state , Unless you can show me a state where the capital city is named Capital City with a baseball mascot called the goof-ball .
It was never intended to actually exist in any state of the USA but exist in all .

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[geekoid]

and spring fiels is in Oregon.
lets see,
in Portland there is a quimby Street and a flanders street.
Matt is from Oregon
Oregon has lots of bridges goint into the big city(AKA portland), the simpson always have to cross over bridges to get to the city.

Three are a lot of other similiarities that I am forgetting, but they will occur to me as I walk accross Portland. Which will do this post no good what so ever.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[dinivin]

Why the hell was this modded troll?

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Dephex Twin]

Why in the world is this modded troll?

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[FidelCatsro]

;) but is the capital city of Oregon called Capital city . Maybe it was based around Oregon with a touch of some of the places surrounding new York and some Texas thrown in for good measure but i don't think it was actually meant to in any real place

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[pinchhazard]

Ha ha nice try but remember the one where Homer goes to the lighthouse looking for his soulmate? Or the one where Burns builds a casino on the waterfront? No, Kentucky is not on the sea my good man.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[westlake]

Is Maggie finally going to speak?

The more interesting question is whether 2D animation can show any strength at the box office even when the draw is The Simpsons.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[palndrumm]

Why is everyone saying Kentucky?

It's from the Behind The Laughter episode, where they mention that the Simpsons are a "northern Kentucky family".

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Hatechall]

Look harder. Springfield is in a different state almost every time the gag comes up. (One example, Ep S4E21, Springlield is Six hundred fourty something miles away from Mexico City. Do a circle on a map and only one Springfield lines up. Do another circle for 2653 miles from Orlando - Check S15E17)

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[Hatechall]

The 138th episode spectacular also says that the cash register says "NRA4EVER", when it doesn't.

Re:So what's going to be the big draw to this?

[palndrumm]

Yeah, the 138th Episode Spectacular and Beyond The Laughter occupy about the same place in official Simpsons continuity. But still, that's the reason why everyone's saying Kentucky...

at last, I'll live out a lifelong dream!

[way2trivial]

I've finally found a movie to camp out for a week in advance in order to watch it!

A Good Way to Go Out

[ultimabaka]

I don't know if I'm the only person out there who believes the Simpsons, as a series, has been getting much funnier over the last few seasons (especially when compared to how unfunny it was for a while in the late 90's), but I wouldn't be too surprised if Groening and the gang decided to call it quits after the movie is released.

Granted, that sounds hopefully idealistic of me, considering what kinda cash cow the Simpsons has become, but the act of leaving on a high note doesn't occur much often anymore, and I would like to see it happen here for once.

Re:A Good Way to Go Out

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't know if I'm the only person out there who believes the Simpsons, as a series, has been getting much funnier over the last few seasons

Yes. Yes, you are.

Re:A Good Way to Go Out

[p3d0]

Granted, that sounds hopefully idealistic of me, considering what kinda cash cow the Simpsons has become...

Has become? When was it not a cash cow? Don't you remember the "don't have a cow, man" t-shirts?

Re:A Good Way to Go Out

[Anonymous Coward]

ending on a high note
i would like to refer you to the first episode of this seasons famly guy.

We always wanted the show to end...

[thuh Freak]

wtf? blasphemy! The Simpsons will never end, and I'll punch anyone who implies otherwise.

Re:We always wanted the show to end...

[Momoru]

Ugh, you've got to be kidding me. The Simpsons has sucked for at least the last 6-8 years. Unless you think comic genius is:

The Simpsons meet [insert current pop star] and have zany unfunny adventures.

Or the Simpsons [go to X country] and have recycled unfunny adventures.

This movie is the final dagger in the reputation of the once great show. Please Fox cancel the God damn show, we've got the Family Guy back again.

Re:We always wanted the show to end...

[sundog61]

The Simpsons has sucked for at least the last 6-8 years

Definitely true, but there are still enough long time Simpsons fans to support a feature film. Heck, a lot of folks will go just to see how bad it is.

Re:We always wanted the show to end...

[muszek]

I'm a big fan of Simpsons (meaning I love to watch them, I don't harass Homer nor any other member of his family) and right after seeing the last available episode I felt an urge to find some other cartoon. Some of my friends said Family Guy is way funnier. I got first 3 seasons... funny at the begining, but it gets boring and it's obvious to me they duplicated A LOT of ideas and concepts from The Simpsons (I hope it's not the same team :) ). Starting with the general setup (lower class family, father, mother, boy, girl and a baby), through traits (gambling problem of the mother), to some actual episode themes/jokes/etc. Didn't like it.

Then I got Futurama. Very funny in the begining (first episode's great), but later on they just repeat same stuff over and over. And characters are sooo flat.

I'm starting to believe we won't see any good cartoons after The S :(

Re:We always wanted the show to end...

[Rei]

I bet the movie will be good, though. According to what I've heard, they're getting some big name stars purple monkey dishwasher.

Re:We always wanted the show to end...

[The Ultimate Fartkno]

> And characters are sooo flat.

Well it *is* animation, after all...

Re:We always wanted the show to end...

[Drakonite]

Simpsons are still a lot better than most shots on TV.

Says more about other shows on TV than about the Simpsons though I suppose.

Re:We always wanted the show to end...

[MightyMartian]

Screw the Simpsons! Make a Futurama movie so that somebody besides nine year olds and toxic alcoholics can have a laugh.

Re:We always wanted the show to end...

[moyix]

I, too, thought that the Simpsons had permanently jumped the shark. But this season has had some excellent episodes and phenomenal characters. Some lines are just brilliant, to wit:

"I only flew it once at an altitude of six feet, for a distance of four feet. Then we discovered that rain makes it catch fire... then the Fuhrer fired me." -- Burns, referring to the Plywood Pelican:

It has also had one of my favorite supporting characters in recent memory, Tab Spangler (ep 352). Everything about his intonation and timing is perfect.

They still have the occasional preachy or "annoying guest voice" episode that turned me off in the first place, but overall, I'm back to watching every Sunday night.

Re:We always wanted the show to end...

[kz45]

Please Fox cancel the God damn show, we've got the Family Guy back again

are you kidding? the new family guys suck. If they don't get better episodes soon, it will get cancelled again.

Re:We always wanted the show to end...

[Paua Fritter]

this was modded flamebait???

Six months later...

[Anonymous Coward]

Public interest in the tv show will drop drastically, and it will be cancelled. Movies are almost always the death rattle of a popular tv series, from MST3K to Beavis and Butthead, Star Trek to SNL (sketches).

Re:Six months later...

[Masami Eiri]

The MST3k movie came out a good 3 years (at least) before the show's run ended.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture came out after TOS's run had ended (in fact, it used bits of a proposed pilot for a new series). Star Trek: Generations, likewise, came out after TNG had ended.
SNL was still on, if I remember correctly, despite Wayne's World having premired in the early 90s. Yeah, its not so funny anymore, but its still there.
Bevis and Butthead, I think, had ended before Do America came out, but I'm not sure. I was never a bit fan of that show.

Re:Six months later...

[Masami Eiri]

The line about SNL should be is still on, not was.

Re:Six months later...

[wed128]

Beavis and Butthead ended YEARS before the movie came out.

Why won't they just let it die?

[longbot]

I never found the Simpsons that funny to begin with... in fact, it always seemed kind of stupid. And as long as it's been on, it's been running on empty for years by now. Why don't they just put it out of it's misery rather than attempt to squeeze these last few dollars from the dead horse?

Re:Why won't they just let it die?

[Hogwash McFly]

Why don't they just put it out of it's misery rather than attempt to squeeze these last few dollars from the dead horse?

You answered your own question.

Re:Why won't they just let it die?

[Fr05t]

I never found the Simpsons that funny to begin with... in fact, it always seemed kind of stupid.

It's ok, my little nephew doesn't get most of the jokes either.

Re:Why won't they just let it die?

[viva_fourier]

well, it's a rare fact that the sweetest nectar comes from the last bits and pieces of the dead horse, that when mixed with a little olive oil and... oh wait -- I'm still on the necro-cooking bbs, right?

Re:Why won't they just let it die?

[longbot]

Oh, I get them. They're just not funny.

Re:Why won't they just let it die?

[Anonymous Coward]

you must be one sad fuck. are you one of those ayotollah dobson disciple?

Re:Why won't they just let it die?

[kosmicki]

Isn't all meat cooking necro-cooking? ;)

Re:Why won't they just let it die?

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, I get them. They're just not funny.

Prove it.

Length

[rokzy]

hopefully this will solve the problem of decreasing quality of episodes.

in the commentary for season 5 they talk about how an episode of the recent series is 2 minutes shorter (more adverts) than a season 5 episode. this forces them to remove an entire mini-story, which are often the source of many of the funniest moments.

though a movie format causes its own set of problems. I'd prefer they just went back to making longer episodes, but at this point I don't think a movie could makes things much worse so here's hoping for a return to form.

Re:Length

[ferreth]

So they lost two minutes. Big deal. That's just a cop-out. After so many seasons, they have just run out of steam.

Perhapes a longer story format will bring out something interesting, but I'm not holding my breath.

Re:Length

[Anonymous Coward]

What Mod-On-Crack thought the parent is a Troll?

Please provide some insight into your sick, twisted mind.

Re:Length

[Anonymous Coward]

> What Mod-On-Crack thought the parent is a Troll?

it's generation-AOL: people who think saying something that doesn't make you happy constitutes "Trolling" and telling an unfortunate truth constitutes "Flamebait".

Re:Length

[poot_rootbeer]

the problem of decreasing quality of episodes.

Longtime watchers of the series love to make this claim, but is it true? Several of the episodes from the most recent season hold up well against many from the "golden era" of the show.

It's not as fresh as it was back when it was new an its potential unexplored, no. But it's still capable of making me ell-oh-ell.

Re:Length

[defy god]

in the commentary for season 5 they talk about how an episode of the recent series is 2 minutes shorter (more adverts) than a season 5 episode. this forces them to remove an entire mini-story, which are often the source of many of the funniest moments.

i'm sorry, but why not keep those 2 minutes / mini-story that seems to be the srouce of many of the funniest moments and get rid of another 2 minutes that isn't so funny? it seems like a cheap excuse to say, "Oh, we had to cut out the best part. It would have been a lot funnier if we didn't have to." is it to sell more DVDs? do you get those lost 2 minutes per episode?

Re:Length

[nEoN nOoDlE]

That's the dumbest excuse I've ever heard. If they need an extra 2 minutes to make people laugh then they're idiots. They still have, what, 18 minutes? Surely they could cram a good joke in there somewhere...

Script shall be written!

[Man in Spandex]

The script will be written by a thousand monkeys working on a thousand typewriters.

The movie will start with:
- It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times!

Re:Script shall be written!

[Heretik]

... a thousand purple monkeys working on a thousand typewriters in dishwashers

Dear God no

[Timesprout]

Just leave it as a tv series. 30 minute bursts of Simpson hilarity are enough for me, I struggle to watch two consecutive shows now because of the saturation the show has achieved. WTF are they going to do for 90+ mins with such well developed characters?

I appreciate the show has been exceptional in its ability to make people laugh over 17 seasons but I really cant see a movie in it.

Gee. Wow.

[Anonymous Coward]

The tens of fans of the show now should be happy about this news. Yawn.

Urinating on Grandma's body

[UnSlashdot]

Terrible. The only way it could stop from being a complete trainwreck is if they recruited the writers from the early season. Peaked at season 5. Now it's just an animated "Friends".

I'm surprised they're going 24fps

[Anonymous Coward]

As I would have thought that puts a terrible strain on the animator's wrist.

Lets hope the show ends soon...

[imrec]

cause i'm running out of disk space!

I hear that in the movie...

[Tim Doran]

...Homer jumps a shark on his motorcycle.

Swear word?

[Sandman1971]

I read an interview years ago with Groening(sp?) where he said that when they'd make a Simpsons movie, Bart would utter his first real swear word.. I wonder if that's still the plan.

Download IT!

[quibbs0]

Hey it's already available on Bit Torrent!!! And the script has already been converted to PDF. Ok just kidding.

Casting

[hopethisnickisnottak]

Homer - Arnold Schwarzenegger ("D'Oh - I'll be bach")
Marge - That redhead from Suddenly Susan
Lisa - The actor who was Frodo Baggins
Bart - Jeremy Irons
Maggie - Who cares? Stick a pacifier into someone's mouth and bob's your uncle
Ned Flanders - Bruce Willis
His wife - Angelina Jolie
His kids - Don't care
Apu - Amitabh Bachchan
Montgomery Burns - Anthony Hopkins
Crusty the Clown - Michael Jackson
Sideshow bob - Robert Miles
The police chief - Michael Moore
His son - George W. Bush
Principal Skinner - Robert Redford
Mayor of Springfield - John Malkovich

Re:Casting

[Anonymous Coward]

Now that's an all star cast!

Re:Casting

[Fr05t]

"His wife - Angelina Jolie" Ned's wife is DEAD, insensitive clod!!

Re:Casting

[Anonymous Coward]

> Arnold Schwarzenegger ("D'Oh - I'll be bach")

He didn't go that far back in time.

"You be Handel."

Re:Casting

[hopethisnickisnottak]

Oops ...
Forgot the following ...

Sean Connery - The Scottish Janitor
Ted Kennedy - Barney (the drunk)
Michael Caine - Moe

Re:Casting

[Shadow Wrought]

The police chief - Michael Moore
His son - George W. Bush

Now that's just hilarious. I certainly hope Matt Groenig reads this;-)

Re:Casting

[hopethisnickisnottak]

So who said she has to be alive?

Re:Casting

[ruxxell]

uh. clearly arnold should play MCBAIN, and ned's wife is dead. angelina jolie would make a good lookin' corpse, i guess.

Re:Casting

[Viceice]

Kelsey Grammer does Sideshow Bob well enough, thank you.

Re:Casting

[Viceice]

Also,

The Comic Book Guy - William Shatner

Re:Casting

[NanoGator]

"The Comic Book Guy - William Shatner"

I heard Slashdot was hosting tryouts for this part.

Re:Casting

[lofidan]

> Bart - Jeremy Irons

Jeremy's... Iron.

Re:Casting

[geekoid]

One minor continuity flaw simpson fans will gladly overlook in exchange of a nude shower scene.

She could always be the ghost of maude flanders.....doing a nude shower scene...

Re:Casting

[dinivin]

Haha... Thanks for the laugh! :-) I wonder how many people got it.

Re:Casting

[SquadBoy]

If you were going to do a nude shower scene why not get somebody who is good looking?

Re:Casting

[geekoid]

good point. I shuold have chosen someone who has not been voted the worlds most attractive woman.

to quote Zap Brannigan:
"What are you, gay?"

Re:Casting

[cthrall]

"Why don't you bounce this ball, Lisa."

"I bent my wookie."

Re:Casting

[SquadBoy]

God you have to wonder who was voting. :)

Seriously I do think I'm about the only person who doesn't like her but she does *nothing* for me.

Not the first time I disagree with almost everybody.

Re:Casting

[Infinite Entropy]

No no no! Henry Knowles from Ain't it Cool News pretty much already IS the CBG!

Re:Casting

[DNS-and-BIND]

Jeez - did you ever watch the show?

McBain - Arnold Schwarzenegger
Leon (insane asylum inmate) - Micheal Jackson
Krusty the Clown - Mel Brooks (or any Jewish entertainer)
Sideshow Bob - HELLO, KELSEY GRAMMER?

Re:Casting

[Carnil]

Great, that would be a perfect character for Jolie's acting skills, then!

Change Channels Then

[Anonymous Coward]

You can do that you know. Just because you don't like the Simpsons, they should cancel it? Yea, that makes sence. I still enjoy watching the Simpsons every week. It is one of the few show I make sure I watch.

Re:Change Channels Then

[EnronHaliburton2004]

I haven't watched more then 5 minutes a new episode of the Simpsons in years. I don't even try any more.

But I still feel that Fox should stop the Simpsons before it sinks too far. If they continue the show, people will mostly remember it for the dumb jokes later in the series, instead of the clever humor towards the beginning.

Looking forwarding to it! Even though....

[poind3xt3r]

although the show has stalled with ideas since season 11, and have recycled the same plot over and over and over (eg: countless # of episodes where homer thinks marge doesnt love him and tries to win her back), I am willing to give the big-screen version a chance, just cuz.... well.... its the Simpsons.

Re:Looking forwarding to it! Even though....

[mcho]

I agree because the best ones are about nothing in particular, like "Whacking Day" and when Homer started an internet company (and Bill Gates "buys" him out).

The best seasons were 4, 5 and 6.

I couldn't have said it better myself

[Muddie]

We always wanted the show to end first but it just keeps going.

My thoughts exactly.

Re:I couldn't have said it better myself

[tomstdenis]

More so... I was 7 when the show started... I'm 23 now. You think I really give a rats ass anymore?

Hey, let's do a carebears moving!

Glowworm anyone? Teddy Ruxpin vs. Ewoks!

LET...GO...PLEASE...

Tom

Re:I couldn't have said it better myself

[dmaxwell]

If Teddy Ruxpin boarhogs some Ewoks then I'll gladly pay to see it.

Smithers

[Anonymous Coward]

Smithers finally coming out of the closet?

Umm, Smithers was never in the closet. (according to the writers) Matt Groening did an interview where he was asked point blank about Smithers sexuality. His answer was, "I think Smithers sexuality is pretty apparent, he's gay."

When will we see..

[d_jedi]

The Simpsons Movie: The Book?

Re:When will we see..

[egypt_jimbob]

I'm holding out for The Simpsons: The Flamethrower!

meh....

[Prod_Deity]

I'll probably wait to watch it on DVD, while enjoying freshly picked Tomacco.

Re:meh....

[pizen]

Or enjoying a nice sacred doughnut.

mmmm...sacrilicious

Re:meh....

[RazzleDazzle]

Yeah... forbidden soul donut...mmmm...

Well...

[FidelCatsro]

Let's just hope its a WOOOHOOO and not an *annoyed grunt* .

how 'bout a live action movie instead?

[zixor]

What would be really cool would be a live-action Simpons movie ... I can see it now .... Starring John Goodman as Homer Simpson ... Danny DeVito as Bart Simpson ... and Jennifer Aniston as the woman he loves ..

Itchy and Scratchy

[Nonillion]

I wonder if they will show super violent Itchy and Scratchy cartoons. Hopefully they will age the characters where Bart is a no job stoner who lives in the basement, Lisa gets married to a computer nerd and Maggie is a high school slut.

Re:Itchy and Scratchy

[Elminst]

" Lisa gets married to a computer nerd and Maggie is a high school slut."

I think someone is channeling their personal fantasies...

Re:Itchy and Scratchy

[dmaxwell]

Hopefully they will age the characters where Bart is a no job stoner who lives in the basement, Lisa gets married to a computer nerd and Maggie is a high school slut.

Well, it's comforting to know that Maggie's oral fixation will be intact. squitch-squitch.

excellent.

[nazpyro]

excellent.

All I gotta say is...

[Usaflt2003]

Excellent!

As a long time Simpsons fan...

[Liquid Len]

... lemme tell you I smell trouble ahead... Yup, deep trouble. Frankly, I would be really surprised if it didn't ruin the whole Simpsons experience.

So Whos Gonna Play...

[Evil W1zard]

Who is gonna play the part of OJ?

Re:So Whos Gonna Play...

[LPetrazickis]

Who is gonna play the part of OJ?

How about Leslie Nielsen? I hear he's available, and he was tutored by the real OJ way back during the Naked Gun movies.

It's already released on torrent!

[Cumstien]

Despite the fact that the movie is still in preproduction, you can already download the final product from your favorite torrent site! Holly shit!

Re:It's already released on torrent!

[iminplaya]

Holly shit!

Let's hope she made it the bathroom. And wouldn't "Ay caramba!" be more appropriate?

Exxxcelllent...

[nobodyman]

For convenience, please be so kind as direct your posts to the parent that fall under the following themes.

• The Simpsons jumped the shark
• The Simpsons has always sucked
• The Simpsons went downhill ever since [insert writer/co-producer/actor] left/joined the show.
• The Family Guy is much, much better
• Links to the goatsxe guy

Thank you.

Re:Exxxcelllent...

[Anonymous Coward]

In Soviet Russia, Peter Griffin writes episodes for The Simpsons that have been going downhill since the show jumped the shark when Conan O'Brien left.

This guy thinks it always sucked.

Re:Exxxcelllent...

[Travelsonic]

Now please pay attention to the monitor in the foward part of the cabin as the following announcement is displayed on the overhead monitors.

If something "always sucked," "Jumped the shark, ect, that is your own opinion. Others share it, and that is good, but the way posts are posted on things like that, too often it is done in a way that makes it look like a fact. Wel guess what... it isn't! I think the Simpsons are good, AND Family Guy too, I think they didn't always rock, and don't always suck, but I don't try ot make it look like fact, because it is NOT!

Re:Exxxcelllent...

[DwarfGoanna]

Where does my " Comparing Family Guy and The Simpsons is roughly analogous to comparing spiked Dr Pepper and Guinness" post go?

Best Slashdot story, EVAR.

[Queer Boy]

I for one welcome our animated overlords.

Re:Best Slashdot story, EVAR.

[wolfgang_spangler]

Actually according to the /. faq, this is the coolest story ever.

Really? More?

[Trius]

I feel the Simpsons is getting repetitive and old and I don't really think a movie is going to save it... The Simpsons is ending. Hopefully.

This could revitalize the show.

[CyricZ]

This movie has the potential to revitalize the show. Remember, the quality of South Park had decreased somewhat until the release of South Park: The Movie. The movie in turn gave impetus to the TV show. Strangely enough, some have even said that the post-movie seasons of South Park are far more intellectual than the pre-movie seasons. Now, that's a matter of personal taste, but I think that this movie could do the exact same for The Simpsons television show.

Re:This could revitalize the show.

[Rico_Suave]

"Strangely enough, some have even said that the post-movie seasons of South Park are far more intellectual than the pre-movie seasons."

Not much of an accomplishment, considering the bar wasn't set particularly high...

Re:This could revitalize the show.

[Sch0pehauer]

This movie has the potential to revitalize the show.

IMHO I think it is a very bad idea to try to revitalize a show that long. As much as I can love "The Simpsons", there is pretty much nothing more to explore in the characters, nor anything new to show.

I'd prefer if the show stopped during his days of glory rather than continue in a long agony.

Obviously it's only a personal prevision and I will sure watch the movie if they decide to produce it anyway.

Re:This could revitalize the show.

[Anonymous Coward]

I think that you may find that its not the show that has changed much, but rather your perception of it.

Most people still like the show, and still find lots of fun in the show, and enjoy the quirks that bore you.

Personally, I have seen almost all episodes (missed a few in Season 3), and I still find the show as entertaining as ever.

Obligatory Simpson Quotes

[iamthedarkangel]

Mmmm...Simpsons Movie WOO-HOO! Excellent!

Hopefully they make the prequels first

[BRUTICUS]

instead of screwing up and making the 4,5 and sixth episodes like some other big wig director.

How bout a video game that ties in with the movie.

What they should do is plan next seasons tv series to tie into the movie.

The Film Generally=Death. I hope not here.

[LM741N]

Generally, the generation of the film means the death of an icon. I hope this is finally not the case with the Simpsons based on the empirical evidence that the writers have not yet run out of ideas.

Beavis and Butthead, and perhaps even South Park, by the time their movies had aired, it was clearly evident that the writers didn't know what to do next.

Please do not kill the Simpsons! They are my only refuge on TV, to get away from reality TV, death, and violence, wars, etc.

Sincerely, Rob.

disgust

[deszaras]

Rest assured I was on the internet within minutes registering my disgust throughout the world.

Re:disgust

[poormanjoe]

What do they owe you? They've given you hundreds of hours of entertainment for free..If anything, you owe them!/strong

Re:The Film Generally=Death. I hope not here.

[Talie]

I believe when the movie plays in theaters in two years... we will see the end of The Simpsons on TV. After 17 seasons (19 in two years), I think it's ok for them to run out of ideas! They will be missed, but hopefully shows like Family Guy will be there to pursue the cartoon legacy ;).

Doing table reads without a scripts?

[game kid]

How DARE you use such awful English on Slashdot! You should be hanged, I tell you -- HANGED!

Re:Doing table reads without a scripts?

[jacksonj04]

Interesting question, do web users count as human and therefore qualify to be hanged? Or are they hung along with other inanimate objects/meats?

Please get Conan involved!!!

[inkdesign]

IMHO, the episodes he wrote are great, and I think this movie has a chance if they bring back some writers from earlier in the show's history. If not, I fail to see how the current team can produce both the show and a movie, when most would agree the current state of the show doesn't even justify this movie being made in the first place (from an artistic standpoint as opposed to financial.)

Re:Please get Conan involved!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

He wrote four episodes. His leaving isn't what caused the show to suck.

Re:Please get Conan involved!!!

[lelitsch]

While the average Simpsons episode might not be as funny or biting anymore, the current season had a few really good ones.

Thank God, It's Doomsday, where Homer predicts the rapture was, IMO, the funniest and most critical episode in years.

Home Away From Homer ran a close second, and On A Clear Day I Can't See My Sister and The Seven Beer Snitch were also not bad.

Re:Please get Conan involved!!!

[mwigmani]

I agree that this season has been better than recent ones. One thing I found interesting was the season finale, when Bart and Homer converted to Catholicism... beyond being the best episode of the year, IMHO, it was the first episode I have ever seen them take a crack at Bush:

Marge: Bart, I love you, but sometimes I don't love your choices. (sigh) Now we have to find another school for you.

Homer: Yeah, and if you get kicked out of that one you're going straight in the army where you'll be sent straight to America's latest military quagmire. Where will it be? North Korea? Iran? Anything's possible with Commander Cuckoo-Bananas in charge.

If you remember, Clinton was constantly the butt of jokes on the show, and even appeared as a character on several episodes, but this was the first time since Bush was pres that they made a joke about him, and it was still somewhat indirect (he wasn't mentioned by name).

Just something I find curious. I mean, it's not as though GW isn't ripe for parody.

Re:Please get Conan involved!!!

[glesga_kiss]

this was the first time since Bush was pres that they made a joke about him, and it was still somewhat indirect (he wasn't mentioned by name).

Just something I find curious. I mean, it's not as though GW isn't ripe for parody.

It's not like the Simpsons is on Fox or anything...wait a moment...!?!

Re:Please get Conan involved!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Conan?! What does a barbarian have to do with this?

Re:Please get Conan involved!!!

[evilviper]

I think this movie has a chance if they bring back some writers from earlier in the show's history.

The writers from very early on weren't very funny... The show was good up until the past two seasons (and even then, Haloween Special 13 was very good), so any writers from 2 years ago would be fine. Conan did the show way back when there were only a handful of characters, there was no history, etc. Plus, he simply doesn't work for Fox anymore. There's a better chance he'd write for SNL than The Simpsons.

Re:Please get Conan involved!!!

[Impotent_Emperor]

They've indirectly made jokes about Bush lots of times (or at least his policies).

For instance, the episode where Milhouse and Bart join warring youth clubs (Calvary Scouts vs. Indian Braves, or something), Bart says something about violence solving nothing except all of America's problems. That seemed directed at Bush (at least, to me it did).

Re:Please get Conan involved!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Episode III wasn't as bad as I & II, but it was still very, very bad. The gushing critics are complete liars.

Because it's obviously impossible that anyone might just have a different opinion than you.

Re:Please get Conan involved!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

He is credited as the writer of 4 episodes, but wrote for many other episodes, same as other people who wrote on the episodes he recieved "writer" credit for.

Re:The Film Generally=Death. I hope not here.

[Anonymous Coward]

"Beavis and Butthead, and perhaps even South Park, by the time their movies had aired, it was clearly evident that the writers didn't know what to do next."

Actually, Mike Judge was prepping King of the Hill near the end of Beavis and Butthead.

Me too but...

[nxtr]

Be sure you're at the right theater when you start camping out, though.

I love to see you come, but I hate to see you go..

[poormanjoe]

Well as exciting as this is I think its shows the end of the the Simpsons legacy. Animation usually ends with a feature movie. (Flinstones meet Jetsons comes to mind)

All good things must come to an end.

As far as Family Guy fans go, please don't knock the Simpons because you arn't (or ever were) cultured enough to enjoy them anymore. By all means stick with your slap-stick humor of choice. Personally I was always partial to The Three Stooges.

--Oh, oh, oh, Jolly Mon sing!

Advancing the characters?

[rumblin'rabbit]

Advance the characters??? Give me a break. Maggie's been a baby in diapers for 20 years now.

I really don't think advancing the characters has ever been a big goal of the writers.

Re:Advancing the characters?

[spun]

What (I think) the GP means is having the characters advance through the plot based on who they are and what their motivations are. The show used to do that, through about season 4. You can still see it occasionally, but the GP is right, the show has devolved into a pop-culture reference fest where the characters are flat, dull stereotypes.

Keep it the same

[Turn-X Alphonse]

So do we get a movie which makes no sense at all like the TV show?

Lisa week 1 : I'm a genius little girl who can save the world with my knowledge!
Lisa week 2 : Look I'm Bart's equal I can be a little brat and watch itchy and scratchy
Lisa week 3 : I'm a hippy who eats no meat!
Lisa week 4 : Seen eating pork chops and throwing food at Bart.

Re:Keep it the same

[geekoid]

seems like an accurate description of an 8 year old girl.

Re:Keep it the same

[LPetrazickis]

Lisa has always reminded me of myself. She's the Simpsons character to whom I related the most.:)

shhhh

[rbochan]

They said they don't have a script yet... make them get thier own ideas!

Toads!

[Anonymous Coward]

There not, not making a movie

Slashdot

[xswl0931]

Slashdot jumped the shark when it was bought. That's when the "editors" stopped reading their own site.

Re:Slashdot

[PakProtector]

I'd hazard a guess that they never read it in the first place, or, rather, they had stopped reading it before I became part of the community.

Can we get some older geezer in here for commentary?

Re:Slashdot

[Darth Maul]

It was definitely better back in the day.

Re:Slashdot

[mobby_6kl]

Slashdot jumped the shark when people started bitching about dupes, editors, and the buyout.

Also, the expression "jump the shark" jumped the shark when it was mentioned in over six posts in a single thread.

Re:Slashdot

[Shimmer]

UID 19860 makes you an old geezer?

Re:Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

You impress me.

Re:Slashdot

[gid13]

Or three times in a single post? ;)

Actually, they stopped being funny before that

[Anonymous Coward]

They were funny for the first season or two, maybe three. Then it got old. I'm amazed that it's lasted this long. Is it really still on the air?

Actually, Season 7 is when it started downhill

[spun]

Seasons 4 and 5 are IMHO some of the funniest. You can start to see the change even then, though. Homer got much, much dumber, the humor got zanier, the show stopped being focused on the characters, and the plots got wackier. Anything past season 10 is pure drek.

Most obvious post *ever*.

[bennomatic]

OK, it was actually funny, but I had to register some Comicbook Guy-like disgust as well :-)

YES, Advancing the characters

[Hogwash McFly]

Advancing characters in an animated show has nothing to do with altering physical appearance. What it entails is first establishing the characters with the audience, and then building up a psychological bonding between the two to increase identity and sympathy. This is a common and large goal of any writer.

For example, if you were to watch just one episode of The Simpsons, you'd think Homer is just a regular angry fat man who is a bad father. But after watching more episodes you get to sympthathise with the character. He works hard to provide for his family and really loves his kids, even though he finds parenting a struggle. This is what advancing a character is about - turning them from a drawing into a fleshed-out and believable human being by exploring their relationships with other characters such as spouses, children and parents. This is shown through emotionally charged episodes in the early seasons.

Then you look at the recent seasons and see that character advancement is impossible because full emotional capacity has been reached. We know what happened to Marge's father. We've seen the marital problems between Marge and Homer. We've shed a tear of sympathy for poor misunderstood Lisa. We've seen the childish Bart deal with love and other 'adult' issues. It is nigh on impossible for a writer to create such emotionally charged plots without retreading old ground. The only thing to do is put them in a yet another 'funny' and wacky situation with some flavour-of-the-month celebrity. OH LOOK HOMER BOUGHT A HELICOPTER WHAT FUNNY ADVENTURES WILL HE HAVE?

Not to flame, but give me some fucking credit and don't take things too literally in the future.

Re:YES, Advancing the characters

[Hogwash McFly]

'He works hard' is perhaps the worst choice of words I could ever come up with. Subtitute with 'he works at a job he hates'. :)

Re:YES, Advancing the characters

[KrisW]

I fully agree with you, although the emotionally charged episodes that aired during the early seasons have always been my least favorite.

Basically everyone I know hates the early Lisa focused episodes. The one where she gets the pony is just awful, in my opinion. Hey, that's just me.

Re:YES, Advancing the characters

[Hogwash McFly]

Lisa seems to be one of those Marmite characters. I've heard the utterance 'I hate Lisa' quite a few times, although I'd be counted as a 'Lisa lover'. Having said that, the humour element does factor in significantly to any episode, so an emotional outing might not fare that well if it lacks the witty punch that The Simpsons is famous for.

Re:YES, Advancing the characters

[geekoid]

OI don't know, I've been around 40 years, and I still create new relatinships, and go through different experiences..or the same experience is vastly different becasue my perspective has changes.

Beside, Homer hasn't been president yet.*

*I haven't seen it for a couple of years so that could be incorrect. Not becasue I don't like it, because I have chosen not to have TV in my house for a while. Not that thats the right choice or not, just mine.
Trying to avoid the followup post be someone who tells me to stop telling them how to live because I mention, as a point of clarification, that I don't have TV in my house anymore.

Re:YES, Advancing the characters

[caymus]

Yeah but the point is that there is no entertainment value in any of your new relationships or experiences. Even less for anyone that sat through the last 20 years worth of episodes.. Though I do have to admit your "coed shaving party" epsiode was pretty entertaining when it turned out she was really a man (better than "wedding flatulance" IMHO)

Re:YES, Advancing the characters

[Anonymous Coward]

"We know what happened to Marge's father."

???? Please elaborate. I must have missed that episode.

Re:YES, Advancing the characters

[Hogwash McFly]

Don't know if you'll still check this, but it's in the episode explained in great detail here

Re:YES, Advancing the characters

[Anonymous Coward]

The statement "we know what happened to Marge's father" implies that something rather fatal or permanent or otherwise something unusual happened to him, which explains why he never appears in The Simpsons except in flashback, unlike her mother who does make quite a few current Simpsons appearances, especially in the early seasons.

So there was an episode where he was shown in flashback as an airline stewardess. We know that already, it's been in syndication for a decade at least. This isn't what "happened" to him; it's just an explanation as to what kind of job he worked at when Marge was a child. It doesn't explain what "happened" to him, ie, why he's dead or otherwise a no-show on The Simpsons, much like Homer's mother was a no-show until they did an episode which explained what "happened to" her.

Re:YES, Advancing the characters

[Hogwash McFly]

Perhaps the wrong choice of words but you know what I meant. It was an episode that opened up a character further by exploring a past relationship or experience with a relative. The flashback episode adds another emotional connection with Marge, and such episodes are seldom seen in the later series.

A future episode could indeed have Marge's father appear in a more meaningful present-day role and may indeed hark back to the classic old episodes, appeasing the fans such as myself who feel that the show has lost 'heart'.

South Park Did it

[Anonymous Coward]

"south park did it!" - General Disarray's Simpsons counterpart

Spoiler Alert for Family Guy Fans:

[mranchovy]

The next three seasons of Family Guy will consist entirely of Peter Griffin wrestling with that giant chicken.

Re:Spoiler Alert for Family Guy Fans:

[Icehouseman]

If it's just Peter wrestling the chicken for three straight seasons, it sure as hell beats The Simpsons right now.

Best. Irony. Ever.

[GodHead]

Did you REALLY just claim some sort of cultural superiority because you watch the Simpsons?

How perfectly cromulent.

Re:Best. Irony. Ever.

[poormanjoe]

Did you REALLY just claim some sort of cultural superiority because you watch the Simpsons?

No I claimed some sort of cultural superiority because I can apprechiate the contemptious thoughts often envoked by nearly. every. episode. ever.

Old news...

[ldesegur]

Back in November, we already knew this... http://comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=7091

Hi! Im Troy Mclour!

[poormanjoe]

You remeber me from such flims as:
Modded by the Man and O Liberial Bias:Where art thou?
I'm here today to talk to you about the up and comming Simpons movie. By now I'm sure you're saying, but Troy can it live up to other productions such as GiGi and Kids?

You've got some attitude mister!

Independent thought alarm

[philbert26]

I never found the Simpsons that funny to begin with... in fact, it always seemed kind of stupid. And as long as it's been on, it's been running on empty for years by now. Why don't they just put it out of it's misery rather than attempt to squeeze these last few dollars from the dead horse?

You are obviously over-stimulated.

Because of the South Park Movie

[hoovs]

I remember reading something somewhere which quoted Matt Groening or Al Jean saying that they didn't think a half hour cartoon sit-com could translate well to the big screen until they saw the South Park movie. When they saw it they started thinking seriously about a Simpsons movie again. I wish I could rememeber where I read it, or it might even have been on one of DVDs.

Re:Because of the South Park Movie

[Tony Hoyle]

The South Park movie surely is proof that half hour sit-com does *not* translate.

The just had a standard half hour story and had the characters burst into song every couple of minutes.

It's the only film I've seen where there were only about half the number of people watching at the end of the film than there were at the beginning. I only stayed because I was able to amuse myself timing the gaps between the songs (a bit less than 2 minutes on average.. closer to 1 minute 45).

OTOH quite a few Simpsons episodes have tried to pull the same stunt... ran out of storyline so lets put in a load of gratuitous unfunny singing (lucky Tivo has a fast forward!). It isn't hard to guess what the movie will be like...

4ABF20

[Anonymous Coward]

"Marge in Chains".

Best Episode Ever.

I'm sure its been said but..

[t_allardyce]

...the newer episodes suck! I'm surprised they haven't added audience tracks where you hear laughter after every single line - even when its not supposed to be funny. The comedy style has become like the generic 'Everybody Loves Raymond' shitcom (heh) where writers try and cram every gag they can think of into the scene and you know its supposed to be funny but its just not.

Re:Ob. Simpons reference to: Jumping the Shark(!)

[glesga_kiss]

I think it's on one of the clip-shows, possibly the one where they actually say "sorry for the clip show", where right at the end there is a series of still pictures. One of them is of Homer, on waterski's, jumping a shark. I tried Google to find an image of it, but searching for: simpson "jump the shark" : found a surprising ammount of chatter!

Newflash

[geekoid]

the show didn't change, you did.

well, except for the animation moving to computers.
which removed some of the uniqueness of the show animation style.

Did you think about your comment at all?

[geekoid]

if you didn't enjoy it to begin with, you are in no position to judge wether or not it's been running on empty. Why? bacause to you it started on empty.

I have found people who don't gte the Simpson have failed to look at it's social commentary undertones.
They only see what is immediatly show to them and react without considering the context of the piece.
But I'm sure you are different.

Re:Did you think about your comment at all?

[longbot]

Anything that's been running for bloody ages is running on empty. Are you argueing that Voyager should have gone on to 12 or more seasons? It could have... I pick up perfectly well on it's undertones. I just don't find it funny. It's supposed to be a comedy, and it's not funny. To me, that makes it undeserving of the praise that's so often lavished upon it. Futurama on the other hand, I do enjoy. Because it's actually funny.

doeth and lib-con

[slothman32]

On the pool episode, a month til St. Swithins' day, just after they built the pool incorrectly the Amish man say, "tis a fine barn but it ain't no pool." Homer says "Doeth." Since "D'oh" is "annoyed grunt" in the script what is doeth?
As anyone noticed that Fox's shows, Simpsons and others, are as liberal as the news is conservative? Homer is constantly making remarks about Republicans, though Abe and "demo-crats" as well.
It just seems odd.

The Simpsons movie has 53 percent new footage!

[Raspberry]

I can't believe no one has posted that episode reference yet.

Re:I love to see you come, but I hate to see you g

[Carlos Laviola]

It's gonna be an animated film, you dolt.

MOD PARENT UP

[Anonymous Coward]

What Mojo muncher Moderated this Troll ? its a fact and it is not insulting .
Some mod has been smoking Crack We Imagine

D'OH!!!!

[gaanagaa]

WOO HOOO D'OH!!!!

hrm

[taernim]

With the quality falling in the past few seasons (celebrity guests every week? who cares), I'm sure the big screen will just be another opportunity for the writers to wallow in their own crapulence.

YOur right!

[geekoid]

nobody wants to see:
"
The Simpsons meet [insert current pop star] and have zany unfunny adventures.

Or the Simpsons [go to X country] and have recycled unfunny adventures.
"

fortunatly they have been pretty damn funny, so no harm so far.

Yes fox, stop airing the show that millions of people love and put family guy back on instead...bacause you can't have both on.

"This movie is the final dagger in the reputation of the once great show"

also, your ability to see the future muse have landed you millions in lottery winnings.

Re:YOur right!

[Anonymous Coward]

Its been on for like 17 bloody seasons and over 300 fucking episodes, how many more do you want????

Re:I love to see you come, but I hate to see you g

[Fletch]

It's gonna be an animated film, you dolt.

The only movie he mentioned, The Jetsons Meet The Flintstones was an animated film.

FFS!!!!

[k31bang]

Its going to be a 90 minute clip show. You know it, I know it, but Fox has no clue.

Okayyy, but...

[Craig_P92669]

If it starts with "Uncle Fucker", I'm outta there.

MacGyver...

[BattleHawk]

I believe that Richard Dean Anderson should be in the movie.
The Simpsons has made reference to his MacGyver character over the years, and his Jack O'Neal character (Stargate SG1) has reciprocated with references, for example, to "Mr. Burns as Goa'uld" and naming his boat "Homer"

Maybe MacGyver could show up in Springfield and marry both Patty and Selma.

Re:Ob. Simpons reference to: Jumping the Shark(!)

[KevinKnSC]

That slideshow had a song with it, too:

They'll never stop 'The Simpsons'
Have no fears
We got stories for years
Like...

Marge becomes a robot
Maybe Moe gets a cell phone
Has Bart ever owned a bear
Or...

How 'bout a crazy wedding
Where something happens and do-do-do-do-do
Sorry for the clip show

Have no fears
We got stories for years...

Family Guy viewing conditions

[Anonymous Coward]

The problem with the Family Guy, and the disagreement over whether it's funny, is that it's strongly dependent on how you first watch a given episode.

If you watch the episodes alone, they're almost entirely unfunny. The surprises are just so much nonsense. You pay too much attention to the plot, so you start noticing the gambling plotline similarity, or the similarity of the episode about The Passion to the Southpark episode on the same topic.

If you've got friends there, though, you start to laugh hard because of the shared sense of surprise. There's a certain laugh that says "I don't think either of us expected that." It's the kind of laughter that is used in standup comedy and in Monty Python.

If you're watching TV alone, the Simpsons is a much better bet. They have a more organized plotline. The story is interesting in a conventional TV way, even after you've watched a given episode several times. They don't suddenly reference an obscure 70s sitcom as if it were Friends.

So if you've watched the Family Guy alone and didn't enjoy it, don't be surprised.

Simpsons.... movie

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow, that's not going to suck. As if the Simpsons haven't sucked for the last five years. Fox sickens me.

sing sing!

[Danzigism]

please.. no musicals!! i love the simpsons, but its so typical for cartoon movies to be musicals.. i could see a nice 90 minute plot.. i hope it rules..

You suck.

[Anonymous Coward]

What gives you the balls to say cancel the Simpson. Its bar none the best television show ever. It's a god dam cartoon. I want to see and episode produced where Homer eats the dam shark. Instead of jumping it. It's funny, stupid, entertaining. All things a good comedy show are. There are no live actors. Nobody to say "I need time off to have a baby." or "I need to take my career in a different direction." or this show has jumped the shark time to move on. Once again, it's a dam cartoon and a great one at that. So go cancel your subscription to cable and watch Mother nature. Then find a reason to cancel that.

Hey now...

[game kid]

...let's not talk about hanging meats here. This is Slashdot, you know. ;)

Misquoting

[Anonymous Coward]

It will be a great show if...

'They are working on hommering out a script,'

What I want is...

[amberp]

What I want is a Dilbert film. I think that's one character that is more real to real life than any other fictional character.

And the number of outstanding episodes is...

[Anonymous Coward]

Zero. Zero's a percent! -- Yes, the quote is from the tenth season. It's a joke. The episode also wasn't outstanding. ;)

Bruce Willis

[CmdrWaco]

Come on, he *has* to be cast as Homer...
The only guy in the world that DOES look like a Simpson's character!