Homer Meets Donald Trump's Hair

"I can't believe this was once on his ass."

Simpsons Game Joins Pride Parade

The Simpsons game Tapped Out has launched a pride month update in which players can spend their winnings (issued in donuts, naturally) to buy rainbow flags, a pride billboard, and even the famous gay steel mill. "We work hard, we play hard." Donuts are also available for purchase with real money, of course. Learn more at the link. (Tipped by JMG reader Jeff)

After 26 Seasons Actor Harry Shearer Says Bye-Diddly-Bye To The Simpsons

No-diddly-no! Via CNN:

Harry Shearer, the voice of iconic "Simpsons" characters like Mr. Burns, is walking away from a $14 million offer and is saying farewell to the show. "As the Simpsons continues its 27th and 28th seasons, Harry Shearer will not be within the show," showrunner Al Jean said in an email message to CNNMoney. Besides the evil Mr. Burns, Shearer also voices Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, the Rev. Lovejoy and Kent Brockman. "We do not plan to 'kill off' his characters," Jean added, "but replace them with the most talented members of the voice over community." Jean's comments came a few hours after Shearer's private contract negotiations with the producers spilled into public view. Shearer, who tweeted about the dispute, said that it centered around his ability to continue doing outside work. He says he's had that freedom for decades.

The Couch Gag Before Christmas

Tomacco!

Goodfellas Actor Sues The Simpsons

Actor Frank Sivero, best known for playing a mobster in Goodfellas, is suing The Simpsons for $250M over a character he claims is based on him.

Mr. Sivero, who evidently wants it to be known that he is not a clown and not here to amuse you, has filed a lawsuit against Fox and the creators of “The Simpsons,” saying that the character of Louie, a cartoon mafia man who occasionally appears on that show, is an appropriation of his likeness and an infringement on his right to publicity. Court documents reported at Deadline.com show that Mr. Sivero’s suit was filed Tuesday in California Superior Court for Los Angeles County. The lawsuit states that Mr. Sivero has had contact with “The Simpsons” since 1989 (when he lived in the same Sherman Oaks apartment complex as some of the show’s writers), and that the “appearances and mannerisms” of the Louie character, who first appeared on the show in 1991, “are strongly evocative of” Mr. Sivero. The suit asks for up to $250 million in damages and injunctive relief, considerably more than was netted in the notorious Lufthansa heist. A representative for Fox said the studio had no comment. A lawyer for Mr. Sivero did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Many Simpsons characters are based on real life people or famous movie characters. Mayor Quimby is based on JFK, Professor Frink is based on Jerry Lewis' Nutty Professor, action hero Ranier Wolfcastle is based on Arnold Schwarzenegger, and on and on.

LA Gay Men's Chorus - Spider-Pig

Friday night The Simpsons celebrated its 25th anniversary with a concert of the show's most famous musical numbers at the Hollywood Bowl. The Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus performed Spider-Pig from The Simpsons Movie and the Emmy-nominated We Do (The Stonecutters' Song) from the classic 1995 episode, Homer The Great.

Groundskeeper Willie For Yes Scotland

Homer Simpson Does The Ice Bucket

Fox Teases Simpsons/Family Guy Episode

Via Mediaite:

At Comic-Con International in San Diego, Calif., Fox debuted a five-minute sneak peek of the combo episode of Family Guy and The Simpsons, set to air September 28. The preview shows leading males Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin bonding over donuts and fighting over their favorite beers, while Stewie Griffin and Bart Simpson engage in hijinks. Subtle jabs at each other’s shows abound, along with references to other Fox programs like Bob’s Burgers and the recently canceled Cleveland Show.

A Simpsons/Futurama crossover episode will air in November. The Simpsons is in its 25th season, making it the "longest running animated American series, longest running American sitcom, and longest running scripted primetime series."

Last Night On The Simpsons

The Hollywood Reporter recaps:

The Simpsons paid tribute to Marcia Wallace, the voice of teacher Mrs. Krabappel who died Oct. 25, in the show's opening Sunday night. "We'll really miss you Mrs. K.," Bart Simpson wrote on the chalkboard in the credits sequence ahead of Sunday night's new episode, "Four Regrettings and a Funeral." Wallace voiced teacher Edna Krabappel on Fox's long-running animated hit.

Ow, my heart.

Actress Marcia Wallace Dies At Age 70

Actress Marcia Wallace has died at the age of 70. Wallace gained fame as the secretary Carol on The Bob Newhart Show and voiced the Simpsons character Edna Krabappel.

"I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace," said Simpsons executive producer Al Jean in a statement. "She was beloved by all at The Simpsons and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character." The actress' popularity spanned generations. She appeared on The Merv Griffin Show over 75 times, and earned fame playing Carol Kester, the clever, sarcastic secretary on The Bob Newhart Show. She later nabbed an Emmy nomination for a turn on Murphy Brown as 'Secretary 66' in 1994. Wallace won an Emmy for voicing Bart Simpson's dry teacher on the Fox animated series. As THR notes, the 1992 Simpsons episode for which she won found Ms. Krabappel giving Bart a month of detention. He exacted revenge by responding to her newspaper singles ad. Wallace would go on to star in 177 episodes of The Simpsons, her character's iconic "Ha!" a familiar echo.

The Simpsons Takes On Breaking Bad

Last Night's Simpsons Chalkboard Gag

Montgomery Burns Endorses Romney

Wingnuts are super upset about this. Hurray!

Lady Gaga Kisses Marge Simpson

I literally snorked at the final line.

Simpsons To Go Gaga

Springfield, Where?

Some fans of The Simpsons say that last night's opening chalkboard gag indicates that Matt Groening is backpedaling on last week's revelation about Springfield's Oregon location.

Springfield, Oregon

I had always figured it was somewhere in the midwest:

One of the best-kept secrets in television history has been revealed, with "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening pointing to Springfield, Ore., as the inspiration for the animated hometown of Homer and his dysfunctional family.

At The End Of Last Night's Simpsons

Did Usher Rip Off Homer Simpson?

Some folks are saying that Usher's blockbuster smash single OMG sounds suspiciously like a Christmas song made up by Homer Simpson.