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Nearly four months after The Simpsons was renewed for four additional seasons and three months since the animated show last aired, Fox has announced when fans can expect the legendary family back on small screens. The most recent season of The Simpsons, Season 36, was broadcast from September 29, 2024, to May 18, 2025; however, before the finale, the sitcom was renewed through Season 40, with each installment comprising 15 episodes.

As part of this fall's schedule for Fox’s Animation Domination, The Simpsons will return with Season 37 on Sunday, September 28 at 8:00 p.m., according to TV Insider. Additionally, featured in the new season is an all-star guest list led by Succession’s Kieran Culkin, as announced during the show’s San Diego Comic-Con panel on Saturday, July 26. The network’s animated programming block will also see Universal Basic GuysSeason 2 air at 8:30 p.m. after The Simpsons. Krapopolis Season 3 and Bob’s Burgers Season 16 then follow at 9:00 p.

Richard Pryor was in the midst of a career transformation in the early 1970s. He abandoned the Bill Cosby-esque routines that earned him a shot on 1960s TV variety shows, recording albums like 1971’s Craps that “brought the language of the streets to stand-up,” according to the biography Becoming Richard Pryor. But while Pryor was shattering racial and sexual boundaries on stage, he was still taking showbiz jobs that required a more family-friendly style. None of those gigs was weirder than when he guested on The Partridge Family.

Even by sitcom standards, the plot of 1971's “Soul Club” episode was ridiculous. Pryor and future Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr. played A.E. and Sam Simon, two Detroit brothers who turned an old firehouse into a music club to uplift the “ghetto” community. Right on!

But the Soul Club is in trouble, owing big-time bucks to Black mobsters who want to take over the operation.

Bart Simpson’s mortal enemy Sideshow Bob has attempted a number of nefarious schemes over the years — from committing armed robbery in an effort to frame Krusty the Clown, to stealing a nuclear bomb from a military base, to running for public office on the Republican ticket.

But the most grisly Sideshow Bob-centric episode was arguably his second-ever appearance, in Season Three’s “Black Widower.” That’s the one where Bob marries Aunt Selma, then attempts to murder her using a deadly combination of natural gas and MacGyver.

While the episode was written by Jon Vitti, the story was credited to Simpsons co-developer Sam Simon and Thomas Chastain. The second name may not sound familiar to fans, considering that he was only ever credited for this one episode.

Chastain was a successful mystery writer, and the author of Who Killed the Robins Family?, a novel that tasked readers with solving...

In the year 2000, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was the biggest game show on TV. Like all popular game shows, it wouldn’t be long until they cranked out a celebrity edition of the show. In fact, it debuted that same year. For Celebrity Millionaire’s second week, the contestants were a truly eclectic group — a group that included Tyra Banks, Vivica A. Fox, Alec Baldwin, Charlie Sheen and disgraced rapper P. Diddy. There were also a host of comedians, the most memorable of which was Norm Macdonald, who was the very last to compete for his charity.

It was worth the wait, however, as Macdonald cranked out a number of hilarious zingers during his short stint on the show. Here are his 10 funniest jokes and answers…

10 “You know, if this was me I would keep going, but there’s children… Give me that $100!”

After answering the very first question correctly,...

One of the very best early episodes of The Simpsons, Season Two’s “Bart the Daredevil,” featured a touching storyline in which Homer risks his own life in order to protect his son from danger, plus the debut of Dr. Hibbert and absolutely no references to Adolf Hitler whatsoever.

But that wasn’t always the case.

In Springfield Confidential by Mike Reiss, the longtime Simpsons writer admitted that a number of early gags were only included to pad out episodes that were running short, including the Sideshow Bob rake scene and Bart’s prank phone calls to Moe. More conspicuously, in Season Four’s “The Front,” the writers tacked an “Adventures of Ned Flanders” short onto the end of an episode.

Years earlier, a similar idea was floated for “Bart the Daredevil,” but ultimately discarded. “One legendary attempt at show padding has been lost to the ages,” Reiss wrote. “Back...

In the summer of 1991, Major League Baseball’s brightest stars descended upon Springfield, only to leave the Simpsons’ hometown bald, beaten, burned, radiation poisoned, gigantized and trapped outside of the physical plane of existence.

The Season Three Simpsons episode “Homer at the Bat” is one of the most famous and important installments of the show’s entire history. Written by the legendary and reclusive comedy writing savant John Swartzwelder, “Homer at the Bat” was the single most star-studded episode of the series when it premiered on February 20, 1992, and its massive success inspired Fox to shoehorn a string of celebrity guest appearances into various episodes over the following years. Telling the tale of a greedy Mr. Burns ruining the spirit of the nuclear power plant softball league with a stacked team of ringers, “Homer at the Bat” also marked the MLB’s most significant contribution to the Simpsons canon — that is,...

Fox Entertainment has ordered unprecedented, early four-season renewals for 20th Television Animation’s hit series The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Bob’s Burgers, and announced the return of American Dad! to the network, it was announced today by Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network.

The three fan-favorite series – all produced by 20th Television Animation, a part of Disney Television Studios – have each received four additional seasons, continuing their impressive runs on Fox through the 2028-29 broadcast cycle.

The renewals encompass the 16th through 19th Seasons of Bob’s Burgers, the 24th through 27th Seasons of Family Guy, and the record-setting 37th through 40th Seasons of The Simpsons, extending its standing as the longest-running scripted primetime series in television history.

American Dad!, created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzman, debuted on Fox in 2005 and was a part of the network’s animation lineup through 2014. The animated comedy will return to...

Fox is locking in its animated cornerstones for the remainder of the 2020s.

In a huge commitment to longer-running shows The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers, the network has ordered four more seasons of each show. Additionally, Fox officially announced that American Dad! will return to the network in 2025-26, also with a four-season order.

The renewals will take all four series through the 2028-29 season. The Simpsons will extend its already ludicrous run through its 40th season and, depending on the episode count for the coming seasons, will likely approach 900 episodes by the end of the order. Family Guy will run through its 27th season and Bob’s Burgers through its 19th. The order for American Dad! will encompass seasons 20 through 23, by Fox’s count.

All four shows come from 20th Television Animation.

“This new deal celebrates the eternal popularity of these iconic comedies, as well as the enduring,...

“The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” and “Bob’s Burgers” have locked in massive four-season renewals at Fox, Variety has learned. In addition, “American Dad” is officially returning to Fox, likewise with a four-season renewal.

It was previously reported in March that “American Dad” was nearing a deal to return to Fox, the network that originally launched the show in 2005. It has been airing on TBS since 2014. Linear reruns of “American Dad!” will continue to air on TBS and fellow Warner Bros. Discovery networks Adult Swim and TruTV until at least 2030.

“This new deal celebrates the eternal popularity of these iconic comedies, as well as the enduring, prolific relationship we continue to enjoy with our friends at 20th Television Animation and the brilliant creators – that goes double for Seth this time around — and incredible voices behind these contemporary classics,” said Michael Thorn, president of Fox Television Network.

The renewals will take “Bob’s Burgers...

When Matt Groening welcomed the inaugural creative team of The Simpsons to their first day of work, he gave them a token of appreciation that definitely wasn’t the unused and unsellable back-stock merch from his other gig.

Along with his creative partner Mike Reiss, Al Jean was the one of the first two writers hired by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for their new show The Simpsons back in early 1989. While that original writers’ room would later become the single most influential creative team in TV comedy history, at the time, Jean and Reiss had reason to be skeptical about The Simpsons’ future. As Jean has since admitted, his friends didn’t think that a cartoon that didn’t cater exclusively to children could last long on the air, and many comedy writers Jean knew at the time turned down the chance to become a Simpsons Og.

Situational comedies, or sitcoms, have been around since the earliest days of television. These programs center on a small cast of characters who are faced with a new set of problematic circumstances every week and must come up with some way to solve them. The genre has spawned countless shows over the decades, many failing to make it past their first season and others producing hundreds of episodes.

Given the nature of sitcoms, it can be extremely difficult for a show to maintain its quality season after season. After all, there are only so many situations its characters can stumble into before the problems start to feel repetitive, and the characters become frustratingly static. Another common problem with sitcoms is a slow start. Writers and actors often need time to work out the best dynamics for their characters. There are a few exceptions: shows that break onto the scene at...

Quick LinksJennifer Tilly Is More Than Just a Poker StarThe Writers Were Keen to Give Tilly Some Breathing SpaceJennifer Tilly Also Lends Her Voice to Another Animated Sitcom

Although The Simpsons introduced audiences to the most iconic animated family on the planet, it also welcomes a plethora of hit celebrities. Very few stars refused to appear on the show, and the vast majority are more than happy to transform into yellow representations of themselves. So, even though the Simpsons are an institution in their own right, Springfield relies on celebrities in order to maintain its appeal.

Jennifer Tilly made a very brief appearance in Season 24, Episode 4, "Gone Abie Gone," and fans didn't really bat an eyelid. Yet, this renowned actress and poker star has a unique link to The Simpsons that a lot of fans miss. However, those in the know understand that Tilly and the animated powerhouse go hand in hand.

Are Rhobh Cast Members Not Fond Of Jennifer Tilly? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

The Real Housewives franchise never gets its fill of drama, and the Beverly Hills edition tops the list with several rumors. From Dorit Kemsley and Kyle Richard’s receptive separations to the news of a potential cast shakeup and new faces revealing that they’ve been receiving offers to join the series—Rhobh has seen it all! The most recent rumor about the show surrounds newcomer Jennifer Tilly.

A report has revealed that Jennifer, who joined season 14 in the “friend of” category, isn’t exactly the favorite amongst the core housewives group, and they allegedly want her to leave for the next season. Here’s what we know about this, including why the rest apparently don’t like her.

Does The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills Cast Group Dislike Jennifer Tilly?

According to Life & Style Magazine, the actress...

Kelsey Grammer revealed to the New York Post the details surrounding a 30 year feud between himself and fellow Cheers actor Ted Danson. In the interview, Grammer stated that he and Danson did not speak over the course of three decades due in part to a confrontation between the two on the set of their Emmy-winning sitcom, which aired on NBC from 1982 to 1993.

"It got a little blown out of proportion," Grammer said of the feud, which first came to light last year. "There really wasn’t an argument. It was at a time in my life when I was actually going through a lot of self-doubt... It was when I was drinking a lot. Ted had just come up and said, 'You know, I’m kind of mad at you that sometimes you don't show up ready to go.' And I said, 'Ok, I respect that.' And that actually was sort of it.

Today, Disney+ announced an all-new exclusive episode of The Simpsons that will premiere February 12 on the streaming service. The full-length episode titled “The Past and the Furious” is the next exclusive episode of The Simpsons debuting on Disney+.

In the exclusive full-length “The Past and the Furious” episode of The Simpsons, Lisa travels back in time to 1923 and discovers that the Springfield Mini Moose, once key to the town’s ecosystem, were driven to extinction in 1925.

Teaming up with young Monty Burns, Lisa works to save the moose, but her actions unintentionally shape his future as a ruthless tycoon.

In addition to 35 seasons of The Simpsons, Disney+ is also home to The Simpsons Movie and more than 10 shorts featuring the Simpsons family. All these and more can be found in The Simpsons collection on the streaming service.

The Simpsons, created by Matt Groening and developed by James L. Brooks and Sam Simon,...

Jennifer Tilly, like many professionals, began acting in high school, having been bitten by the theater bug as a teen. Her mother, a former stage actress herself, helped Jennifer (as well as her younger sister Meg) pursue walk-on roles and supporting parts in various Hollywood TV shows, and Tilly made her TV debut on an episode of the sitcom "Oh Madeline" in 1983. In 1984, she secured a regular role on the obscure comedy series "Shaping Up," which starred Leslie Nielsen as a grumpy health club owner. Tilly appeared in all five episodes. Her real big break came that same year, as she secured a recurring role on the hit cop show "Hill Street Blues," appearing in six episodes. 

Tilly would spend the next few years acting in guest spots on hit shows like "Moonlighting," "Cheers," and "Remington Steel." She would also make a move into cinemas, appearing in multiple studio comedies and thrillers.

Fox has announced the winter return dates for its iconic Animation Domination favorites Family Guy, Grimsburg, The Great North, Krapopolis and The Simpsons. On Sunday, Feb. 16, all-new seasons of Family Guy (8:00-8:30 p.m. Et/Pt), Grimsburg (8:30-9:00 p.m. Et/Pt) and The Great North (9:00-9:30 p.m. Et/Pt) debut, followed by new episodes of Krapopolis (9:30-10:00 p.m. Et/Pt) on Fox.

Then, starting Sunday, March 30, Animation Domination continues when all-new episodes of The Simpsons return (8:00-8:30 p.m. Et/Pt), followed by Family Guy (8:30-9:00 p.m. Et/Pt), The Great North (9:00-9:30 p.m. Et/Pt) and Krapopolis (9:30-10:00 p.m. Et/Pt).

Family Guy

The Season 23 premiere of Family Guy will parody Top Gun, which will chronicle Peter/Maverick getting together with Lois/Charlie, the tragic death of Joe/Goose,...

Fox has set Winter return dates for its Sunday night Animation Domination block.

Family Guy, Grimsburg, The Great North and Krapopolis are set to return Sunday, Feb. 16 starting with Season 23 of Family Guy at 8 pm; Season 2 of Grimsburg at 8:30 pm, Season 5 of The Great North at 9 pm, followed by new episodes of Krapopolis at 9:30 pm.

Beginning Sunday, March 30, Season 36 of The Simpsons debuts, followed by Family Guy at 8:30 pm, The Great North at 9 pm and Krapopolis at 9:30 pm.

The Season 23 premiere of Family Guy, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary on Fox, will parody Top Gun, which will see Peter/Maverick getting together with Lois/Charlie, the tragic death of Joe/Goose, and Peter/Maverick’s blooming relationship with Chris/Rooster. Additionally, this season, Peter runs into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at a brewery tour, Lois becomes a stand-up comedian and Meg starts dating a...

Jennifer Tilly is opening up about her wealth.

The 66-year-old actress made a big revelation on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills this season – she revealed she gets royalties of The Simpsons when she divorced ex-husband Sam Simon, who co-created the long-running, hit animated series.

Jennifer has shown off her wealth on Rhobh, with her multiple houses, her fashion and rare accessories.

Now, the Chucky actress is clarifying just how much money she really has.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I’m astonished,” she told E! News about the response to her wealth. “Number one, I don’t think of myself as rich. But I guess I’m delusional because I do have several properties and a purse apparently that cost $33,000.”

“I thought everybody knew that I had a piece of The Simpsons,” she added. “It’s not a large piece, but even a little piece is something to write home about.

Jennifer Tilly might be best known for voicing Bonnie Swanson on Family Guy, starring as Tiffany Valentine in The Bride of Chucky and for awakening every ‘90s lesbian with her portrayal of Violet in 1995’s Bound, but her storied career almost took a detour through Springfield, with the actress alleging she was once a close contender for the role of Marge Simpson.

Weeks after getting candid about her connection to The Simpsons via her late ex-husband, series co-creator Sam Simon, a newly resurfaced interview has revealed that marriage was far from Tilly’s only tie to the long-running animated series, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star explaining how she once read for Marge amid uncertainties of the show’s recording format.

“I remember the first episode, Sam had the idea that he wanted everyone to be in the room,” Tilly recalled of The Simpsons early days during her 2021 appearance on The Adam Carolla Show.

For funny actors and aspiring stand-up comics, landing a long-running sitcom role is like winning the lottery. You get guaranteed work for years and, even in the streaming era, the chance for a lifetime of residual checks. But some sitcom stars insist on biting the humor hand that feeds them. Here are five actors from successful TV comedies who wish they had never landed their roles in the first place…

1 Chevy Chase, ‘Community’

Chase, who had been irrelevant for years before finding a new generation of fans on Community, got himself canned for using a racial slur on the set. Fine, no problem, Chase told Marc Maron on the Wtf podcast — he didn’t want to be there anyway. “I honestly felt the show wasn’t funny enough for me, ultimately,” Chase explained. “I felt a little bit constrained. Everybody had their bits, and I thought they were all good.

Thirty-five years ago yesterday, the inaugural Simpsons staff celebrated the premiere of their new animated sitcom at an old-school bowling alley in the Los Angeles area, where we can safely assume a sleazy Frenchman started hitting on one of their wives.

On Tuesday, The Simpsons celebrated the 35th anniversary of its first-ever episode, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” by premiering the first streaming-only Simpsons special on Disney+, the two-part Christmas episode “O C’mon All Ye Faithful.” In the three and a half decades since Homer took up a gig as a mall Santa because Bart got “Moth” tattooed on his arm, The Simpsons has expanded into an entertainment empire unmatched in adult animation, and the quaint circumstances of the show’s launch on December 17, 1989 are a Smithsonian-level piece of comedy history, as are the custom Simpsons-themed bowling shirts the entire writing staff wore for the occasion.

Who is Jennifer Tilly’s boyfriend, Phil Laak? That’s the question on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fans’ minds as they get to know the famous actress better.

Jennifer has brought a new vibe to Rhobh, not just because of her fashion flare.

On the hit Bravo show, Jennifer recently mentioned her many homes and her poker player boyfriend.

It turns out that Jennifer has been dating Phil for two decades.

They began dating in 2004 after crossing paths at a poker tournament.

Jennifer first revealed the relationship in 2005, during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, when she referred to Phil as “sort of the guy I’m seeing.”

Who is Jennifer Tilly’s boyfriend, Phil Laak?

According to online sources, Phil is an Irish poker player who has made quite a good living with a net worth of $20 million. Phil has been playing poker professionally...

The great NeNe Leakes said this about herself, but now we’re saying it about Jennifer Tilly: she’s very rich!

A preview for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is proving just that as the actress opens up about her multiple properties.

We didn’t realize the extent of Jennifer’s wealth until she talked about her ex-husband, The Simpsons’ co-creator and producer, Sam Simon, on the show.

She was well taken care of in their divorce settlement, and when Sam died, he also left a portion of his yearly royalties from the animated series to the actress.

Jennifer has been stacking up those coins along with her winnings from being a professional poker player.

She’s also had a successful career in film and television for decades, most notably in The Bride of Chucky series and voicing the character Bonnie Swanson on Family Guy.

Her net worth...

Today, Disney+ revealed the trailer for The Simpsons holiday special “O C’mon All Ye Faithful,” which will premiere December 17 exclusively on Disney+. Derren Brown guest stars in the holiday special.

The Christmas-themed double episode is launching timed to the 35th anniversary of The Simpsons original Christmas special, which aired on December 17, 1989. The trailer for the upcoming Disney+ exclusive special was also revealed.

In The Simpsons holiday special, famed British mentalist Derren Brown comes to Springfield and uses psychological tricks and showmanship to raise the town’s Christmas spirit. When Homer gets hypnotized and mistakenly believes he is Santa Claus, it sets off a cheery chain-reaction and causes everyone to question what they believe and to explore the meaning of “miracle.”

Featuring musical performances by Patti Labelle and Pentatonix, this special double episode marks the 35th anniversary of the original Christmas special from The Simpsons (“Simpsons Roasting on an Open...

Jennifer Tilly recently revealed that she still makes money from her ex-husband, Sam Simon's creation, The Simpsons. During Episode 4 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 14, the Bride of Chucky star said that when they got divorced in 1991, after seven years of marriage, she "got a piece" of the show in the settlement, and "every day," she's like, "Thank you, Sam." Fast-forward to 2005, Jennifer had her long-term boyfriend, Phil Laak to thank for winning during her World Series of Poker debut.

Jennifer and Phil first met in 2004. While the poker champ-turned-reality TV star often shares photos with her long-term partner on Instagram, not much is known about him. But the new Rhobh star—who's a longtime friend of the Rich Sutton Stracke—has always spoken highly of Phil. Jennifer's fans even see them as a power couple. Here's what we know about Phil and the possible reason he...

When actress Jennifer Tilly and Simpsons co-developer Sam Simon divorced in 1991, Tilly received 30 percent of Simon’s future proceeds from his fledgling animated sitcom. But does she get to sleep in a racing car?

An Oscar-nominated actress and a veteran of TV comedy, Tilly is so much more than yet another pampered Hollywood divorcée to grace the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Tilly regularly played smaller parts in film and television throughout the 1980s, and, following her split from Simon, she broke through with a critically acclaimed performance in Woody Allen’s 1994 black comedy Bullets Over Broadway. From there, Tilly’s film and TV career exploded, and she even made a name for herself competing in the high-stakes world of professional poker, winning a coveted World Series of Poker bracelet in 2005.

But despite Tilly’s good fortune, no gamble ever paid off better for the actress, poker...

When not voicing Bonnie Swanson on Family Guy, Jennifer Tilly is reaping the benefits of another long-running animated sitcom.

The Oscar nominee recently revealed that she owns a piece of The Simpsons, following her 1991 divorce from Sam Simon, who developed the Fox series with creator Matt Groening and James L. Brooks in 1989.

“My ex-husband was Sam Simon, who created The Simpsons,” noted Tilly on this week’s episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. “I was married to him for seven years, we were together for about 10 years. When we got divorced, I got a piece of The Simpsons in the divorce settlement.”

She added, “Nobody knew that The Simpsons was going to go on for trillions of year. So every day — honestly, every day — I’m like, ‘Thank you, Sam.'”

Tilly reportedly got 30% of Simon’s net proceeds from the Fox series in the divorce, according to Radar.

You’re probably aware that Jennifer Tilly is a highly successful actress with dozens of screen roles to her credit — but we bet her net worth will still surprise you.

These days, Jennifer appears on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a friend of the castmates’.

And on this week’s episode, she made a surprising revelation about her financial situation — and how it relates to Springfield’s most dysfunctional family.

Jennifer Tilly attends Moca Gala 2023 at The Geffen Contemporary at Moca on April 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Sciulli/Getty Images for The Museum of Contemporary Art (Moca)) Jennifer Tilly’s Net Worth Gets a Boost From Bart

“My ex-husband was Sam Simon, who created The Simpsons, I was married to him for seven years,” Jennifer explained in a confessional.

“We were together for about 10 years. And then when we got divorced, I got...

Jennifer Tilly was no stranger to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills before she joined the show in a friend of role for Season 14.

The talented actress is besties with Sutton Stracke and has popped up as a guest star more than once over the years.

However, throwing Jennifer into the mix regularly has only made Rhobh fans more curious about her.

One thing on fans’ minds is her net worth compared to the other ladies in Beverly Hills.

After all, Jennifer has spent decades in Hollywood making a name for herself and showing off her incredible acting talent.

So, just how rich is Jennifer Tilly? Let’s take a look at what we know.

What is Rhobh breakout star Jennifer Tilly’s net worth?

According to online sources, Jennifer has a net worth of $40 million, and she has put her all into earning every penny of it. Most of...

Rhobh star, Erika Jayne is dishing on why she is obsessed with newcomer, actress Jennifer Tilly. Jennifer has appeared on the hit Bravo reality series as Sutton Stracke’s friend. Now, in Season 14, she will take on a more active role and everyone is loving her. Keep reading for what Erika is saying about her.

Erika Jayne Dishes Why She’s Obsessed With Jennifer Tilly

Since Lisa Rinna left Rhobh after Season 12, Erika Jayne has not had her best friend by her side. She has managed to mend fences with Dorit Kemsley who confided her in the Season 14 premiere. Additionally, Erika is on good terms with the rest of the cast which is a big deal for her. She usually clashes with someone but not right now which is great to see. It appears she and Sutton Stracke are even on a good page and that has been a long time coming.

These days, it’s extremely easy to access information about your favorite movies and TV shows thanks to the wonders/horrors of the internet. But back in the dark ages of the 1990s, when dial-up modems, fax machines and slap bracelets were considered cutting edge, pop-culture info was a lot harder to come by.

This meant that fans of The Simpsons who grew up in the ‘90s mostly learned about The Simpsons by watching the show. After all, it’s not like many kids at the time were loyal CBS News NightWatch viewers.

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But then, in The Simpsons’ seventh season, one atypical clip show gave audiences a semi-fictional peek at the making of the series: “The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular.”

A lot of the episode was obviously fake (it was hosted by Troy McClure on the Simpsons’ living room “set”), but it did feature actual deleted scenes, including alternate endings for “Who Shot Mr.

A number of terrifying disasters have threatened the residents of Springfield throughout the course of The Simpsons — from hurricanes, to blizzards, to floods, to monorails (apologies in advance to monorail enthusiasts everywhere). But fans may not be aware that some classic episodes were actually affected by extreme weather — for the better, it turns out.

The sixth season of The Simpsons premiered with “Bart of Darkness,” which begins as a story about a heat wave and a poolmobile, and ends as a parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense classic Rear Window. It’s one of the show’s very best episodes.

But “Bart of Darkness” was originally supposed to come at the end of Season Five — that is until production was delayed by the Northridge Earthquake. On January 17, 1994, the 6.7 magnitude quake hit Los Angeles; 57 people were killed, thousands more were injured, and reportedly $20 billion-worth of residential property was damaged, making it...

Everything’s not coming up Milhouse, it seems.

Pamela Hayden, who has voiced iconic Simpsons characters including Milhouse and Jimbo Jones, is retiring from the show after 35 years.

Hayden will voice her last episode – Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes – on Sunday, November 24.

In addition to Bart’s best friend Milhouse Van Houten and bully Jimbo Jones, over the years, Hayden has voiced secondary characters including Ned Flanders’ son Rod, Chief Wiggum’s wife and Ralph Wiggum’s mother Sarah and Lisa Simpson’s friend Janey Powell.

The Simpsons, which launched on Fox in December 1989, will now start casting for her characters.

Hayden said, “The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons?……not easily. It’s been an honor and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show, and to...

Ever since being acquired by the Mouse House, The Simpsons has been producing a number of synergistic shorts for Disney+, combining the world of Springfield with Disney-owned franchises like Star Wars and Marvel — but sadly not Die Hard or Fuzzbucket.

The latest short, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, finds Sideshow Bob celebrating Halloween with a musical number featuring some of the most famous villains in Disney history, not counting current and former CEOs. Being a Sideshow Bob-centric story, naturally it features multiple references to his greatest non-human nemesis: the yard rake.

As we’ve mentioned before, the drawn-out gag from Season Five’s “Cape Feare,” in which rake handles keep smacking Bob in the face for a painfully long time, was originally created as a way to pad out the episode, which was running short. Producer Sam Simon argued, “When something’s funny, and then you do it...

All October long, Cracked is catching up with some of the greatest writers in Simpsons history to discuss the most beloved segments from the “Treehouse of Horror” series. From the cursed monkey’s paw to Krusto the Clown, we’re digging into the making of some real fan-favorites.

Al Jean and Mike Reiss are Simpsons legends — and stalwarts. In fact, they’re such stalwart legends that they were tasked with a feat even more difficult than writing the original “Treehouse of Horror”: writing “Treehouse of Horror II,” something that seemed impossible at the time given just how good (and beloved) the first one is/was.

And yet, they didn’t just outdo themselves; they kind of outdid the show, too, pulling off three segments that are considered classics in their own right. The first is about Homer wishing upon a cursed monkey’s paw. The second is a Twilight...

In the Fall of 1990, The Simpsons showrunners Matt Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon had the greatest of problems: high expectations. The first season of The Simpsons was a runaway hit, introducing a wild and aggressive satiric sensibility into an otherwise tame prime-time selection that included shows such as Full House or The Cosby Show. But now that all eyes were on the first family of Springfield, how would the creative team approach season two?...

There are a lot of reasons why "The Simpsons" has lasted as long as it has, but a big one is just how fun those "Treehouse of Horror" anthology episodes always are. Even long past the golden age of the show, these Halloween specials reliably breathe new life into the series; they're funny and sharp, and they allow the show to play around with all sorts of different tones, genres, and animation styles. From the "Death Note" segment in 2022 to the "Coraline" segment in 2017 to the "Tron" segment in 1997, "The Simpsons" has always used these specials as opportunities to show us something we've never seen from them before.

But how'd the writers get the idea for the special in the first place? In a 2018 interview, renowned "Simpsons" writer Mike Reiss explained how he and the other writers were big horror movie fans, name-checking the "Evil Dead" and "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise in particular.

Many define The Simpsons' "Golden Age" as the first ten seasons; some argue the Golden Age ended when co-developer Sam Simon left after Season 4; and some would say it was even shorter than that. But most agree that the 1990s was the decade responsible for why The Simpsons is among the greatest animated series of all time. Bartmania took the world by storm in season two, and Springfield has been a staple of American comedy ever since. By extension, plenty of fans would claim the best episodes of this decade are the best episodes in the show's run (at least so far). In any case, with a show as iconic and long-lasting as The Simpsons, there is a pretty big difference between identifying "the cartoon's best episodes" and the "top ten" episodes ever made. There are so many outstanding installments that it's basically a matter of taste. After all, some...

Omg, have you ever seen "The Simpsons" episode "Dead Bart"? It's gotta be one of the weirdest episodes of the classic animated sitcom ever made! In this bizarre adventure for Springfield's famous family, the Simpsons take a trip that goes terribly wrong. While on a plane in mid-flight, Bart smashes a window and is sucked outside, falling to his death. It's graphic, and tragic, and terrible. The rest of the episode descends into morbid surrealism, with a large chunk of the runtime devoted to the Simpson family visiting Bart's grave in what appears to be a completely deserted version of Springfield.

What's that? You've never seen this? Well, that's because it doesn't exist. "Dead Bart" is a myth; a bit of internet folklore. In technical terms, it's creepypasta. Creepypastas are horror-tinged urban legends and short stories that get shared on message boards and Reddit. Some of these stories can be downright dreadful,...

On December 17, 1989, America sat down to watch "The Simpsons." The animated characters created by Matt Groening first appeared in short segments on the variety series "The Tracey Ullman Show," but by 1989, the Simpson family was ready to take on their own series.

Or were they?

The first episode to make it to air was the holiday special "Simpsons Roasting on and Open Fire," in which a down-on-his luck Homer (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) takes a job as a mall Santa. Eventually, the family adopts a greyhound dog named Santa's Little Helper, and Christmas is saved. It may not be the best episode of "The Simpsons," but it certainly made history: as of this writing, "The Simpsons" is still on the air, having just wrapped its 35th season. But back in 1989, a completely different episode of "The Simpsons" could've been the premiere. Then everything changed at the last minute.

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One of the all-time great episodes of "The Simpsons," at least as far as Lisa fans are concerned, is "Lisa's Substitute" from season 2. It's an episode that finally gives Lisa a teacher that she connects to on a real personal level, and then cruelly rips him away from her. Mr. Bergstrom is an amazing one-off character, a mature and thoughtful teacher that we could totally believe would make Lisa cry when she learns he's leaving. But despite how beloved Bergstrom is by the fans, the episode's closing credits don't properly credit the actor who played him. Instead of listing Dustin Hoffman, the credits read Sam Etic. 

The reason for this? It was Hoffman's joke about Bergstrom's Jewish features. "The Simpsons" writer Mike Reiss explained in his tell-all book "Springfield Confidential" how this all came to be:

"Sam Simon designed the character, modeling Bergstrom's Semitic good looks (meaning bad looks) on mine.

Bart Simpson’s greatest mortal enemy — other than Dr. Demento and, of course, Bill Cosby — is Sideshow Bob, Krusty the Clown’s former sidekick-turned-homicidal maniac. Bob is mostly defined by his refined taste, his right-wing politics, his passionate hatred for Bart and a penchant for stepping on rakes and smacking himself in the face.

There is perhaps no more iconic Sideshow Bob scene than the one that happens toward the end of “Cape Feare.” After following the Simpsons — make that the Thompsons — to Terror Lake, Bob extracts himself from the underside of their car and immediately steps on a rake. Then he steps on another. And another. Bob keeps stepping on rakes, and grumbling in pain, for what feels like an interminably long time.

It’s such a memorable character-defining moment that The Simpsons has even brought back the rakes for more recent Sideshow Bob episodes.

Yet, while it’s...

As a standout on Saturday Night Live and with 48 Hrs. proving to be a hit (while also reinventing the buddy cop movie), Eddie Murphy was going to be the star of the 1980s. So when Beverly Hills Cop was about to roll around, things were looking on pace for Murphy. Only, it wasn’t even going to star him at all – it was meant for Sylvester Stallone! In fact, Judge Reinhold even had his part in line before Eddie Murphy came on board.

Speaking at the world premiere of the latest Beverly Hills Cop installment, Axel F, Judge Reinhold – who played Detective Billy Rosewood in all four movies – remembered being hired before Eddie Murphy took over as Axel Foley, a role that looked to be Sly’s for the taking. Once Stallone left to do Cobra, Murphy came on board and helped turn it into a comedy, as opposed to...

Judge Reinhold is going four strong in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, and when we caught up with him last Thursday, regaled us with memories of what the project was like before Eddie Murphy arrived.

Specifically, Reinhold had already signed on to the original Beverly Hills Cop as Detective Billy Rosewood when the Jerry Bruckheimer production had Sylvester Stallone attached.

“We weren’t a comedy when we started, it was an action movie for Sylvester Stallone,” Reinhold told Deadline at the world premiere of Netflix’s Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F in Beverly Hills, CA.

He continues, “I was cast then Stallone dropped out to do Cobra, so, I was in a movie with no star, then Eddie came on.”

“We weren’t a comedy, we weren’t. Eddie was fine flying by the seat of his pants, that’s not problem for him, but it was nerve-wracking for us,...

Sideshow Bob, voiced by Kelsey Grammer, is known for his revenge plots against Bart Simpson. Grammer landed the role after showcasing his singing talent with a Cole Porter song. Over 35 seasons, Sideshow Bob's rivalry with Bart has led to memorable plotlines on The Simpsons.

Across its record-breaking 35 seasons, The Simpsons has featured many memorable characters and high on that list is none other than Robert Underdunk Terwilliger Jr. aka Sideshow Bob. Voiced by Kelsey Grammer, the character's frequent quests for revenge against Bart Simpson have become a signature punchline of the series, and have given the show some of its most memorable episodes. Grammer was a sitcom mainstay thanks to Cheers by the time he landed the role of Sideshow Bob, but it turns out the actor got the part because he could sing a Cole Porter Song.

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The Simpsons has an odd relationship with Australia. The Season Six episode “Bart vs. Australia” didn’t exactly portray the country in the most flattering light — from the games of “Knifey Spoony” to the depiction of their prime minister as a nude, Foster’s-swilling layabout named Andy.

Longtime Simpsons writer Mike Reiss even claimed that the show was “condemned in the Australian Parliament after the episode.” No word on whether or not the government ever tried to extradite Matt Groening for a public booting.

Now The Simpsons are once again at the forefront of an Australian political controversy — not because of a controversial episode, but because Simpsons memes have been “weaponized” to push back against a controversial plan to build more nuclear power plants.

Australia’s opposition leader Peter Dutton recently announced that the Coalition Party, if elected, would construct seven new nuclear power plants on specific sites throughout the country.

Frasier star and The Simpsons regular Kelsey Grammer opens up about how he got the iconic role of Sideshow Bob.

During an interview with Deadline, Grammer recalled how he landed the role of Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons over thirty years ago. As Grammer explained, longtime The Simpsons writer Sam Simon reached out to ask if the actor was still singing. When Grammer confirmed that he was, "[Simon] said, 'Can you sing a Cole Porter song?' I said, 'Well yeah, of course I can. Which one?' And he said, 'Every Time We Say Goodbye.' I thought, 'Yeah, yeah, I'll do that for you.' And that was the foundation of Sideshow Bob."

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Grammer made his debut as the surprisingly unremarkable genius and serial killer,...

Kelsey Grammer has been playing Frasier off and on since 1984, a 40-year run that’s remarkable for its longevity if nothing else. But there’s another Grammer character who’s been around for nearly as long: Sideshow Bob, who debuted in 1990 during the first season of The Simpsons. “You are the king of long runs,” said Deadline’s Pete Hammond during a conversation for The Actor’s Side.

As for how he got the Simpsons gig, longtime Simpsons writer Sam Simon knew Grammer from an early stint on Cheers. “He called me one day when he was in the middle of production on The Simpsons,” Grammer said.

Simon asked him, “Are you still singing?”

Of course, Grammer was still singing. The “Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs” crooner was famous on the Cheers set for beginning morning rehearsals with a show tune. You know, the kind of coworker you want to...

Smithers was mistakenly designed as Black in his first appearance due to an animation error in The Simpsons season 1. The original idea for Smithers was to be both Black and gay, but this was changed due to concerns about the character portrayal. The early episodes of The Simpsons season 1 had crude animation that evolved over time as the show became a hit.

Waylon Smithers has been one of the most memorable characters on The Simpsons since its early days, but the season 1 Smithers had a much different look than fans are used to. The Simpsons has been running since 1989, so it's understandable that it once looked very different from how it does now. With Disney+ making all 30 seasons of The Simpsons available, many fans can look back on those classic early episodes and one surprise they would get is seeing Smither presented as Black in his first appearance.

Waylon Smithers...