Path: bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!news.ais.net!mkurth
From:
[email protected] (Matthew Kurth)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.simpsons,alt.answers,news.answers
Subject: alt.tv.simpsons FAQ - Mar 95
Followup-To: poster
Date: 27 Feb 1995 15:02:46 GMT
Organization: American Information Systems, Inc.
Lines: 978
Approved:
[email protected]
Message-ID: <
[email protected]>
Reply-To:
[email protected]
NNTP-Posting-Host: eagle.ais.net
Summary: A compliation of more-or-less useful information and answers to common
questions about alt.tv.simpsons and the TV series "The Simpsons".
Keywords: Simpsons FAQ
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2]
Xref: bloom-beacon.mit.edu alt.tv.simpsons:38863 alt.answers:7743 news.answers:35950
Archive-name: tv/simpsons/faq
Posting-Frequency: Every Two Weeks
Version: March 1995, Posting Format
Last-modified: 02-27
Overseas-Production-By: Akom Production Company
Blackboard-Quote: I am not a Warner brother or a Warner sister./
In-Memory-Of: Snowball I
alt.tv.simpsons - Frequently Asked Questions <March 1995, v02-27>
--------------------------------------------
Maintained by Matthew "The Captain" Kurth
(####)
(#######)
(#########)
(#########)
(#########)
(#########)
__&__ (#########)
/ \ (#########) |\/\/\/| /\ /\ /\ /\
| | (#########) | | | \/ \/ \. .----/ \----.
| (o)(o) (o)(o)(##) | | \_ / \ /
C .---_) ,_C (##) | (o)(o) (o)(o) <__. .--\ (o)(o) /__.
| |.___| /____, (##) C _) _C / \ () /
| \__/ \ (#) | ,___| /____, ) \ > (C_) <
/_____\ | | | / \ /----' /___\____/___\
/_____/ \ OOOOOO /____\ ooooo /| |\
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and New Readers Guide for the Usenet newsgroup
alt.tv.simpsons, to be posted as required and Emailed to users asking about
topics covered here. Please see Sec 4.3 for distribution restrictions placed
on this document.
Finger <
[email protected]> to see if your copy of the FAQ is still current.
To request a current version of the FAQ, send Email to <
[email protected]>
with the word "FAQ" in the Subject: header.
Corrections and Suggestions encouraged! Please direct all comments to
<
[email protected]>.
NOTE: This is by no means a comprehensive document, but rather is meant to
be a quick-and-dirty compilation of more-or-less useful information
and pointers to other more detailed sources. A truly comprehensive
tome would likely rival _War and Peace_ in length and would be
impossibly difficult to navigate.
-> NEW In This Edition:
--------------------
- 2F31 Explained - The Critic on Fox!
- The Ink & Paint Club Returns!
-===========================< Table of Contents >==========================-
-= Section I - General Interest =-
1.1 alt.tv.simpsons Basic History
1.2 "The Simpsons" Basic History
1.3 The Simpson Family
1.4 Series Timeline
1.5 Relevant Associated Newsgroups, FTP & WWW Sites, BBSes, and Fanclubs
1.6 Frequently Used Acronyms and Local Terminology
1.7 Topics That Tend To Go Nowhere
-= Section II - Frequently Asked Questions =-
2.1 Characters, Places, and Internal Consistency
2.2 Background, Production, and Broadcast
2.3 Comics, Music, and Newsgroup-Specific
-= Section III - Commonly Requested Lists =-
3.1 The Episode Capsules
3.2 Bart's Calls To Moe's Tavern
3.3 Other Lists and How to Get Them
-= Section IV - Closing Remarks =-
4.1 Acknowledgements
4.2 Contributors
4.3 Disclaimer and Copyright
-=====================< Section I - General Interest >=====================-
1.1 alt.tv.simpsons Basic History
--- -----------------------------
Newgrouped during the third week of March 1990, alt.tv.simpsons, a Usenet
newsgroup, is a free forum for discussing various aspects of the television
series "The Simpsons". Currently, no mailing list exists for the newsgroup.
1.2 "The Simpsons" Basic History
--- ----------------------------
"The Simpsons" is an animated television series produced by Gracie Films
for Twentieth Century Fox and the Fox Network. It began as a series of
interstitals (also called bumpers or shorts) for "The Tracey Ullman Show" on
April 19, 1987, and premiered as a series on December 17, 1989 in the 8PM time
slot. Regular broadcasts began on Sundays beginning January 14, 1990. Seasons
Two, Three, Four, and Five were broadcast by Fox on Thursday nights in the 8PM
slot, before returning to Sunday nights for Season Six and presumably, Seasons
Seven and Eight.
Seasons One and Two were animated by Klasky-Csupo (pronounced "CLASS-key
CHOOP-oh"), who also worked on "The Tracey Ullman Show" bumpers. Seasons
Three, Four, Five, and Six have been animated by Film Roman, with in-between
work being done for both animation houses by Akom Production Company,
Anivision, and Rough Draft Studios in Korea.
The Simpson family was created in ~15 minutes while Matt Groening waited
in the foyer to Brooks' office, a long-standing legend confirmed in the Oprah
Winfrey Interview by Groening himself.
-> A GIF of his original sketches is available. (See Sec 1.3)
1.3 The Simpson Family
--- ------------------
Family Member Voice Talent Description
Homer J. Simpson Dan Castellaneta Father, "D'OH!"
Marjorie Bouvier Simpson Julie Kavner Mother, "Hmmmmmmmmm"
Bartholomew J. Simpson Nancy Cartwright Brother, "Ay, Carumba!"
Lisa Simpson Yeardley Smith Sister, "I'll be in my room."
Maggie Simpson Liz Taylor Sister, "<Suck, Suck>"
Santa's Little Helper Frank Welker Family Dog
Snowball II Frank Welker Family Cat, Second-In-Line
Abraham J. Simpson Dan Castellaneta Grampa, "In _my_ day..."
Jacqueline Bouvier Julie Kavner Marge's Mother
Patty Bouvier Julie Kavner Marge's Celibate Sister
Selma Bouvier Julie Kavner Selma's Twin Sister
-> A complete cast list is available. (See Sec 3.3)
1.4 Series Timeline
--- ---------------
1955 1956 1974-1975 1980 1983 1989
| | | | | |
... --+---+--------+----------+++-----++--------++--
| | | ||| || |+--Tenth Anniversary
| | | ||| || +--Maggie Born
| | | ||| |+--Lisa born
| | | ||| +--They move into Evergreen Tce.
| | | ||+--Bart born.
| | | |+--Homer gets job at SNPP.
| | | +--Married
| | +--Marge & Homer graduate High School
| +--Marge born (Within 1 year of Homer.)
+--- Homer born (05/10/1955)
According to the 1993 "Simpsons Fun Calendar" Maggie was actually born on
19th August 1985, and Bart was born on 17th December 1979. These Calendars are
MG's productions, and thus can not follow the continual updating the writers
impose upon the series. However, from MG's view, these dates are approximately
correct, considering the first airings of "The Tracey Ullman Show" bumpers and
the fact that MG has plainly stated the characters do not age.
This is however, a little inconsistent with the UFA, another MG production
which unfortunately is inconsistent with the series. In this, it is said that
Bart was born on the 1st April, 1980. However, this production appears to have
been written before Season Three season was completed, and thus has great
inconsistencies with Season Three episodes like "I Married Marge".
-> At this time, it appears that the Season Five and Season Six production
staffs have chosen to ignore certain established continuity references, and
as such, this FAQ has chosen to reciprocate and ignore Season Five and
Season Six continuity where it interferes with previously established
events.
1.5 Relevant Associated Newsgroups, FTP & WWW Sites, BBSes, and Fanclubs
--- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups:
alt.binaries.pictures.cartoons - For images related to the Simpsons
alt.binaries.sounds.cartoons - For sounds related to the Simpsons
alt.fan.itchy-n-scratchy - For fans of Itchy & Scratchy
alt.tv.simpsons.itchy-scratchy - For discussing the Itchy & Scratchy show
alt.tv.tiny-toon.fandom - For the "drooling fanboy" types
FTP, WWW, and BBS:
-> The long-standing FTP site <busop.cit.wayne.edu> is no longer in operation.
<
ftp://digimark.net> <
http://www.digimark.net/TheSimpsons>
Known as "The Simpsons Archive", it is the current archive site with a
large collection of documents, graphics, and sounds. For specifics on
digimark, send Email to Gary Goldberg <
[email protected]>.
<
ftp://lisa.apana.org.au> <
http://lisa.apana.org.au>
An alternate site, lisa also has a large collection of Simpsons material.
Please be advised that lisa runs on a relatively slow link, and deal with
it accordingly. Contact Gavan McCormack <
[email protected]> for
specifics.
<01-815-923-2382> The Ink & Paint Club BBS
A private bulletin board system located near Chicago Illinois, USA housing
an extensive image archive. Please be advised that the BBS uses the
settings of 8-N-1 and is not an anonymous-use machine. For specifics on
accessing the system, send Email to <
[email protected]>.
Other locations to check out:
<
http://turtle.ncsa.uiuc.edu/alan/simpsons>
<
http://yarrow.wt.uwa.edu.au/~sjackson/simpsons>
<
ftp://ftp.best.com> /pub/caddy/Simpsons/
<
ftp://ftp.uni-stuttgart.de> /pub/graphics/mpegs/
<
ftp://ftp.cdrom.com> /pub/doom/
<archie.au> and <nic.funet.fi> are two servers suggested as starting points
for Archie users.
Fanclubs:
The Yeardley Smith Fan Club (YSFC) is a free mailing list dedicated to sharing
all available information on actress Yeardley Smith. To join the YSFC or to
get more information, send Email to <
[email protected]>.
1.6 Frequently Used Acronyms
--- ------------------------
Acronym Translation
a.t.s - The Usenet newsgroup alt.tv.simpsons
MG - Matt Groening.
OFF - Our Favorite Family (The Simpsons, of course)
OFN - Our Favorite Newsgroup (a.t.s of course)
SLH - Santa's Little Helper (the Simpsons' family dog)
DYN - Did You Notice, Didja Notice
UFA - _The Simpsons Uncensored Family Album_ (book)
BCG, BC - Bongo Comics Group (MG's comic production outfit)
LIH - "Life in Hell" (MG's comic strip)
I&S - Itchy and Scratchy.
FFF, FF - Freeze-Frame Fun
SI(xx) - Simpsons Illustrated (us) U.S. (oz) Australia
SNPP - Springfield Nuclear Power Plant
BSGTL, BGTL - _Bart Simpson's Guide to Life_ (book)
CWTS - _Cartooning with the Simpsons_ (book)
FITS - _The Simpsons Fun in the Sun Book_
RDFB - _The Simpsons Rainy Day Fun Book_
IMHO, IMO - In My (Humble) Opinion
BTW - By The Way
WRT - With Regard To, With Respect To
ROFL - Rolling On the Floor Laughing
IYKWIM - If You Know What I Mean
AFAIK - As Far As I Know
WTF - What The [Heck]
Other Terms:
Production Code - The four character episode number given to each episode.
P-Code - Production Code, ie: 7G08, 7F24, 2F05
Couch Gag - Part of the title sequence when the family runs into the
house and something unusual happens.
Ref - Reference, where an event or scene in the show parodies
another show, movie, or event.
Blackboard Quote - What Bart writes on the chalkboard at the beginning of the
title sequence.
Cutoff - The last thing Bart writes on the chalkboard as he is
dismissed during the title sequence.
Episode Capsule - A compilation file for each episode. (See Sec 3.1)
1.7 Topics That Tend To Go Nowhere
--- ------------------------------
As with most newsgroups, certain threads have been beaten to death.
These issues generally revolve around topics that are based on individual
interpretations of the presented facts. As such, there are no set answers,
and a large percentage of the readers have already made up their minds on
these subjects.
- Smithers is gay or bisexual.
- Favorite Quotes
- Favorite Episodes
- [insert episode name here] is the Best Episode Ever.
- [insert episode name here] is the Worst Episode Ever.
- [insert character here] Sucks.
- [insert season number here] was the Best Season Ever.
- [insert season number here] was the Worst Season Ever.
- Character development is better than cheap gags.
- Reality vs. Surrealism
- If you don't like the way the show is headed, then stop watching it.
Please remember that these topics also tend to generate strong emotional
feelings by people on all sides of the argument, and to approach these threads
with care should you desire to discuss them. (See Sec 2.1, Sec 3.3)
Also, it is asked that binary files (GIFs, JPEGs, MPEGs, etc.) be directed
to the appropriate alt.binaries.* newsgroup rather than posting them to a.t.s
directly.
-================ Section II - Frequently Asked Questions =================-
2.1 Characters, Places, and Internal Consistency
--- --------------------------------------------
Q: How much does Maggie cost in the opening titles?
A: Maggie is listed as costing $847.63, a figure once given as the amount of
money required to raise a baby for one month in the US.
Q: Where *is* Springfield, anyway?
A: "Springfield" is a fictional location. MG says he chose the name because
it is one of the most common city names and the setting of the antithesis
to the Simpsons, "Father Knows Best". Indeed, from Groening's
childhood perspective, that Springfield was "the next town over" from his
home in Portland, Oregon.
According to some sources on the group, Matt Groening has said that
although Springfield is basically "anytown USA" it does have features
somewhat similar to towns in Oregon, where Matt grew up.
-> Read "Where Is Springfield" if you're still not convinced. (See Sec 3.3)
Q: What is the Simpsons' home address?
A: That depends.
In "Blood Feud" 94 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, USA
In "Bart the Lover" 94 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, USA
In "Mr. Lisa goes to Washington" 59 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, TA
In "Kamp Krusty" 430 Spalding Way, Springfield, USA
In "New Kid on the Block" 1094 Evergreen Terrace
In "Marge In Chains" 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield
In "Homer the Vigilante" 723 Evergreen Terrace
In the Oprah Winfrey Interview 742 Evergreen Terrace
-> It has been suggested that the address used in "Kamp Krusty" hints to
monologist and actor Spalding Gray, whose humor is also considered subtle,
poignant, and yes, generally irritating to Republicans. The others were
undoubtedly inspired by MG's alma mater.
Q: What is the Simpsons' home phone number?
A: Homer's phone numbers, according to Principal Skinner's rolodex card at
Springfield Elementary are:
Before "Simpson & Delilah" After
Home: 555-6528 555-6832
Work: 555-7334 555-6754
In Season Three, their home number was 555-8707.
And the phone numbers from Homer's television debut in "Mr. Plow" are:
Home: 555-3223
Business: 555-3226
Q: Where did Matt Groening get the names for the Simpson family?
A: Homer and Margaret ("Marge") are the names of his parents (Mrs. Simpson
is Marjorie); the names of Matt Groening's sons are Homer and Abe. His
siblings are, in birth order, Mark (unused so far), Patty, (then came
Matt), Lisa, and Maggie (named Margaret like her mother but called Maggie).
The name Bart, on the other hand, is simply an anagram for "brat".
The surname Simpson is a natural choice for the family as the name
"Simpson" literally translates to "Son of a Simpleton".
-> There has also been debate on the group about the film "Day of the Locust."
It seems a character from this film has exhibited characteristics with
uncanny similarities to Homer Simpson, and the character's name actually is
Homer Simpson. It is unknown for sure whether this film has ANY connection
with MG's choice of name, whether it is pure coincidence, or whether MG
just took advantage of that coincidence.
Q: Is it just me or are several of the characters left-handed?
A: No, many of the characters are indeed left-handed. This is because MG is
infact left-handed himself. Viewers with eagle eyes may notice that this
is not always consistent however, especially in later episodes.
Q: What does the "J" stand for in Homer J. and Bart J. Simpson?
A: MG says that Homer's middle initial is a token of admiration for Rocky and
Bullwinkle (Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose), whose initials
were in honor of their creator, Jay Ward.
The RDFB states that Bart's middle initial stands for "Jebediah", and not
"JoJo", as was previously reported by Sharon Crichton. Yet, her claim was
backed up by the appearance of "JoJo" in the 1992 "Simpsons Illustrated
Annual" (1993 SIoz). One can only guess that some facts got lost when the
Rainy Day Fun Book was made.
Q: Which one's Itchy and which is Scratchy?
A: As Lisa and Bart explained to Herb Powell:
Lisa: "The mouse's name is Itchy, and the cat's name is Scratchy."
Bart: "They *hate* each other."
Lisa: "And they're not shy about expressing it."
Q: Which one's Patty and Which one's Selma?
A: Sometimes referred to as the "Gruesome Twosome". Patty usually wears a
necklace with round beads and doesn't part her hair. Selma wears a
necklace with oval beads and does part her hair. Selma wears earrings
shaped like the letter "s", and Patty wears triangle-shaped earrings.
Marge differentiated them for Homer in 7F15 thusly:
Homer: "Which one's Selma, again?"
Marge: "She's the one who likes Police Academy movies and Hummel
figurines, and walking through the park on clear autumn days."
Homer: "Oh, yeah yeah yeah. But I thought she was the one that didn't
like to be ... you know ... touched."
Marge: "It's Patty who chose a life of celibacy. Selma simply had
celibacy thrust upon her."
Q: How come the Halloween Specials don't follow established continuity?
A: The "Treehouse of Horror" series is, according to MG, are non-canonical and
as such the writers can do whatever they choose, such as put Mr. Burns'
country home in Pennsylvania, have the family appear to have long forked
tongues, or have Mr. Burns' head sewn onto Homer's body.
Q: Are Smithers and/or Mr. Burns gay (or bisexual)?
A: Maybe. Recent remarks by Smithers with regard to his "choice of lifestyle"
being incompatible with Mr. Burns' "conservative leanings" seems to
indicate that he is. It has also been suggested that Smithers is
"Burns-sexual", due to the fact that his interests do not appear to go
beyond his boss. However, the final word on Smithers remains that the jury
is still out, and it is up to each individual viewer to decide for
themselves.
As for Mr. Burns, he has made references to other women in a conversation
with Marge in "Marge Gets a Job" and nearly married Marge's mother in "Lady
Bouvier's Lover", and as such it seems unlikely that he is.
-> Read "Smithers' Sexuality" for more on this. (See Sec 3.3)
Q: Who is that bee guy?
A: Springfield's TV show starring a man in a bumblebee costume is similar
to the show "Lo Mejor De Chesperito' from the Miami-based Univision
network. The character's has been dubbed simply "Bumblebee Man" by the
production staff.
Q: What's that thing Homer says? Doh? Dough? D'ohh?
A: The correct way to spell it is "D'oh!"
Q: In one episode, Homer says, "Mmmmmmmm, Liquid Smoke!" What is it?
A: Liquid Smoke is a type of sauce (similar to A-1) that allegedly makes food
taste like it was cooked on a grill or bar-b-que.
Q: Is Nelson Muntz's father that Snake guy?
A: No official evidence exists to support this claim, so probably not.
Q: What are "Wet Willies" and "Wedgies"?
A: A "Wet Willie" is a popular junior high school prank administered by
wetting one's finger, usually with spit, and inserting it into the victim's
ear, usually accompanying it with a twisting of the wrist back and forth.
A "Wedgy" is yet another popular junior high school prank. Also known as a
"Grundy", a wedgie is usually administered by grabbing the waistband of the
victim's underpants and quickly yanking them upward, causing the victim's
underwear to wedge between their buttocks, causing a great deal of
discomfort and humiliation. Wedgies are usually administered from behind
as it allows for the element of surprise, and because there is greater
access to the victim's waistband at the rear. "Front Grundies", the
pulling of the victim's front waistband, are not unheard of, but are far
less common.
Q: What is the "Dreaded Rear Admiral"?
A: More than one a.t.s reader has attempted to correlate it to the insertion
of one's finger into another person's "rear", through their clothes or
underwear.
However, the official word according to Bill Oakley is that the "Rear
Admiral" simply doesn't exist. He used it because he thought it sounded
like a particularly nasty prank someone might pull.
2.2 Background, Production, and Broadcast
--- -------------------------------------
Q: Who is Matt Groening?
A: Matt Groening is the creator of "The Simpsons" and "Life in Hell".
Intending to be a professional writer after leaving Evergreen State
College, WA (graduated in 1977 at 23), his disappointing career in L.A.
came to an end with the unexpected success of his "Life in Hell" comic
strip. It was "Life in Hell" that attracted the attention of James L.
Brooks of Gracie Films, who in 1985 invited MG to develop an idea for a
future project that later became the animated Simpsons shorts shown
during "The Tracey Ullman Show".
Q: What exactly does he do for "The Simpsons"?
A: Matt Groening is officially known as the show's Creative Consultant, and
has a hand in almost every phase of the production process, like one can
if they're the CC. However, it is stressed that the talented people
employed by Gracie Films, Film Roman, et al. are at fault for the bulk of
what happens.
His name appearing on all Simpsons merchandising is a trademark
requirement, by agreement with the 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, who
bought from him the rights and ownership of "The Simpsons".
Incidentally, the distinctive font ("Matt") used by the show and magazine
were specially designed in Postscript by Apple Computer employees, and
based on his own handwriting (surprise). Sorry, but they're proprietary.
However, a look-alike font based on MG's "Life in Hell" script called
"Groening" is available. (See Sec 1.5)
Q: What are all these hexidecimal numbers people keep talking about?
A: The numbers (7G06, 7F19, 9F08, 2F05, etc) refer to the production code
assigned by the production team. Each story has its own p-code which
refers to the season which it was produced for, but not necessarily the
one it was broadcast in. One or two episodes are usually held over for
broadcasting early the following season, hence 7F24 was the Season Three
opener. As a general rule of thumb:
7G codes refer to Season One episodes
7F codes refer to Season Two episodes
8F codes refer to Season Three episodes
9F codes refer to Season Four episodes
1F codes refer to Season Five episodes
2F codes refer to Season Six episodes
3F codes refer to Season Seven episodes
The p-codes do not appear to be actual hexidecimal numbers. James L.
Brooks said he got the idea for the Season One codes for "The Simpsons"
from the fact that Homer works in sector 7G at SNPP.
-> Consult the Episode Quicklist for a listing of stories and p-codes.
(See Sec 3.3)
Q: Where do you get the production codes from?
A: Watch the closing credits to each episode. The credit page with the
copyright information (usually the fifth page from the end) contains the
line "THE SIMPSONS EPISODE #____" which is the p-code for that episode,
with the exception of 7G08 where the p-code immediately follows the
copyright notification. The p-codes for the music videos are found on
special unbroadcasted title cards identifying it for TV station personnel.
Q: Where do the episode titles come from?
A: Some newspapers print the episode titles. The book _Simpson Mania_ lists
Season One titles; Brian Howard was able to get "inside" information for
Season Two and Three titles. Season Four, Five, Six, and Seven titles were
provided by David Mirsky, and later by Bill Oakley. Episodes 7G07 and 7F10
were actually broadcast with their titles. The titles for the shorts are
listed in the credits to "The Tracey Ullman Show". The music video titles
are, of course, taken from their song titles.
Q: Why was 7G01 held to the last episode of Season One?
A: "Some Enchanted Evening" was the first full-length episode sent by Klasky-
Cuspo to Akom Production Company for overseas production, and during the
animation process, an animator thought it might be funny if one of the
bears in the Happy Little Elves video ripped the head off of one of the
elves. Needless to say, MG sent the episode back to have the offending
scene re-animated, thereby pushing it back to the end of the season.
As far as MG is concerned, the original sequences have been destroyed.
However, no source has been able to confirm or deny this.
Q: How do I pronounce...
"Groening"? A: In one of the Life In Hell strips and in the "Rolling
Stone" article, MG mentioned that it rhymes with
"complaining"; the "Newsweek" article rhymes his name with
"raining".
"Yeardley"? A: "Yeardley" is a variant spelling of the British name
"Yardley", whose pronunciation is non-problematical.
Q: Have any of the episodes been released on video?
A: A set of Season One episodes were released in Britain, New Zealand, and
Australia during October 1991 on four PAL VHS tapes. Since then, another 8
episodes from Seasons One and Two have been released on a new label along
with the eight old ones on PAL format only.
A set of 12 SECAM VHS tapes featuring 24 episodes from Season One and
Season Two is available in France, released by Fox France.
In North America, only the Christmas special (7G08) has been released by
Fox Video on a single NTSC VHS tape, title #1915.
Q: What's all this about syndication?
A: A selection of episodes from the first five seasons has been made
available as a syndication package by Fox. This means that any station
can buy it and show it at any time they choose, not just Fox Network
affiliates.
Q: Why are the syndicated episodes being cut?
A: Syndicated episodes are edited to fit the standard length of any other
syndicated show to allow more commercials to be shown. This means that
some scenes are shortened or removed entirely. As such, the first
material to be edited usually includes the title sequence (which is why
the syndicated titles are even shorter than the standard abridged
sequence in recent US broadcasts by Fox) and scenes that are not integral
to the plot - often meaning some of the most memorable lines are missing
from the syndicated versions.
-> A list of edits to syndicated episodes is available. (See Sec 3.3)
Q: What became of Tracey Ullman's lawsuit?
A: Lawyers on behalf of Tracey Ullman have twice filed litigation proceedings
against Fox, not MG or Gracie Films, insisting although there was never
any signed agreements when the show went to the half-hour format, that
she should be entitled to 7.5% of `The Simpsons' net merchandising profits.
Both claims were later rejected in court.
Q: What's this I hear of a Simpsons spin-off show?
A: Although it is not affiliated in any way with The Simpsons, former
executive producers Al Jean and Mike Reiss were at work on an animated
series called "The Critic". The series was broadcast in early 1994 in
America on the ABC network, and consisted of 13 episodes. There were
received with mixed reviews, and ABC cancelled the show.
The Fox network has since picked up the show and plans to air 10 new
episodes. The series will be re-launched in March 1995 with a Simpsons-
Critic crossover, 2F31 "A Star is Burns".
Q: Does anybody know the RGB values for the Simpsons?
A: Yup:
Skin Color : Pantone 116, RGB 255,217,15
Homer's Pants : Pantone 284, RGB 112,209,255
Homer's Shoes : Pantone 445, RGB 41,79,51
Homer's Beard : Pantone 465, RGB 209,178,112
Marge's Dress : Pantone 366, RGB 209,255,135
Marge's Hair : Pantone 285, RGB 23,145,255
Bart's Shorts & Shoes : Pantone 299, RGB 33,209,255
Lisa's Dress : Pantone 179, RGB 255,54,15
Maggie's "Baggie" & Bow: Pantone 297, RGB 125,255,255
2.3 Comics, Music, and Newsgroup-Specific
--- -------------------------------------
Q: Where can I get the Simpsons DOOM files?
A: Try <ftp.cdrom.com>, beginning with the directory /pub/doom directory.
There are two separate patches available. "Simpsons DOOM" has replacement
sound and graphics WADs available as SIMPSONS.ZIP; "Homer's DOOM" has a
replacement sound WAD only, available as HOMERDM3.ZIP. You _must_ have a
registered version of DOOM and have the DMADDS.EXE file to integrate the
WAD files.
Users with the shareware version of DOOM or who don't want to use the WAD
version can find a compatible version of Homer's DOOM available as
HOMERDM.ZIP.
Q: What's Bongo Comics Group/Simpsons Illustrated?
A: "Simpsons Illustrated" was a quarterly "fan" magazine that is no longer
in print. Issues of SI include cast and production staff interviews, fan
artwork, and lots of trivia. A Simpsons annual and a special 3-D issue
were also published. Back issues are nearly impossible to find.
The publishers of the magazine (at least in the US) have gone on to
collaborate with Matt Groening to form the Bongo Comics Group. Titles
include a six issue "Radioactive Man" limited series and a six issue
"Itchy & Scratchy Comics" limited series, both of which have run their
course. Currently in produtction are two bi-monthly titles, "Simpsons
Comics" and "Bartman". A series of Itchy & Scratchy holiday issues is
also underway.
-> Bongo Comics does not offer subscriptions at this time.
Q: Where can I get the music from "The Simpsons"?
A: Currently only one album and its associated singles have been released,
"The Simpsons Sing the Blues". This includes...
The Simpsons Sing the Blues Album CD, MC, Vinyl.
Do the Bartman Single
CD single, release version. 12' vinyl release.
Deep, deep trouble Single
CD Single, Promotional & release version. 12' vinyl release.
Sibling Rivalry Single
CD Single, release version. (12' Vinyl????)
However, these do not include the theme, which appears on Danny Elfman's
CD, "Music for a Darkened Theatre", and a longer guitar rendition is on
Danny Gatton's disc "88 Elmira Street".
There is also in existence a limited edition promotional copy of "Deep,
Deep Trouble", which contains a remix track not seen on any other
release anywhere. Apparently there is also a "Sibling Rivalry" CD
single available as well. All the released singles & album have now been
deleted in all the released countries around the world.
Q: Wasn't there supposed to be a second album?
A: Yes. The second album, "The Yellow Album", was confirmed as having
been in production at one time. The title is meant to be a take-off of
Prince's album "The Black Album" rather than The Beatles' "The White
Album" as some have suggested. The album is said to include the
single "My name is Bart, and I am funky", a take-off of the Prince
single of similar title.
The album seems to be complete and was rumoured for a mid to late 1993
release. However, it appears to be indefinitely postponed or cancelled.
Recent attempts to contact Geffen Records indicates that the project has
not been entirely forgotten. The recent official release of Prince's
album may or may not affect whether the second OFF album sees the light
of day any time soon.
Q: Is my local station cutting the episodes?
A: Probably not, unless you're from Australia or Germany, where the show is
routinely censored to abide with younger children's' viewing guidelines
because of the early time slots used by both countries. The abridgement
of the title sequence in the US is done by the Fox network. Canadian
viewers, who don't get the episodes through Fox are usually granted the
pleasure of a full episode each week.
Q: Why are some clips shown in commercials not in the transmitted episode?
A: Each episode is produced with extra and alternate animation, to allow the
directors the freedom to decide just what will and won't work, up until a
few days before a show goes to air. Fox has access to the footage before
the final cuts are made, and so it's not unusual for extra material to
materialize during the promotions.
Q: Is the "Simpsons" production staff aware of Usenet and a.t.s?
A: Yes. Although Matt Groening has never appeared on the Internet publically
as himself (as far as anybody knows anyway), he has dropped several clues
in references to certain discussion threads from a.t.s which appeared in
his "Life in Hell" comic strips. His presence was finally confirmed by the
December 7, 1994 edition of the _Philadelphia Inquirer_ which ran an
article dealing with alt.tv.simpsons, in which MG admitted:
"I lurk [on a.t.s.] but the other writers on the show were reluctant to
have me admit that."
However, in June 1993, MG did accept an invitation from the Prodigy service
to chitchat with their users, personally answer a few of those annoying
standard questions, and detail the reality of his involvement with the
show.
-> A transcript of the Prodigy session is available. (See Sec 3.3)
Other producers of the show have made brief Internet apperances, and the
Simpsons drinking game has apparently circulated through the production
offices, and seems to have been well-received.
-> The drinking game is also available. (See Sec. 3.3)
In the past, many postings have claimed to have originated from Matt
Groening and other identities. One should immediately be sceptical of
*any* messages that claim to have been sent by a notable personality - it
is a trivial exercise to fake an article so that it appears to have come
from another person.
Q: What's the difference between a FFF and a DYN?
A: A "FFF" is typically a list that requires the pause of a VCR to discern
(like "Things in the attic", or "degrees on Lionel Hutz's wall") and the
text of signs (like "For the Obese or Gangly Gentleman"). Otherwise, it's
a "DYN". So green rats, mouse holes in the wall, and purple food globs
count as DYNs. (See Sec 1.6, 3.1)
Q: Why isn't this rec.arts.tv.simpsons?
A: The rec.arts.tv hierarchy is intended for television series that have
"staying power" and will still be around 5 years from now. As a result,
a large number of people object to the creation of a Simpsons group in
the higher-propagated rec hierarchy because they felt (and apparently
still feel) that its lifespan is limited.
-================ Section III - Frequently Requested Lists ================-
3.1 The Episode Capsules
--- --------------------
The episode capsule is perhaps the ultimate resource file for every
episode of "The Simpsons" outside of the production offices. It contains a
summary of the script, reviews, and observations posted to the newsgroup for
each episode. For more details, see the episode capsule FAQ or check out one
of the capsules themselves.
With the exception of 7F76, 9F08, 9F09, 9F11, and 9F14, capsules exist for
every episode, short, and music video aired to date.
James A. Cherry <
[email protected]> is the current capsule compiler.
The previous compiler and originator is Raymond Chen, who produced most of the
capsules through Season Four. Chris Baird, Dave Hall, and Scott Simpson
are responsible for the remaining handful of capsules not produced by Raymond
Chen or James Cherry.
3.2 Bart's Prank Calls to Moe's Tavern
--- ----------------------------------
7G03: Hey, everybody, I. P. Freeley!
7G06: Hey guys, I'm lookin' for a Jacques Strap.
7G01: Is there an Al Coholic here?
7G01: Call for Oliver Kloushoff.
7F11: I wanna Seymour Butts.
7F15: C'mon, one o' you guys has gotta be Homer Sexual.
7F22: Hey, has anybody seen Mike Rotch lately?
8F08: Somebody check the men's room for a Hugh Jass!
8F09: Come on guys, do I have a Bea O'Problem here?
9F06: Why can't I find Amanda Hugginkiss?
9F06: Hey, everybody, put down your glasses. Ivana Tinkle!
(Bart had an accomplice for this one.)
3.3 Other Lists and How To Get Them
--- -------------------------------
In addition to the FAQ, there are several other reference works available,
such as cast lists and episode guides. These documents are highly recommended
for persons interested in more details on these particular aspects of the show.
Episode Guides and Technical Documents: Maintained By:
"The Simpsons" Episode QuickList Matthew Kurth
"The Simpsons" Episode Guide Dave Hall
"The Simpsons" Writers & Directors Dave Hall
"The Simpsons" Cast List Dave Hall
"The Itchy & Scratchy Show" Episode Guide J.D. Baldwin
Couch, Blackboard Punishment, & Airdates Listing Don Del Grande
Episode Capsule FAQ James Cherry
Miscellaneous Documents: Maintained By:
Where is Springfield? Dave Hall
Smithers' Sexuality Dave Hall
There are also many other documents available that are not listed here,
such as character files, song lyrics, ASCII pics, and much more. See the List
of Lists for more information, or browse the FTP and WWW sites. (See Sec 1.5)
-> This list is still incomplete. Please Email me if you are currently
maintaining a document you believe is relevant to this list, and if I
agree, I will include it.
-====================== Section IV - Closing Remarks ======================-
4.1 Acknowledgements
--- ----------------
Many thanks go to the previous FAQ maintainers for their diligent work in
making this version possible: Gavan McCormack, Chris Baird, Raymond Chen, and
Brendan Kehoe. This document would not be possible without their previous
contributions. Substantial thanks also go to the episode capsule compilers and
all the other list maintainers out there that make my life easier.
Special thanks to Gavan McCormack for all his help in getting me started, and
to James Cherry for his endless patience.
And of course, thanks go out to the production team that produces one of the
best shows on television. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.
(Well, duh!)
4.2 Contributors
--- ------------
These people have contributed in some fashion to this document, both with and
without their knowledge. This list is woefully incomplete, but it's a start.
[email protected] Chris Baird
[email protected] James A. Cherry
[email protected] Raymond Chen
[email protected] Terri Clendenin
[email protected] Chris Courtois
[email protected] Christopher Dent
[email protected] Rick Diamant
[email protected] Don Del Grande
[email protected] Gary Goldberg
[email protected] Dave Hall
[email protected] Gavan McCormack
[email protected] Gary S. Nabors
[email protected] Sarah Rosenbaum
[email protected] John Schulien
[email protected] Paul Shandi
[email protected] Tony Shepps
[email protected] Juha Terho
[email protected] Elson Trinidad
[email protected] Julien Villeret
4.3 Disclaimer and Copyright
--- ------------------------
This document is Copyright (c) 1995 Wildcat Productions and may not be
repackaged, edited, released, distributed, or used for-profit without consent
of the current maintainer. This includes, but is not limited to: CD-ROMs,
magazines, books, newspapers, or television broadcasts. Free distribution is
encouraged provided the document is unabridged, unmodified, and unaltered.
This includes the removal of the author's .sig (signature file).
This Copyright does not extend to, and is not intended to infringe upon,
the characters, names, and related indica of "The Simpsons" which remains
Copyrighted by, and a Trade Mark of, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
The information in this document has been checked where appropriate, and
is considered as accurate as possible. However, nobody's perfect. As such,
Wildcat Productions takes no responsibility for incorrect or inaccurate
information beyond correcting the error in the next official FAQ release.
-= That's All, Folks! =-
--
Matthew W. Kurth | "Prayer - The last refuge of a scoundrel." - Lisa Simpson
-aka The Captain | "That makes me feel all warm and squishy." - Dot Warner
-----------------+----------------------------------------------------------
[email protected] | "I can make mistakes myself just fine." - Don Williams
