The Simpsons RARE Cel FRAMED Homer Simpson CoA Production Original Animation Art
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The Simpsons RARE Cel FRAMED Homer Simpson CoA Production Original Animation Art:
$398.42
RAREProduction Cel
The Simpsons
Original 2 layer production cel with laser copy background, original hand painted
Professionally framed, looks beautiful the yellow is so bright, from an episode between 1987-1992
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity from Choice Collectibles and has Klasky Csupo sticker, see picture
Any questions, please e-mail me
Check out myother itemson on my website
Gábor CsupóHeadquartersHollywood, Los Angeles[1]Key peopleTerry Thoren (CEO)
Tracy Kramer
Norton Virgien
Brandon Scott (Vice President)ProductsThe Tracey Ullman Show
The Simpsons
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Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
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The Wild Thornberrys
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As Told by Ginger
Spy vs. Spy
The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonaldEmployees81Website[link removed by ]
Klasky Csupo, Inc./ˈklæskiˈtʃuːpoʊ/is a multimedia entertainment production company located inHollywood,Los Angeles,California,[2]founded by artist/producerArlene Klasky, animatorGábor Csupó[3]and their niece Attila Csupó.[4]
Klasky Csupo was initially distinguished by its work on logo designs, feature film trailers, TV show titles, promos and spot ID\'s for a wide variety of clients, in the process earning a reputation as the industry\'s most imaginative and innovative studio. Building on its success, the studio opened its first facility in Hollywood in 1988 at the corner of Fountain and Highland Avenues. The studio soon grew to include six buildings that have become well known in Hollywood --- in true Klasky Csupo style, the exterior walls of the buildings are decorated with large murals of its characters.
The studio\'s first big break came in 1987 whenJames L. BrooksofGracie Filmshired the studio to produce the title sequence for a new comedy series calledThe Tracey Ullman Show. In addition to the main title, Klasky Csupo was given the opportunity to produce a series ofone-minute cartoonswhich featured a group of characters calledthe Simpsons, created byMatt Groening. Klasky Csupo produced and animated all 34 shorts, and when it became one of the most popular segments on the show, Fox Television began airing a weekly half-hour series entitledThe Simpsons. Klasky Csupo produced every episode for the first three seasons of the series. The studio shared the 1989-1990 and 1990-1991 Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program with Gracie Films. In addition to that, Klasky Csupo produced the hit video \"Do The Bartman\". Klasky Csupo animator and colorist Gyorgyi Peluce conceived the idea of theSimpsonscharacters having yellow skin, andMarge Simpsonhaving blue hair, opting for something which \"didn\'t look likeanythingthat had come before.\"[6][7][8]Klasky Csupo was also responsible for an error during the episode \"Homer\'s Odyssey\" in whichWaylon Smitherswas animated with the wrong color and was madeAfrican American.[9]In 1992, Gracie Films switched domestic production ofThe SimpsonstoFilm Roman.[10]Csupó was \"asked [by Gracie Films] if they could bring in their own producer [to oversee the animation production],\" but declined, stating \"they wanted to tell me how to run my business.\"[10]Sharon Bernstein ofThe Los Angeles Timeswrote that \"Gracie executives had been unhappy with the producer Csupo had assigned toThe Simpsonsand said the company also hoped to obtain better wages and working conditions for animators at Film Roman.\"[10]Of the 110 people he employed to animateThe Simpsons, Csupó made 75 redundant.[10]
TheSimpson familyin front oftheir house. Clockwise from top left:Marge,Homer,Bart,Santa\'s Little Helper(dog),Snowball II(cat),Lisa, andMaggiein the centerGenreAnimated sitcom
Sitcom
Adult animationFormatSatireCreated byMatt GroeningDeveloped byJames L. Brooks
Matt Groening
Sam SimonVoices ofDan Castellaneta
Julie Kavner
Nancy Cartwright
Yeardley Smith
Hank Azaria
Harry Shearer
(Complete list)Theme music composerDanny ElfmanOpening theme\"The SimpsonsTheme\"Composer(s)Alf ClausenCountry of originUnited StatesOriginallanguage(s)EnglishNo. of seasons25No. of episodes541(List of Jean
John Frink
James L. Brooks
Matt Groening
Matt Selman
Sam SimonRunning time21–24 minutesProductioncompany(s)Gracie Films
20th Century Fox Television
Klasky Csupo(1989–1992)
Film Roman(1992–present)Distributor20th TelevisionBroadcastOriginal channelFoxPicture formatStereo(1989–1991)
Dolby Surround2.0(1991–2009)
5.1 surround sound(2009–present)Original runDecember17,1989– presentChronologyPreceded byThe SimpsonsshortsfromThe Tracey Ullman ShowExternal linksOfficial website
The Simpsonsis an Americanadult animated sitcomcreated byMatt Groeningfor theFox Broadcasting Company.[1][2][3]The series is asatiricalparodyof amiddle classAmerican lifestyle epitomized byits family of the same name, which consists ofHomer,Marge,Bart,Lisa, andMaggie. The show is set in the fictional town ofSpringfieldand parodiesAmerican culture,society, television, and many aspects of thehuman condition.
The family was conceived by Groening shortly before a solicitation for a series ofanimated shortswith the producerJames L. Brooks. Groening created a dysfunctional family and named the characters after members of his own family, substituting Bart for his own name. The shorts became a part ofThe Tracey Ullman Showon April 19, 1987. After a three-season run, the sketch was developed into a half-hour prime time show and was an early hit for Fox, becoming the network\'s first series to land in the Top 30 ratings in a season (1989–1990).
Since its debut on December 17, 1989, the show has broadcast541 episodesand the25th seasonbegan on September 30, 2013.The Simpsonsis thelongest-runningAmerican sitcom, the longest-running American animated program, and in 2009 it surpassedGunsmokeas the longest-running American primetime, scripted television series.The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length film, was released in theaters worldwide on July 26 and 27, 2007, and grossed over $527 million.
The Simpsonsis widely considered to be one of the greatest television series of all time.Timemagazine\'s December 31, 1999, issue named it the 20th century\'s best television series, and on January 14, 2000, the Simpson family was awarded a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame. It has won dozens of awards since it debuted as a series, including 27Primetime Emmy Awards, 30Annie Awardsand aPeabody Award. Homer\'s exclamatory catchphrase \"D\'oh!\" has been adopted into the English language, whileThe Simpsonshas influenced many adult-oriented animated sitcoms.
Contents[hide]- 1Production
- 1.1Development
- 1.2Executive producers and showrunners
- 1.3Writing
- 1.4Voice actors
- 1.5Animation
- 2Characters
- 3Setting
- 4Themes
- 5Hallmarks
- 5.1Opening sequence
- 5.2Halloween episodes
- 5.3Humor
- 6Influence and legacy
- 6.1Idioms
- 7Reception and achievements
- 7.1Early success
- 7.2Run length achievements
- 7.3Awards and accolades
- 7.4Criticism and controversy
- 7.5Criticism of declining quality
- 8Other media
- 8.1Comic books
- 8.2Film
- 8.3Music
- 8.4The Simpsons Ride
- 8.5Video games
- 9Merchandise
- 10References
- 11Further reading
- 12External links
When producerJames L. Brookswas working on the television variety showThe Tracey Ullman Show, he decided to include small animated sketches before and after the commercial breaks. Having seen one of cartoonistMatt Groening\'sLife in Hellcomic strips, Brooks asked Groening to pitch an idea for a series of animated shorts, which Groening initially intended to present as hisLife in Hellseries.[4]Groening later realized that animatingLife in Hellwould require the rescinding ofpublication rightsfor his life\'s work. He therefore chose another approach while waiting in the lobby of Brooks\'s office for the pitch meeting, hurriedly formulating his version of adysfunctional familythat became the Simpsons.[4][5]He named the characters after his own family members, substituting \"Bart\" for his own name, adapting ananagramof the word \"brat\".[4]
The Simpson family first appeared asshortsinThe Tracey Ullman Showon April 19, 1987.[6]Groening submitted only basic sketches to the animators and assumed that the figures would be cleaned up in production. However, the animators merely re-traced his drawings, which led to the crude appearance of the characters in the initial shorts.[4]The animation was produced domestically atKlasky Csupo,[7][8]withWes Archer,David Silverman, andBill Koppbeing animators for the first season.[9]Colorist Gyorgyi Peluce was the person who decided to make the characters yellow.[9]
In 1989, a team of production companies adaptedThe Simpsonsinto a half-hour series for theFox Broadcasting Company. The team included the Klasky Csupo animation house. Brooks negotiated a provision in the contract with the Fox network that prevented Fox from interfering with the show\'s content.[10]Groening said his goal in creating the show was to offer the audience an alternative to what he called \"the mainstream trash\" that they were watching.[11]The half-hour series premiered on December 17, 1989, with \"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire\", a Christmas special.[12]\"Some Enchanted Evening\" was the first full-length episode produced, but it did not broadcast until May 1990, as the last episode of the first season, because of animation problems.[13]In 1992,Tracey Ullmanfiled a lawsuit against Fox, claiming that her show was the source of the series\' success. The suit said she should receive a share of the profits ofThe Simpsons[14]—a claim rejected by the courts.[15]
Executive producers and showrunnersMatt Groeningcreated the show.List of showrunners throughout the series\' run:
- Season 1–2:Matt Groening,James L. Brooks, &Sam Simon
- Season 3–4:Al Jean&Mike Reiss
- Season 5–6:David Mirkin
- Season 7–8:Bill Oakley&Josh Weinstein
- Season 9–12:Mike Scully
- Season 13–present:Al Jean
Matt Groening and James L. Brooks have served asexecutive producersduring the show\'s entire history, and also function as creative consultants.Sam Simon, described by formerSimpsonsdirectorBrad Birdas \"the unsung hero\" of the show,[16]served as creative supervisor for the first four seasons. He was constantly at odds with Groening, Brooks and the show\'s production companyGracie Filmsand left in 1993.[17]Before leaving, he negotiated a deal that sees him receive a share of the profits every year, and an executive producer credit despite not having worked on the show since 1993.[17][18]A more involved position on the show is theshowrunner, who acts as head writer and manages the show\'s production for an entire season.[9]
WritingMain article:List of The Simpsons writersThe first team of writers, assembled by Sam Simon, consisted ofJohn Swartzwelder,Jon Vitti,George Meyer,Jeff Martin,Al Jean,Mike Reiss,Jay KogenandWallace Wolodarsky.[19]NewerSimpsons\'writing teams typically consist of sixteen writers who propose episode ideas at the beginning of each December.[20]The main writer of each episode writes the first draft. Group rewriting sessions develop final scripts by adding or removing jokes, inserting scenes, and calling for re-readings of lines by the show\'s vocal performers.[21]Until 2004,[22]George Meyer, who had developed the show since the first season, was active in these sessions. According to long-time writerJon Vitti, Meyer usually invented the best lines in a given episode, even though other writers may receive script credits.[21]Each episode takes six months to produce so the show rarely comments on current events.[23]
Part of the writing staff ofThe Simpsonsin 1992. Back row, left to right: Mike Mendel, Colin ABV Lewis (partial), Jeff Goldstein,Al Jean(partial),Conan O\'Brien,Bill Oakley,Josh Weinstein,Mike Reiss, Ken Tsumura,George Meyer,John Swartzwelder,Jon Vitti(partial), CJ Gibson andDavid M. Stern. Front row, left to right: Dee Capelli,Lona Williams, and unknown.Credited with sixty episodes, John Swartzwelder is the most prolific writer onThe Simpsons.[24]One of the best-known former writers isConan O\'Brien, who contributed to several episodes in the early 1990s before replacingDavid Lettermanas host of the talk showLate Night.[25]English comedianRicky Gervaiswrote the episode \"Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife\", becoming the first celebrity to both write and guest star in an episode.[26]Seth RogenandEvan Goldberg, writers of the filmSuperbad, wrote the episode \"Homer the Whopper\", with Rogen voicing a character in it.[27]
At the end of 2007 the writers ofThe Simpsonswent on striketogether with the other members of theWriters Guild of America, East. The show\'s writers had joined the guild in 1998.[28]
Voice actorsMain articles:List of The Simpsons cast members,List of The Simpsons guest stars, andNon-English versions of The SimpsonsThe Simpsonshas six main cast members:Dan Castellaneta,Julie Kavner,Nancy Cartwright,Yeardley Smith,Hank AzariaandHarry Shearer. Castellaneta performsHomer Simpson,Grampa Simpson,Krusty the Clown,Barney Gumbleand other adult, male characters.[29]Julie Kavnerspeaks the voices ofMarge SimpsonandPatty and Selma, as well as several minor characters.[29]Castellaneta and Kavner had been a part ofThe Tracey Ullman Showcast and were given the parts so that new actors would not be needed.[30]Cartwright performs the voices ofBart Simpson,Nelson Muntz,Ralph Wiggumand other children.[29]Smith, the voice ofLisa Simpson, is the only cast member who regularly voices only one character, although she occasionally plays other episodic characters.[29]The producers decided to hold casting for the roles of Bart and Lisa. Smith had initially been asked to audition for the role of Bart, but casting directorBonita Pietilabelieved her voice was too high,[31]so she was given the role of Lisa instead.[32]Cartwright was originally brought in to voice Lisa, but upon arriving at the audition, she found that Lisa was simply described as the \"middle child\" and at the time did not have much personality. Cartwright became more interested in the role of Bart, who was described as \"devious, underachieving, school-hating, irreverent, [and] clever\".[33]Groening let her try out for the part instead, and upon hearing her read, gave her the job on the spot.[34]Cartwright is the only one of the six mainSimpsonscast members who had been professionally trained in voice acting prior to working on the show.[24]Azaria and Shearer do not voice members of the title family, but play a majority of the male townspeople. Azaria, who has been a part of theSimpsonsregular voice cast since the second season,[35]voices recurring characters such asMoe Szyslak,Chief Wiggum,Apu NahasapeemapetilonandProfessor Frink. Shearer provides voices forMr. Burns,Waylon Smithers,Principal Skinner,Ned Flanders,Reverend LovejoyandDr. Hibbert.[29]With the exception of Shearer, every main cast member has won aPrimetime Emmy AwardforOutstanding Voice-Over Performance.[36]However, Shearer was nominated for the award in 2009.[37]
With one exception, episode credits list only thevoice actors, and not the characters they voice. Both Fox and the production crew wanted to keep their identities secret during the early seasons and, therefore, closed most of the recording sessions while refusing to publish photos of the recording artists.[38]However, the network eventually revealed which roles each actor performed in the episode \"Old Money\", because the producers said the voice actors should receive credit for their work.[39]In 2003, the cast appeared in an episode ofInside the Actors Studio, doing live performances of their characters\' voices.
Until 1998, the six main actors were paid$30,000 per episode. In 1998 they were involved in a pay dispute with Fox. The company threatened to replace them with new actors, even going as far as preparing for casting of new voices, but series creator Groening supported the actors in their action.[40]The issue was soon resolved and, from 1998 to 2004, they were paid $125,000 per episode. The show\'s revenue continued to rise through syndication and DVD sales, and in April 2004 the main cast stopped appearing for script readings, demanding they be paid $360,000 per episode.[41][42]The strike was resolved a month later[43]and their salaries were increased to something between $250,000[44]and $360,000 per episode.[45]In 2008, production for thetwentieth seasonwas put on hold due to new contract negotiations with the voice actors, who wanted a \"healthy bump\" in salary to an amount close to $500,000 per episode.[45]The negotiations were soon completed, and the actors\' salary was raised to $400,000 per episode.[46]Three years later, with Fox threatening to cancel the series unless production costs were cut, the cast members accepted a 30 percent pay cut, down to just over $300,000 per episode.[47]
Main cast membersDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightYeardley SmithHank AzariaHarry Willie,Mayor Quimby,Hans Molemanand others.Marge,Patty and SelmaBart,Nelson,Ralph,Todd Flanders, and others.LisaMoe,Chief Wiggum,Apu,Comic Book Guy,Carl,Cletus,Professor Frink,Dr. Nickand othersMr. Burns,Smithers,Ned Flanders,Reverend Lovejoy,Kent Brockman,Dr. Hibbert,Lenny,Principal Skinner,Otto,Rainier Wolfcastleand others.In addition to the main cast,Pamela Hayden,Tress MacNeille,Marcia Wallace,Maggie Roswell, andRussi Taylorvoice supporting characters.[29]From 1999 to 2002, Roswell\'s characters were voiced byMarcia Mitzman Gaven.Karl Wiedergotthas also appeared in minor roles, but does not voice any recurring characters.[48]Repeat \"special guest\" cast members includeAlbert Brooks,Phil Hartman,Jon Lovitz,Joe Mantegna, andKelsey Grammer.[49]Following Hartman\'s death in 1998, the characters he voiced were retired.[5]
Episodes will quite often feature guest voices from a wide range of professions, including actors, athletes, authors, bands, musicians and scientists. In the earlier seasons, most of the guest stars voiced characters, but eventually more started appearing as themselves.Tony Bennettwas the first guest star to appear as himself, appearing briefly in the season two episode \"Dancin\' Homer\".[50]The Simpsonsholds theworld recordfor \"Most Guest Stars Featured in a Television Series\".[51]
The show has been dubbed intoseveral other languages, including Japanese, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. It is also one of the few programs dubbed in bothstandard FrenchandQuebec French.[52]The Simpsonshas been broadcast in Arabic, but due toIslamiccustoms, numerous aspects of the show have been changed. For example, Homer drinkssodainstead of beer and eats Egyptian beef sausages instead of hot dogs. Because of such changes, the Arabized version of the series met with a negative reaction from the lifelongSimpsonsfans in the area.[53]
AnimationAnimation directorDavid Silverman, who helped define the look of the show.[9]Several different U.S. and international studios animateThe Simpsons. Throughout the run of the animated shorts onThe Tracey Ullman Show,the animation was produced domestically atKlasky Csupo.[7]With the debut of the series, because of an increased workload, Fox subcontracted production to several international studios, located in South Korea.[7]These areAKOM,[54]Anivision,[55]Rough Draft Studios,[56]USAnimation,[57]and Toonzone Entertainment.[58]A subcontractor connection to theNorth KoreanSEK studiohas been suspected but not confirmed.[59]Artists at the U.S. animation studio, Film Roman, drawstoryboards, design new characters, backgrounds, props and draw character and background layouts, which in turn becomeanimaticsto be screened for the writers at Gracie Films for any changes to be made before the work is shipped overseas. The overseas studios then draw theinbetweens,ink and paint, and render the animation to tape before it is shipped back to the United States to be delivered to Fox three to four months later.[60]
For the first three seasons,Klasky CsupoanimatedThe Simpsonsin the United States. In 1992, the show\'s production company, Gracie Films, switched domestic production toFilm Roman,[61]who continue to animate the show as of 2012. InSeason 14, production switched from traditionalcel animationtodigital ink and paint.[62]The first episode to experiment withdigital coloringwas \"Radioactive Man\" in 1995. Animators used digital ink and paint during production of theSeason 12episode \"Tennis the Menace\", but Gracie Films delayed the regular use of digital ink and paint until two seasons later. The already completed \"Tennis the Menace\" was broadcast as made.[63]
The series beganhigh-definitionproduction in Season 20; the first episode, \"Take My Life, Please\", aired February 15, 2009. The move to HDTV included a new opening sequence.[64]Matt Groening called it a complicated change because it affected the timing and composition of animation.[65]
CharactersMain article:List of The Simpsons charactersThe Simpsonssports a vast array of secondary and tertiary characters.The Simpsons are a typical family who live in a fictional \"Middle American\" town of Springfield.[66]Homer, the father, works as a safety inspector at theSpringfield Nuclear Power Plant, a position at odds with his careless,buffoonishpersonality. He is married to Marge Simpson, astereotypicalAmericanhousewifeand mother. They have three children: Bart, a ten-year-old troublemaker; Lisa, a precocious eight-year-old activist; andMaggie, the baby of the family who rarely speaks, but communicates by sucking on apacifier. The family owns a dog,Santa\'s Little Helper, and a cat,Snowball V, renamedSnowball IIin \"I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot\".[67]Both pets have had starring roles in several episodes. Despite the passing of yearly milestones such as holidays or birthdays, the Simpsons do not physically age and still appear just as they did at the end of the 1980s. Although the family is dysfunctional, many episodes examine their relationships and bonds with each other and they are often shown to care about one another.[68]
The show includes an array of quirky characters: co-workers, teachers, family friends, extended relatives, townspeople and local celebrities. The creators originally intended many of these characters as one-time jokesters or for fulfilling needed functions in the town. A number of them have gained expanded roles and subsequently starred in their own episodes. According to Matt Groening, the show adopted the concept of a large supporting cast from the comedy showSCTV.[69]
SettingMain article:Springfield (The Simpsons)The Simpsonstakes place in the fictional American town ofSpringfieldin an unknown and impossible-to-determine U.S. state. The show is intentionally evasive in regard to Springfield\'s location.[70]Springfield\'s geography, and that of its surroundings, contains coastlines, deserts, vast farmland, tall mountains, or whatever the story or joke requires.[71]Groening has said that Springfield has much in common withPortland, Oregon, the city where he grew up.[72]The name \"Springfield\" is a common one in America and appears in 22 states.[73]Groening has said that he named it afterSpringfield, Oregon, and the fictitious Springfield which was the setting of the seriesFather Knows Best. He \"figured out that Springfield was one of the most common names for a city in the U.S. In anticipation of the success of the show, I thought, \'This will be cool; everyone will think it\'s their Springfield.\' And they do.\"[74]
ThemesMain articles:Media in The Simpsons,Politics in The Simpsons, andReligion in The SimpsonsThe Simpsonsuses the standard setup of a situational comedy, or sitcom, as its premise. The series centers on a family and their life in a typical American town,[66]serving as asatiricalparody of aworkingandmiddle classAmerican lifestyle.[75]However, because of its animated nature,The Simpsons\'scope is larger than that of a regular sitcom. The town of Springfield acts as a complete universe in which characters can explore the issues faced by modern society. By having Homer work in a nuclear power plant, the show can comment on the state of the Environment.[76]Through Bart and Lisa\'s days atSpringfield Elementary School, the show\'s writers illustrate pressing or controversial issues in the field of education. The town features a vast array of media channels—from kids\' television programming to local news, which enables the producers to make jokes about themselves and the entertainment industry.[77]
Some commentators say the show is political in nature and susceptible to a left-wing bias.[78]Al Jeanadmitted in an interview that \"We [the show] are of liberal bent.\"[79]The writers often evince an appreciation forliberal ideals, but the show makes jokes across the political spectrum.[80]The show portrays government and large corporations as callous entities that take advantage of the common worker.[79]Thus, the writers often portray authority figures in an unflattering or negative light. InThe Simpsons, politicians are corrupt, ministers such asReverend Lovejoyare indifferent to churchgoers, and the local police force is incompetent.[81]Religion also figures as a recurring theme. In times of crisis, the family often turns to God, and the show has dealt with most of the major religions.[82]
HallmarksOpening sequenceMain article:The Simpsons opening sequenceThe Simpsons\'opening sequenceis one of the show\'s most memorable hallmarks. Most episodes open with the camera zooming through the show\'s title towards the town ofSpringfield. The camera then follows the members of the family on their way home. Upon entering their house, the Simpsons settle down on their couch to watch television. The opening was created byDavid Silverman, the first task he did when production began on the show.[83]The series\' distinctivetheme songwascomposedby musicianDanny Elfmanin 1989, after Groening approached him requesting a retro style piece. This piece has been noted by Elfman as the most popular of his career.[84]
One of the most distinctive aspects of the opening is that three of the segments change from episode to episode: Bart writes different things on the school chalkboard,[83]Lisa plays different solos on her saxophone and different gags accompany the family as they enter their living room to sit on the couch.[85]On February 15, 2009, a new opening credit sequence was introduced to accompany the switch to HDTV. The sequence had all of the features of the original opening, but added numerous details and characters.[86]
Halloween episodesBart Simpson introducing a segment of \"Treehouse of Horror IV\" in the manner ofRod Serling\'sNight Gallery.Main article:Treehouse of Horror (series)The specialHalloweenepisode has become an annual tradition. \"Treehouse of Horror\" first broadcast in 1990 as part ofseason twoand established the pattern of three separate, self-contained stories in each Halloween episode.[87]These pieces usually involve the family in somehorror,science fiction, or supernatural setting and often parody or pay homage to a famous piece of work in those genres.[88]They always take place outside the normal continuity of the show. Although theTreehouseseries is meant to be seen on Halloween, in recent years, new installments have premiered after Halloween due toFox\'s current contract withMajor League Baseball\'sWorld Series.[89]
HumorThe show\'s humor turns on cultural references that cover a wide spectrum of society so that viewers from all generations can enjoy the show.[90]Such references, for example, come from movies, television, music, literature, science, and history.[90]The animators also regularly add jokes or sight gags into the show\'s background via humorous or incongruous bits of text in signs, newspapers, and elsewhere.[91]The audience may often not notice the visual jokes in a single viewing. Some are so fleeting that they become apparent only by pausing a video recording of the show.[91]Kristin Thompson argues thatThe Simpsonsuses a \"...flurry of cultural references, intentionally inconsistent characterization, and considerable self-reflexivity about television conventions and the status of the programme as a television show.\"[92]
One of Bart\'s early hallmarks was his prank calls toMoe\'s TavernownerMoe Szyslakin which Bart calls Moe and asks for agag name. Moe tries to find that person in the bar, but soon realizes it is a prank call and angrily threatens Bart. These calls were based on a series of prank calls known as theTube Bar recordings. Moe was based partly on Tube Bar ownerLouis \"Red\" Deutsch, whose often profane responses inspired Moe\'s violent side.[93]As the series progressed, it became more difficult for the writers to come up with a fake name and to write Moe\'s angry response, and the pranks were dropped as a regular joke during the fourth season.[94][95]The Simpsonsalso often includesself-referentialhumor.[96]The most common form is jokes about Fox Broadcasting.[97]For example, the episode \"She Used to Be My Girl\" included a scene in which aFox News Channelvan drove down the street while displaying a large \"Bush Cheney 2004\" banner and playingQueen\'s \"We Are the Champions\", in reference to the2004 U.S. presidential electionand claims ofconservative bias in Fox News.[98][99]
The show usescatchphrases, and most of the primary and secondary characters have at least one each.[100]Notable expressions include Homer\'s annoyed grunt \"D\'oh!\", Mr. Burns\' \"Excellent...\" andNelson Muntz\'s \"Ha-ha!\". Some of Bart\'s catchphrases, such as \"¡Ay, caramba!\", \"Don\'t have a cow, man!\" and \"Eat my shorts!\" appeared on t-shirts in the show\'s early days.[101]However, Bart rarely used the latter two phrases until after they became popular through themerchandising. The use of many of these catchphrases has declined in recent seasons. The episode \"Bart Gets Famous\" mocks catchphrase-based humor, as Bart achieves fame on theKrusty the Clown Showsolely for saying \"I didn\'t do it.\"[102]
Influence and legacyIdiomsA number ofneologismsthat originated onThe Simpsonshave entered popular vernacular.[103][104]Mark Liberman, director of theLinguistic Data Consortium, remarked, \"The Simpsonshas apparently taken over from Shakespeare and the Bible as our culture\'s greatest source of idioms, catchphrases and sundry other textual allusions.\"[104]The most famous catchphrase is Homer\'s annoyed grunt: \"D\'oh!\" So ubiquitous is the expression that it is now listed in theOxford English Dictionary, but without the apostrophe.[105]Dan Castellaneta says he borrowed the phrase fromJames Finlayson, an actor in earlyLaurel and Hardycomedies, who pronounced it in a more elongated and whining tone. The staff ofThe Simpsonstold Castellaneta to shorten the noise, and it went on to become the well-known exclamation in the television series.[106]
Groundskeeper Willie\'s description of the French as \"cheese-eating surrender monkeys\" was used byNational ReviewcolumnistJonah Goldbergin 2003, after France\'s opposition to the proposedinvasion of Iraq. The phrase quickly spread to other journalists.[104][107]\"Cromulent\" and \"Embiggen\", words used in \"Lisa the Iconoclast\", have since appeared in theDictionary.com\'s 21st Century Lexicon,[108]and scientific journals respectively.[104][109]\"Kwyjibo\", a fakeScrabbleword invented by Bart in \"Bart the Genius\", was used as one of the aliases of the creator of theMelissa worm.[110]\"I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords\", was used byKent Brockmanin \"Deep Space Homer\" and has become a common variety of phrase.[111]Variants of Brockman\'s utterance are used to express mock submission.[112]It has been used in media, such asNew Scientistmagazine.[113]The dismissive term \"Meh\", believed to have been popularized by the show,[104][114][115]entered theCollins English Dictionaryin 2008.[116]Other words credited as stemming from the show include \"yoink\" and \"craptacular\".[104]
The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Quotationsincludes several quotations from the show. As well as \"cheese-eating surrender monkeys\", Homer\'s lines, \"Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is never try\", from \"Burns\' Heir\" (season five, 1994) as well as \"Kids are the best, Apu. You can teach them to hate the things you hate. And they practically raise themselves, what with the Internet and all\", from \"Eight Misbehavin\'\" (season 11, 1999), entered the dictionary in August 2007.[117]
TelevisionThe Simpsonswas the first successful animated program in American prime time sinceWait Till Your Father Gets Homein the 1970s.[118]During most of the 1980s, US pundits considered animated shows as appropriate only for children, and animating a show was too expensive to achieve a quality suitable for prime-time television.The Simpsonschanged this perception.[7]The use of Korean animation studios fortweening, coloring, and filming made the episodes cheaper. The success ofThe Simpsonsand the lower production cost prompted US television networks to take chances on other animated series.[7]This development led US producers to a 1990s boom in new, animated prime-time shows, such asSouth Park,Family Guy,King of the Hill,Futurama, andThe Critic.[7]ForFamily GuycreatorSeth MacFarlane, \"The Simpsonscreated an audience for prime-time animation that had not been there for many, many years... As far as I\'m concerned, they basically re-invented the wheel. They created what is in many ways—you could classify it as—a wholly new medium.\"[119]Characters fromThe CriticandFuturamahave officiallycrossed overin episodes ofThe Simpsons,[120][121]while the Simpsons themselves will crossover withFamily Guy.[122]South Parklater paid homage toThe Simpsonswith the episode \"Simpsons Already Did It\".[123]InGeorgia, the animated television sitcomThe Samsonadzes, launched in November 2009, has been noted for its very strong resemblance withThe Simpsons, which its creator Shalva Ramishvili has acknowledged.[124][125][126]
The Simpsonshas also influenced live-action shows likeMalcolm in the Middle, which featured the use ofsight gagsand did not use alaugh trackunlike most sitcoms.[127][128]Malcolm in the Middledebuted January 9, 2000, in the time slot afterThe Simpsons.Ricky GervaiscalledThe Simpsonsan influence onThe Office,[129]and fellow British sitcomSpacedwas, according to its directorEdgar Wright, \"an attempt to do a live-actionThe Simpsons.\"[130]
Reception and achievementsEarly successThe Simpsonswas the Fox network\'s first television series to rank among a season\'s top 30 highest-rated shows.[131]While later seasons would focus on Homer, Bart was the lead character in most of the first three seasons. In 1990, Bart quickly became one of the most popular characters on television in what was termed \"Bartmania\".[132][133][134][135]He became the most prevalentSimpsonscharacter on memorabilia, such asT-shirts. In the early 1990s, millions of T-shirts featuring Bart were sold;[136]as many as one million were sold on some days.[137]Believing Bart to be a bad role model, several American public schools banned T-shirts featuring Bart next to captions such as \"I\'m Bart Simpson. Who the hell are you?\" and \"Underachiever (\'And proud of it, man!\')\".[138][139][140]The Simpsonsmerchandise sold well and generated $2 billion in revenue during the first 14 months of sales.[138]Because of his popularity, Bart was often the most promoted member of the Simpson family in advertisements for the show, even for episodes in which he was not involved in the main plot.[141]
Due to the show\'s success, over the summer of 1990 theFox Networkdecided to switchThe Simpsons\'time slot so that it would move from 8:00 p.m.ETon Sunday night to the same time on Thursday, where it would compete withThe Cosby ShowonNBC, thenumber one showat the time.[142][143]Through the summer, several news outlets published stories about the supposed \"Bill vs. Bart\" rivalry.[137][142]\"Bart Gets an F\" (season two, 1990) was the first episode to air againstThe Cosby Show, and it received a lowerNielsen ratings, tying for eighth behindThe Cosby Show, which had an 18.5 rating. The rating is based on the number of household televisions that were tuned into the show, butNielsen Media Researchestimated that 33.6 million viewers watched the episode, making it the number one show in terms of actual viewers that week. At the time, it was the most watched episode in the history of the Fox Network,[144]and it is still the highest rated episode in the history ofThe Simpsons.[145]The show moved back to its Sunday slot in 1994 and has remained there ever since.[146]
The Simpsonshas been praised by many critics, being described as \"the most irreverent and unapologetic show on the air.\"[147]In a 1990 review of the show, Ken Tucker ofEntertainment Weeklydescribed it as \"the American family at its most complicated, drawn as simple cartoons. It\'s this neat paradox that makes millions of people turn away from the three big networks on Sunday nights to concentrate on The Simpsons.\"[148]Tucker would also describe the show as a \"pop-cultural phenomenon, a prime-time cartoon show that appeals to the entire family.\"[149]
Run length achievementsOn February 9, 1997,The SimpsonssurpassedThe Flintstoneswith the episode \"The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show\" as the longest-running prime-time animated series in the United States.[150]In 2004,The SimpsonsreplacedThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet(1952 to 1966) as the longest-running sitcom (animated orlive action) in the United States.[151]In 2009,The SimpsonssurpassedThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet\'s record of 435 episodes and is now recognized byGuinness World Recordsas the world\'s longest running sitcom (in terms of episode count).[152][153]In October 2004,Scooby-Doobriefly overtookThe Simpsonsas the American animated show with the highest number of episodes.[154]However, network executives in April 2005 again cancelledScooby-Doo, which finished with 371 episodes, andThe Simpsonsreclaimed the title with 378 episodes at the end of their seventeenth season.[155]In May 2007,The Simpsonsreached their 400th episode at the end of the eighteenth season. WhileThe Simpsonshas the record for the number of episodes by an American animated show, other animated series have surpassedThe Simpsons.[156]For example, the JapaneseanimeseriesSazae-sanhas over 6,000 episodes to its credit.[156]
In 2009, Fox began a year-long celebration of the show titled \"Best. 20 Years. Ever.\" to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the premiere ofThe Simpsons. One of the first parts of the celebration is the \"Unleash Your Yellow\" contest in which entrants must design a poster for the show.[157]The celebration ended on January 10, 2010 (almost 20 years after \"Bart the Genius\" aired on January 14, 1990), withThe Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – In 3-D! On Ice!, a documentary special by documentary filmmakerMorgan Spurlockthat examines the \"cultural phenomenon ofThe Simpsons\".[158][159]
As of the twenty-first season (2009–2010),The Simpsonsbecame the longest-running American primetime, scripted television series, having surpassedGunsmoke. However,Gunsmoke\'s episode count of 635 episodes far surpassesThe Simpsons, which would not reach that mark until its approximate 29th season, under normal programming schedules.[151][160]In October 2013, Fox renewed the show up to the end of a 26th season.[161][162][163]
Awards and accoladesMain article:List of awards and nominations received by The SimpsonsThe Simpsons have been awarded a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.The Simpsonshas won dozens of awards since it debuted as a series, including 27Primetime Emmy Awards,[51]30Annie Awards[164]and aPeabody Award.[165]In a 1999 issue celebrating the 20th century\'s greatest achievements in arts and entertainment,Timemagazine namedThe Simpsonsthe century\'s best television series.[166]In that same issue,Timeincluded Bart Simpson in theTime 100, the publication\'s list of the century\'s 100 most influential people.[167]Bart was the only fictional character on the list. On January 14, 2000, the Simpsons were awarded a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.[168]Also in 2000,Entertainment Weeklymagazine TV critic Ken Tucker namedThe Simpsonsthe greatest television show of the1990s. Furthermore, viewers of the UK television channelChannel 4have votedThe Simpsonsat the top of two polls: 2001\'s 100 Greatest Kids\' TV shows,[169]and 2005\'s The 100 Greatest Cartoons,[170]with Homer Simpson voted into first place in 2001\'s 100 Greatest TV Characters.[171]Homer would also place ninth onEntertainment Weekly\'s list of the \"50 Greatest TV icons\".[172]In 2002,The Simpsonsranked #8 onTV Guide\'s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time,[173]and in 2007 it was included inTime\'s list of the \"100 Best TV Shows of All Time\".[174]In 2008 the show was placed in first onEntertainment Weekly\'s \"Top 100 Shows of the Past 25 Years\".[175]Empirenamed it the greatest TV show of all time.[176]In 2010,Entertainment Weeklynamed Homer \"the greatest character of the last 20 years,\"[177]while in 2013 theWriters Guild of AmericalistedThe Simpsonsas the 11th \"best written\" series in television history.[178]In 2013,TV GuiderankedThe Simpsonsas the greatest TV cartoon of all time[179]and the tenth greatest show of all time.[180]
Criticism and controversyBart\'s rebellious nature, which frequently resulted in no punishment for his misbehavior, led some parents andconservativesto characterize him as a poorrole modelfor children.[181][182]In schools, educators claimed that Bart was a \"threat to learning\" because of his \"underachiever and proud of it\" attitude and negative attitude regarding his education.[183]Others described him as \"egotistical, aggressive and mean-spirited\".[184]In a 1991 interview,Bill Cosbydescribed Bart as a bad role model for children, calling him \"angry, confused, frustrated\". In response, Matt Groening said, \"That sums up Bart, all right. Most people are in a struggle to be normal [and] he thinks normal is very boring, and does things that others just wished they dare do.\"[185]On January 27, 1992, then-PresidentGeorge H. W. Bushsaid, \"We are going to keep on trying to strengthen the American family, to make American families a lot more likethe Waltonsand a lot less like the Simpsons.\"[138]The writers rushed out a tongue-in-cheek reply in the form of a short segment which aired three days later before a rerun of \"Stark Raving Dad\" in which Bart replied, \"Hey, we\'re just like the Waltons. We\'re praying for an end to the Depression, too.\"[186][187]
Various episodes of the show have generated controversy. The Simpsons visit Australia in \"Bart vs. Australia\" (season six, 1995) and Brazil in \"Blame It on Lisa\" (season 13, 2002) and both episodes generated controversy and negative reaction in the visited countries.[188]In the latter case, Rio de Janeiro\'s tourist board– who claimed that the city was portrayed as having rampant street crime, kidnappings, slums, and monkey and rat infestations– went so far as to threaten Fox with legal action.[189]Groening was a fierce and vocal critic of the episode \"A Star Is Burns\" (season six, 1995) which featured acrossoverwithThe Critic. He felt that it was just an advertisement forThe Critic, and that people would incorrectly associate the show with him. When he was unsuccessful in getting the episode pulled, he had his name removed from the credits and went public with his concerns, openly criticizing James L. Brooks and saying the episode \"violates the Simpsons\' universe.\" In response, Brooks said, \"I am furious with Matt,... he\'s allowed his opinion, but airing this publicly in the press is going too far.... his behavior right now is rotten.\"[120][190]\"The Principal and the Pauper\" (season nine, 1997) is one of the most controversial episodes ofThe Simpsons. Many fans and critics reacted negatively to the revelation thatSeymour Skinner, a recurring character since the first season, was an impostor. The episode has been criticized by Groening and byHarry Shearer, who provides the voice of Skinner. In a 2001 interview, Shearer recalled that after reading the script, he told the writers, \"That\'s so wrong. You\'re taking something that an audience has built eight years or nine years of investment in and just tossed it in the trash can for no good reason, for a story we\'ve done before with other characters. It\'s so arbitrary and gratuitous, and it\'s disrespectful to the audience.\"[191]
The show has reportedly been taken off the air in several countries. China banned it from prime-time television in August 2006, \"in an effort to protect China\'s struggling animation studios.\"[192]In 2008,Venezuelabarred the show from airing on morning television as it was \"unsuitable for children\".[193]The same year, severalRussianPentecostalchurches demandedThe Simpsons,South Parkand some other Western cartoons to be removed from broadcast schedules \"for propaganda of various vices\" and the broadcaster\'s license to be revoked. However, the court decision later dismissed this request.[194]
Criticism of declining qualityCritics\' reviews of earlySimpsonsepisodes praised the show for its wit, realism, and intelligence.[11][195]In the late 1990s, around the airing of season ten, the tone and emphasis of the show began to change. Some critics started calling the show \"tired\".[196]By 2000, some long-term fans had become disillusioned with the show and pointed to its shift from character-driven plots to what they perceived as an overemphasis on zany antics.[197][198][199]The BBC noted \"the common consensus is thatThe Simpsons\' golden era ended afterseason nine\",[200]while Todd Leopold of CNN, in an article looking at its perceived decline, stated \"for many fans... the glory days are long past.\"[199]Jim Schembri of theThe Sydney Morning Heraldcalled the show \"a cultural touchstone for at least two—possibly three—generations of couch potatoes\", but claimed that the show has declined in quality. He attributed this decline in quality to an abandonment of character-driven storylines in favor of and overuse of celebritycameo appearancesand references to popular culture. Schembri wrote: \"The central tragedy ofThe Simpsonsis that it has gone from commanding attention to merely being attention seeking. It began by proving that cartoon characters don\'t have to be caricatures; they can be invested with real emotions. Now the show has in essence fermented into a limp parody of itself. Memorable story arcs have been sacrificed for the sake of celebrity walk-ons and punchline-hungry dialogue.\"[201]
AuthorDouglas Couplanddescribed claims of declining quality in the series as \"hogwash\", saying \"The Simpsonshasn\'t fumbled the ball in fourteen years, it\'s hardly likely to fumble it now.\"[202]Mike Scully, who was showrunner during seasons nine throughtwelve, has been the subject of criticism.[203][204]Chris Suellentrop ofSlatewrote that \"under Scully\'s tenure,The Simpsonsbecame, well, a cartoon.... Episodes that once would have ended withHomer and Marge bicycling into the sunsetnow end withHomer blowing a tranquilizer dart into Marge\'s neck. The show\'s still funny, but it hasn\'t been touching in years.\"[203]When asked in 2007 how the series\' longevity is sustained, Scully joked, \"Lower your quality standards. Once you\'ve done that you can go on forever.\"[205]
In 2003, to celebrate the show\'s 300th episode \"Barting Over\",USA Todaypublished a pair of Simpsons related articles: a top-ten episodes list chosen by the webmaster ofThe Simpsons Archivefansite,[206]and a top-15 list byThe Simpsons\'own writers.[207]The most recent episode listed on the fan list was 1997\'s \"Homer\'s Phobia\"; the Simpsons\' writers most recent choice was 2000\'s \"Behind the Laughter\". In 2004,Harry Shearercriticized what he perceived as the show\'s declining quality: \"I rate the last three seasons as among the worst, so Season Four looks very good to me now.\"[208]In response,Dan Castellanetastated \"I don\'t agree,... I think Harry\'s issue is that the show isn\'t as grounded as it was in the first three or four seasons, that it\'s gotten crazy or a little more madcap. I think it organically changes to stay fresh.\"[209]
Despite the criticism,The Simpsonsmanages to maintain a large viewership and attract new fans. While the first season enjoyed an average of 13.4 million viewing households per episode in the U.S.,[131]the twenty-first season had an average of 7.2 million viewers.[210]In an April 2006 interview, Matt Groening said, \"I honestly don\'t see any end in sight. I think it\'s possible that the show will become too financially cumbersome... but right now, the show is creatively, I think, as good or better than it\'s ever been. The animation is incredibly detailed and imaginative, and the stories do things that we haven\'t done before. So creatively there\'s no reason to quit.\"[211]
Other mediaMain article:The Simpsons (franchise)Comic booksMain article:List of The Simpsons comicsNumerous Simpson-related comic books have been released over the years. So far, ninecomic bookseries have been published byBongo Comicssince 1993.[212]The firstcomic stripsbased onThe Simpsonsappeared in 1991 in the magazineSimpsons Illustrated, which was a companion magazine to the show.[213]The comic strips were popular and a one-shotcomic booktitledSimpsons Comics and Stories, containing four different stories, was released in 1993 for the fans.[214]The book was a success and due to this, the creator ofThe Simpsons, Matt Groening, and his companionsBill Morrison, Mike Rote, Steve Vance and Cindy Vance created the publishing company Bongo Comics.[214]Issues ofSimpsons Comics,Bart Simpson\'s Treehouse of HorrorandBart Simpsonhave been collected and reprinted intrade paperbacksin the United States article:The Simpsons MovieASeattle7-Elevenstore transformed into aKwik-E-Martas part of a promotion forThe Simpsons Movie.
20th Century Fox,Gracie Films, andFilm RomanproducedThe Simpsons Movie, an animated film that was released on July 27, 2007.[218]The film was directed by long-timeSimpsonsproducerDavid Silvermanand written by a team ofSimpsonswriters comprising Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, Al Jean, George Meyer,Mike Reiss,John Swartzwelder,Jon Vitti,David Mirkin,Mike Scully,Matt Selman, andIan Maxtone-Graham.[218]Production of the film occurred alongside continued writing of the series despite long-time claims by those involved in the show that a film would enter production only after the series had concluded.[218]There had been talk of a possible feature-lengthSimpsonsfilm ever since the early seasons of the series. James L. Brooks originally thought that the story of the episode \"Kamp Krusty\" was suitable for a film, but he encountered difficulties in trying to expand the script to feature-length.[219]For a long time, difficulties such as lack of a suitable story and an already fully engaged crew of writers delayed the project.[211]
MusicMain article:The Simpsons discographyCollections of original music featured in the series have been released on the albumsSongs in the Key of Springfield,Go Simpsonic with The SimpsonsandThe Simpsons: Testify.[220]Several songs have been recorded with the purpose of a single or album release and have not been featured on the show. The albumThe Simpsons Sing the Blueswas released in September 1990 and was a success, peaking at #3 on theBillboard200[221]and becoming certified 2× platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America.[222]The first single from the album was thepop rapsong \"Do the Bartman\", performed by Nancy Cartwright and released on November 20, 1990. The song was written byMichael Jackson, although he did not receive any credit.[223]The Yellow Albumwas released in 1998, but received poor reception and did not chart in any country.
The Simpsons RideMain article:The Simpsons RideThe Simpsons RideatUniversal Studios Florida.In 2007, it was officially announced thatThe Simpsons Ride, asimulator ride, would be implemented into theUniversal Studios OrlandoandUniversal Studios Hollywood.[224]It officially opened May 15, 2008 in Florida[225]and May 19, 2008, in Hollywood.[226]In the ride, patrons are introduced to a cartoon theme park called Krustyland built byKrusty the Clown. However,Sideshow Bobis loose from prison to get revenge on Krusty and theSimpson family.[227]It features more than 24 regular characters fromThe Simpsonsand features the voices of the regular cast members, as well asPamela Hayden,Russi TaylorandKelsey Grammer.[228]Harry Shearerdecided not to participate in the ride, so none of his characters have vocal parts.[229]
Video gamesFurther information:List of The Simpsons video gamesNumerousvideo gamesbased on the show have been produced. Some of the early games includeKonami\'sarcade gameThe Simpsons(1991) andAcclaim Entertainment\'sThe Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants(1991).[230][231]More modern games includeThe Simpsons: Road Rage(2001),The Simpsons: Hit & Run(2003) andThe Simpsons Game(2007).[232][233][234]Electronic Arts, which producedThe Simpsons Game, has owned the exclusive rights to create video games based on the show since 2005.[235]In 2010, they released a game calledThe Simpsons ArcadeforiOS.[236]Another EA-produced mobile game,Tapped Out, was released in 2012 for iOS users, then in 2013 have been produced: one that was available briefly after the first season, and another in 2007, both out of production.[240]
MerchandiseSee also:List of The Simpsons booksandList of The Simpsons home video releasesThe popularity ofThe Simpsonshas made it a billion-dollar merchandising industry.[138]The title family and supporting characters appear on everything from t-shirts to posters.The Simpsonshas been used as a theme for special editions of well-known board games, andThe Game of Life, as well as thetriviagames What Would Homer Do? and SimpsonsJeopardy!. Several card games such astrump cardsand The Simpsons Trading Card Game have also been released. Many official or unofficialSimpsonsbooks such as episode guides have been published. Many episodes of the show have been released on DVD and VHS over the years. When the first season DVD was released in 2001, it quickly became the best-selling television DVD in history, although it was later overtaken by the first season ofChappelle\'s Show.[241]In particular, seasons one through sixteen have been released on DVD in the U.S. (Region 1), Europe (Region 2) and Australia/New Zealand/Latin America (Region 4) with more seasons expected to be released in the future.[242]
In 2003, about 500 companies around the world were licensed to useSimpsonscharacters in their advertising.[243]As a promotion forThe Simpsons Movie, twelve7-Elevenstores were transformed intoKwik-E-Martsand soldThe Simpsonsrelated products. These included \"Buzz Cola\", \"Krusty-O\" cereal, pink doughnuts with sprinkles, and \"Squishees\".[244]
In 2008 consumers around the world spent $750 million on merchandise related toThe Simpsons, with half of the amount originating from the United States. By 2009 20th Century Fox increased merchandising efforts.[245]On April 9, 2009, theUnited States Postal Serviceunveiled a series of five 44-cent stamps featuring Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, to commemorate the show\'s twentieth anniversary.[246]The Simpsonsis the first television series still in production to receive this recognition.[247][248]The stamps, designed by Matt Groening, were made available for purchase on May 7, 2009.[249]Approximately one billion were printed.[250]
The Simpsons RARE Cel FRAMED Homer Simpson CoA Production Original Animation Art:
$398.42