Fox To Reboot ‘In Living Color’ With Keenen Ivory Wayans; 2 Specials Set For Midseason

From: http://www.deadline.com/
 
EXCLUSIVE: Fox is bringing back its groundbreaking 1990s sketch comedy series In Living Color with the series’ creator and star, Keenen Ivory Wayans, on board as host and executive producer. Fox has ordered two In Living Color half-hour specials to air as part of the network’s 25th anniversary celebration in midseason with a series option behind them, meaning that in success, the reboot will join Fox’s schedule as a regular series next season. I hear it was Wayans’ idea to revive the popular sketch comedy series with a new cast. The new In Living Color will be produced by his production company Ivory Way Prods. in association with 20th Century Fox TV’s Fox 21.



Like the remake, the original In Living Color, which was produced by Ivory Way Prods and 20th TV, also launched in midseason, premiering on April 15, 1990. It broke stereotypes by employing a cast of mostly black comedians and introducing hip-hop and dancing to mainstream television. The show helped launch the careers of a slew of comedy actors — its cast included Wayans; his siblings Damon, Shawn, Kim and later Marlon; as well as Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx and David Alan Grier — and of course Jennifer Lopez as one of the Fly Girls. It spawned such iconic characters as “Men on Film,” starring flamboyant film critics Blaine Edwards (Damon Wayans) and Antoine Merriweather (Grier); Homey D. Clown (Damon Wayans), a dour urban kiddie entertainer whose catchphrase was “Homey don’t play that!”; streetwise scam artists “The Home Boys” (Keenen Ivory and Damon Wayans); and Fire Marshall Bill (Jim Carrey), a disfigured safety expert. In Living Color gave its actors freedom to improvise and it skewered everyone, particularly black America. In probably the most successful programming stunt opposite the Super Bowl ever, a special live edition of In Living Color drew some 25 million viewers during the halftime of the 1992 Super Bowl on CBS. But the show’s fearlessness when it comes to the targets of its jokes and the unapologetic political incorrectness of its skits often ran afoul with Fox’s censors. The frequent clashes contributed to Wayans’ departure from the show after the third season though he remained an executive producer. In Living Color ended its run in May 1994 after five seasons.

Fox has long been looking to launch a successful new sketch comedy series. Last season, it tried with In The Flow With Affion Crockett, executive produced by In Living Color alum Foxx, which was originally slated for midseason but ultimately aired in the summer to low ratings. Keenen Ivory Wayans, repped by UTA, has been focused on features for the past 15 years, directing, writing and producing the successful Scary Movie franchise as well as White Chicks and Little Man, on which he worked with his brothers. At Fox 21, In Living Color joins series Homeland, Breakout Kings and Sons Of Anarchy.

Fringe Season 4 Premiere: Our Top 5 Favorite Things About Fringe’s Return

Author: Steve West
From: http://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/

Season 4 of Fringe starts up in just a few days, and we have questions galore. With one of the biggest WTF endings in recent memory last season it stands to reason that the premiere would be packed with answers. Well, you’ll get no spoilers here (I would never do that to my fellow Fringe fans) but the truth is that there’s more to do than have everyone sit around asking where Peter went. After all, none of the characters even know that a Peter Bishop existed.

I can’t wait to share thoughts and theories with everyone after season 4 premieres this Friday, but for now I wanted to share my top 5 favorite things about Fringe’s first episode back. Don’t worry about spoilers, I have no plot spoilers in this story, but if you want to know absolutely nothing about the episode you should turn back now.

Without further ado, here are my 5 favorite non-plot spoiling things from “Neither Here Nor There.”

Observers as Greek Chorus
It’s fantastic how in a modern sci-fi show such an old method of exposition is utilized. And not in a throwaway, we have no better idea, kind of way. The Observers are integral to the plot; we’ve figured that out. The season 4 premiere has them acting as the audience’s anchor to Peter Bishop, and it’s a genius way to solve the problem of an absent Peter. Fringe is also aware that they need to be getting new viewers, and the Observer Chorus in the premiere is used to explain how the universe now works with the original timeline erased from existence.

Walter Without Peter Is Untethered
Sure we all love quirky Walter, with his love of candy. But there’s a genuine depth of emotion when it comes to the connection between Walter and his son Peter. Without Peter the genius scientist who is the brains behind Fringe division isn’t the same. The interesting thing is that it has nothing to do with controlling or calming Walter, a task that Astrid and Olivia prove to be quite capable of handling. A world without Peter is incomplete for Walter.

Lincoln Lee Steps Up To The Plate
New Fringe division team member Lincoln Lee steps in without a problem. With his geek chic Cillian Murphy inspired look and demeanor, the man is perfect for this show. He’s so good that even if we lost Peter forever, I think the series would survive. Lee is a geek through and through, he just happens to be an FBI geek. It’s a fantastic idea to bring him further into the fold, and the character is a wonderful bridge between the crazy fringe science and investigation aspects of the show.

Is This A Wonderful Life
The audience experiences Peter’s absence, but the other characters really don’t. Fringe is doing something wonderful by not having the erasure of Peter mean that the whole universe is changed. Everyone is still working at the job they had, and you have to truly watch to see the changes. It’s so subtle that the Observer Chorus mentioned above is required for anyone new to the show. No one is learning a lesson about what they mean to the world.

It’s A Monster A Week
Probably the most divisive thing about the premiere is that it’s a tried and true monster of the week episode. I’ll go no further than that, but it was a surprising choice that took guts by the creators. Especially considering how rabid we sci-fi fans can be.

Season 4 of Fringe premieres Friday, September 23rd at 9 PM ET.

'Fringe' Season 4 Full Length Trailer

from: http://www.craveonline.com/

Welcome to the team, Lincoln Lee! Hope you survive the experience..

By Blair Marnell

Last season on "Fringe," Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) proved to be a prominent figure in the alternate universe, first as an agent alongside a brainwashed Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) and later as the replacement director of Fringe division following the disappearance and murder of the alternate Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick).

The Lincoln Lee of our world was also introduced in a single episode last season, when he teamed up with Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) and Olivia while she was possessed by William Bell (don't ask). And while that case seemed to be a one-off appearance, Gabel's promotion to series regular means that we'll be seeing more of the alternate Lincoln Lee and his slightly geekier counterpart form our world in the coming season.

In the full length trailer for the new season of "Fringe," the Lincoln Lee of our world is brought on to the Fringe team by Olivia and he gets his first taste of the special brand of insanity that Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) cooks up in his lab, as well an introduction to Olivia's fellow field agent, Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole).

The brief synopsis for the episode has also been revealed:

The teams on the two worlds work together to solve the case of a shapeshifter, and Agent Lincoln Lee joins his world's team when no one remembers the existence of Peter Bishop.

If you want to get up to speed on every major storyline so far, check out our "Catching up on 'Fringe'" special feature. And don't miss the fourth season premiere of "Fringe," this Friday, September 23 on Fox!

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE - FOXTV - First Look Trailer

Uploaded by FoxBroadcasting on May 16, 2011

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE coming to FOX Midseason 2012!
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ALCATRAZ - Fox TV - First Look Trailer

Uploaded by FoxBroadcasting on May 16, 2011

ALCATRAZ is coming to FOX midseason 2012!

Follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ALCATRAZonFOX and "Like" on Facebook www.facebook.com/ALCATRAZonFOX

Fox will reboot 'The Flintstones'

by Lynette Rice and James Hibberd
from http://insidetv.ew.com/

Image Credit: Everett Collection

Yabba dabba do, Seth MacFarlane will finally achieve his dream! The mastermind behind Family Guy will reboot the classic animated series The Flintstones for Fox.

Fox execs made the announcement at the network’s presentation today in New York. The show will go in production this fall for a 2013 launch. “One of the first things I ever drew was Fred Flintstone,” MacFarlane told advertisers. As for his re-imagination, he said the show has to keep up with the times but some things will remain familiar for old fans. “The characters will look the same but the only thing that will change is the stories,” he said. “What’s the [prehistoric] version of an iPod?”

Dan Palladino (Gilmore Girls) and Kara Vallow (Family Guy) will also serve as exec producers.

In case you’ve been living under a rock (d’oh!), The Flintstones follows two hard-working middle-class families living with the “contemporary conveniences” in the dinosaur-era town of Bedrock. The series centers on Fred Flintstone and his best friend and sidekick Barney.

83 crazy differences between Fringe's alternate universe and ours

By Andrew Liptak

From: http://blastr.com/2011/

Fringe will finally be back on its new night this Friday, and the action between the two worlds is expected to heat up as Walternate looks to destroy OUR reality. To celebrate the show's return, we take a look at one of the best things about the show—the wild differences between the two worlds.
Here are some of our favorites, along with the episodes in which we first found out about them.

Technology

The alternate universe seems to be a couple of decades more advanced than our own, with major differences when one crosses over:
♦ The Challenger launched on its 11th mission on June 28, 1984, rather than the five missions up until that point on our side. (Our Challenger would only complete 10 missions by 1986, never completing the 10th, having been destroyed on January 28, 1986.) (205 - Dream Logic)
♦ Double-decker cars--toy versions, anyway--seem to be popular. (215 - Jacksonville)
♦ In 1986, cars were equipped with CD players as a standard option. (215 - Jacksonville)
♦ The alternative universe invented a comparatively modern cellular telephones by 1985. (216 - Peter)
♦ Airships are commonplace over NYC by 1985 and through 2010, and the Empire State Building continued the use of observation deck as docking platform, as originally intended. (216 - Peter)

♦ The Macintosh Plus (or similar model) developed by 1985, a year earlier than its release on our side. (216 - Peter)
♦ Bluetooth-style phones are commonplace on the other side, and they have a variety of functions. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ The alternative universe has advanced considerably when it comes to technology, with advanced handheld, touchscreen computers on a pane of glass. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ Computers with advanced, touchscreen monitors are built right into desks. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ Fringe units carry hand-held sensors to detect interdimensional tears. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ The Show-Me is a government-issued card, used for a variety of purposes, including identification and bus fares. Numerous signs around New York City remind citizens not to forget their cards. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ White Pages are touchscreen computer terminals in NYC. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ Nanotechnology exists to help treat serious injuries, such as severe burns and gunshot wounds. (223- Over There, Part 2)
♦ Helicopters operate on autopilot. (223- Over There, Part 2)
♦ An amber substance is used to contain fringe events, trapping people inside. (223- Over There, Part 2)
♦ Flights to the moon occur on a daily basis. (301- Olivia)

♦ Smallpox not eradicated. (303- The Plateau)
♦ Air quality in the alternate universe is very bad at times, requiring people to put on masks. (303- The Plateau)
♦ Pens are largely out of use due to the advances in technology. (303- The Plateau)
♦ There was a Vortex in 1990 in the East rRver that caused a major quarantine, and a memory on par with Sept. 11. (308- Enterada)
♦ Operating tables are clear plastic and seem to be molded to the individual. (308- Enterada)

History and Politics

As to be expected with an alternative world, slight changes lead to changes in the history of the nation:
♦ The World Trade Center in New York City is still standing as of 2009, unaffected by the terrorist attack. (120 - There's More Than One Of Everything)

♦ Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, although as of 2009, there is a new White House with a glass dome that has recently been completed. (120 - There's More Than One Of Everything and 219 - The Man From the Other Side)
♦ President John F. Kennedy was not assassinated in 1963 and becomes an ambassador at some point after his presidency, stepping down in 2009, putting him at the age of 84. (120 - There's More Than One of Everything and 301- Olivia)
♦ The White House and the Pentagon were destroyed in the Sept. 11 attacks. The White House was built with a glass dome in 2009, and the Pentagon was being rebuilt by 2010. (215 - Jacksonville)
♦ Richard Nixon is the president featured on a U.S. dollar coin as of 1983, rather than President Eisenhower. (215 - Jacksonville and 222 - Over There, Part 1)

♦ The American Flag has only 48 stars, not 50, designating that the geography of the United States is different. (219 - The Man From the Other Side)
♦ President Andrew Jackson was either never president or had a far more obscure presidency on the other side, and he isn't on a $20 bill. Rather, Martin Luther King Jr. is present on the bill, which is appropriately nicknamed a "Junior." (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ There are numerous differences in the organization of the United States. As noted before, the American flag has only 48 stars. (222 - Over There, Part 1) Differences include:

o Texas is two states (North and South Texas),
o Kansas and Oklahoma are a combined state (Midland).
o North and South Carolina are a single state (Carolina).
o North and South Dakota are a single state (Dakota).
o Washington is known as Southern British Columbia.
o Michigan is two states, Michigan and Upper Peninsula
o Virginia and West Virginia are not states, but are called the District of Virginia.
o Louisiana is not a state, but a territory.
o Nevada is not a state--in its place is Independent Nevada.
o The U.S. border seemed to extend into our Canada.

♦ Charles Lindbergh is an unknown person to the other side, or at the very least, the kidnapping of his son never happened. (223- Over There, Part 2)
♦ Eldridge Cleaver was associated with Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have A Dream" speech, rather than being associated with the Black Panthers. (301- Olivia)
♦ There was a war in Aruba at one point in the recent past, as seen by a homeless veteran. (303 - The Plateau)
♦ The FBI is no longer in existence, disbanded sometime around 2000. (307 - The Abducted)
♦ There are more than two major political parties in the U.S. (307 - The Abducted)

Popular Culture

Popular culture also has its own differences in films, sports, books and people. One thing's for sure--sequels are just as popular over there:
♦ Len Bias, the basketball player who died of a drug overdose on our side, is still alive and received a NBA Most Valuable Player Award. (120 - There's More Than One of Everything)

♦ Back to the Future starred Eric Stoltz, and other films in 1985 were Clue, Superman vs. Batman 2, Indiana Jones and the Hex of the Hydra, Star Wars: Legion of Droids, Splash 7, Smokey and the Bandit: The Final Lap and Mask vs. Joker. (216 - Peter)
♦ The television show The West Wing is now in its 11th season (where it only reached 7 in our world). Barack Obama and Sarah Palin are on the advertisement for the show. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ Cabbage Patch Dolls are still popular in 2010. (222 - Over There, Part 1)

♦ Alternative comic books (223- Over There, Part 2):

o Crisis on Infinite Earths sees Supergirl holding a dead Superman. (Our version has their roles reversed.)
o Death of Batman (Death of Superman in our world)
o Red Lantern & Red Arrow (Green Lantern and Green Arrow in our world)
o Superman: Man of Steel Returns (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns in our world)
o Different members of the Justice League

♦ The Brooklyn Dodgers never left Brooklyn and remain in New York City rather than moving out to Los Angeles. (223- Over There, Part 2)
♦ Tom Cruise might be a TV star, rather than a film star. (301- Olivia)
♦ Dogs is a musical in NYC, rather than Cats. (301- Olivia)
♦ The band U2 or lead singer Bono aren't present in the other universe, or aren't well known. (302- The Box)
♦ Cary Grant, not Humphrey Bogart, starred in The Maltese Falcon and uttered the famous line "The stuff that dreams are made of." (305 - Amber)
♦ John Lyly, English Renaissance poet, never seems to have existed or was otherwise unknown. He was the one who said: "The rules of fair play do not apply in love or war", otherwise known as "All's fair in love and war." (306- 6955 kHz)
♦ Casablanca starred Ronald Regan, and the film had a happy ending. (307 - The Abducted)
♦ Board Game called Quarantine Zone. (307 - The Abducted)

Current Events

At the present day, there's a number of differences in the government, city features and people:
♦ In 2010, half of Boston is quarantined in amber for a fringe event. ((119 - The Road Not Taken))
♦ Susan Pratt and her sister were never split up as children, and as a result, both are burned alive at the same time that Susan Pratt in our universe is killed by the same fate. Because of the separation, her sister remains alive on our side. (119 - The Road Not Taken)
♦ Coffee appears to be a rare and expensive commodity in the U.S. (215 - Jacksonville)
♦ Downtown New York City is spelled Manhatan, not Manhattan. (215 - Jacksonville)

♦ Fringe Division is not part of the FBI, but works under the Department of Defense. Broyles, not a member of the FBI, holds the rank of Colonel. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ Soldiers working for Fringe Division wear a dark gray/dark green ACU uniforms, and other slightly different camouflage patterns are noted. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ The Statue of Liberty is home to the Department of Defense and is bronze-colored, not weathered copper. (222 - Over There, Part 1 and numerous followup episodes.)

♦ In the alternative universe, Walter Bishop (Walternate) is the secretary of defense, where our Walter Bishop was committed to an insane asylum. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ Mail is delivered by the U.S. Mail Service, not USPS, and while the blue mailbox is used, there is a different logo on it. (222 - Over There, Part 1 and spotted several times afterward)
♦ The Gaudi Hotel was built in New York City, where it was only planned in ours. (222 - Over There, Part 1)
♦ New England is a wasteland. (223- Over There, Part 2)
♦ Madison Square Garden has been quarantined, with 10,000 people trapped. Harvard University is quarantined. (223- Over There, Part 2)
♦ The Transamerica Pyramid is located in New York, not San Francisco. (223- Over There, Part 2)
♦ The old-fashioned pennyfarthing bicycle seems still to be in use in the alternative universe. (301- Olivia)
♦ Olivia's mother is still alive on the other side, but her sister is not. (301- Olivia)
♦ The Olympics have a sharpshooting competition, and the alternative Olivia (Bolivia) earned a gold medal in the sport. (301- Olivia)
♦ SheXxon is a major gas company in the alternative universe, a merger of Shell and Exxon, rather than Exxon and Mobile. (301- Olivia)
♦ Avocados, like coffee, seem to be rare. (303- The Plateau)
♦ A Nixon Parkway leads into NYC. (305 - Amber)
♦ There is a New Yonkers in place of Yonkers. (307 - The Abducted)

♦ Springsteen Station replaces Penn Station in Newark, N.J. (308 - Enterada)

24 Plot Devices They Keep Recycling On '24'

latinoreview.com — 24 has grown more than a little tired over the years, with story-lines and plot devices that have become incredibly familiar. That's because much of what we see has occurred before and every story line, plot thread or turn of events feels directly copied from previous seasons.

Click here for :24 Plot Devices They Keep Recycling On '24'

Glee's 'Vogue' Vs. Madonna's 'Vogue': A Comparison

The Sue Sylvester video remake of "Vogue" debuted after Glee last night and it was pretty flawless. We thought we'd put it side-by-side with the original to see how the two stack up.

The biggest difference seems to come at the end, but the Glee version is very faithful to the original with some simple alterations here and there. Jane Lynch does a great job as a stand in for Madge, even if her dance moves seem a little overly rehearsed. The vocal track is all Sue Motherfucking Sylvester, but the spirit is all Madonna. Caution: this video will definitely make you excited for next week's all-Madonna episode of Glee and may possibly turn you gay. Thanks to commenter Rina for the idea.

[Video by Matt Toder]

Send an email to Brian Moylan, the author of this post, at brian@gawker.com.

24 Officially Canceled

by Peter Sciretta

from http://www.slashfilm.com/

Earlier this month it was reported that this season of 24 would likely be the last for the series as the ratings have dropped and Fox seems disinterested in continuing production. At the time it was mentioned that the studio is considering shopping the series to other networks, but everyone believed that interest would probably be limited due to the high costs involved. It was later reported that Fox has been approached by NBC to pick up the series. But that last ditch effort did not come through. Series director/producer Jon Cassar announced minutes ago on Twitter that the show has been officially canceled:

News from the 24 set,the crew has been told that 24 has come to an end. There will b no season 9. Its been a great run, thanx all 4 watching

Previously:

Last month it was announced that Billy Ray had been hired to pen the screenplay for a big screen 24 movie. All we know about the planned story for the feature film is that it will be set in Europe. Kiefer Sutherland and producers have said that the big screen movie would be “a two-hour representation of a day.” Ray’s filmography includes State of Play, Flightplan, Suspect Zero, Hart’s War, Volcano and Moon director Duncan Jones’ upcoming much-buzzed about project Source Code. He both wrote and directed Breach and Shattered Glass.

At the time, studio insiders cautioned that a 24 movie “is still very much in the preliminary stages,” and that there are “a number of factors influencing how quickly it moves ahead, including the fate of the TV show.” Fox had not yet decided if they want to order a ninth season of the series, although it has been expected that this will be the final season. 24 has lost over 10% of the show’s total viewership from last year, down over 15% in adults 18-49.

It is hard to imagine that Fox would spend the millions and millions required for a big screen feature if they weren’t impressed with the ratings enough to renew the television series for a tenth season. Stranger things have happened (Arrested Development was canceled and will eventually become a big screen feature). Sutherland is said to be eager in getting the series to the big screen. It would be nice to see a big screen 24, with a big blockbuster budget. But without the real-time structure, won’t it just another action film, but with the characters we’ve gotten to know from television? I wonder how it could/would be different.

A big screen movie would probably guarantee that Bauer will survive his eighth crazy day. Since first discovering the series in 2001, I had hoped that Bauer would someday die on screen, in the possible biggest twist the series could possibly pull. I know a lot of fans would hate for that to happen, but I think it would be the ultimate way to conclude the series — with CTU and Jack’s friends having to save the day without him, in his honor. Sutherland and 24 producers have always said that Bauer’s death was an extreme possibility

Clock winds down for '24' : Fox appears close to ending series run

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
From http://www.variety.com/

'24'

"24's" time is almost up.

20th Century Fox TV and Fox appear ready to end the long-running hit after this season, the show's eighth.

Studio and network execs declined comment -- but it's believed that the final decision will be made in the next day or two. Move is not a huge surprise, but still reps the end of an era for Fox.

"24" helped usher in Fox's ratings surge in the 2000s, as the franchise -- along with "American Idol" and "House," among other series -- led the network to the No. 1 spot in the adults 18-49 demo.

But the cost of producing "24" has continued to increase, while ratings have dipped. A one-time critical darling, "24" has also received its share of knocks from critics this season.

The studio is said to be considering shopping "24" to other nets -- but given the thriller's age and pricetag, it's believed interest from other outlets will be limited.

Yet even as the bell tolls for "24" in primetime, the franchise is far from dead. Sutherland and the "24" team have been keen on adapting the show as a feature film, and have made major strides in recent months toward making that long-term goal a reality.

Twentieth Century Fox's film side recently hired scribe Billy Ray ("State of Play," "Flightplan") to pen the script for the feature version (Daily Variety, Feb. 8.)

Ray's pitch, which takes Jack Bauer to Europe, was a hit with Fox execs and producers of the high-concept television series.

Script is said to have come through "24" star Sutherland, who's also an exec producer on the series.

Such a move into the features world was considered impossible while production continued on the TV series -- given that "24" takes much of the year to produce, with its feature-like shooting schedule. But with the show expected to end its run, the ability to focus on a movie could now finally be in sight.

"24" was created by Robert Cochran and Joel Surnow, while exec producer Howard Gordon runs the show through his Real Time Prods. banner.

Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment produces the show along with 20th Century Fox TV.

Sutherland has starred throughout all eight seasons as Jack Bauer, a federal agent and member of the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit (and who has saved the world several times over). "24" made noise for its real time format, in which all 24 episodes take place as consecutive hours in the same day.

Although it was developed before the attacks of 9/11, the show, which bowed Nov. 6, 2001, in many ways began to mirror the changed world, given real-life fears over terrorism and debates over torture methods. Skein's depiction of an African American president was seen as a ground-breaking precursor to the 2008 election of Barack Obama.

The show has won the Emmy and the Golden Globe awards for drama, while Sutherland has scored both an Emmy and a Globe for actor. "24" has also received Emmy Awards for writing and directing; last year, Cherry Jones won an Emmy for supporting actress in a drama.

This season's edition of "24," which takes place in New York, stars Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jones, Anil Kapoor, Annie Wersching, Katee Sackhoff, Mykelti Williamson, Freddie Prinze Jr., Chris Diamantopoulos and John Boyd.

Other exec producers include Evan Katz, David Fury, Manny Coto, Brannon Braga, Brad Turner, Alex Gansa and Grazer.

Top 25 Simpsons Peripheral Characters - TV feature - at IGN

Click here for the whole feature and gallery Top 25 Simpsons Peripheral Characters 

'The Simpsons' set to celebrate the big 4-5-0

From: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/

Fox airing 450th episode Sunday, followed by doc special

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- To speak of the latest milestone by "The Simpsons" seems to restate the obvious.

Long before now, enduring life for "The Simpsons" and its brightly jaundiced folk was simply assumed. What began 20 years ago as a fluke then erupted into a pop-culture juggernaut has continued to spin yarns, spawn characters and lampoon society, with no end in sight.

On Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox, "The Simpsons" is airing its 450th episode. "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" will be followed by an hourlong documentary from Morgan Spurlock ("30 Days," "Super Size Me"), fancifully titled "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special in 3-D on Ice."

During this season, when NBC's "Law & Order" boasts of having tied "Gunsmoke" as TV's longest-running prime-time drama, "The Simpsons" has seized the mantle as TV's longest-running scripted nighttime series -- period. Ay, caramba!

"I think we could do it for another 20 years, actually," Matt Groening, "Simpsons" uber-creator, told the Associated Press at a recent "Simpsons" tribute by Los Angeles' Paley Center for Media. Then he dissolved into giggles.

"Omigod! Another 20? We'll TRY," he chortled. "We'll do our BEST!"

Here's hoping the spectacular ensemble of voice talent keeps talking to the end. After 20 years, Dan Castellaneta remains full-throated as portly, dimwitted dad Homer, Julie Kavner is tower-tressed mom Marge, Nancy Cartwright is lippy first-born Bart and Yeardley Smith is oversmart daughter Lisa.

Of course, these offscreen stars of "The Simpsons" are well served by visual artistry that, among things, keeps them shielded from the passage of time.

The show's writers play a huge role, too, with fastidiously crafted scripts that, by comparison, leave most sitcoms in the dust. (Granted, some fans may complain "The Simpsons" isn't as sharply realized as in earlier years, but still.)

"What I love about 'The Simpsons' is, it's so collaborative," Smith said. "The actors do a third, the animators do a third and the writers do a third. That's how I see it."

Also part of the acting troupe is Hank Azaria, a go-to guy for numerous characters including police Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy and convenience-store owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.

Rounding out the core cast is Harry Shearer, whose stable of roles includes Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy, Kent Brockman, Dr. Hibbert and Principal Skinner.

Besides "The Simpsons," Shearer, 66, is best-known from his role as bassist Derek Smalls in the 1984 mock musical documentary "This Is Spinal Tap," and subsequently in the real-life group that film inspired.

But Shearer, who began his career as a child actor on such early TV series as Jack Benny's weekly show, keeps a multiplicity of projects under way. These currently include a new DVD, "Unwigged & Unplugged," reteaming him musically with Tap bandmates Michael McKean and Christopher Guest. He hosts his own signature channel on the "My Damn Channel" comedy Web site.

The first "Simpsons" episode

And for a quarter-century, he has churned out "Le Show," a mostly solo act of wry humor, satirical sketches and blistering commentary, plus music (some performed by his singer-songwriter wife, Judith Owen).

"Le Show" is available through numerous radio and Web outlets, and by podcast. It's a weekly passion project that Shearer has always done gratis -- which means he's free from any vexing business entanglements.

"I never have a meeting, I never see a memo," he says. "It's between me and my audience."

Sipping an early morning orange juice during a Manhattan stopover a couple of weeks ago, Shearer describes "Le Show" as a place for him to give voice to whatever's on his mind.

"I'm an insatiable news junkie," he says, "so the reading that I do, I would do anyway. The show just gives me a way to answer back."

The sensibility of "Le Show," and much of Shearer's creative output, is conveniently echoed by "The Simpsons," even though he plays no part in its writing.



"Matt has a satirical, anti-authority streak," says Shearer. "From the beginning, 'The Simpsons' was taking the side of the family against all the authority figures and institutions that buffeted them in the modern world. Certainly, that resonated for me."

Shearer recalls the show's first script, whose characters assigned to him were highlighted in yellow. In the next script, other characters' dialogue would be highlighted for him.

Much of the time, he didn't see drawings of the new characters until months after he had created their voices, when the episode was finished: "Oh, THAT'S what he looks like!"

How many different voices has Shearer done on "The Simpsons" in all?

"The one real influence that Bob Dylan has had on my life is that, every time I'm asked that question, I give a different answer," says Shearer. "So: hundreds," he replies in a raspy Dylan-esque voice.

As the years passed, Shearer's many voices were part of the emerging world of Springfield, an oblivious community that seemed satisfied to settle for less in nearly everything: public education; organized religion; TV news and kids programming; government, law enforcement, business, and food and drink intake; and certainly environmental issues, such as the nuclear power plant that employs Homer Simpson, of all people, as a safety inspector.

What's the message of "The Simpsons"? That people, for all their highfalutin talk, are willing to settle for less if it's easier or saves them a buck?

Has "The Simpsons" taken on a new, unexpected relevance thanks to the current economic downturn, when standards for everything seem under threat?

"You look around and the only person who ostentatiously and repeatedly proclaims his pursuit of excellence is Rush Limbaugh," says Shearer, then does a perfect imitation of Limbaugh: "I'm presenting broadcast excellence."

"That's got to tell you something," Shearer says. "Everybody ELSE is just getting by."

But he, unlike most people taking stock of "The Simpsons" at this moment in its run, resists any grandiose claims for its legacy.

"Together with NFL football, 'The Simpsons' put the Fox network on the map -- whatever you think of that," he hedges. "And Fox has changed the face of network television -- you got to decide for better or worse.

"I wish I could say that we inspired an awful lot of funny, smart, irreverent, acerbic shows that took a lacerating view of the institutions of society. But I don't think we have."

Nor does he think the show -- or any contemporary satire -- really changes anything it lampoons.

"For instance, after 20 years and 450 episodes," Shearer sums up, "I don't really think 'The Simpsons' has increased the country's skepticism about nuclear power."

Early look: '24' Day 8

The first four hours of Fox's "24" are a welcome return to form. The veteran drama, which shifts to New York City this season, has just enough tweaks on the show's familiar "conspiracy-complication-minor resolution-deeper conspiracy-bigger complication..." format to feel fresh despite its well-worn mechanics.
I mocked Freddie Prinze Jr. when THR first reported he was cast this season, thinking he might be a distracting drag on the ticket like Janeane Garofalo last year. But the actor is likable here and fits the "24" universe better than you'd expect. "Battlestar" vet Katee Sackhoff seems frustrated -- she's great when she's playing moments of total strength or total vulnerability (and best at playing both at the same time). Reacting to computers and phone calls at CTU doesn't really suit her, she thrives in more active roles. Given that this is "24," she'll probably get her turn at bat.

The best addition is Anil Kapoor, best known stateside for his role as the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" host in "Slumdog Millionaire." He plays an idealized version a Middle East leader with an Elvis-quality pompadour on the verge of signing a historic peace agreement. It's a painfully standard "24" part, yet he owns each scene he's in. I hope producers pair him with Bauer at some point, the two scenery chewing actors going head to head, Kapoor barking his line from "Slumdog": "It's my f--king show." 
What might get the most comments from fans is the new CTU, which has been given an extreme makeover for the New York edition. Glass walls, projected images, sliding doors, employees wearing earpieces, and an underground valet entrance. It's like some hipster nightclub in a boutique Soho hotel, complete with Sackhoff in a black cocktail dress. When introduced to a white-on-white interrogation room, you expect the suspect to receive overpriced bottle service instead of harsh questions. It's all very watchable and totally ludicrous, but you can tell the producers are proud of the set design the way the camera lovingly introduces each room at Club CTU. 
As always, the biggest trick with "24" is presenting the familiar plotting and twists for an audience that's been here many times before. Though this season's assassination storyline is familiar, the execution is strong and grounded in realism juuuust enough -- at least, so far.
Remember: The widely bashed sixth season had one of the best opening four hours in the show's history (with a traumatized Bauer returning from Chinese prison and a nuclear weapon blowing up Santa Clarita), then squandered a potentially game-changing head start by reverting to recycled ideas and lazy writing. Producers say the first four hours are the most crucial of each season. Let's hope they gave equal attention to the rest of Bauer's day.

20 years of awesome musical “the simpsons” guests

Posted by gary tijuana

From: http://sneakmove.com/

all through 2009, the simpsons have been celebrating an amazing run of 20 years on tv. as the party winds down, here’s a look at some of the amazing (and often surprising) musical guests that the show has lined up through two decades of hilarity.

landing musical guests like yo la tengo, sonic youth, and smashing pumpkins (at their peak) is no small feat. neither is an uncredited guest spot by none other than michael jackson. but the top spot goes to a true legend who you’d never expect on this show. although he didn’t provide music, the episode where a johnny cash-voiced coyote takes homer simpson on a hallucinogenic journey to find his soul mate is truly one of the most amazing moments in animated television.

now… can you remember all the others?

fox is famously stringent with keeping user-submitted clips of the show off youtube and other online sites, but has they’ve placed a sizeable selection of snippets on hulu. if you get anxious for more (or need a can’t-miss present for someone), amazon’s got the hookup.