And The Simpsons Are Headed For The Big Screen

[Tuckerfan]

I dunno if it's going to work or not. (http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=87067&cat=Entertainment) "The Simpsons" is about to get bigger - with a film being planned on the cult TV cartoon character Homer Simpson and his family.

The show's main voice actors have all signed up for the project. The creator of the series, Matt Groening, is thrilled with the film script, reports entertainment portal IMDB.

[Soylent Gene]

The writing has always been good for the tv show. I'm sure it'll work.

[Snooooopy]

Doesn't seem like there's much of a point to making a movie, other than to say, "Hey, we made a movie!"

[Scumpup]

90 minutes? I can't help but think it won't be sustainable as a single coherent story for that length.

[Strinka]

I agree. It seems like it would just be a two-hour long episode. Hopefully, they'll do better than that.

[Askia]

Shouldn't the title of this thread be, "Woo-hoo! The Simpsons Are Going to Hollywood!"

[Tuckerfan]

Shouldn't the title of this thread be, "Woo-hoo! The Simpsons Are Going to Hollywood!"
Well, technically, they're already there, since they're on TV and all, and I'm not quite convinced that this is going to be good. I'm still not willing to condemn it outright, of course, but I'm going to need some convincing that they can pull it off.

[Revtim]

I agree. It seems like it would just be a two-hour long episode. Hopefully, they'll do better than that.A two-hour long Simpson's episode of average Simpson's quality sounds better than most movies I've seen.

[Cisco]

While I love the Simpsons, I really don't see how this is going to work. A two-hour long sitcom? It's been done before and it invariably sucks. I'd rather see a two-hour long space-adventure comedy. They should make a Futurama movie.

Has there been any update to that rumor that was going around a few years ago that Bart was going to lose his virginity in the movie?

[Askia]

No offesnse, Cisco, but that seems about as likely as interracial dating on The Cosby Show.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

They should make a Futurama movie.

Supposedly, direct-to-DVD Futurama movies are a distinct possibility. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=317726&highlight=sweet+zombie+jesus)

[JKellyMap]

A two-hour long Simpson's episode of average Simpson's quality sounds better than most movies I've seen.

Amen to that.

[Hal Briston]

Not to nitpick but as a comedy, and and an animated one at that, there's really very little chance that this'll be longer than 90 minutes.

[kaylasdad99]

If we agree that there will be a certain number of published critics who do not like the film, I venture to predict that more than one review will consist of the following single word:

"D'oh!"

We should have a contest to see who can find the most reviews that fulfill that prediction. Let's meet back here a couple of weeks before the movie opens and we can agree on the details then. :)

[Bryan Ekers]

Has there been any update to that rumor that was going around a few years ago that Bart was going to lose his virginity in the movie?

Huh? Is Michael Jackson doing another guest shot?

[RickJay]

While I love the Simpsons, I really don't see how this is going to work. A two-hour long sitcom? It's been done before and it invariably sucks.
Both the "South Park" and "Beavis and Butthead" feature films were perfectly good, enjoyable movies.

[Harborwolf]

Has there been any update to that rumor that was going around a few years ago that Bart was going to lose his virginity in the movie?

I remember the same rumor. I also remember that a simpsons movie wasn't going to be done until the series had reached it's end.

Interesting news though.

[Tuckerfan]

Huh? Is Michael Jackson doing another guest shot?
Groening stated in an issue of Rolling Stone a couple of years ago that he would not have MJ back on the show. Ever. I don't remember if this was before the current MJ scandal broke or not.

[Cisco]

Both the "South Park" and "Beavis and Butthead" feature films were perfectly good, enjoyable movies.
The South Park movie was great. I think that's the exception and not the rule though, and is the result of the creators being filmmakers first and tv show writers second.I remember the same rumor. I also remember that a simpsons movie wasn't going to be done until the series had reached it's end.We must've read the same article that no one else remembers or they never read, because I also remember it saying that the movie wouldn't be done until the series ended. I believe the article came out the last time they renewed their contract, ~5 years ago, maybe?Groening stated in an issue of Rolling Stone a couple of years ago that he would not have MJ back on the show. Ever. I don't remember if this was before the current MJ scandal broke or not.How long ago was that? I know for a long time they wouldn't even admit that he was on the show in the first place. He was uncredited and they refused to answer the question of whether it was indeed the gloved one himself or just a really good impersonator.

[Tuckerfan]

THow long ago was that? I know for a long time they wouldn't even admit that he was on the show in the first place. He was uncredited and they refused to answer the question of whether it was indeed the gloved one himself or just a really good impersonator.
Some time within the past 2 years. I think it was around the time they renewed the contract the last time, but I don't remember for certain.

[Marley23]

As I understand it, Jackson did his own voice work, but did not do his own singing. That was done by some kind of licensed impersonator. He was credited under an alias for the same reason he didn't sing: legal crap with his label and such. This doesn't count for much as evidence, but if you recall the episode with the Itchy and Scratchy movie, Lisa tells Bart that Dustin Hoffman and Michael Jackson both made cameos under fake names. Dustin Hoffman did guest star under a phony name (Sam Etic), so can we call that a hint?

[bienville]

No offesnse, Cisco, but that seems about as likely as interracial dating on The Cosby Show.

Oh, come on. Does anyone really believe that Clair (http://imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1405/Mptv/1405/10894_0001.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Rashad,%20Phylicia) could have possibly concieved Denise (http://imdb.com/gallery/granitz/0831-hig/Events/0831-hig/bonet_li.sa?path=pgallery&path_key=Bonet,%20Lisa) from Cliff (http://imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1367/Mptv/1367/10894_0015.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Cosby,%20Bill)?

[KGS]

I hope it's not a musical. Sweet Lord, I hope it's not a musical.

MJ didn't use his real name because, in the early days, many celebrities were hesitant to do a voice on a cartoon show, fearing it could backfire on their career and all that. One of the first actors to use his real name was Harvey Fierstein, and it was only after him that celebrities saw the Simpsons as a "hot gig" instead of some kiddie show, and started using their real names...perhaps not the most important barrier Fierstein has broken down, but significant nonetheless. :)

BTW the current MJ scandal has only been going on for about a year...I know, it seems much longer...

[Marley23]

BTW the current MJ scandal has only been going on for about a year...I know, it seems much longer...
The current trial, yeah, but he had a similar problem in the mid-90s that was ended by an eight-figure out-of-court settlement. That's when the pedophile jokes started.
Won't somebody please think of the children?

I'll be first in line for the movie, but in my ideal universe, the Simpsons Movie would've been an extended version of the episode Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish." One of my favorite episodes, in 22 minutes it manages to hit all the required notes to fill out a feature-length movie. Grampa embarrasses himself, Bart criticizes him, he tells the story Bart doesn't believe... and then Burns shows up and it's all true. Flashbacks, exciting treasure hunting, a chase sequence, then good prevails- for about 15 seconds. The only Simpsons episode I can think of with real movie-grade action, and it's really funny. Definitely could've been stretched out into a movie. They could've just developed things more slowly and added in some kind of B plot, and maybe had it dovetail into the main story at the end. Blammo.

[Antonius Block]

I'm with you, Marley23, in my fondness for the Flying Hellfish episode. I would hope for a movie with a nice historical arc, not just something set in present-day Springfield.

[They gotta make a movie like that. They gotta do it for Ox, and Asa, and Griff, and Burnsie.... well, not so much Burnsie.]

[AngelicGemma]

I'll definitely be going to see it when it comes out. Even a less then average episode of the Simpsons is better then a lot of the crap on at the moment.

[Soylent Gene]

I'm sure the writers can come up with an entertaining Simpsons movie that is as good as the TV show.

And it doesnt have to be 2hrs long as previously stated here. Most comedies are 90 minutes. Most cartoon movies are 70 to 80 minutes. All they have to is string together 4 20-minute episodes. There are so many characters that multiple plot lines are possible.

The question is, will it be BETTER than the TV show?

I'll go no matter what. I have a lot of confidence in the writers. The show has had a few blips in quality at times, but overall it has maintained its edge.


And that crap about Bart loosing his virginity....people, Bart is 9 years old.

[Kyla]

As I understand it, Jackson did his own voice work, but did not do his own singing. That was done by some kind of licensed impersonator. He was credited under an alias for the same reason he didn't sing: legal crap with his label and such. This doesn't count for much as evidence, but if you recall the episode with the Itchy and Scratchy movie, Lisa tells Bart that Dustin Hoffman and Michael Jackson both made cameos under fake names. Dustin Hoffman did guest star under a phony name (Sam Etic), so can we call that a hint?

The writers talk about it on the DVD commentary. They don't beat around the bush, either. They say they were supposed to never reveal that it really was Michael Jackson, but oops! There they are, doing it right on the commentary!

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Bart is 10 years old. Lisa is eight.

[KGS]

Bart is 10 years old. Lisa is eight.
Ah, well I guess that makes it okay then. :D
The writers talk about it on the DVD commentary. They don't beat around the bush, either. They say they were supposed to never reveal that it really was Michael Jackson, but oops! There they are, doing it right on the commentary!
They do make fun of him and talk about how today's generation doesn't remember how MJ used to be a huge pop star, before he became that creepy weirdo who's famous just for being famous. I certainly never got the impression that Groening, et al, would never let him do the show again. I'd like to see a firm cite on Groening's comments in Rolling Stone, if possible...(does RS have their articles online?)

Speaking of commentaries, in the "Kamp Krusty" episode, it was revealed that the network wanted to hold back that story and extend it to a feature-length movie. Ironically, the staff had trouble filling up 22 minutes and had to do a bit of padding -- it came out ok, but imagine if they had to fill up 90 minutes?? Indeed, the commentators often talk about shows being too short, and they have to stretch it out by adding extra rakes & stuff like that.

I hope they manage to come up with a story that's a genuine feature-length STORY instead of four TV episodes strung together, especially considering how crappy the show has become lately. TV-to-movie adaptations are always a dicey proposition, and the track record isn't great.

[UrbanChic]

Oh, come on. Does anyone really believe that Clair (http://imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1405/Mptv/1405/10894_0001.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Rashad,%20Phylicia) could have possibly concieved Denise (http://imdb.com/gallery/granitz/0831-hig/Events/0831-hig/bonet_li.sa?path=pgallery&path_key=Bonet,%20Lisa) from Cliff (http://imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1367/Mptv/1367/10894_0015.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Cosby,%20Bill)?I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but one day I'll have to post picture of my boys. All four of them are ours. The first two look very much alike and have the same caramel latte color. The third looks bi-racial; he has a very light complexion and curly hair. My fourth has a darker complexion, much like his father. It's very strange, but very true.

[Soapbox Monkey]

Both the "South Park" and "Beavis and Butthead" feature films were perfectly good, enjoyable movies.

Both South Park and Beavis and Butthead were quality shows at the time the movies came out, and at least in South Park's case, the show has gotten even better since.

Simpsons, on the other hand, hasn't had anything even remotely approaching quality in at least 4 years (maybe 6, just what season are they up to anyway?)

Go back in time 10 years and THEN maybe a Simpsons movie would work.

[Kaspar Hauser]

Indeed, the commentators often talk about shows being too short, and they have to stretch it out by adding extra rakes & stuff like that.


But have thirty deconds of rake injuries ever been have been as funny?

[Tuckerfan]

They do make fun of him and talk about how today's generation doesn't remember how MJ used to be a huge pop star, before he became that creepy weirdo who's famous just for being famous. I certainly never got the impression that Groening, et al, would never let him do the show again. I'd like to see a firm cite on Groening's comments in Rolling Stone, if possible...(does RS have their articles online?)
They some, and excerpts of others, IIRC. Of course, Groening could just be yanking our chain with his comments.

[bienville]

I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but one day I'll have to post picture of my boys. All four of them are ours. The first two look very much alike and have the same caramel latte color. The third looks bi-racial; he has a very light complexion and curly hair. My fourth has a darker complexion, much like his father. It's very strange, but very true.

Yeah, just one of those "Maybe those innocent sitcoms we grew up with had something dirty going on underneath" kinds of jokes, kind of a "Shaggy and Scooby were potheads" thing.

I'd love to see a picture of your boys. Your family sounds lovely.

[Sarah Woodruff]

If it was a "live-action" film, as long as William H. Macy plays Ned Flanders, it'll all be okay.

[Meeko]

Bart and Lisa Get worked up over the new Itchy and Scratchy Movie. They go to the movie and learn foul words, and Marge starts a Media Awareness group, and Blames Canada. Bart then gets fitted with a "V-chip". Also throw in a bunch of Musical moments.

Oh? It has? Darn. (And this of course doesnt even mention Marge V Itchy and Scratchy)


Seriously though. This could work. The overall "Glue" to make it 90 minutes needs to be good. Some "epic" adventure would need to take place. Possibly this would mark a big change in the "permanent" storyline of the cast. Then again, that would destroy all of the self referencial stuff going on.

Maggie could grow up some, either physically or in a toddler-esque comming of age story. That or it becomes a Secondary character cram-fest.

[Harborwolf]

If it was a "live-action" film, as long as William H. Macy plays Ned Flanders, it'll all be okay.

And Gary Oldman can play Homer. What's that? John Goodman!? That's so obvious!! *Begins choking Bart and punching the cat*

If they are really serious about a Simpsons movie, they need to bring back some of the old writers. Give Conan O'Brien whatever he wants.

[Cisco]

And Gary Oldman can play Homer. What's that? John Goodman!? That's so obvious!! *Begins choking Bart and punching the cat*

If we're talking just looks here, no one comes close to Bruce Willis. I mean, he might be getting a little old for the part (and so are Gary Oldman and John Goodman), but he's naturally bald, and look at the distance between the top of his upper lip and the bottom of his nose! (http://www.votalospot.it/img/visa-bruce-willis-2002.jpg) That's a definitive Homer feature right there and very few real-life humans have it.

[Annie-Xmas]

Wayne Knight could be Chief Clancey Wiggum. If he kept some of his Don Orville uniforms from "3rd Rock," they wouldn't even have to provide a wardrope.

[Ultraviolet]

Wayne Knight could be Chief Clancey Wiggum. If he kept some of his Don Orville uniforms from "3rd Rock," they wouldn't even have to provide a wardrope.

I don't think those uniforms would fit him anymore. I saw interviews with him on the recent Seinfeld DVDs, and man, has he ever lost a lot of weight. I don't think he could do Wiggum properly now.

[YellowTail]

The whole movie should be about Armen Tanzarian with "Eat my shorts, children!" a frequent tag line.

[KJ]

If they are really serious about a Simpsons movie, they need to bring back some of the old writers. Give Conan O'Brien whatever he wants.
Yes! I definitely agree with you there.

Seriously though. This could work. The overall "Glue" to make it 90 minutes needs to be good. Some "epic" adventure would need to take place. Possibly this would mark a big change in the "permanent" storyline of the cast. Then again, that would destroy all of the self referencial stuff going on.

Maggie could grow up some, either physically or in a toddler-esque comming of age story. That or it becomes a Secondary character cram-fest.
Once again, I'd just like to say I totally agree with everything you said.

My biggest fear with the Simpsons movie is that it will buckle under the weight of the huge number of secondary characters, cameo appearances and inside jokes that they can do. One time during a particularly boring math class in high school, I started writing down names of characters from The Simpsons to see how many I could remember. Within 10 minutes, I had listed over 60 characters. That's more people than I know in real life! If you gave every character equal screen time (after all, those voice actors all want their moment in the spotlight) it would be a mish-mash of characters coming into the story and then leaving with no explanation. Kind of like the way most episodes of the show seem to be written these days.

I agree that it should have an epic, movie-sized story. Something with the writing quality of "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" and the emotions and character development (God forbid) of the episode where Bleeding Gums Murphy dies.

I'll end up seeing this movie no matter what. I really hope the writers aren't counting on that fact.

[Tuckerfan]

I had a thought, perhaps this is how Groening's gotten Fox to agree to a couple of Futurama movies. (Yeah, they'll be straight to DVD, but it's better'n nuttin'.)

[teela brown]

If it was a "live-action" film, as long as William H. Macy plays Ned Flanders, it'll all be okay.

And Steve Buscemi plays the gun store guy.

[Sarah Woodruff]

And Steve Buscemi plays the gun store guy.
...And Robert Carlyle as the Scottish janitor Willie, Billy Crystal as Moe....

[Silentgoldfish]

Ycreen time (after all, those voice actors all want their moment in the spotlight)

What, both of them?

[SolGrundy]

The South Park movie was great. I think that's the exception and not the rule though, and is the result of the creators being filmmakers first and tv show writers second.
Wha the huh? They were short filmmakers, sure, but I don't think that means they're any better at handling feature-length format, just that they liked being able to say "fuck" with impunity. I mean, anybody who says that Trey Parker and Matt Stone are great filmmakers has apparently never seen BASEketball.

I'm with you on wanting to see more "Futurama," though, except I don't know if it would work feature-length. All the episodes feel really dense and longer than just 30 minutes to me, because they pack in so many jokes and changes in scene. I wonder how much of the humor depends on non-sequiturs and one-liners. An hour would be about perfect.

"The Simpsons" should be fine as a movie, because it's got so much history and so many side characters now that they can have subplots and asides and such. The trick would be in letting it ramble, I think -- if they tried to do one big storyline (like Who Shot Mr. Burns?) then it'd pretty quickly get either tired or maudlin, or both.

[Revtim]

I mean, anybody who says that Trey Parker and Matt Stone are great filmmakers has apparently never seen BASEketball.They didn't make that movie, they just acted in it,

[Trunk]

Maybe the movie will COMBINE Bart losing his virginity with Michael Jackson coming back.

[Bosstone]

They didn't make that movie, they just acted in it,
Wow. Checking IMDB, you're right. I'd always assumed that was one of their own movies.

Pity. I think it's an absolutely brilliant movie. I would have loved to be able to attribute it to their writing skills. Oh well, at least they can definitely do live acting as well as voice.

[Cisco]

Wha the huh? They were short filmmakers, sure, but I don't think that means they're any better at handling feature-length format, just that they liked being able to say "fuck" with impunity.Actually they both went to film school (I think Matt ended up graduating with a degree in math and Trey ended up dropping out to complete his first feature), and their first film - Cannibal! The Musical - probably has less than 5 instances of the work fuck.

I mean, anybody who says that Trey Parker and Matt Stone are great filmmakers has apparently never seen BASEketball.As has been mentioned, they didn't make that film, the guy who made Airplane! did.
Pity. I think it's an absolutely brilliant movie. I would have loved to be able to attribute it to their writing skills. Oh well, at least they can definitely do live acting as well as voice....But they did improvise almost all of the dialogue. BASEketball was a very funny and good-spirited movie, IMO.
I'm with you on wanting to see more "Futurama," though, except I don't know if it would work feature-length. All the episodes feel really dense and longer than just 30 minutes to me, because they pack in so many jokes and changes in scene. I wonder how much of the humor depends on non-sequiturs and one-liners. An hour would be about perfect.
Futurama has surprising depth of story and it's not all about the humor (for me, anyway.) I hope we'll find out soon how good a movie would be :).

[Hyperelastic]

"The Simpsons" is about to get bigger - with a film being planned on the cult TV cartoon character Homer Simpson and his family.


Homer Simpson a cult character? When was that written, 1990? I thought his bust had been added to Mt. Rushmore some time before the dot-com bust.

[sleeepy2]

The writers talk about it on the DVD commentary. They don't beat around the bush, either. They say they were supposed to never reveal that it really was Michael Jackson, but oops! There they are, doing it right on the commentary!

I just read in this (http://cagle.slate.msn.com/hogan/interviews/silverman.asp) interview in Hogan's Alley with Simpsons producer David Silverman who said MJ declined the credit and the Simpsons people were not happy.

"How did he come to be credited as "John Jay Smith"?
Silverman: We didn't want him to be uncredited. We wanted him to be Michael Jackson! That was the point of the whole joke of the episode! So we began saying that if you're going to be a guest on the show, you've got to own up to it. I think Dustin Hoffman didn't want credit; he took the pseudonym Sam Etic. Michael Jackson didn't want credit, and that kind of stung us. We wanted to use them for publicity [laughter]. So, in the third season we made a rule: You want to be on the show? You gotta own up to it! "

I wonder if the DVD commentary was sugar-coating a negative experience?