"The Seemingly Never-Ending Story"

When Homer finds himself trapped upside down in a cave, Lisa helps pass the time by telling him a series of interconnected stories.

Ricky Gervais Episode

"Homer Simpson: This Is Your Wife," previously discussed here back in November, is set to air March 28. The episode was written by, and stars, Ricky Gervais.

Gervais praises 'Simpsons' appearance

Tuesday, February 28 2006, 16:15 UTC - by Miriam Zendle

Ricky Gervais has said that his upcoming appearance on The Simpsons was the pinnacle of his career.

The Office star believes the show is "the greatest TV comedy of all time."

Gervais told the New York Daily News: "It was like I'd won a competition. I'm genuinely worried that Hollywood got together and talked to my doctors and found out I've only got a few months to live and said, 'Just let him do what he wants to do.'

"I'm in awe of (The Simpsons) and have been for at least 10 years. When I first got into comedy, my ambition was to get a joke on The Simpsons. So to write and star in one is ridiculous. Remarkably, I've got to a place where I'm cherry-picking jobs and I'm cherry-picking jobs (with) my heroes. I mean, really! The Simpsons!"

As usual, you can click on the image above to get the full-sized promo card.

Out-of-Season's Greetings

When Cap'n John (founder of the Paper Heroes chain of comic shops) saw my photo of last year's Bongo Christmas Poster, he recognized the art from a Bongo Christmas Card he'd received back in the early '90s. He dug it out of his Big Box o' Nostalgia for me to scan (see below), and also stumbled across this Diamond Comics Christmas Card (above) in the process.

The front of the card shows Bart carving the Diamond Comics logo into a frozen pond with his ice skates. The inside shows the consequences for a cyanotic Homer.

Think of this post as an After Christmas Sale: Click on the images to enlarge, and save 'em for the 2006 holiday season.

Falling Out

"We asked (the audience) for names at a show. A kid yelled 'Fall Out Boy,' Bart's alter-ego on 'The Simpsons.' It just stuck."

- Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, on how the band got its name, in Us Weekly.

For the record, Bart Simpson's alter-egos include Bartman, El Barto, Stretch Dude, and Cupcake Kid, while Fallout Boy is Radioactive Man's sidekick, and was played on "The Simpsons" by Milhouse.

Fall Out Boy: A good band with bad Simpsons intel.

Create Your Own Couch Gag

Due in May from McFarlane Toys:

THE SIMPSONS BOXED SET: FAMILY COUCH GAG

Classic Simpsons, as only McFarlane can do it! Homer and Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II recreate the classic episode-opening couch gag. Create your own couch gag by rearranging the magnetic figures, which can be positioned in a variety of poses and configurations. Comes with Simpson-themed accessories including a Duff beer can and Porko Bits.

More photos at Spawn.com.

If I Can't Watch The Simpsons, the Terrorists Win

This cartoon battle has gone too far. Attacking Denmark's embassies is one thing, but preventing an episode of "The Simpsons" from airing is over the line...

Cartoon furor puts Mohammed's guest role on "The Simpsons" in doubt

The controversy over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper has led the producers of The Simpsons to reconsider his appearance in a forthcoming episode. The offending cartoons included a picture of the founder of Islam wearing a turban, and have been slammed by Muslims for being blasphemous and Israelis as overly subtle.

“In light of the situation in Denmark, we have decided to withdraw our depiction of the Prophet out of sensitivity towards the Islamic community’s feelings,” creator Matt Groening said. “And also our sensitivity to our office being firebombed.”

In the cancelled episode, entitled ‘Don’t Have A Pig, Man’, Mohammed was to have appeared to Homer in a dream, converting him to Islam with a promise of 770 donuts in the afterlife.

Groening said that the decision to produce the episode starring Mohammed was not taken lightly. “We suspected there would be an adverse reaction if we drew the Prophet,” he said. “But we had no choice. He's the only celebrity guest we haven’t used before.”

The show's creator has also guaranteed Muslim viewers that he won't be depicting the Prophet anywhere else in future. “Since the cancellation, we can't just use all the rejected Simpsons ideas on Futurama anymore,” he said.

The furore over the incident has led the Danish press to vow to tone down its coverage of controversial events. "This will teach us to write stories that aren't about Prince Frederik's baby," the editor of Jyllands-Posten said.

Meanwhile a fatwa has also been declared on cartoonist Michael Leunig, although on account of the insipidness of his work rather than any blasphemy.

Source: The Chaser

For My Buddies at the Simpsons Collector Sector

File under: "Obscure Simpsons Merchandise"

Articles from Australia's Herald Sun:

Simpsons pins

January 29, 2006

GET ready, The Simpsons are coming to your house.

Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun readers have the chance to own a piece of the world's best comedy from Wednesday -- when we release an exclusive set of 16 collectable pins with the show's favourite characters.

Obtain your collector album on Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, start the collection with a free Krusty the Clown pin at newsagents and participating outlets when you buy the Herald Sun.

Every day until Friday, February 17, pay $2 with the token in each paper to complete the set.

Wear them, display them, or keep them safe in the album.

But make sure you don't miss out on everyone's favourite skateboarding rebel Bart Simpson in the Sunday Herald Sun next weekend.

Supplies are strictly limited.

* * *

Fans overload on Simpsons

February 3, 2006

OVERWHELMING demand for the Herald Sun Simpsons pin collection means many shops are temporarily out of stock of the free collector album and free Krusty the Clown pin.

If you missed out, you can place an order with your newsagent.

All orders for the free album or free Krusty pin will be honoured.

Stock will be delivered for collection from your newsagent within seven days of the promotion ending on February 17.

Today, Simpsons fans can collect the second pin, loveable dad Homer, for just $2 from newsagents where you get your Herald Sun.

There are 16 pins in the Simpsons collection -- and they're being snapped up fast.

If you have difficulty collecting any pins in the popular series, you can also place an order with your newsagent.

Home-delivery customers and readers who get their Herald Sun from a shop that doesn't have the pins can present the daily token at any newsagency.

So... any Australians reading this blog?

"My Fair Laddy"

"My Fair Laddy"
Scheduled to air February 26, 2006
Synopsis:

When Bart accidentally destroys Groundskeeper Willie's shack with a game of solid ice dodge ball, Marge takes in the homeless janitor. Lisa decides to offer Willie a better life by refining him for her upcoming science fair, and after an arduous regimen, she turns the curmudgeon into the talk of the town. Meanwhile, Homer fears changing trouser styles when he discovers the factory that makes his classic blue pants is going out of business.

Futurama Comics #23

Also in comic shops this week, Futurama Comics #23, which includes a splash page cameo appearance by the Silver Surfer!

(Click picture to enlarge)

This is a great issue, particularly the spin it puts on the Robert Silverberg short story/Twilight Zone episode "To See the Invisible Man."

The League of Extraordinary Barts!

Simpsons Super Spectacular #2 hit comic shops this week, chronicling the epic meeting of Bartman, Stretch Dude, and Cupcake Kid.

Also, the "Marvels" of Zenith City are viewed through the lens of a prickly photographer in the back-up story, "Bongos."
Previously mentioned here.

Bongo Comics for April 2006

The Return of Hank Scorpio!

Simpsons Comics #117

by Templeton

Join Homer and the rest of the Simpson family for a globetrotting adventure that will not only take you around the world but, literally, into orbit around the Earth. And the trip would not be complete without the return of everybody's favorite, eternally optimistic, moonraking megalomaniac, Hank Scorpio. It's a little tale of world domination we call "Sandwiches Are Forever!"

Bart Simpson Comics #29

by Bates, Peyer, and Rogers

Springfield's merry mischief-maker, Bart Simpson, switches places with Ralph Wiggum on "Take Your Son To Work Day" with surprising and potentially life-threatening results. Then, Bart gets a new roommate when he moves into the Retirement Castle with Grampa. Also, Bart and Nelson start their own pirate radio station, and it is not long before radio talk show host Birch Barlow's ratings begin to plummet, prompting a "no holds barred" battle over the airwaves.

Simpsons Classics Magazine #8

Through a bizarre twist of fate that could only befall the stoutest of the Simpsons, Homer becomes the new Duff Beer brewmeister in control of the Duff empire! And then, come back to Simpsons Mountain where the Depression ain't so depressin', and Grampa's memory of the past takes a page or two from other television family histories. Also, Grampa and Jasper have a rendezvous with pop culture, and Itchy & Scratchy (circa 1930) have an explosive encounter in "Kill 'Er Up With Regular." Collects Simpsons Comics #14-15.