“Oh, sir, what will you do next?” – Mr. Smithers
“Well, first I’ll get that new hip I’ve been hankering for, then, who knows? Beekeeping, boxing, bocce ball, the world is my oyster, Smithers! Farewell.” – C.M. Burns
I’m finally digging out all the Shearer related stuff I didn’t have time to get to over the last couple of weeks, and I have found a couple of gems. There’s a Hollywood insider take, a journalist take, and a fan take, all on what his (potential) leaving means for the show. In addition to that, we’ve got some excellent references, great fan art, a bunch of .gifs, and a wildly dickish local news team.
Enjoy.
Harry Shearer’s excellent Simpsons adventure – Smooth Charlie’s Link of the Week is this Hollywood insider perspective on Shearer’s situation from a longtime TV writer who actually knows him:
“What is he thinking?” asked dozens of text messages from people who know that we’re friends. “Is he insane?”
He is not insane, I told them. Harry Shearer is a fantastically gifted writer-performer-director, and after 26 years of voicing the characters of Mr Burns, his devoted assistant Smithers, school principal Skinner, irritating neighbour Ned Flanders, and many others, Harry simply decided to do something else.
“He’s ill, isn’t he?” asked one person. No, I said. He isn’t ill, either mentally or physically. He just can’t see how he’ll be able to devote the time his future projects require if he’s also committed to several more years of The Simpsons.
He goes on to make the case that the money is the least important part of this. I still don’t know whether or not Shearer’s actually leaving, but this is very good perspective.
Why a Shearer-less ‘Simpsons’ can survive – I like this article. The basic premise is that the show sucks anyway so who cares if they replace Shearer?
Variety bash team Simpsons Car 1111 hosts a charity golf day – That is phenomenal Simpsons swag from Australia.
Q & A With Bill Oakley on Portland Playhouse’s “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play” – Heh:
Have you seen the play? If no, why not? If yes, thoughts?
BO: I have not seen the play because I do not like to leave my house. If they want to come over here and perform it, I can push back a couch in the living room and maybe provide Cheetos and Snapple.
And:
There have been so many celebrity cameos on The Simpsons. Who has not been on the show yet that you would like to see make an appearance.
BO: We could never get Stockard Channing to appear on the show for some reason and I’m pretty sure she is still alive. So STOCKARD CHANNING it is.
The Simpsons – Absolutely outstanding Simpsons tablecloth which can be yours on Etsy for $200. Click through for lots of detailed pictures and real Simpsons love:
The tablecloth was found in a thrift store, like all of my accoutrements. The lace edge and sunshine yellow called my name, screamed my name, and I was truly giddy taking it home. I first envisioned stitching Yellow Submarine on this gem. When The Simpsons also came to mind, I went with the franchise I felt was less likely to sue me.
Heh.
Breaking Bad, Simpsons, True Detective Fictional Foods – The Duff can and Krusty burger are phenomenal.
The War Of The Simpsons – Fantastic line:
“…That music always sends a chill down my spine…”
TV Legends Revealed: What’s the Secret, Lazy Origin of ‘The Simpsons’ Opening? – Time has always been hard to fill, no doubts there.
Sepp Blatter…In 10 Words – He’s crossed that line from everyday villainy into cartoonish super-villainy.
FOX 46 Charlotte – Bart Simpson graffiti sticks again, City of CLT says it needs to – See, this is why nobody likes local news:
The City was unaware of the NoDa graffiti until FOX 46 News notified them. There has been no word yet from the owner of the apartments if the graffiti will stay.
The media called the cops. Boy, you guys suck. There are, of course, good pictures at the link, if you’re interested.
Model Antonina Petkovic’s Simpsons T-Shirt – Apparently, Bart can be “grungy-chic”.
19-year veteran AP English teacher fired for reading Allen Ginsberg poem to class – Excellent reference:
Oilo’s colleagues, friends, and students were quick to defend him. Said one former student “There has been a definite tonal change since I grew up here. It makes me think of Mrs. Flanders from The Simpsons: ‘Will no one think of the children??’ I mean, if there are parents in town who think their teenagers don’t know what a blow job is, they are sorely mistaken.”
We got to Check Out The Simpsons Springfield Grand Opening at Universal Studios, Hollywood! – There was a ceremony at an amusement park. Here’s a 1 minute YouTube video of it.
The Simpsons, Doctor Who, More Coming to Lego Dimensions – It took awhile, but Lego turned into the King of Licensing so gradually, I didn’t even notice:
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today confirmed that its Lego Dimensions title, slated for release this fall, will include gameplay from The Simpsons, Doctor Who, Ghostbusters, Jurassic World, Scooby-Doo!, Portal, Midway Arcade, and Lego Chima.
4 Reasons Why ‘Simpsons’ Dimwit Ralph Wiggum Might Be Secretly Smart – He’s not, but that was a decent read with plenty of good YouTube and no Zombie Simpsons.
Eye On Springfield with Dan Jackson of Void Ritual & Desu – This blog is called “Xtapolapometal”, “A blog about metal and The Simpsons”. Excellent. (Also, the interview is good, too.)
Eye On Springfield with Chris Alfieri of Vattnet Viskar – Same blog as above:
It depends on my mood really, I do like when they take on cultural issues without trying to outwardly make a fool out of people who may not share their view. They have a lot of tact which I respect a ton. But occasionally I just need to see a brainless but well written episode like the Trilogy of Error episode.
That is a great way to describe “Trilogy of Error”.
Disney princesses and Marge Simpson turned into breast cancer survivors to celebrate ‘courage’ – This is by that same Italian artists who’s been doing these lately.
Simpsons joke origins: Sideshow Bob’s campaign ad – And to think, that commercial was only aired a single time.
Someone has made the actual gummy Venus De Milo from The Simpsons and it’s incredible – This is at least the second time someone’s done this, and maybe the third. Bravo, everyone.
Hall and Oates – An essay about Homer (well, non-Zombie Homer, anyway) as a classic Fool.
Homer’s Heaven – Lego Homer, real donut.
Five Fandom Friday: Five Characters That Get Me – Lisa tops the list, but it’s nice to see Wednesday Addams on there too.
5 Fandom Friday: 5 Fictional Characters You Most Identify With – Homer makes this one.
Photo of the day: Christen Press and Christen Press – One of our forwards got life size Simpsonsized.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run – Old video game review complete with .gifs.
New trending GIF tagged the simpsons simpsons homer… – Clean as a whistle!
New trending GIF tagged the simpsons simpsons smoking… – He’s got money to singe!
New trending GIF tagged the simpsons bye goodbye… – Poochie goes home.
Etsy: Patty and Selma Cross Stitch – It’s not just Patty & Selama, it’s Patty & Selma freshly back from the beauty parlor.
Tristin Hopper: Like the Vatican, the Church of the Simpsons will go on – And finally, I get to end with someone who not only agrees with us, but does so in rousing, theological ways:
For someone who grew up on the Simpsons but stopped watching in the 1990s, seeing a contemporary episode is akin to Jesus Christ walking into the Vatican. The basic tenets may be familiar, but the presentation is shockingly dissimilar from its origins.
Throw out the heretics!
