The Complete Simpsons Bibliography

Part V - Magazine and Newspaper Articles - 1998

It's good to know that in 1998 The Simpsons are still being featured on covers, because The Simpsons will still sell a magazine.

The Springfield Files (Karen Lavell and Nick Peers)

v2n1 Cult TV, Jan 1998, Cover and p4-5, p24-30

Cover features exclusive Homer Simpson drawing with the heading "Exclusive! Homer Superior: Springfield's Everyman Talks to Us"

Fantastic seven page spread on The Simpsons with a Mike Scully interview, a Yeardley Smith interview and a Homer Simpson interview. Scully: "The Simpsons follows the tradition of character-driven shows like The Flintstones and Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, but visually I think it's very new. At the time, the colours were unique and jarring, and that was intentional. Matt Groening understands how people watch television - with the TV zapper in hand. So he wanted to create something different to make people who were casually surfing channels stop and say, 'Whoa! What was that?' ". Hmmm. Yeardley gives her top ten Lisa's episodes, with number one being one of my favorites, episode 7F19 Lisa's Substitute. The entire interview is on the archive, and can be found right here!

Read it (book review) (Justine Elias, Darcy Lockman, and others)

Us Issue #240, Jan 1998, p34

Another positive book review, it says "When a TV show is described as 'dense,' that's not usually meant as a compliment -- unless the show is The Simpsons. The Fox show is so rich in visual humor, celebrity cameos and social satire that it's hard for fans to catch every joke, even using their VCR's freeze frame. Luckily, Matt Groening has created The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to our Favorite Family, a hilarious, exhaustive, generously illustrated study of one of the '90s' best sitcoms."

A perfectly accurate description if you take out the "one of the" qualifier.

For a complete list of Simpson books see our list on the archive right here!

A Year We Won't Forget (not supplied)

v8n3 Disney Adventures, Jan 1998, p13, p40

p13 On the January 1998 calendar we find a picture of Bart Simpson on January 14th with the caption "Happy eighth birthday to 'The Simpsons'"

p40 As part of an unforgettable 1997 they have "Eeriest Guest Appearance", "'X-Files' meets 'The Simpsons'". "David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson guest starred on 'The Simpsons,' giving fans a Sunday-night double dose of the weird and wacky."

A New Homeric Age (book review and more!) (Michael Dirda)

The Washington Post, Jan 11 1998, pX5

Simpson fan Michael Dirda relates his personal Simpson favorites while reviewing the book "The Simpsons: A Complete Guide To Our Favorite Family". It's too good not to quote parts of it;

Like Trekkies or sports fans, addicts of "The Simpsons" know that the show's genius derives from its details. We look hard to see what Bart is scribbling on the blackboard at the opening of each program; we wait for power-mad Mr. Burns to place his fingertips together and murmur "Excellent"; we check to confirm that the guest voice was Meryl Streep or Patrick Stewart or Mandy Patinkin. And though Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie obviously remain the heart of the series, most connoisseurs particularly relish certain minor characters. For instance, and to use his trademark phrase, many of you may remember Troy McClure from such films as "Leper in the Backfield" and "Locker Room Towel Fight: The Blinding of Larry Driscoll." I, for one, yearn for a show that would spotlight the genial charlatan Dr. Nick Riviera, graduate of the Hollywood Upstairs Medical College (altogether now: "Hello, Dr. Nick"); and I savor every all-too-brief encounter with the slobbish owner of the Android's Dungeon comic book and gaming shop. Of course, everyone's favorite villain remains the one, the only, the inimitable Sideshow Bob, that fiend in human shape with LUV and HAT tattooed on his knuckles. Because so much happens in each Simpsons episode (multiple story lines, a barrage of sight gags, nonstop repartee), it's easy to miss some of the humor -- one reason why the shows bear repeated viewing. (Michael Dirda is a writer and editor for Book World)

Mind behind "Simpsons' the toughest critic of all (Joanne Ostrow)

Denver Post, Jan 14 1998, pG1

Another good Groening interview at a Los Angeles restaurant. Groening is applauded for being his toughest critic saying "The Simpsons' is about 50 to 60 percent of what I want it to be" "I want the animation better, the writing tighter." Talking to alt.tv.simpsons, he says "We knock ourselves out week after week, and then there are always a number of (Internet) postings saying "worst episode ever."' Also noted is how Simpson writers "..continue to devote obsessive attention to detail. With more jokes per page than any sitcom, it's part of what makes the series so rewarding for fans. They labor over what they call "freeze-frame moments," sight gags that go by too fast for the eye and can only be appreciated by taping, replaying and holding the frame on-screen. Groening recalls spending 'hours working on the tombstones' at the start of the annual Halloween specials. And while the series has its share of low humor and sex jokes, from the start Groening has had a few ground rules. 'I don't want any women on the show who look like they were drawn by horny animators.' "

Simpson fans owe debt to Kiwi sleuth (Keith Sharp)

TV Guide (New Zealand), Jan 16 1998, p20

Story of how our very own Trissa McGettigan, of Simpson Archive fame, alerted Television New Zealand TVNZ to the fact that three episodes from season six had never been broadcast. They contacted Twentieth Century Fox who indicated it was an oversight and they were broadcast on TV2 beginning January 26, 1998. Definitely cause to be declared a national hero! Read all about it here!

Comics' Relief: Cartoons and comics, from The Simpsons to South Park, take on the digital medium (Richard Gehr)

v2n2 The Web Magazine, Feb 1998, Cover and pp18-24

Nice full Homer Simpson cover with the South Park standing side by side (as they're always seen) across the bottom.

Interesting cartoon article that unfortunately misses the mark in a couple of ways.

Ask Liz (not supplied)

v8n4 Disney Adventures, Feb 1998, p18

p18 Letters to the Editor column for kids, where we see the most asked Simpsons question of all time;

Dear Liz; I want to ask you a couple of questions about my favorite TV show, "The Simpsons." First of all, in which state do the Simpsons live? And what is Homer Simpson's middle name? All I know is that it starts with a J. - Christ Tsotsos, 12, Toronto, Canada.

Dear Chris; Great questions! I called film Roman, the animation studio that makes "The Simpsons." They said although the Simpsons live in Springfield, they don't live in any particular state. And Matt Groening, the "Simpsons" creator, has said Homer's J doesn't stand for anything; it's a tribute to Bullwinkle J. Moose, of "The Bullwinkle Show" fame. If you're hungry for more trivia, check out the ultimate Simpsons book, The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family. It's full of stuff like Bart's chalkboard sayings and "Homeris-mmmmms." All I have to say is "D'oh!".

For a complete list of Simpson books see our list on the archive right here!

TIME IN: A selective guide to what's on

n124 Time Out New York, Feb 5-12 1998, p128-129

Recommends and previews the Feb 8, 1998 episode 5F23 "The Joy of Sect" saying "Homer joins a cult called the Movementarians in an episode that spoofs Heaven's Gate. Let's hope that dimwit doesn't commit suicide. That would ruin the show."

TIME IN: A selective guide to what's on

n124 Time Out New York, Feb 5-12 1998, p128-129

Recommends and previews the Feb 8, 1998 episode 5F12 "Dumbbell Indemnity" saying "Helen Hunt guests as a new woman in the life of Moe, who is voiced by Hunt's real-life squeeze, Hank Azaria. Awww.

Skepticism in action: Simpsons religion vs. science episode (Marshall Berman)

v22n2 The Skeptical Inquirer, Buffalo, Mar/Apr 1998, p19

From the voice of science and skepticism, The Simpsons receive an endorsement. A positive review of episode 5F05: "Lisa the Skeptic" from The Skeptical Inquirer, a voice of reason in a world of National Enquirer's, the journal of The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (SCICOP). Not exactly written in the most exciting of styles, but remember, this is a science journal, not Entertainment Weekly.

Skepticism in action-and the price paid by skeptics-was delightfully and insightfully presented in an episode of Fox's The Simpsons. In the episode, which aired November 23, 1997, Lisa Simpson attempts to halt construction of a parking lot for a new megamall. The mall owners allow Lisa and her classmates to dig for fossils. Lisa finds what appears to be a skeleton with wings. The townspeople believe it is an angel. Lisa's dad, Homer, grabs the skeleton and takes it home.

Springfield residents flock to Homer's house to pray with the angel and have it bless them. Homer commercializes angel-viewing (fifty cents a look), along with the sale of trinkets, such as angel glow-sticks and angel ashtrays.

Lisa asks museum curator Stephen Jay Gould to analyze a piece of the skeleton. When she reports this, Homer claims that 'facts are meaningless. You can use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true. Facts shmacts." Gould claims his study is inconclusive. The minister says: "Science has faltered once again in the face of overwhelming religious evidence."

Interviewed on TV, Lisa says, "You can either accept science and face reality, or you can believe in angels and live in a childish dream world." This moves Moe, the bartender, to exclaim, "What's science ever done for us?" The Simpsons' deeply religious neighbor, Ned, says that "Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things."

A mob goes on an antiscience rampage, attacking the planetarium, robotics laboratory, the museum of natural history, and the Christian Science Reading Room. When a mammoth tusk falls on Moe, he prays that medical science can cure him.

Lisa is accused of destroying the angel. In court, the judge issues a restraining order: religion must stay five hundred yards from science at all times.

But the angel reappears on a hill. "The end will come at sundown" is now inscribed on the angel's base. The reverend proclaims "the day of reckoning is upon us.

The crowd gathers at sunset, while Lisa reads Scientific American. Suddenly, bathed in light, the angel begins to rise, saying, "Prepare for the end-the end of high prices. Behold the grand opening of the Heavenly Hills Mall." The mall owners claim that it was not a hoax, but a publicity stunt. Lisa complains, but the mob rushes to the mall. Gould confesses he never tested the specimen.

Lisa and her mother, Marge, reconciled again, walk off hand in hand.

Ay Carumba! It's David Silverman! "The Simpsons" animator paints a behind-the-scenes picture of America's favorite non-prehistoric Cartoon family (Christine Bielinski)

Art and Performance Magazine, Mar 1998

A great behind the scenes look from The Simpsons supervising animation director David Silverman, a copy of which can be found on the archive right here!

Animating in the Spotlight: Creating Prime Time (Mike Wolf)

v2n12 Animation World Magazine, Mar 1998

Great article on the world of difference between your Saturday morning cartoon and a prime-time feature cartoon. It can be found on the Animation World Magazine web site right here!

Coolest Cartoon Kids (author not supplied)

Toon In To Your Family (Deborah Barnes)

v8n5 Disney Adventures, Mar 1998, cover and p21-27, 37-39

Another Bart cover - Bart as one of six cartoon kids on cover! Before we say anything let's note something special here - Disney Adventures features all Disney cartoons and movie characters and only mentions the most popular of other cultural icons. This article in this children's magazine features six cartoon characters with Bart Simpson featured on page 26. It has a picture of Bart on a skateboard outside school with seven of his school friends dodging for cover. All of these pages were done in "interview list" style, with Bart supplying the following answers:

If I ruled the world I would: Accelerate the pace of global deforestation. Oh, and force everyone to speak that Bushman clicking language.

Favorite daydream: I'm the dean of Flame-thrower Academy

The one toy I never put away: My Krusty the Klown Frosting Catapult

Favorite amusement park ride: The Tooth Chipper

Written in script on the page: "You die after school, punk!" - Love Nelson; "Thank you for forging my hall pass. See you in summer school detention. - Milhouse; "Bart, We all can't wait to see you graduate from this school." - Ms. Krabappel"

The second article is a quiz to determine if your family is more like the Flintstones, Simpsons or Jetsons. The seven questions all lead to the specific family based on a point system, but if you were to simply answer them all truthfully you'll hit The Simpsons.

Bart's on the ball (Michael Idato)

TV Magazine, Mar 1998

Australian TV magazine reviewing upcoming episode 5F03 "Bart Star".

'Simpsons' Creator Near New Deal (unknown)

Buffalo News, Buffalo, Mar 8 1998, pA13

Our first Futurama reference. "The Simpsons creator Matt Groening is close to signing a 13-episode deal with Fox for a prime-time animated comedy called Futurama, set around the year 3,000. Futurama will be Groening's first television series since The Simpsons, Fox's most profitable comedy franchise, and the network hopes to launch it midseason next year. While the conecpt still is being hammered out, the show is expected to be both futuristic and nostalgic. None of the parties would comment on the negotiations."

TIME IN: 8 days of TV, radio and more (Emma Perry)

n1438 Time Out, Mar 11-18 1998, p195

This London based publication's Critics' Choice for Tuesday, Mar 17, 1998 on Sky One is the St. Patrick's Day episode being broadcast for the first time there in London 4F15 "Homer vs. the Eighteenth Ammendment" saying that "surely anyone who participates in the spirit of the day will be well into their cups by the time this airs."

From Hiroshima to Homer Simpson: Using literature to confront the impact of nuclear energy (Dennis N. Banks)

v62n4 Social Education, Arlington, Apr/May 1998, p196-200

Passing reference (despite the title of the article); "Ask a group of middle school students what they know about nuclear power and a likely first answer will be, 'Homer Simpson works there!' " Goes on to discuss ways to education middle school students on nuclear energy presenting a somewhat balanced if not neutral view on the subject.

Disney Adventures Calendar (no author)

v8n6 Disney Adventures, Apr 1998,

p12-13 Calendar for April 1998 has this entry under April 25; Hank Azaria, voice actor for Moe and other "Simpsons" characters, turns 34.

Brooks, James L. (author not supplied)

v59n4 Current Biography, Bronx, Apr 1998, Anonymous, P7-10

Wonderful biography of James L. Brooks, producer of The Simpsons and The Tracey Ullman Show.

Sagan's legacy: Astronomy shines in contact (Philip Plait)

v26n4 Astronomy, Milwaukee, Apr 1998, p50

On Hollywood productions Astronomy magazine names but three productions that got it right; 2001, Contact, based on Carl Sagan's novel of the same name, and The Simpsons, specifically the episode where Springfield is threatened by a comet, 2F11: "Bart's Comet". They award high grades for the facts that 1) Most comets are indeed discovered by amateurs, not professionals. 2) Bart then calls the observatory to confirm his discovery, which also is the correct procedure (he even gives coordinates using the correct jargon). The most significant item however, forever distorted in science fiction movies; "The part of the comet that gets through the pollution is only about the size 'of a Chihuahua's head,' and when it hits the ground, Bart simply picks it up and puts it in his pocket. Bart knows that, contrary to common belief, a small meteorite will not be burning hot when it hits the ground."

COMPANY TOWN; Drawing on Creativity; A Struggling Film Roman Tries to Reanimate Itself (Sallie Hofmeister)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Apr 2 1998, pD1

Discussion of Film Roman having difficult financial times despite actively creating cartoons. "...Film Roman Inc. produced almost as much animated television as the industry Goliath. While Walt Disney Co. churned out 183 half-hour episodes, Film Roman created 141 episodes of a wide range of programs, from Fox's two popular prime-time series, The Simpsons and King of the Hill, to children's shows such as Bobby's World, Mortal Kombat, The Mask and Bruno the Kid."

Simpsons Settle (none supplied)

USA Today, Arlington, Apr 3 1998, p3E

The voices of The Simpsons settle on salary. "Ending weeks of haggling over salary and backend compensation, Simpsons voices Dan Castellaneta, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer and Hank Azaria settled with Twentieth Century Fox TV late Wednesday, says Variety. No terms were immediately available."

Morning Report: Arts and Entertainment reports from The Times (Shauna Snow)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Apr 3 1998, pF2

Another comment on The Simpsons voices settling on contracts. "Doh! Simpsons Voices Back: The voices of Fox's The Simpsons - Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Harry Shearer (Smithers and others) and Hank Azaria (Moe the Bartender and others) - settled their contract dispute with Twentieth Century Fox Television and resumed production on the show Thursday. The actors had been holding out for $150,000 per episode, at least five times what most of them had been making. Although terms were not revealed, reports indicated that the deal will pay them at least $50,000 an episode, or $1 million a year. Nancy Cartwright, who provides the voice for Bart Simpson, settled for $50,000 per episode last week."

Flash! The latest entertainment news and more... (Diane Werts)

Newsday, Long Island, Apr 3 1998, pA12

Another blurb about The Simpsons voices settling their contract. "The latest talent holdout has ended: The voices of The Simpsons returned yesterday. Sandy Grushow, president of Twentieth Century Fox Television, which produces the Fox hit, said their differences have been settled amicably. Read: They got more money. Each cast member had been holding out for $100,000-plus per episode next season, up from $35,000. Variety reported yesterday that each had settled for around $50,000 per episode."

Back To Basics; Who Killed Homer? The Demise of Classical Education and the Recovery of Greek Wisdom. (book review) (Bernard Knox)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Apr 5 1998, p7

"Who Shot Burns?" may refer to The Simpsons, but they haven't killed off our Homer yet. "The Homer of this book's somewhat melodramatic short title is not, as one critic admits to having surmised at first glance, the cartoon figure of The Simpsons."

CULTURE WATCH / Why Soaps No Longer Give Romance the Soft Sell (Nicole Nolan)

Newsday, Long Island, Apr 5 1998, pB6

Article on Soap Operas contrasts their "..romantic, family-oriented and conservative..." nature and key to success with "...the '90s, "edgy" shows such as The Simpsons or South Park (which) are congratulated for questioning conventional morality."

The Insider (Danelle Morton)

v49n13 People Weekly, Apr 6 1998, p39

Interview with U2 concerning their appearance on The Simpsons. "How do you cope with being caricatured, as the band U2 was for the 200th episode of The Simpsons, airing April 26th? 'You know what they say: 'Hold your friends close, but your animator closer,' ', says lead singer Bono, who, nonetheless, has been portrayed with an overbite and no chin. Jokes guitarist the Edge: 'We know where [the animators] park their cars, so we'll be around.' "

Includes drawing of U2 in Moe's bar being served by Homer.

U2 appeared in the 200th anniversary episode, 5F09 "Trash of the Titans".

And now, the White House album (none supplied)

Times Union, Albany, Apr 6 1998, pC5

Passing reference says if The Simpsons has it own soundtrack for sale then shouldn't the White House? This was a tongue in cheek album put out by Gary Newman of BMG, "...a compilation of oldie favorites (by the original artists) that have become slightly suggestive thanks to recent headlines."

Home Video; Cybertainment; For X-Philes, the Truth Is Out There... on the Web Somewhere (Mark Glaser)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Apr 16 1998, pF45

This column expresses amazement that Fox is closing down Web sites that promote their shows. Surprise, surprise. "The Web has always been a haven for conspiracy theorists, sci-fi eccentrics and UFO true believers. So it's no surprise that Yahoo! turns up 500 sites in its X-Files file, brimming with plot threads, gossip and celeb obsession with the two lead characters. The surprise is that Fox's lawyers have been out to stop them. For the last few years, Fox has closed many fan sites of The Simpsons, The X-Files and Millennium, citing intellectual property rights. Fans have been in an uproar, blaming everyone from show creator Chris Carter to overzealous Fox execs."

We love to watch: Not only does metro Atlanta tune in more TV each day than the national average, but it's taste in shows is different (Phil Kloer)

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Apr 16 1998, pD1

Observing that Atlanta viewers favour "...shows on newer networks (Fox, WB, UPN) more than the rest of the country" and cites The Simpsons as an example of one of those shows.

'King' Staff Hardly Quick on the Draw (Kenney Littlefield)

Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Apr 16 1998, p8

Observing that King of the Hill is drawn entirely by hand at Film Roman, taking 100 artists 28 weeks to animate, mentions that another 100 artists work on The Simpsons.

'Simpsons' Creator on Poking Fun (M.S. Mason)

Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Apr 17 1998, pB7

This wonderful illustrated article is half Matt Groening interview, half commentary. Transcribed below.

There's a little bit of Matt Groening in Bart Simpson. The man who created the diminutive provocateur for The Simpsons says he grew up watching too much television and fantasized what he would do if he got his own TV show.

"Well this is what I would have done, and I did it," he says, adding wryly, "At an early age I was most strongly affected by Leave It to Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet. (The Simpsons) is my skewed reaction to those shows."

Mr. Groening's baby is the longest-running prime-time animated series in television history. It has won a Peabody Award, 12 Emmys, and a shelf-load of assorted others. About to hatch its 200th episode, "Trash of the Titans" (Fox, April 26, 8-8:30 p.m.), the "plausible impossible" family long ago achieved pop-icon status.

In the best tradition of TV families, the Simpsons love one another, no matter what. The show has all the elements of its live-action family-oriented prototypes, with a twist: an involved community; assorted villains; a sweet, annoying next-door neighbor; and the family itself - a goofy dad whose frailties get him into trouble; a loving, sensible mom who usually gets him out again; two adorable little girls; and one 10-year-old trickster.

Bart is Dennis the Menace with self-awareness - a kid so abused by the public school system that when he was labeled a failure in kindergarten, he found his self-esteem as the class stand-up comic. But Bart's pranks can be obnoxious, and he has worried many parents and teachers who fret publicly about his bad influence - his cheeky back talk, his enthusiastic naughtiness, and his inattention at school. He's no role model.

"Bart isn't a good example," agrees Groening. "He isn't a good role model. But I used to get letters saying, 'Homer isn't wearing a seat belt; he's a bad example.' But you can laugh at him because you don't want to be like him."

The nature of Bart's abrasive commentary is satirical. And the nature of the best satire is, of course, to poke fun at human foibles. When it's good, satire makes you think, and The Simpsons skewers everything from nuclear waste to alien abductions, the movies, TV, and official hypocrisy.

"For me, it's hard to approach satire directly. I don't think we sit down and say, 'How do we satirize this subject?' We are trying to make a solid half-hour of entertainment - cram as many jokes in there as we can. But everybody (on the writing staff), Republicans and Democrats, has a strong point of view. And we share a vision that our leaders aren't always telling us the truth, that our institutions sometimes fail us, and that people in media don't necessarily have any corner on wisdom - because we're in media ourselves and we know what idiots we are," he laughs.

"So we just have fun with it." Satire, says Groening, is about "not taking ourselves too seriously. Solemnity is always used by authority to stop critical thinking. 'You can't make a joke about that' is a way of shutting people up. It's a cartoon: (Making jokes) is what we're supposed to do."

Mining his own experience, Groening based his characters on people he knew and named many of them after people he loves. "Homer is not like my father, also named Homer, except that my father did get mad sometimes. But he wasn't stupid, fat, or bald.... My father was a cartoonist and filmmaker, so he's not like Homer....

"There is a little bit of my mother in Marge. My mom is long-suffering like Marge, and she did have tall hair when I was a kid. She always denied it, but we have photos. My sisters, Lisa and Maggie, aren't really like Lisa and Maggie (in the show) - although Lisa claims she always was the unrecognized talent, and (she thinks) it's great the way I captured that."

But, he emphasizes, the characters aren't designed to inflict vengeance on people in real life. "Over the course of the show, some of them have taken on doltish characteristics, and now I'm afraid to call up some of these people," he laughs.

"Overall," says Groening, "I've always said it is a celebration of the American family at its wildest."

Off-Kilter (Roy Rivenburg)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 20 1998, p4

An Internet poll by TeenPeople magazine shows that "...more people admire the marriage of fictional cartoon characters Marge and Homer Simpson than the marriage of real-life cartoon characters Bill and Hillary Clinton."

We certainly admire Homer and Marge more!

Fox fights to stay in top three (not supplied)

USA Today, Arlington, Apr 20 1998, p3D

Fox Entertainment president Roth proclaiming that Fox can hold their own during the sweeps against NBC despite the fact that NBC is showing the Seinfeld series finale. Fox can do this because they'll be showing "...four original episodes of Ally McBeal and Party of Five, the big wedding of Brandon and Kelly on Beverly Hills, 90210, and the 200th episode of The Simpsons."

Fox Grooms Artists-in-Training (Beverly Beyette)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 21 1998, p2

A passing reference; "Although they know more about Fox's Bart Simpson than about Fox's Rupert Murdoch, the 400 youngsters visiting Fox Studios for a wrap party for their in-school storytelling program were all ears as the pretty blond woman--Mrs. Murdoch--said, 'I hope one day a lot of you are going to be working here at Fox.' "

Glued to the Tube / Fake Sport, Real Injuries: This Is as Good as It Gets (Diane Werts)

Newsday, Long Island, Apr 21 1998, pB27

Just a passing reference in this article in defense of wrestling recommends watching The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling, an A&E documentary. "Talk About a big TV night - Sunday is it! Not only does Fox have the 200th episode of The Simpsons (8 p.m. on WNYW / 5), but A&E offers a full two hours (at 9 p.m.) telling The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling!

The Hollywood Reporter Salute to the 200th Episode of 'The Simpsons'

The Odyssey The adventures of Homer's nuclear family hits the double-century mark with no signs of slowing (Harold Goldberg)

The Write Duff Stomach pumps and animated asses are all in a day's work (Chuck Crisafulli)

Q & A: Matt Groening 'The Simpsons' creator talks about the future of the show and ageless Homer (with Harvey Deneroff)

Sketch Artists Making Changes on the fly sets 'The Simpsons' apart (Harvey Deneroff)

v352n14 The Hollywood Reporter, Apr 24-26 1998, Cover, pS-1 to S-12 and additional full-page congratulations on inside front cover, inside back cover and back cover

Fantastic tribute by The Hollywood Reporter has several articles we'll be transcribing shortly.

Family; The Next Chapter; Kids will get a chance to meet the authors of some of their favorite books (Laurie K. Schenden)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Apr 23 1998, pF40

Not only can 'kids' meet their favorite authors, but more importantly, they can meet their favorite animators. Can I come? "At 11 a.m., Bill Morrison will talk with animators and artists from The Simpsons on the Perloff Quad."

Ay Caramba! Trailblazing toon still in top form after nine seasons (Ray Richmond)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

Back on Track Earlier contract dispute behind voice cast (not supplied)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

'Question Reality' Simpsons writers have unique challenge (Ramin Zahed)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

Merchandising madness to milk major mass appeal Fox revamps Simpsons marketing strategy (Paul Karon)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

World gets a kick out of twisted U.S. family International auds gradually accepting Bart and co. (Sharon Swart)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

Pumping the tunes in toontown Vet Clausen's received nine Emmy noms for Simpsons scoring (Jon Burlingame)

Variety, Apr 23 1998

Read about it right here!

Channel Surfer 'The Simpsons' 200th has the smell of success (Phil Kloer)

The Atlanta Constitution/The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Apr 24 1998, pF4

An article in praise of The Simpsons on their 200th anniversary. We quote this wonderful write-up.

Seinfelds come and Seinfelds go, but The Simpsons is forever.

Not to detract from our Great National Wallow in Jerry-grief, but when Seinfeld debuted, The Simpsons (8 p.m. Sunday on Fox (8713)) was already such a hit it was being paraded all over town on pirated T-shirts. After Seinfeld calls it quits in three weeks, The Simpsons will keep on rolling into next season and beyond.

Pound for pound, which show is better, the one with big-haired Kramer or the one with big-haired Marge? That's debatable, but what's worth noting is that The Simpsons has been so good for so long that it's somewhat taken for granted. It was replaced on some arbitrary "Hot List" of hip animation first by Beavis & Butt-head, then King of the Hill, now by South Park. But when you total up cleverness, inspired spoofery and outright laughs, all three of those combined can't touch The Simpsons.

On Sunday, Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa and Maggie become part of the 14th prime-time entertainment series in history to reach 200 episodes. Next fall, when Murphy Brown is off, The Simpsons will be the longest-running comedy or drama on the air.

So what is this blissfully dysfunctional nuclear family up to this week? It starts when no one wants to empty the kitchen garbage can, piling it on, mashing it down, everyone subscribing to that time-honored philosophy: "He who tops it off drops it off, and it isn't filled until it's spilled."

Homer ends up being the fall guy, gets into a fight with the garbage collectors, who boycott pickup at the Simpson home, and before the first commercial break, Homer is running for sanitation commissioner of Springfield against the incumbent, Ray Patterson (voiced by Steve Martin). Rock band U2 also shows up to do the usual spoof-our-persona bit, and there's one of those big musical numbers, this one a parody of The Candy Man transposed into The Garbage Man.

The Simpsons makes it all look easy. May they keep on doing so.

Tuning Out the TV / Contra Costa families channel their attention into life (Sam McManis)

San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, Apr 24 1998, p1

Article reviewing the effects of TV Turn-Off Week on one California family. Surely they can watch one show! The Simpsons, the absence of which is no doubt the greatest of pain, is repeatedly referenced. It begins; "Take a stroll down a suburban street any night during those post- dinner, pre-sleep hours of repose. At house after house, take note of that bluish light flickering through the family-room curtains. Hear the faint echoes of canned laughter and catchy 30-second jingles. Peek inside at families transfixed in front of television sets as if in supplication before an altar." Only when out favorite family is on. Later in the same article; "It takes a brave parent with boundless energy, patience and perhaps even a masochistic streak not to let the kids watch a rerun of The Simpsons so they can get dinner ready." Not perhaps, definitely masochistic. In reference to their ability to keep the television off; "Truth be told, Loren had more meltdowns that week than the fictitious nuclear power plant on The Simpsons. The other Carter kids would whine occasionally, but Loren wailed." They subsequently list the children's favorite shows; "...Dawson's Creek, The Simpsons, King of the Hill" to which mom comments 'Sometimes, I'll sit down and watch Dawson's Creek with them, and it's so bad it's embarrassing...It's really hard. It's impossible for me to say no, that they can't watch a certain show. At least, to the kids in high school." No, you can say no do Dawson's Creek. It's O.K., really. "But," dad adds, "they do have to abide by our values in choosing programs." Implying, of course, that The Simpsons abide by their values. Bravo!

What's On TV (Suman Bandrapalli, Yvonne Zipp, M.S. Mason)

Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Apr 24 1998, pB7

Recommends episode 5F09: "Trash of the Titans" saying "Homer digs up his dream job: sanitation commissioner. In his quest for glory, he runs a - what else - trashy campaign involving a rock concert, smear tactics, and that political staple: promises he can't keep. Steve Martin and U2 are on hand to help prime time's longest-running animated show celebrate its 200th episode."

Animation fest films a particularly lively bunch (Renee Graham)

Boston Globe, Boston, Apr 24 1998, pD6

Passing reference, giving some excellent independent animation it's due but perhaps choosing some of the wrong enemies. "To many, animation begins and ends with the craven children of Comedy Central's South Park, Matt Groening's The Simpsons or such Mike Judge creations as Beavis & Butt-head and King of the Hill. While all are entertaining, they can't come close to the inventiveness of the 17 shorts presented here with such things as inebriated Australian flies playing chicken with an electronic fly zapper; a voracious feline with an appetite for everything in its path; and a fiddle-loving devil who challenges a young boy to a musical duel." Right.

200 'Simpsons'? D'oh! Cartoon clan has put fun back in dysfunctional (Don Aucoin)

Boston Globe, Boston, MA, Apr 25 1998, pC1

A wonderfully positive review of the show in it's ninth season, one that demands retelling here.

With the 200th episode of The Simpsons set to air tomorrow night, it was only fitting that Yeardley Smith (the voice of Lisa Simpson) took a moment yesterday to ponder The Meaning of It All.

Smith couldn't help contrasting her show with a certain other '90s comedy series reaching the end of the line just as The Simpsons hits a milestone that further cements its status as TV's longest- running prime-time animated show ever.

"The Seinfeld rule is 'no hugging, no learning,' but on The Simpsons, we hug a lot and learn a lot," mused Smith on the phone from Los Angeles. "The show is not without a moral."

True enough, although the moral is often as cockeyed and hilarious as the Simpsons themselves.

Here's a typical moral from the lips of Homer Simpson, beer-bellied Everyman, advising son Bart when the would-be rocker has trouble mastering the guitar: "If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." Or this one from ever-supportive Marge after Homer damages a radioactive pipe, forcing the shutdown of the nuclear power plant where he works: "There, there, Homer. You've caused plenty of industrial accidents and you've always bounced back." Or this Homeric epiphany from another show: "When will I learn? The answers to life's problems aren't at the bottom of a bottle. They're on TV!"

And so, blessedly, is The Simpsons. Still.

As it nears the end of its ninth season, the Fox show (seen locally at 8 p.m. Sundays on WFXT-Ch. 25) remains so brilliantly original that it threatens to deplete the nation's storehouse of superlatives. But there are still a few left, so here goes: The Simpsons is the best-written comedy on TV, the deftest social satire on TV, and -- steel yourselves -- one of the staunchest defenders of family values on TV.

But that's here-and-now. It is also fair to ask, on the occasion of the show's 200th episode, "The Trash of the Titans": What will posterity have to say about The Simpsons?

"That this is a show for all time, beyond eras," responded Vince Waldron, author of Classic Sitcoms: A Celebration of the Best in Prime Time.

"Like I Love Lucy and The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Simpsons is a member of a very small and esteemed group of shows that are worthy of the title 'classic,' " said Waldron. "It will be as fresh to viewers in the new millennium as it is to us now."

But what makes it fresh to us now?

"Its incredibly rich texture and its astonishing range," replied University of Massachusetts journalism professor Ralph Whitehead.

"Dozens of characters, dozens of settings, sendups of all kinds of media genres: The Simpsons ranges so widely across the social and cultural landscape of the country that it allows you to channel-surf without touching the channel selector," said Whitehead.

Added Smith: "We take no prisoners. We go after everyone."

In the beginning, The Simpsons triggered considerable controversy -- remember those schools that banned the wearing of Bart Simpson T-shirts? -- but now, as Whitehead says, "it's turned into a classic piece of Sunday evening family entertainment. It's taking its place up there alongside The Ed Sullivan Show."

And just as Ed Sullivan defined CBS entertainment for many years, so did the attitude-laden Simpsons define the Fox network. In fact, Steven D. Stark, author of Glued to the Set: The 60 Television Shows and Events That Made Us Who We Are Today, argues that Fox might not have survived without the show.

Stark argues that the quality of The Simpsons, which he calls "the most writer-driven show in TV history," helped "legitimize" Fox at a time when the network seemed terminally lowbrow. (Today, Fox often finishes third or higher in the ratings.)

Beyond helping change the TV landscape by bolstering a fourth network, The Simpsons also opened the nation's eyes to the satiric possibilities of a cartoon aimed at adults, taking the innovations of Rocky and Bullwinkle to a whole new level.

The influence of The Simpsons can be seen in the spate of other animated shows that have cropped up in its wake, from South Park to Dr. Katz to King of the Hill, and in the activities of Simpsons alumni such as Conan O'Brien, who began as a writer for the show.

"In the long run, despite all the hype for Seinfeld, The Simpsons is a much more significant show culturally for TV history," said Stark.

Dr. Will Miller, a psychiatrist who discusses sitcoms as the on-air "TV therapist" for Nick at Nite, said The Simpsons appealed to viewers because they saw a cracked-mirror version of their own families in the Simpsons.

"Homer is as much of a butthead today as he was in the first episode, and millions of people can relate to that, because they too had an imperfect parent, and they became better than their parent, like Lisa and Bart try to do," said Miller. " The Simpsons did the real family better than any sitcom ever did."

Like real families, The Simpsons is not immune to discord. Smith, along with Dan Castellaneta (the voice of Homer), Harry Shearer (Smithers and many others), and Hank Azaria (Moe the bartender), recently ended a five-week holdout and settled a contract dispute with 20th Century-Fox Television, producers of The Simpsons. Their salaries will increase to at least $50,000 per episode, according to reports.

"It was a brilliant lesson in human behavior, those five weeks," said Smith. "It got ugly, and it got messy. But we felt we had to make a stand on principle. If they lost the voices, they would lose a good deal of the heart and soul of the show."

As for still being Lisa after all these years, Smith professes contentment. She is pleased that the writers never lost sight of the fact that Lisa Simpson is 8 years old, and that Lisa, while remaining as precocious as ever, "gets on her soapbox" a lot less these days. More broadly, Smith is buoyed by an awareness that in giving voice to one of the characters on The Simpsons, she's been part of something big.

"I do think it will be part of TV history," she said.

For Parents, Ways to Childproof the Net; Workshop Suggests Software, Steps for Minimizing Danger (Wendy Melillo)

The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Apr 26 1998, pB1

In attempting to control children's use of the Internet one parent only allows access to three categories of material. "Right now, they are limited to sports, the Simpsons and Beanie Babies on the Internet..." Hmmm. Maybe they're reading this now.

Best...The Beautiful...and the Bizarre; Cast Aways; Cow-a-Bono, Dude (Janet Kinosian)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 26 1998, p10

From the So Socal column of The Los Angeles Times Magazine, this article points out that it was U2 who prompted the appearance on The Simpsons. "It wasn't Bart's idea to have U2 drop by Springfield, USA, for the 200th episode of The Simpsons tonight. That idea came from a phantom phone call when someone in the Irish band's camp - no one remembers whom - expressed interest in a Simpson-U2 collaboration, 'if something worked out.' Says Mike Scully, the show's executive producer: 'We made darn sure something worked out.' "

The Simpsons Never Change But the Audience Does (Charles Strum)

New York Times, New York, Apr 26, 1998, p59

Scully discusses The Simpsons' changing audience. " 'The audience is changing,' said Mike Scully, the executive producer since 1993. 'Initially a lot of parents wouldn't let their kids watch the show. But I think a combination of things - Beavis and Butt-head and South Park - have suddenly made The Simpsons the preferred choice. Many families watch the show together. Does this mean The Simpsons is now bourgeois, fuddy-duddy, old hat? No, Mr. Scully says. It means that Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie and dozens of other regulars are 'characters so well established' that the audience can jump quickly into any script and feel right at home."

A '90s-Style Tarzan and Jane (Bob Heisler)

Newsday Long Island, NY, Apr 27 1998, pB19

Just a passing reference, saying that although "...producer Stanley Canter and director Carl Schenkel have created a Tarzan for our times", "...someone should have reminded them that our times have produced such cultural heroes as George Costanza and Homer Simpson." It goes on to point out what's wrong with this modern day Tarzan.

TV Milestones (Harry Levins)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, Apr 28 1998, pA2

From the Newsmakers column, a mention of The Simpsons passing the 200-episode mark. "Yeardley Smith says the show has stayed fresh by making fun of everything and everyone. 'We take no prisoners,' Smith says. 'We go after everyone' "

Rebel Without a Clutch (Story: Barry Dutter, Art: Shaun Cashman, Letters: Chris Ungar, Colors: Nathan Kane, Hooligan: Matt Groening)

v8n7 Disney Adventures, May 1998, p81-86

p6 Table of contents illustrated with Bart on skateboard to highlight the Simpsons comic within.

A Bongo Simpsons mini-comic within the pages of Disney Adventures. Always impressive since it's not a Disney property and because it wouldn't have always been considered Disney appropriate.

Arquivo X Encountra Os Simpsons Isso só pode ser uma conspiração para matar os fãs... de rir (Sergio Miranda)

n67 SCI-FI, May 1998, p38-40

Even I can translate the article title: "X-Files Encounter The Simpsons". Article discusses X-Files on The Simpsons, Patrick Stewart playing "Número Um" in the Stonecutter's episode, Michelle Pfeiffer as Mindy Simmons and all the other stars that have appeared on the show. Translating the article is a little more difficult; of course, that doesn't stop us from quoting some of it.

Averdade está lá fora. E para Homer Simpson, ela pode continuar lá que não vai fazer diferença nenhuma, E ainda mais: por que esta tal de verdade não vai perturbar o Flanders para variar?

Toon Time Does it sometimes seem as if animated shows are taking over your television? Nick at Nite's Dr. Will Miller explains what the toons you watch say about you. (Will Miller)

Teen People, May 1998, p34

Evaluation of six shows has this about our favorite family;

what it's about: a contentedly dysfunctional family

if you watch it: Though you may not come from a dysfunctional family, you feel you're smarter than your own parents. Therefore, you feel comfortable taking care of yourself.

Are You a Man or a Wuss (Mark Golin)

v2n4 Maxim, May 1998, p76-79

One of the newer men's magazines. No, not pornographic.

p79 In a box titled "The Wuss Hall of Fame" we see seven men who qualify, being Boy George, Abel (of biblical fame), Michael Flatley ("Lord of the Prance"), Richard Simmons, Gallagher, Arnie (with a caption that says "Just kidding, big guy") and the only fictional character, Ned Flanders, with the caption "Wuss-a-diddly-dokly". He's pictured petting Santa's Little Helper with Bart, with Principal Skinner surreptitiously looking on.

A Tale of Three Cities (James Martin)

v178n15 America, New York, May 2 1998, p21-22

Excellent positive commentary and analyses of The Simpsons, King of the Hill and South Park, noting that they offer "accurate and astute social commentary" not available in other forums. While many articles have made the point that The Simpsons act "more human" than there non-animated sitcom counterparts, it begins "Three of the most creative shows on television today employ characters with few or no human characteristics (and I'm not talking about soap operas)." It continues "Doubtless you've seen at least one of the shows in question, since last year it surpassed The Flintstones as the longest running prime-time cartoon in television history: The Simpsons." It then notes a bias we've observed by the uninitiated towards The Simpsons; "Does the idea of watching cartoons at age... whatever your age is...strike you as a bit juvenile?". Actually, the idea of watching most sitcoms is what strikes me as juvenile! It continues, " ...missing these shows...would be a pity, since their writers are surprisingly astute social critics. The Simpsons and King of the Hill skewer American culture better than almost any other show, and can do so largely because their plots have fewer limitations than live-action comedies, and the programs are unconstrained by actors who are afraid to alienate their fans by doing or saying something that might give offense." It then does a nice biographical description of Simpson characters. "In case you don't already know - the Simpson family begins with Homer, a supremely indolent, beer-drinking prole, and his wife, Marge, of the towering blue hairdo. Homer's raison d'ˆtre, besides sleeping and quaffing his beloved Duff Beer, is eating. 'Mmmm...' he says frequently. (Upon hearing a passing reference to the late Chief Justice Warren Burger: 'Mmmm.... burgers!') Marge, on the other hand, wants nothing more than a quiet home, a noble and somewhat unrealistic goal, considering her son, Bart (whose name is an easy anagram), their intellectual daughter, Lisa, and the toddler Maggie. With this small group, The Simpsons manages to make light of just about every lamentable aspect of contemporary American culture. Homer, to take but one example, toils as a 'worker drone / safety inspector' in the local nuclear power plant, located by a river that, during one episode, produced a three-eyed fish ( 7F01). This wonderfully written series, created by Matt Groening, is also home to a host of memorable minor characters who populate the fictional town of Springfield. There is C. Montgomery Burns, for instance, Homer's deliciously evil, Croesus-like boss. Mr. Burns lives primarily to cheat his employees, and his frequent successes in this line are marked by his hunched frame slowly hissing out a single word: 'Excellent!' Also enjoyable is Apu, the manager of the local convenience store, the Kwik-E-Mart. Apu puts in countless hours in his store (which is continually being robbed) but tirelessly belts out his standard greeting: 'Welcome to the Kwik-E-Mart! Would you like a Squishee?' Apu is, believe it or not, named after the character created by the Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray." After then commenting on King of the Hill and South Park (which he describes as a cartoon with characters that look like the characters from Peanuts but talk like the characters from Fritz the Cat) it then concludes quite nicely as follows; "...if you're looking for some accurate social commentary, forget about the tired inanities of Dateline or 20/20. After all, how many tainted meat/evil-H.M.O. shows can you watch? Better to spend a half hour in Springfield or Arlen, and find out what's really going on in this country."

Homes & Gardens: Growth area It is a place to mope, dote, fret, dream, where Bart Simpson and lizards keep company with lava lamps and road signs. Yes, it's the teenage bedroom and, adults, it's none of your business, okay? Well . . . Lesley Gillilan visits some of these Blu-Tac temples. (Lesley Gillilan)

The Guardian, Manchester, May 2 1998, pTT60

Article on the decor of British teen bedrooms repeatedly references The Simpsons. Lucy, age 13, has a gallery of her poster Romeo's - including Bart Simpson. In general teenage boys have "adopted Homer Simpson as a role model", and for girls, "...Bart was voted number 33 in Bliss magazine's `100% reader voted' poll of the world's top 50 sexiest lads" and "He appears (Bart, that is) in the current issue with his kit off."

Culture Watch: The 'Seinfeld' Age and the Culture of Narcissism (Scott McLemee)

Newsday, Long Island, NY, May 3 1998, pB6

An analyses of Seinfeld, the show whose theme was a show about nothing, notes negatively that "Seinfeld used to be" his favorite show, and "...better that it die now than meet the fate of The Simpsons (another once-inspired show now deserving a mercy killing)." Oddly enough, I believe he merely alludes to the most important point, that "syndication-overload undermines his devotion", i.e., it's not so much a decline in quality necessarily as the fact that people grow tired of the show. Moreover, when looking back we compare every episode to the cache of great episodes we remember, pleasantly forgetting the episodes that many would sooner forget. It is often noted that we would rather watch a 'lousy' episode of The Simpsons then just about any episode of most sitcoms.

Scott McLemee writes in response to the above:

"You wonder if my statement that The Simpsons deserves euthanasia might not be an effect of seeing it too much in syndication. I'd say no, not at all. At some point in the last few years -- I date it about the time of the "George Bush" episode (3F09: "Two Bad Neighbors") -- the writing started to stink like a week-old mackeral. I still love the shows that ran before that point, and once in a while afterwards, but now find it so bad as to be unable to finish an episode. The only thing syndication has done has been to increase my appreciation for the show's good days. Anyway, that's how it looks to one fanatical viewer. And as such, I think your bibliography is a marvel -- even if it does include the years when The Simpsons were replaced by soulless zombies."

Getting a Piece of the Pie; Television: Audiences take note of 'Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place,'... (Steve Weinstein)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 6 1998, pF1

Passing reference about the Simpsons notes that Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place didn't have what was needed to be on Fox; it was unlike The Simpsons, saying "It's not loud. It's not form-breaking. It's not genuinely distinctive. It's just a bloody well-done little show."

TV Portrayals of Minorities Criticized; Poll: Children say blacks, Latinos are depicted more negatively than whites, Asians.

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 7 1998, pB1

Interviews of 300 white, Latino, Asian and black children show that they all associate positive qualities with white characters and negative qualities with minority characters. The Simpson tie-in here; "Minority children primarily admire black television figures such as Michael Jordan, Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey, while white children admire white and 'crossover' figures: Jerry Seinfeld, Bart Simpson, Tim Allen and George Clooney, as well as Jordan and Smith."

Hitting a Homer--Simpsons' artist shocked by success (Ben Rayner)

Ottawa Sun, May 8 1998

David Silverman visiting Ottawa at a conference of information-technology professionals at the Congress Centre is interviewed. A transcript of this can be found right here!

Last night's TV: The backlit banality of Evil (Adam Sweeting)

The Guardian, Manchester, May 8 1998, pT30

Another backhanded compliment for The Simpsons in this review of Touching Evil, saying that "Green plays DI Dave Creegan, but you get better-drawn characters in The Simpsons. Take it as you may, but I'm just assuming that he forgot to mention that The Simpsons also has more intelligent characters, better plots, superior scripts and fine acting.

New Fox unit to revitalize 'Simpsons' merchandise (Jeff Jensen)

Advertising Age, May 11 1998

Considering the continuing popularity of The Simpsons and the money to be made it's amazing that the merchandising machine has slowed down to a crawl.

No raise . . . no big deal (staff)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, May 11 1998, p1

Given the events that were to follow later that year, it makes this story all the more sadder. "Homer, Lisa and Bart Simpson held out for pay raises this year. What about the venerable star of D-movies and infomercials, Troy McClure? 'No,' sighs Phil Hartman, who gives Troy his voice. 'There was no raise for Troy.'" He goes on to say "I've probably done 50 of the 200 episodes, but it's the one thing that I do in my life that's almost an avocation. I do it for the pure love of it. Yeah, it's one of the great success stories in modern television. When all is said and done, it's the favorite thing I do. I love NewsRadio, but nothing makes me laugh more than Troy McClure."

Newsmakers (author not supplied)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, May 11 1998, p2

Same Associated Press story as described in Times-Picayune, May 11 1998.

'Godzilla' Star Wins Famed Fiancee 'Audition' Lands Role in Real Life (people column) (author not supplied)

Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA, May 11 1998, pA6

Passing reference noting that Hank Azaria, whom appears in the movie Godzilla is "...also a veteran voice performer who does characters on The Simpsons including Moe the bartender, Apu the store clerk and Police Chief Wiggum."

Daimler wants free-wheeling American spirit to rub off on risk-averse Germans (Jon Pepper)

Detroit News, Detroit, MI, May 15 1998, pB1

Passing reference to The Simpsons noting how Germans (like much of the world) love American pop culture, observing that "Television is riddled with American shows such as Die Simpsons, reruns of Drei Angels fur Charlie and commercials for Slim Fast, McDonald's and Coca-Cola."

Homer's favorite brew underground hit in Australia

Times Union, Albany, May 18 1998, pA2

Now that the South Australian Brewing Co. was banned from selling Duff by a court order in 1966 it's price has skyrocketed. They report inflated prices of $750 for a six-pack and from $2800 to $6300 a case. A November 1998 check of the market found $50/can to $1000/case.

Gimmicks, Glamour And Guts At Cannes (Janet Maslin)

New York Times, New York, May 18 1998, pE1

Passing reference to the Simpsons, observing if not bemoaning the fact that the Cannes Film Festival is no longer the cultural icon it once represented and has now assumed a more trendy air, and a representative fact of this is that "...a poster vendor along the Croisette is selling 22 different portraits of Leonardo DiCaprio, 5 of the Simpsons, 3 of the Spice Girls, 2 of Bob Marley, 1 of Che Guevara and 1 of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.".

Gee, I wonder which 5...

Q & A: HANK AZARIA; He Faced the Lizard and Lived to Tell (Steven Smith)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 20 1998, pF1

Hank Azaria, observing that the directors of Godzilla "...wanted it to be a very New York character dealing with Godzilla. I used to know Dean (Devlin) because he was an actor, I'd see him on auditions. One day I ran into him at a restaurant. He's a big Simpsons fan, and he said, 'You know, we're doing 'Godzilla,' there's a part in it for you. . . .' I figured, I'll either get killed in the first 10 minutes or it'll be three scenes. . . . Nobody offers a good part in a restaurant."

The Best Of The Simpsons: Wave 3 (video review) (Catherine Applefeld Olson)

v110n21 Billboard, New York; May 23, 1998, p26

Positive review of the third installment of Simpson episodes released on tape (not counting the initial Christmas show) notes that "Series creator Matt Groening hand-picked these six uncut episodes".

For a list of all The Simpsons Audio and Video releases, see our list on the archive right here!

New book celebrates Rolling Stone covers (book review)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, May 24 1998, p26

I won't stop typing until I get my picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone! Book review of "Rolling Stone: The Complete Covers, 1967-1997", by Jann S. Wenner, which includes, naturally, Bart Simpson from the Jun 28, 1990 issue of Rolling Stone.. The book itself is indexed right here!

10 cool things you don't know about 'Godzilla' -- and Elvis (Andy Seiler of USA Today)

Detroit News, Detroit, MI, May 27 1998, pE8d

Item number 5; "The Simpsons connection. Simpsons voices Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer and Nancy Cartwright are in the movie. Azaria (Police Chief Wiggam, Moe the Bartender, Apu) plays cameraman Animal; Shearer (Mr. Burns, Smithers, Principal Skinner, Ned Flanders) plays anchorman Charles Caiman; and Nancy Cartwright (Bart) has a cameo. Her big line: 'Your story just walked past the window,' as Godzilla passes."

The Elvis connection at number 7; "Elvis has two voices. When French star Jean Reno does an Elvis impersonation to convince the authorities he's an American, his voice is a computer-blended combination of Reno's and Azaria's Presley imitations. (Azaria did it better.)"

Retro; Where Couch Potatoes Can Go to Console Themselves (Joan Fantazia)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 28 1998, pF61

Expressing concerns that the Museum of Television & Radio's bring name doesn't quite convey the exciting things that can be found within, they hypothesize that a better name could be "Place Where You Can Watch a Lot of Really Cool TV Shows You Might Not Be Able to See Anywhere Else." More importantly, however, is the fact that the number one show requested is The Simpsons!

The Comedian's Final Tragedy `SNL' Alumnus Phil Hartman Found Dead; Wife Commits Suicide (Sharon Waxman)

The Washington Post, Washington, DC, May 29 1998, pB1

By far the saddest Simpsons related story of the year, the death of Phil Hartman, aka Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz. His role with our favourite family is described as doing "...regular voice-overs as a series of satirically smarmy characters on The Simpsons"

Hartman hid genius behind his versatility Chameleonic 'true professional' built career away from limelight (Andy Seiler)

USA Today, May 29 1998, p 2E

By far the saddest Simpsons related story of the year, the death of Phil Hartman, aka Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz.

"Everyone at The Simpsons is devastated by the death of Phil Hartman," says the show's creator Matt Groening. "His brilliant comic acting and easygoing enthusiasm made him a joy to work with, and he will be sorely missed."

No motive known for Hartman shootings (Jefferson Graham)

USA Today, Arlington, May 29 1998, p3A

Within another article about the sad story of Phil Hartman's death, a mention of his role as several voices on The Simpsons.

Comedian Hartman found dead wife shoots self as police come through front door (Sharon Waxman of the Washington Post)

Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA, May 29 1998

Same story that appeared in The Washington Post, May 29 1998.

Murder-Suicide Claims Actor, Wife; Tragedy: Phil Hartman, star of 'NewsRadio' and a 'Saturday Night Live' alumnus, was shot apparently by his spouse. Couple's children are unharmed. (Solomon Moore, Greg Braxton, T. Christian Miller)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 29 1998, pB1

Another Simpsons mention within this sad story.

Phil Hartman: An appreciation: He became anybody he wanted (Lyle V. Harris)

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, May 29 1998, pF1

Discussing with his passing how Phil Hartman could morph into anyone he wanted to, including "...the incompetent 'toon lawyer Lionel Hutz on The Simpsons" A brief biography; "Hartman was born Sept. 24, 1948, in Brantford, Ontario, the fifth of eight children of Doris and Rupert Hartmann (the star later dropped the second "n" from his family name and became a U.S. citizen in 1990). The family settled first in Connecticut before moving to California, where Hartman spent his childhood surfing. He attended Westchester High School with Squeaky Fromme, would-be assassin of President Gerald Ford, and was voted class clown for his impersonations of Jack Benny, John Wayne and Lyndon B. Johnson." He had a flair for drawing and got a degree from California State University in graphic design. He landed a job designing album covers for rock groups such as Crosby, Stills & Nash, America and Steely Dan. But the work bored him, and in 1975, he joined the Los Angeles sketch comedy troupe the Groundlings to improve his social life. There, Hartman hooked up with another virtual unknown, a skinny comic named Paul Reubens who was developing a character he dubbed "the worst stand-up comedian in the world." Hartman helped Reubens craft his pasty-faced, bow-tied alter ego, Pee-wee Herman, who would go on to stardom in his own Saturday morning kids show --- Pee-wee's Playhouse --- in which Hartman had a recurring role as Kap'n Karl. When Reubens hit the big screen in Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Hartman co-wrote the screenplay.

Hartman Made Mark On 'SNL' / Comedian lent talent to 'Simpsons,' other shows (Mick LaSalle)

San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA, May 29 1998, pC1

Another article with just a passing Simpsons reference.

Whatever Hartman did, he always made a great impression (Jennifer Weiner)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, May 29 1998, p2

MG's comments about this sad story. "...Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, said in a statement that everyone at the show was 'devastated' by Hartman's death. 'His brilliant comic acting and easy-going enthusiasm made him a joy to work with, and he will be sorely missed.' ".

Englewood woman recalls 'Simpsons' work (Mark Harden)

Denver Post, Denver, CO, May 29 1998, pA5

Comments by Maggie Roswell, aka Helen Lovejoy, Maude Flanders, Ms. Hoover, Luann Van Houten et. al. who recalled Phil Hartman as "a brilliant entertainer" whose death will "crush the comedy community." Maggie Roswell said Hartman's death Thursday "is extremely sad news. ... It just doesn't make any sense." Roswell described Hartman, 49, as "truly one of the most warm and genuine people. A lot of comics are 'on' all the time, but that was so not Phil's style."

Friends Shocked By Slaying of Hartman (Sharon Waxman - Washington Post)

Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY, May 29, 1998, pA14

Same story that appeared in The Washington Post, May 29 1998.

Comedian Hartman is slain in apparent murder-suicide (Lynda Gorov)

Boston Globe, Boston, MA, May 29 1998, pA1

Another passing Simpsons reference within the story of this sad event.

The Week That Was (no author supplied)

The Post-Standard, Syracuse, May 30 1998, pA6

Another passing Simpsons reference within the story of the passing of Phil Hartman.

Bart Simpsons leaves his mark (Verena Dobnik, Associated Press)

Times - Picayune, New Orleans, LA, May 31 1998, pA34

Hmmm. Now were indexing articles about other articles. Commenting on Time's choice of artists and entertainers who most influenced life in the 20th century, and in particular, Bart Simpson. Describing him as "The cartoon hellion of the popular television sitcom, The Simpsons", they call this an "offbeat choice" supplying Time's justification for his inclusion.

Deaths Last Week.

Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL, May 31 1998, p6

Another passing Simpsons reference within the story of the passing of Phil Hartman.

Monica's Frowny Face (Maureen Dowd)

New York Times, New York, May 31 1998, D17

Scandals! Adultery! Those are amongst the index entries this article can be found under, but for us it's a passing reference as follows; "On top of all the other indignities she has suffered during her career as White House gofer and scandal babe, she had to spend hours on Thursday at the F.B.I. field office in Los Angeles. She had to write down in longhand whatever came into her head. The 24-year-old must have felt like Bart Simpson, forced by Schoolmaster (Ken) Starr to stay after class and copy out the same sentence a hundred times on the blackboard."

Bart Simpson on Time's Most Influential List (Verena Dobnik - Associated Press)

Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY, May 31 1998, pA8

Same Associated Press story as described in Times-Picayune, May 31 1998.

Bart Simpson makes Time's `most influential' list

Boston Globe, Boston, MA, May 31 1998, pA8

Same Associated Press story as described in Times-Picayune, May 31 1998.

Me and Mr. Burns (Jon Bradley Snyder)

I Bent My Wookiee! Celebrating the Star Wars/Simpsons connection (Scott Chernoff)

n38 Star Wars Insider, Jun/Jul 1998, Cover!, p7, p52-54, 56-57

Cover features great picture of Bart dressed as Luke Skywalker with light sabre in hand battling Homer as Darth Vader (or should we say Dark Helmet?) officially provided by Fox for this issue

p7 Editor's column indicates he doesn't refer to The Simpsons by name but instead calls it "The Only Reason I Own A Television". He grew up on "Life is Hell" comics and then followed The Simpsons from Tracey Ullman through to present. Quoting: "...Matt Groening, like George Lucas, is a visionary who genuinely loves his medium and supports the work of fellow artists. It seems like every year at San Diego Comic-Con International, I see Groening cruising the floor buying and supporting self-published and independent publications..".

p52 Table of Contents refers to this as "A complete rundown of every Star Wars reference on our favorite animated sitcom." (No need to add the qualifier animated, thank you.) The article begins with all the lavish praise The Simpsons so richly deserve. "If I had to get into a schoolyard fist fight over what was the funniest show of all time, I'd go to the mat for The Simpsons. No show has stayed so consistently brilliant for such a sustained period of time (production is under way on the show's 10th season), nor has any show sent me into so many uncontrollable fits of laughter. I don't know about you, but I've never made it through an episode of The Simpsons without laughing. Hard. Several times.

It continues; "That's thanks not only to the show's incredible cast of voice actors but also to its heroic writing staff, who over the years have used the animated citizens of Springfield USA to analyze and satirize nearly every aspect of American society and culture. Each episode of the Fox powerhouse is crammed with so many jokes and ideas that fans are richly rewarded with new laughs for every repeat viewing, and every story is played out by characters that have become more beloved - and real - to viewers than most of their live-action counterparts. Indeed, Homer's oft-repeated cry of 'D'oh' has become as ubiquitous a phrase in the pop culture pantheon as 'May the Force be with you'."

Article goes on to list a partial list of references to Star Wars on The Simpsons. Our complete list of Star Wars references is here!

Speaking in 'Toons (not supplied)

n42 Nickelodeon, Jun/Jul 1998, Cover! and pp52-53

Cover says "The Simpsons".

Nickelodeon (children's magazine) interview of Dan Castellaneta (aka Homer et. al.) and Kathy Najimy (Peggy on Kin of the Hill)

Which of your characters is most like you? Dan: Grandpa Phil is actually closer to me than Homer. (Phil on KOTH)

Did you know what Homer or Peggy would look like when you auditioned? Dan: Matt Groening [The Simpsons' creator] showed me a drawing of Homer and said, "Come up with a voice for him."

Have your characters changed over time? Dan: Homer has become dumber and more lovable. In the early episodes he was a lot more grouchy and mean.

Are the characters you play similar to one another? Dan: Well, both Grandpas I play are pretty much the same age - in their early eighties. Grandpa Simpson is an old fussbudget, whereas Grandpa Phil is very vibrant and doesn't really complain. Their similarity is that they both love telling long stories.

Do you do any other voices? Dan: I do about ten regular characters on The Simpsons, including Krusty the Clown, Mayor Quimby. Sideshow Mel, and Barney Gumble.

Which voice is harder to do, Homer's or Grandpa Phil's? Dan: I guess Homer is a little bit more taxing, because his emotions change like the wind. And he does a lot more screaming.

Do you record animated voices with other cast members or alone? Dan: We try to record The Simpsons together, because sometimes we ad lib off one another.

Would you want to spend time with your characters in real life? Dan: I don't think I'd hang around Homer, because I wouldn't have the patience.

Do you think you look like your characters? Dan: Only in being bald. I'm not yellow, and I don't have big bulgy eyes. I used to eat doughnuts, but not anymore.

loaded 50 (none)

Parklife (Phil Robinson)

n50 Loaded, Jun 1998, p72-76, 79-80, 82-83, 85-86

p113 British magazine Celebrating it's 50th issue with quotes from various stars has in one corner a picture of Homer reading Loaded with Bart, Snowball II and Santa's Little Helper with the Homer quote; "A world without donuts is like a donut without a hole... wait, a donut without a hole - that would mean more donut! I'm a genius!" This picture is taken from the cover of Loaded, August 1996.

p126-p132 Article on South Park explains the shows merits by describing a scene and saying "..it's up there with the best of The Simpsons. On page 132 we find a picture of Bart at the blackboard and one of Homer exclaiming "D'oh!" with an interview of South Park creators Trey and Matt Stone talking about The Simpsons;

Trey: The Simpsons is brilliant. They do so much family stuff. It's great, but that's why we didn't want to do any more family stuff, and wanted to do a bunch of friends.

Matt: Watching The Simpsons now, it's a great show but it burns me out. It's like they've done everything.

Trey: You have to ignore it, because it ties your brain up. For nearly every show we've done so far, people have said, 'Oh, The Simpsons have alread done that', but there's obviously different ways of doing everything.

Just a Note (not applicable)

v8n8 Disney Adventures, Jun 1998

This really is just a note - no Simpsons references in the June issue, and no Bongo Simpsons mini-comic within the pages. Sorry.

The Cartoon Character Bart Simpson Talk about arrested development - this kid has been 10 for 11 years! And we hope he stays there. Deplorable, adorable, Bart is a brat for the ages (Richard Corliss)

v151n22 Time Magazine, June 8 1998, p144-145

Great article, and one that Time has online right here! Let's also note here that the article has a link back to us!

Het Grote Simpsons-Alfabet Ze kleven net zo aan de jaren negentig als de GSM, triphop en megabedrijvenfusies. Eénogige kijkers houden hen nod altijd voor een soort Beavis and Butt-head in familieverband. Kinderen weten wel beter. 'The Simpsons' zijn nooit minder dan goed, en meestal briljant. Voor fans en leken: een alfanetische ontdekkingsreis door de wonderlijk aardse wereld van een gestoord modelgezin. (Alex Stockman)

v24n3013 Humo, Jun 9 1998, Cover, p150-151, 153.

Full cover on this television magazine from Belgium says "The Simpsons Cadeau" with a footnote that says "100 video's".

An A to Z description of our favorite family, with 'B' for Bart Simpson, 'H' for Homer Simpson, and 'T' for Tegenstanders.

New Orleanian Animates MTV (Mark Lorando)

Times-Picayune, Jun 21 1998, pT10

A article that truly got my dander up. I quote.

"As the cartoonist who gave birth to The Simpsons, Matt Groening has gotten most of the credit for launching TV's current Golden Age of animation. But no one has done more to make cartoons cool again than New Orleans native Abby Terkuhle, the President of MTV Animation."

Credit here clearly goes to Groening, where credit is due. How could they print this? Easy, they're even more biased than we are. Abby Terkuhle is from New Orleans, home of the Times-Picayune. I hate to be picayune about it, but the credit goes to Groening. MTV, while doing some interesting work, can hardly claim to be even a leader. They even turned down South Park to the Comedy Channel's advantage.

Are Women Like Beer? (Constanza Villalba)

New York Times, Jun 21 1998, p20

Quoting from what Homer told Bart, this story uses an illustration of Homer and Marge to point out the real health differences between men and women, largely based upon the fact that women produce estrogen until menopause and men produce testosterone all their lives. For example, for the Heart and Circulatory System, "While Marge is young, she is less likely than Homer to develop high blood pressure over Bart's shenanigans. Her higher levels of estrogen prevent cholesterol deposits from forming on artery walls. By the time Lisa graduates from Yale, however, Marge's risk for heart disease will begin to match his."

Behind Every Homer Is a Very Tall Man (Charlotte O'Sullivan)

The Independent, England, Jun 22 1998, p22

An interview of Ian Maxtone-Graham, writer for The Simpsons and the person on whom 'the very tall man' character is based.

A copy of this can be found right on the archive here!

Cartoons are King! But How Long Will They Rule? Cartoons haven't enjoyed their current primetime heyday since the early 60s when Rocky and Bullwinkle, The Flintstones, The Jetsons and Johnny Quest occupied the family hour time slot. But what is it that has sparked the rise in animated fare and put South Park on every T-shirt and magazine cover nationwide? Critics and fans alike all point in one direction - The Simpsons. And along with it, Beavis and Butthead, Ren and Stimpy and King of the Hill (to name a few) have made the 90s the decade of the cartoon. Is there anywhere left for them to go? (Ken Lieck)

Gadfly of the Month: The Simpsons (G. Michael Dobbs)

The List: Simpsons by the Numbers (not supplied)

Cartoons on the web (not supplied)

v2n7 Gadfly, Jul 1998, Cover, p5, 6, 7, 8-11, 13-17

Cartoon cover with our favorite family front and center dominating the cover for this cover story on cartoons. With the (long!) title of the cover story correctly crediting The Simpsons for the rebirth of animation we knew this article was on the right track.

Lot's of good stuff to be transcribed here!

If The Simpsons Starred in a TV Drama (a parody) (Lou Silverstone, Andy Simmons and Todd Jackson; Artist: Don Ohehek)

Cracked #326, Jul 1998, cover and p17-19

Cover has Homer and Bart, Hank (King of the Hill), Kenny and Stan (South Park) on the cover with title "We 'Toon Out!"

p17 Parody of The Simpsons starring in various television shows including E.R.R., Simprose Place, N.Y.P.U Blues, Star Wreck: Ohboyager

The Actors Underfoot (Marc Shapiro)

Godzilla, (Jul) 1998, p50-54

With appearances by Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer this movie magazine has several references to our favorite family. "Azaria, who balances steady gigs as a voice on The Simpsons and the dog walker on Mad About You, is a newcomer to this kinds of action filmmaking..". "...it's been years since I acted to imaginary things, and I was wondering why I wasn't having a problem. Then it dawned on me that I was doing The Simpsons all along, and in that I was totally acting to nothing." Later, Harry Shearer: "I knew some of these people already, and the rest of us just kind of bonded. So many of us being in The Simpsons (Nancy 'Bart' Cartwright is also in the cast) actually helped us out."

Tales of the Briny Deep Featuring Captain McCallister in "Down the Hatches Boys" (Script: Jamie Angel, Pencils: Phil Ortiz, Inks: Tim Bavington, Letters: Jeannine Black, Colors: Nathan Kane, Landlubber: Matt Groening)

v8n9 Disney Adventures, Jul 1998, p92-96

p11 The Hot-O-Meter for this month, as judged this month by Natasha Dara's sixth-grade language arts class at Vernon Middle School in Leesville, Louisiana, lists "The Simpsons" as one of four things that are NOT hot. Poor misguided children. Illustrated with picture of Homer slapping his head appearing to say "D'oh!".

A Bongo Simpsons mini-comic within the pages of Disney Adventures.

Price Guide

n69 Lee's Action Figure News & Toy Review, Jul 1998, p98

Recorded here since we have the issue and since it's a good way to see the price trend for these items, specifically, the 1990 Mattel 5" figures. Prices are Loose and MIP (mint in package).

Bart, $12, $25

Bartman, $12, $25

Homer, $12, $25

Lisa, $20, $55

Maggie $20, $55

Marge $12, $36

Melson $12 $30

Sofa Set $12, $35

Down On The Corner Raising a Glass to Some Well-Loved Corner Bars (Mary Kunz and Toni Ruberto)

Buffalo News, Jul 2 1998, pG16

Article on well-loved bars mentions a few famous ones in story lines, including mentioning that "Homer Simpson hangs out at a bar (Moe's)". Once again, the level of detail known about the Simpson's outshines any other program.

Imagination Does Matter for Hank Azaria in `Godzilla' (Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News)

Chicago Tribune, Jul 3 1998

Discusses why Hank Azaria from the Simpsons (aka Apu, Moe, et. al.) was a perfect fit for a role in Godzilla, and why so many Simpson alumni ended up in the movie Godzilla.

"For a man who's more accustomed to being heard more than seen, Hank Azaria is really out there these days. The longtime voice of such Simpsons cartoon characters as Moe the bartender and Apu the convenience store owner, not to mention the scene-stealing bat Bartok in last year's animated feature Anastasia, Azaria is making quite a splash in the flesh this year. He's had three features released so far -- Great Expectations, Homegrown and, the biggest one of all, Godzilla -- with two on deck, Mystery, Alaska and The Cradle Will Rock."

The reason so many Simpson voices ended up on Godzilla...

"In the case of Godzilla, all those years off-camera in the Simpsons recording booth paid off doubly. The monster mash's producer and co-writer, Dean Devlin, was such a fan of the show that he offered film roles to several of the show's voice talents, including Harry Shearer and Nancy Cartwright.

It then goes on to discuss why Azaria works well in Godzilla.

"Since Azaria's humongous co-star was by necessity computer generated, he found himself acting opposite a big, imaginary nothing on the film's New York locations and cavernous L.A. soundstages." Azaria then comments " I think I found it, maybe, easier than other actors would. Obviously, we record the Simpsons' with nothing there, like a radio play that they animate later. You have to imagine, very vividly, what's going on."

The Mysterious Tattoo Hoax (Erin St. John Kelly)

New York Times, New York, Jul 5 1998, Section 14, p8

A hoax accidentally perpetuated in a letter from New York's Sanitation Officers Association that temporary tattoos of Superman, Bart Simpson, Mickey Mouse are soaked in LSD and that some are laced with ''deadly strychnine.''

Beyond the bestsellers (author not supplied)

Boston Globe, Boston, MA, Jul 5 1998, pE6

A passing reference, noting that the small non-profit publisher Graywolf Press, which calls it's books literary and serious, is "Risking oblivion in Bart Simpson's America" by not appealing to the lowest denominator.

Stepping Out of Character; Looking for a reality bite? Check out the cartoons (Nicolai Ouroussoff)

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, Jul 5 1998, p4

Once again pointing out that The Simpsons, a cartoon, is closer to reality than the 'real' shows. "...I find the cynical irreverence of animated shows like The Simpsons - and more recently South Park - so fascinating. The Simpsons are so knowingly in on the joke. The show mocks our addiction. Its references are the films and TV shows we grew up on - Hitchcock, Citizen Kane, Dallas - all part of our common culture, and its genius is to elevate these shared memories to a kind of subversive Pop art, to a form of deep social criticism."

It Might Lack Fox Stock's Glamour, but USEC Could Enrich Investors as Well as Uranium (Allan Sloan)

The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Jul 7 1998, pE3

This investment column begins by asking what Rupert Murdoch's Fox entertainment empire and the federal government's uranium-enrichment plants have in common? It then answers by saying it's not that they both produce toxic waste, and it's not Homer Simpson, it's that they both announced plans last week to sell stock to investors in initial public offerings. It then goes on to point out that the glamorous Fox offering is not as good a buy as the uranium-enrichment plant.

Talking with...Harry Shearer (Deanna Kizis)

v49n27 People Weekly, Jul 13 1998, p34

Noting how surprised Harry Shearer, who makes fun of media heavyweights, was to be asked to speak in honor of anchor Dan Rather. Mentions how until recently (including his role in Godzilla) he was "...a guy known mostly for providing the voice of The Simpsons' Mr. Burns." Provides a brief biography saying Shearer "...debuted at (age) 7 on Jack Benny's radio show" and "At 13, he played an Eddie Haskell-type character in the pilot for Leave It to Beaver but then quit showbiz for a serious life that included graduating from UCLA."

'Simpsons,' pop culture and Christianity (John L Allen Jr)

v34n34 National Catholic Reporter, Kansas City, Jul 17 1998, p25

Personal narrative about a 33-year-old guy who finds himself isolated with a ten-year-old (while the wife and other women are off talking) and looks to find a way to strike up a conversation with a common topic of interest. The answer? The Simpsons! He relates that the "..10-year-old's face lit up" when he " asked if he remembered the episode where Sideshow Bob framed Krusty the Clown" (episode 7G12 "Krusty Gets Busted") thereby confirming that the two of them "were of the same tribe." Goes on to discuss how pop culture can be the starting place for "...spirituality for the current generation. It provides a way for people to connect with one another..." The story is illustrated with a picture of them watching episode wherein Marge becomes a cop, episode 2F21 "The Springfield Connection". Author at JLA12065@aol.com.

How to Get Nassau Hub Rolling (author not supplied)

Newsday, Long Island, NY, Jul 19 1998, pB3

This strange article on the lack of impetus to redevelop Nassau County's hub (despite the fact that it's been attempted a dozen times) points out that fact that the boundaries bear "...an uncanny profile of cartoon character Bart Simpson." The resemblance doesn't stop there though; "...politicians and officials have demonstrated the principle that Simpson scrawled on a blank blackboard at the opening of one show: I will finish what I star"

D'oh! `Simpsons' interrupted (author not supplied)

Boston Globe, Boston, MA, Jul 21 1998, pE8

Describing a "network feed problem" that interrupted The Simpsons in Channel 25 for twenty minutes. They're lucky it was a repeat episode, given the riots that would have occurred otherwise.

Channel Surfer 'Simpsons' creator has his eye on future (Phil Kloer)

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Jul 23 1998, pD7

(This article appeared in both The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution.)

A write-up for Futurama, wherein Groening describes the character Bender as "our robotic Homer Simpson. He's lovably corrupt, loves his vices. I think he's the first robot in science-fiction history who shoplifts."

Coming Attractions (Robert Bianco, Elizabeth Snead, Edna Gundersen)

USA Today, Arlington, Jul 24 1998, p1E

Another Futurama write-up. A footnote for Simpson fans is that "One of the Futurama characters was written for the late Phil Hartman, a familiar and, Groening says, beloved presence at The Simpsons, but his role has been recast. His legacy, however, will remain". They've named the central character Phil Fry, in honor of Phil Hartman.

`Simpsons' creator to premiere new animated series on Fox (Ann Hodges)

Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, Jul 24 1998, p1

Another Futurama article, but one with a lot of Simpsons material. Notes that "...when a panel of top TV producers was asked to name their favorite TV shows, four out of six - Chris Carter of The X-Files and Millennium, Tom Werner and Marcy Carsey of The Cosby Show and Roseanne, and Matt Williams of The Cosby Show and Home Improvement - said The Simpsons." Mentions the fact (11?) that "After 11 years, The Simpsons is now the longest-running comedy hit on television, and the longest-running prime-time animated series in TV history." Also notes that some of the writers "...grew up watching The Simpsons."

Groening's Hand In Fox's Future / `Simpsons' creator offers new series (John Carman)

San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA, Jul 28 1998, pD1

Passing Simpson references in this Futurama article, including upcoming Simpson season details that "keeping a secret proves difficult for Homer when he lands a personal assistant job working for Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger." In addition we hear that "Homer raises a lobster -- you know, he goes to the store and he wants a lobster. It's too expensive, so he gets a baby lobster to raise it." Also refers to episode where "Ned Flanders will suffer a midlife crisis and go to Las Vegas with Homer, where they'll waken one morning in the company of two cocktail waitresses." There will be "our obligatory Jerry Springer appearance," and a show in which Homer tries to become a more adept inventor than Thomas Edison. Since The Simpsons appear within a cartoon on Futurama, that means we'll now have Itchy and Scratchy within Krusty the Klown, Krusty the Klown within The Simpsons and The Simpsons within Futurama.

Oh My God, They Made a Movie! (Michael Angeli)

Details, Aug 1998, p116-121

Article about Matt Stone and Trey Parker of South Park fame. Stone points out that on South Park "...humans are reduced to an anatomy of construction-paper squares, triangles, and circles that make The Simpsons look like Fantasia.

Don't Have a Cow, Dude (Benjamin Rudolph)

v1n3 Beckett Hot Toys, Aug 1998, p88-89

About Craig Vinton, one of the few people on planet who may have more Simpson merchandise than I do. The article lists his email address as cvinton957@aol.com.

Just a Note (not applicable)

v8n10 Disney Adventures, Aug 1998

This really is just a note - the only Simpsons references in the August issue is in the "coming up next month" section where they advise that a Bongo Simpsons mini-comic is coming.

Stop, Look and Listen to Warber-Chappell's Music (Doris Bloodsworth of The Orlando Sentinel)

Chicago Tribune, Aug 3 1998, p7

This review of web sites includes the Butterfinger Simpsons Contest at http://www.butterfinger.com. "Each week, the Web site will post trivia questions based on the Simpsons. Answer the questions and you could win a case of candy bars. The site also includes a game where players help Bart chase his arch nemesis, Sideshow Bob."

Fox delivering cream of the crop, TV watchdog says (Bob Longino)

The Atlanta Constitution, Aug 4 1998, pD4

The Viewer's for Quality Television award Fox with their Network Commitment to Quality Award for the 1997-1998 season for such shows as Ally McBeal, The X-Files, The Simpsons and King of the Hill. Article explains that the 'other' shows not withstanding, (which The Simpsons have parodied) Fox is nonetheless producing quality work.

Bennett never compromises integrity for the sake of his career (Greg Haynes)

Times Union, Aug 6 1998, p8

How Tony Bennett, now 72, staged "...one of the most successful comebacks in the history of pop music -- capturing the MTV generation with a cameo appearance on The Simpsons," amongst other things.

What's Wrong With TV? Just Do the Math (Jeff Macgregor)

New York Times, Aug 9 1998, p27

Comments on the abysmal state of television, leading off with his take on Magic Johnson's late-night television talk show. However, " We all have our personal exceptions that prove the rule: i.e., The Simpsons..." (The only show he names as an exception). Goes on to make the point that television executives sole rule on whether to broadcast a show is based upon profit, and worse still, they can't even hit that mark most of the time.

TELEVISION / FOX FAMILY VALUES / The goal of the newest cable network is to get parents and kids to watch together (Verne Gay)

Newsday, Aug 9 1998, pD12

Pointing out the irony of Fox now being a 'Family' channel, given that "The Fox Network, after all, did more to demolish the concept of all-family programming than any other major program service; Married . . . with Children and The Simpsons were (and are) bald-faced send-ups of the cherished institution."

Television Has Been Hard on Fathers (Ellen Gray)

Chicago Tribune, Aug 11 1998, p6

Discussing how fathers of the 90's are a far cry from the fathers of the 50's. "Robert Young may have died last month, but the idealized, all-knowing American father he played on the '50s classic Father Knows Best pretty much disappeared from television sitcoms long ago. The Springfield of Father Knows Best is a long, long way from the Springfield of Fox's The Simpsons."

Brits send stress fest to U.S. audiences (Ann Hodges, TV Critic)

Houston Chronicle, Aug 12 1998, p1

Article about Stressed Eric calls it an "...animated cartoon for grown-ups - another in a growing list drawn to primetime by those sly Fox hits, King of the Hill and The Simpsons. This one's already big in its homeland of Britain, but for its American debut, NBC ordered a major change. Eric Feeble, the stressed-out one, is no longer British. Eric's been dubbed with a new American accent (supplied by actor Hank Azaria), and a new American identity to explain how he came to be the pitiful patriarch of an English-accented family living in London."

Groening's `Futurama' to Join Fox's Lineup (John Carman of the San Francisco Chronicle)

Chicago Tribune, Aug 14, 1998, p2

Article about Futurama has various Simpson references...

I'd rather listen to Matt Groening proclaim "Simpson's Forever" than listen to all the naysayers who say The Simpson's may be on their last season. " The Simpsons perks along merrily to the delight of Fox and the show's creator, Matt Groening, who can see 'no end in sight.' "

Article discusses the advantages of cartoons for a network, since "...cartoon characters seldom ask to have their contracts ripped up and renegotiated. Or ask networks to grease their four-fingered hands with fat production deals. Or demand on-set trailers equipped with hot and cold running sycophants and personal trainers." True, but the producers and voices can ask for those things! Describes Homer Simpson as "...the same unadorned, beer-swilling slug we met a decade ago." Groening says that as for The Simpsons, he's promising a 1998-99 season "as good as any we've ever done, or better."

Mary Riddell (Mary Riddell)

v11n518 New Statesman, Aug 21 1998, p12

Arguing that Hillary is in a better position now than prior to the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal, she makes repeated analogies between (Bill and Hillary) and (Homer and Marge). Since the basis of Hillary's marriage is power, and since she's in a stronger position now, the marriage is more secure, not less secure. "Not quite the Bobbits... Hillary and Bill have emerged as the Marge and Homer Simpson of presidential politics." Refers to Bill's confession to the American people as "Homer-esque". "Whatever hurt she endured this week, the public perception of the Clintons (as) the heel and the loyal wife; Homer and Marge - plays now to her cause." "Assuming that the US public - reverent and sympathetic - continues to confuse the latter for the former, this may, after all, not have been such a dire week for the Marge Simpson of the White House.

Tales From The Crib (Letter to the Editor)

The Los Angeles Times, Aug 23 1998, p87

In this letter to the editor, the former senior story editor of Rugrats is "...delighted to see Paul Germain receiving credit as a main creative force behind the series. He points out that Rugrats charm is derived "...in large part from the distinctive Klasky Csupo art style (there was a reason Paul chose this studio over numerous competitors to produce The Simpsons)"

Voice of our Times `Simpsons' Fans Won't Recognize Nancy Cartwright Until She Speaks (Nancy Mills)

Chicago Tribune, Aug 24 1998, p3.

There are relatives I wouldn't recognize, but Nancy Cartwright I would certainly recognize! In this interview we hear again the usual trivia of how Nancy Cartwright was originally going to try for the voice of Lisa and ended up as Bart. More interesting is how she connected with her mentor, the late Daws Butler, "..who voiced such legendary cartoon characters as Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound." Cartwright relates, "I called him up in California and got his answering machine. This was Ohio, 1977. I didn't know what an answering machine was. Anyway, I'm listening to this message, and Daws was doing his British butler voice. I just picked up on it and did this little Cockney response, asking him to call me collect. He did, and we had this incredible conversation that started our long-distance student/mentor relationship. He'd send me scripts, and I'd talk into a tape recorder and send him tapes to critique. He'd write back things like, `Here's a challenge. She's older than you.'"

Having said all that, there's now a copy of this article on the archive right here!

Evergreen property (Paul Brownfield)

Houston Chronicle, Aug 25 1998, p1

As so often happens, animation shows are compared to The Simpsons. Rugrats here is described as an "evergreen property", meaning that "...hundreds of millions of dollars in global merchandising rights that the show brings in each year will likely stay as strong as the green leaves of that tree." While truly intended for children, "Rugrats is a show that's closer in spirit to The Simpsons than Barney."

Prime-Time TV Rankings; White House Scandal, Red-Hot Viewing (Brian Lowry)

The Los Angeles Times, Aug 26 1998, pF10

Discussing the reason we lucked out with a new episode in August, which was to provide a strong audience lead in to the new Fox sitcom That '70s Show. Notes that That '70s Show will have to sink or swim the next three weeks without an original Simpsons episode in front of it.

'The Simpsons' Snags Its Fifth Trophy in Six Years (Brian Lowry)

The Los Angeles Times, Aug 31 1998, pF3

Another article about the Simpson 1998 Emmy awards. See Houston Chronicle, Sep 1 1998.

Yellow Fever: The Simpsons as cultural phenomenon (Jim Gleeson)

The College Tribune, Universiary College Dublin, Autumn 1998

Simpsons now and forever. Read it on the archive right here!

Puzzlement (Tim Morris)

v67n4 The American Scholar, Washington, Autumn 1998,

Great article and a must read for any jigsaw puzzle fan includes this passing reference to Homer Simpson; "Much as I might like to put Homer Simpson in the Sistine ceiling, the damn piece just won't fit."

This is Springfield, Not Shelbyville! (not likely)

Collecting Simpsons (Patrick interviewing William LaRue)

Simpsons Quiz (no way!)

Homer and Dan (Two interviews reprinted from ? and Cult TV)

Matt Groening interview (reprinted from E-Online)

I Can't Believe It's a Simpsons Site! (Patrick interviewing Chad)

Simpsons Test (taken from our web site!)

How is Each Simpsons Episode Created? Executive Producer Mike Scully Explains the Process

Thanx, Matt Groening Whoever the Hell You Are

Don't Change, undated (Sep 1998), Cover and many many unpaginated pages

Cover of these punk/hard core zine has a truncated and partially covered head of Krusty the Clown.

This entire issue is dedicated to The Simpsons, and has on the cover "Simpsons, Punk, Hardcore, Basketball... What More Could You Want?" It included the Music CD This is Springfield, Not Shelbyville which we're documenting under "Other Media References" in the last part of this document.

This is just the beginning of this entry, we plan to add a lot more!

Channel Hopping: Emmy Nominations

Feare-Some! Big hair, big shoes and big ideas - it can only mean one thing: Sideshow Bob's back in town! (Peter Griffiths)

Cult Times #36, Sep 1998, cover, p10, 16-17

Cover of this British publication says "Simpsons: Sidesow Bob returns!"

p10 Cites Simpsons Emmy wards: "Hank Azaria picked up Outstanding Voiceover Performance for convenience store operator Apu in The Simpsons..."

p16-17 Rave review of the episode Cape Feare (9F22) as it is about to appear on BBC2.

Simpsons Collectibles Lee's takes you on a photographic "collectors' tour" through Springfield, and the land of Simpsons collectibles (J. Thomas Aimes)

Price Guide

n71 Lee's Action Figure News & Toy Review, Sep 1998, cover, p22-24, p98

Cover simply says "The Simpsons".

Nice three page article profusely illustrated with 49 photographs of different Simpson collectibles. Well worth transcribing some day.

p98 Recorded here since we have the issue and since it's a good way to see the price trend for these items, specifically, the 1990 Mattel 5" figures. Prices are Loose and MIP (mint in package).

Bart, $12, $25

Bartman, $12, $25

Homer, $12, $25

Lisa, $20, $55

Maggie $20, $55

Marge $12, $36

Melson $12 $30

Sofa Set $12, $35

Do You Hate Your #$*! Boss?

v2n7 Maxim #11, Sep 1998, p86-89

Article is illustrated with a miniature picture of Burns and Smithers, with the snarling residents of Springfield looking at him from outside through the window.

The Day the Nagging Stopped (Story: Ian Boothby, Pencils: Julius Preite, Inks: Tim Harkins, Letters: Karen Bates, Colors: Chris Ungar, Editor: Bill Morrison, Nitpicker: Matt Groening) (Bongo Simpsons Comics)

v8n11 Disney Adventures, Sep 1998, p92-95

A four page Bongo Simpsons Comics within the pages of this magazine.

`Simpsons' again named best animated program by Emmys

Houston Chronicle, Sep 1 1998, p4

In this item that describes all the Emmy awards they focus the title on OFF. "Despite competition from newer programs such as King of the Hill and cable's South Park, The Simpsons was named best animated program for the fifth time in six years by the Emmy Awards." Fox picked up six honors, including three for The Simpsons, including "Music and lyrics - The Simpsons, Fox, song title: You're Checkin' In (A Musical Tribute to the Betty Ford Center)" and for Voiceover performance by Hank Azaria.

3 Emmys for `Simpsons' (Brian Lowry, Los Angeles Times)

Times Union, Sep 1 1998, pD5

Another article about the Simpson 1998 Emmy awards. See Houston Chronicle, Sep 1 1998.

MORNING REPORT; Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press (Shauna Snow)

The Los Angeles Times, Sep 2 1998, pF2

Describes a live seminar hosted by the Museum of Television & Radio on Oct. 8, 1998 with the creators of The Simpsons (Matt Groening), King of the Hill (Mike Judge) and South Park (Trey Parker and Matt Stone).

We'll see if we can put up a transcript of this after it takes place!

Matt our of Hell Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, and Life in Hell, discusses his cast of sketchy characters (Chauncé Hayden)

n154 Time Out New York, Sep 3-10 1998, Cover, p160

Cover along bottom includes "Toon Titan Matt Groening" as a hint of the interview inside.

Interview of Matt Groening to be transcribed.

Teenagers in survey show what they know: TV trivia, not history

Boston Globe, Sep 3 1998, pA7

Same Associated Press story as described in Houston Chronicle, Sep 4 1998.

Democracy Quiz Stumps Many Teens

Chicago Tribune, Sep 3 1998, p22

Same Associated Press story as described in Houston Chronicle, Sep 4 1998.

Constitution Crises/What people don't know could fill a TV network

Houston Chronicle, Sep 4 1998, p38

In the editorial section, commenting on the survey by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia that determined that only 41 percent of the 600 American teenagers (ages 13-17) surveyed in a nationwide phone poll can name the three branches of government, but 74 percent can name the city where cartoon character Bart Simpson lives (Springfield). Only 12 percent know where Abraham Lincoln lived (Springfield, Ill.).

Most no doubt said "Who's Abraham Lincoln?".

That Homer, He Just Keeps Rolling Along

Chicago Tribune, Sep 4 1998, p5

Complementary article anticipating the 10th season dishes out the following complements; "Still crazy after all these years. The Simpsons just keeps rolling along, funnier than about any other comedy series you can imagine. After nine seasons, Matt Groening's cartoon creation remains wickedly witty, smart and in the creative groove." It goes on to describe details we all know by now from the 10th season.

TV'S ho-hum harvest Familiar favorites return in fall, but crop of new shows looks frail (Robert Bianco)

USA Today, Sep 4 1998, p1E

Points out that "lucky viewers" can ignore newer shows and just watch the good old shows such as The Simpsons, saying "With so many shows worth watching, does it matter if you've watched them before?"

Future perfect As creator of The Simpsons, Matt Groening has made TV history. With his new series he's about to change the future too. John Patterson shares his vision in an exclusive interview. (John Patterson)

The Guide, television insert for The Guardian, Sep 5-11 1998, Cover, p12-13, 15, 89

Full Futurama cover featuring Fry, Bender and Leela looking up at the stars

Interview of Matt Groening which me may get online sometime soon!

Page 89 has an advertisement for the new Simpsons video "Heaven and Hell" including a contest to win your own personal caricature.

Black Holes (video review) (Catherine Applefeld Olson)

v110b36 Billboard, Sep 5 1998, p28

This review of a video on Black Holes, formed when a star dies, collapses on itself, and forms such a massive object that not even light can escape, "includes a computer-generated segment featuring Homer and Bart Simpson on the verge of discovering a black hole." While we loath the idea of promoting anything, we also don't want to drive the curious insane by not supplying the obviously missing information; Available from Ark Media Group for $19.95, who can be contacted at 1-800-727-0009.

3,000 students vow to `stop violence' during summit / Mayor asks youths for their ideas (Armando Villafranca)

Houston Chronicle, Sep 5 1998, p43

In a city funded rally to encourage students to "stop the violence" Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson) speaks. No information on what she said though!

Only 41 Percent of American Teens Can Name the Three

Christian Science Monitor Sep 8 1998, p9

They always seem to release these surveys as if they're a big surprise. Only 41 percent of American teens can name the three branches of government, but 59 percent can name the Three Stooges, and more importantly to us, 74 percent can name the city where cartoon character Bart Simpson lives!

Same Associated Press story as described in Houston Chronicle, Sep 4 1998.

Two offbeat series ideas sputter out (Joanne Ostrow)

Denver Post, Sep 8 1998, pE5

Favorable review of Stressed Eric notes that; "As a concession to the domestic audience, it was dubbed with Hank Azaria's American accent in the lead role. He has more fun as Apu on The Simpsons but, oh well."

Let's rewrite that last sentence into ATS style;

In a sheer stroke of genius the network wisely decided to use Hank Azaria in the lead role.

They also noted that Stressed Eric was a cross between Absolutely Fabulous and The Simpsons. They go on to say that Stressed Eric is "Not as raunchy as South Park but, in its way, saucier than The Simpsons."

It's always interesting to see how other shows attempt to build audiences by comparing themselves against The Simpsons, the standard against which new cartoons are judged.

The 'King' of Tuesday TV Fox's second animated hit comedy rules the roost; here's a behind-the-scenes look at how the show comes to life (Drew Jubera)

The Atlanta Constitution, Sep 8 1998, pF1

Notes the popularity of King of the Hill by comparing it to The Simpsons. It states that "King is the most successful prime-time cartoon since The Simpsons debuted nine years ago, and it's one of the few network hits of any kind the last two seasons. It ranked 22nd last year in overall ratings (The Simpsons ranked 29th) and 10th in the advertising-rich 18-49 age group." In addition, "Just as Fox once used The Simpsons to kick-start different nights of programming on its crawl toward network legitimacy, it has moved King from Sundays to Tuesdays in a bold attempt at catching two wheezing network standbys, Home Improvement and Mad About You." Repeatedly references writers/directors John Vitti, Greg Daniels and Shaun Cashman as being Simpsons alumni.

Fall Speed Ahead (Fall Preview: Television)

n155 Time Out New York, Sep 10-17 1998, p19

Television fall preview beginning on page 48 with the following; "All points in the circle of life are represented on television - the infantile (Working), the adolescent (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), the middle-aged (Frasier), the ancient (The Simpsons) - giving us fickel viewers both blessed renewal and much-needed continuity."

The Simpsons represent ancient? As in Burns and Grandpa?

TIME IN: A selective guide to what's on

n156 Time Out New York, Sep 17-24 1998, p188

Recommends and previews the Sep 20, 1998 10th season opening episode 5F21 "The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace" saying "Homer attempts to become an inventor, but you can expect him to fail hilariously."

Doh! Simpsons' Archivists Go Overboard Detailing Every Episode (Stacey Cara Cohen)

The Daily Herald, Sep 18 1998, Time Out! section

Hey! They're talking about us! Wonderful article, which you can read on the archive right here!

Papa Homer Cominciamo questa settimana un viaggio in una delle famiglie più amate d'America, i Simpsons, per conoscere i pregi (pochi) e i difetti (molti) del personaggi creati da Groening. Iniziando dal capofamiglia (Elisabetta Sala)

n38 Telepiu', Sep 19-25 1998, p20-21

This italian television magazine kicks off a person by person weekly review of Our Favorite Family. From the title (translated); "We begin this week of exploration into one of the most loved families of America, The Simpsons, in order that we may know them a little and see the defects of the personages created by Matt Groening. Beginning with the head of the family." Anyone care to correct my Italian? In Italian Homer is Voiced by Tonino Colla. (This is part one of a four part series)

Robert Pinsky on 'The Simpsons' (Robert Pinsky)

The New York Times Magazine, Sep 20 1998, p55

The poet laureate of the United States tells why The Simpsons is his favorite television show.

"Why do I like The Simpsons so much? Because the show is funny, brilliantly written for masterful vocal actors. But also, I think there is something about The Slmpsons that penetrates to the nature of television itself. The most powerful television of my lifetime has been broadcast live, what the book industry would call 'nonfiction': sports events, trials, assassinations, funerals, wars, missions into space. What all of these spectacles have in common is that they are unpredictable. Even a one-sided World Series game or a carefully planned state funeral might suddenly erupt into surprise, some spontaneous marvel of passion or comedy, as large as a bombing or as small as some unanticipated facial expression. Television has a unique power to bring the dynamic, potentially startling event into the viewer's private, intimate space, immediately. Perhaps television's greatest artist, Sid Caesar, by genius and historical circumstance, had it both ways. His carefully written, disruptive comic sketches were performed live.

The Simpsons touches the same power by going to the other extreme, It isn't simply that these characters are not live - they were never alive. Repeatedly, the show mocks and embraces its own genre. It even mocks disruption itself, regularly, beginning with the bit over each episode's opening credits, when Lisa, jamming funky improvisations on her cartoon baritone sax, is ejected by the music director.

The simulation of faked live events - that's the only way to describe it - defines many episodes: Bart as the little boy supposedly lost down a well (it's really a walkie-talkie) draws massive, stagy live coverage. The uprising at his corrupt summer camp is covered by the ultra- fatuous newsman Kent Brockman, with Rather- esque exaggerations of understatement.

In one favorite moment, after Bart leads a paramilitary attack on the school bully, he appears in a moralistic epilogue, addressing the camera directly. out of character, to say that war is not as much fun as it seems, but something terrible. As Bart makes exceptions for 'the American Revolution, World War II and the 'Star Wars' trilogy,' the viewer has the pleasurable feeling of having been had again. In Bart's addressing us solemnly 'as himself,' calling attention to the fact that every rude remark he makes has been lovingly planned by experts, I find the appeal of television: its absurdly paradoxical grounding in extremes of the actual and the synthetic."

Conan the Comedian (James Kaplan)

v31n36 New York, Sep 21 1998, p26-32, 99

A Bibliography of Conan O'Brien, current Late Night talk show host and former writer for The Simpsons. In 1993, he was burned out; an engagement to be married fell through, a sitcom pilot he created wasn't picked up and he quit writing for Saturday Night Live. "His self-esteem was so shot that when The Simpsons called he wasn't sure he was up to the job. But after a year, he was happy again. He was doing his best writing ever in The Simpsons best season; he had become a supervising producer of the show."

Mamma Marge Non lasciatevi ingannare dalla voce stridula e dalla capigliatura: è lei el cuore (e li cervello!) della scombinata famiglia di Springfield (Betty Sala)

n39 Telepiu', Sep 26 - Oct 2 1998, p24-25

This italian television magazine's second installment of a weekly review of Our Favorite Family. From the title (badly translated); "Don't be fooled by the voice and hairdo: She is the heart (and the brains) of this ? family of Springfield". Help! In Italian Marge is voiced by Liù Bosisio. (This is part two of a four part series)

This Month, The Simpsons' Mr. Smithers Feels the Burns (Sara P. Nolan, illustration by Hanoch Piven))

Details Magazine, Oct 1998, p196

Interview of Waylon Smithers by a taxi driver, illustrated with a creative collage of Waylon. The entire interview can be found on the archive right here!

Unbelievable Disruptions (Buffy Rojas)

Contingency Planning & Management, Oct 1998, Cover! and pp 12-15

Cover features Charles Montgomery Burns with an angry mob. For research on who hasn't appeared on a magazine cover, here's list of everyone on this cover; Montgomery Burns, Mayor Quimby, Nelson Muntz, Grampa, Moe Szyslak, Milhouse Van Houten, Barney Gumble, Snake, Homer, Otto Mann, Principal Seymour Skinner, Bart, Miss Elizabeth Hoover, Waylon Smithers, Sideshow Mel and Hans Moleman.

Article opens describing the loss and recovery of a disk drive containing original Simpson scripts.

"When scripts for 13 episodes of the popular Fox network television series The Simpsons were accidentally deleted from the executive producer's laptop computer hard drive, it looked like it was curtains for Bart and family. But the show must go on and it did, thanks to DriveSavers, a Novala, CA-based company that retrieved the lost data.

Believe it or not, "the executive producer (Bill Oakley) had been backing up onto floppies and got sick of doing that." says Scott Gaidano, DriveSavers president. "Since he never had a computer crash, he just stopped doing the backups and that, of course, is when it happenned. We recovered 13 scripts that had not yet been produced. There were no other copies."

Pictured on our cover is another incidence of potential disruption to Springfield, the Simpsons' fictional hometown. C. Montgomery Burns, owner of the town's biggest business, the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, is faced with an angry mob of townspeople - a confrontation every CEO hopes to avoid. He's also the employer of Safety Inspector Homer Simpson, a perpetual screw-up and not the person most business continuity experts would charge with corporate safety.

But the Simpsons aren't the only unlikely victims of bizarre business disruptions and nonsensical near misses. There are reports every day of things gone awry in the world of business. Some you might anticipate. Others are unimaginable. But all reinforce the need for business continuity plans, because although there's no business like show business, for every business the show must go on."

As you might assume, the article digresses from there, and does not reference The Simpsons again.

Trick or Treat Down Memory Lane (author not supplied)

v2n8 Maxim #12, Oct 1998, p54

Article is illustrated with a miniature picture of Lisa and Bart, with the latter saying "Trick or Treat, Man". When we say miniature, we mean miniature - less than an inch high. Maxim appears to have some Simpson reference in every issue.

Bertwatch (a parody) (D. Goulet, Art by C. Daigle)

Nuts #10, Oct 1998, cover and p19-22, 26-27

Strange full page drawing of Homer Simpson on cover

Kids TV Shows Are Battling It Out for Viewers in the 12-and-under Crowd (Martha Raddatz)

Child, Oct 1998, p1, 22-24, 26

Picture of Homer superimposed on a television used to illustrate the table of contents on p1 and this story on p24 on children's television. No mention of The Simpsons in the article though.

Insider (Tom Cunneff)

v50n12 People Weekly, Oct 5 1998, p59

Preview of an upcoming episode in November! "D'oh! On an episode of The Simpsons set to air in November, Homer winds up in bed with Alec Bladwin and Kim Basinger after he crashes through their skylight during a parasailing mishap on Lake Springfield. (The actors like to vacation in Springfield they tell Homer, to escape the phoniness of Hollywood). After reading the script, Alex and Kim happily agreed to the parts since they're big fans of the FOX animated sitcom. There's a funny scene about the cartoon Kim's habit of overpolishing her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for``L.A. Confidential''. They thought the script was hysterical," says executive producer Mike Scully, adding that there's also a joke about Baldwin punching out a tabloid photographer, a reference to his legal troubles after he allegedly hit a