Posted Jul 8th 2008 10:03AM by Richard Keller
Filed under: The Simpsons, Video, Retro Squad, Reality-Free, Cheers
Do not adjust your web browser. You are now entering the Retro Squad, where we are reviewing past episodes of classic TV shows.
Even when it isn't at its greatest (which, for many fans, hasn't been since season 10) The Simpsons has still provided some great parodies of classic movies and television programs. For instance, in the season four episode "Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie" they did a great parody of the Star Trek movie franchise with Star Trek XII: So Very Tired. I still crack up everytime I see the scene where the severely obese Scotty is telling an aged Captain Kirk that he can't push the warp engines any further.
Continue reading Cheers: The Animated Series - VIDEO
Posted Jun 23rd 2008 1:24PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: TV Royalty, The Simpsons, Reality-Free
Are you familiar with the works of actor Troy McClure? You might know him from Locker Room Towel Fight: The Blinding of Larry Driscoll. But as the IMDb notes, he has had quite a long career.
Mental Floss has a new quiz up at their site, Troy McClure Film or Actual Terrible Movie? It contains 15 questions about the work of McClure (voiced on The Simpsons, of course, by Phil Hartman - the character was retired when Hartman passed away). They give you a film title and you have to guess whether it's a fake Troy McClure film from an episode of The Simpsons or an actual film that somehow got made (note: just pick a film and the site automatically goes to the next question). I got 10 out of 15, but I think that was more because of my knowledge of bad films than specific episodes of The Simpsons.
Some of the titles of these movies and TV shows are priceless (don't worry, these aren't on the quiz): David vs. Super Goliath, Calling All Quakers, Lead Paint: Delicious But Deadly, Smoke Yourself Thin, Pepsi Presents: Fractions. I also like the telethon Let's Save Tony Orlando's House (today he would be hosting a special for Ed McMahon).
Posted Jun 6th 2008 9:38AM by Brett Love
Filed under: The Simpsons, Celebrities, Reality-Free

Every time I see Seth Rogen, and that is quite often lately, I'm taken back to my first introduction to his work with
Freaks and Geeks. Did you ever think back then that he was going to be the huge breakout star from the show? Apparently he is, as everybody wants to work with the artist formerly known as Ken Miller.
Earlier this week our pals over at Cinematical reported that Rogen and his writing partner Evan Goldberg now have a release date for their update of the cult classic Green Hornet. And now comes word that the pair, who previously worked together on Pineapple Express, Superbad, and Da Ali G Show, are writing an episode for The Simpsons. While talking with Collider, Rogen explains that after meeting James L. Brooks at a party he figured he had an in with The Simpsons. He was right, and after pitching 5 ideas for the show they got the gig. Animation schedules being what they are the episode won't make it into the upcoming season, but it's something to look forward to.
[via digitalspy]
Posted Jun 2nd 2008 4:29PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, The Simpsons, Reality-Free

It took just a few weeks, but
the trouble is over. The two sides have met and negotiated a fair arrangement. No, I'm not referring to the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama camps and the Florida and Michigan delegates. No, the news is more animated than that.
The powers that be at 20th Century Fox TV have re-signed the actors who voice the The Simpsons.The principals are signing new four-year deals in which the talent will receive substantial increases in salary. They had been getting $360,000 per episode and were looking for a bump up in that fee to $500,000 per. The negotiated compromise amount is about $400,000 per show. And as expected, instead of a 22 episode season commencing next fall, there'll be 20 shows in the year ahead.
Continue reading The Simpsons voices re-sign a new deal
Posted Jun 2nd 2008 2:41PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Animation, Adult Swim, Children, South Park, Awards, Emmys, Reality-Free

Due to the complicated and apparently outdated Emmy Awards nomination rules, prime-time animated shows like
Family Guy, The Simpsons, American Dad,
South Park and others have had to choose which Emmy category they want to compete in, animated or comedy series. Then, that decision impacts eligibility for writers and animators on those shows in other categories. Well,
Family Guy is in a unique position this year, as their "Blue Harvest"
Star Wars parody was classified as a special. And as the animated category looks at single episodes,
Family Guy can submit "Blue Harvest" to the animated category, and the show itself, to comedy series.
I'd say it's a tremendous long shot that an animated show can be nominated over the live-action comedy series it will be facing. But there's always a first time for everything; when Disney's animated
Beauty and the Beast picked up an Oscar nod for "Best Picture" it was groundbreaking in the same way. It's a tough debate. These shows compete with prime-time comedies every week and yet get put up against the likes of
Spongebob Squarepants come awards time. How do you compare
The Venture Brothers and
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends?
Continue reading Family Guy to vie for comedy series Emmy nod
Posted May 24th 2008 8:24AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: OpEd, The Simpsons, Celebrities, Reality-Free

She's been the voice of precocious child Lisa Simpson on
The Simpsons since she was 23 years old, but her problems are more grown up.
Yeardley Smith has filed for divorce from her husband of six years.
The reason cited for her split from Daniel Erickson was "irreconcilible differences." This is the second divorce for Smith, having divorced actor Christopher Grove in 1992. Smith is planning to change her last name back to Smith from Erickson. The couple have no children.
Continue reading Yeardley Smith files for divorce
Posted May 22nd 2008 12:36PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, The Simpsons, Reality-Free

Say it ain't so, Ho. Homey, that's is. According to
Variety, even though Fox has given
The Simpsons a renewal for season number 20,
the voice talent that make the show have not been re-signed. Julie Kavner, Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright and Harry Shearer -- the actors who are as integral to the success of
The Simpsons as the writers and animators -- are looking for a new deal. The group make approximately $360,000 per episode. They want a raise to $500,000 per. While that sounds like a lot of money -- and it is! -- when you consider how much Fox and company are making off
The Simpsons franchise, like
the new ride at Universal Orlando, the talent have every right to expect their piece of the pie.
Continue reading Trouble brewing on The Simpsons
Posted May 18th 2008 11:31PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: OpEd, The Simpsons, Video, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S19E20) "Applause is an addiction, like heroin or checking your e-mail." -- Sideshow Mel
Well, another season of The Simpsons has come to an end. As with the last few seasons some stuff was good, some was okay, and the rest should have gone back to the Writers' Room for further revision ("Treehouse of Horror", anyone?). Most of the weak stuff landed in the first half of the season for some reason -- maybe everyone was tired from the completion of The Simpsons Movie. The second half picked up steam, thanks to some solid episodes featuring Lisa and Bart.
Luckily, The Simpsons ended on a strong note with the Lisa-centric season finale. Once again going back to the on-going theme of how success can corrupt Lisa, we were treated to an episode featuring her turn to work with the famous Krusty the Clown. I say 'her turn' because older brother Bart had worked for Krusty in the past. And, like Bart, Lisa usurped Krusty's fame to become the star of the show.
You would think Krusty would have learned his lesson.
Continue reading The Simpsons: All About Lisa (season finale) - VIDEO
Posted May 18th 2008 11:02AM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, News, CSI, Desperate Housewives, The Simpsons, Animation, Celebrities, Psych, News and Gossip, Reality-Free

I went to Universal Studios in Hollywood on Saturday for the revealing of
The Simpsons Ride. Celebs walked the "yellow" carpet. The mayor welcomed the crowds and led the countdown. A human cannonball was shot into the air. And a yellow sheet dropped to reveal a 32-foot Krusty the Clown face at the entrance to the attraction.
Despite the launch being for
The Simpsons, there were hardly any members of the cast there on the yellow carpet. Kelsey Grammer (Sideshow Bob) was there along with creator Matt Groening and producer James L. Brooks but no other voice talents were anywhere to be found. See who I talked to and read more about the ride unveiling after the jump.
Continue reading News from the yellow carpet: Simpsons ride launches at Universal Studios
Posted May 15th 2008 11:33AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, Other Reality Shows, Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Industry, Programming, 24, American Idol, House, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Prison Break, Bones, King of the Hill, Upfronts, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, New Amsterdam, Reality-Free

FOX announced its plans for the 2008-2009 season today. Here are the highlights:
Returning: The Moment of Truth, So You Think You Can Dance, The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, American Idol, America's Most Wanted, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Bones, Cops, Don't Forget the Lyrics!, Hell's Kitchen, House, King of the Hill, Kitchen Nightmares, MADtv, The Moment of Truth, Prison Break, Talkshow with Spike Feresten, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 'Til Death
Out: Back To You, Canterbury's Law, K-Ville, Nashville, New Amsterdam, Next Great American Band, Return of Jezebel James, UnhitchedNew: Sit Down, Shut Up; The Cleveland Show; Dollhouse (Midseason)
; Fringe; Do Not Disturb (formerly
The Inn)
; Secret Millionaire (Midseason)
Schedule and detailed descriptions of the new shows after the jump.
Continue reading The Upfronts: FOX
Posted May 12th 2008 1:30AM by Richard Keller
Filed under: OpEd, The Simpsons, Video, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S19E19)"Mom, I can't believe you're here! You keep disappearing and reappearing and it's not funny! You're just like that show Scrubs" -- Homer to his mother after her unexpected return.
Over the past few Sundays this space has been reserved for deeper looks into The Simpsons. Despite the fact that it is an animated series there is usually an underlying base of themes, emotions, and psychoanalytical analysis that takes place amongst the Simpson family and those around them. In fact, one 22-minute episode can contain many layers of subtext that define each character further.
This week, though, not so much of that. What we may have thought to be a sweet story about the return of Homer's mother turned out to be a huge joke fest. Well, actually more a joke fest during the second half of the show than the first half. The first half was actually kind of sad as Homer couldn't take one more of Mona Simpson's promises that she had stopped running from the government and was now ready to devote her time to Homer and his family. The second half was a totally different Simpsons episode.
Continue reading The Simpsons: Mona Leaves-a - VIDEO
Posted May 5th 2008 3:39PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Programming, American Idol, Battlestar Galactica, Boston Legal, CSI, Desperate Housewives, ER, House, Law and Order, Lost, Scrubs, The Simpsons, Smallville, Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, Family Guy, My Name Is Earl, Bones, Supernatural, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, King of the Hill, The Office, America's Next Top Model, Dancing With The Stars, Shark, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, Brothers and Sisters, NCIS, TV Squad Lists, Reaper, Moonlight, Samantha Who?, Reality-Free, Gossip Girl
Holy frik! We've only just started to embrace the return of our shows after a shortened strike season. Now, they are almost over. In the next few weeks all of our network favorites will say good-bye for the summer to be replaced with reality shows, reality game shows, reality soap operas, and Regis on primetime (again).
Needless to say, I'm a bit depressed. As I am sure you are as well. But, we will do our duty and press on. Thusly, we here at the sprawling lakefront offices of TV Squad (you choose the lakefront) have compiled list of when your favorite, and not so favorite, shows will be saying good-bye for their summer vacation. As usual, taking the fickleness of the networks, these times and days can change at a moment's notices. We will try to update you of those changes as quickly as our little fingers can type it out.
So, with a leaden heart, here are your season and series finales.
Continue reading It's finale time again! No, really.
Posted May 4th 2008 10:02PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: OpEd, The Simpsons, Video, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S19E18)"No more Simpsons' movies! One is enough." -- Marge Simpson
Add Utah to the list of states that the Simpsons have visited since the series began. And, no, they weren't there for some wacky episode about Homer being married to multiple women. They were at the Sundance Film Festival, thanks to Lisa and her wonderful documentary about the family she lives with.
Wonderful to the visitors of the festival, that is. For her family it was a bit humiliating -- as much of Lisa's artistic work is. Being such a free spirit Lisa doesn't think too much of the consequences she wreaks when the creates these various projects. Which is weird coming from someone as smart as her. Then again, she's only 8-years-old. So, should we really be expecting more from her?
Continue reading The Simpsons: Any Given Sundance - VIDEO
Posted Apr 28th 2008 1:25AM by Richard Keller
Filed under: OpEd, The Simpsons, Video, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free

(S19E17) "Sorry, Lise. I can't be a vegetarian. I love the taste of death." -- Bart Simpson
Another Bart-centric episode, which means another decent installment of The Simpsons. It's unfortunate that these types of episodes couldn't have been dispersed more evenly throughout the season. This would have made for a less Homer-centric run of shows during the first half of the year -- something that many fans (or maybe just me) were expressing concern about.
Continue reading The Simpsons: Apocalypse Cow - VIDEO
Posted Apr 24th 2008 12:04PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, Retro Squad, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free
As AOL Television continues their look at the 50 Best TV Comedies -- Ever with numbers 20-11, we here at TV Squad are also looking at television comedy, but with a slightly skewed difference. Last week, we took a look at the Saturday Night Live cast members from 1975-1985 that made it to the big time. This week, we focus on the SNL casts from 1986 to 2006.
Aside from the first season of Lorne Michaels' return to the show he created and the 1994-95 season, this period was a very successful one for SNL, introducing a slew of characters and sketches that fans of the show still talk about today. It also produced a good number of Not Ready for Prime-Time Players who went on to bigger things in television and the movies (and some theater as well). Sometimes those bigger things were movies or television shows based on characters developed on SNL.
Continue reading The Not Ready for Prime Time Players who made it to the big time: 1986-2006
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