The Simpsons currently holds the
Guiness Book of World Records titles for Longest-Running
Primetime Animated Series and Most Celebrities Featured
in an Animated Series. Recognized as a pop culture icon,
Homer Simpson's annoyed grunt - "D'oh!" was added as an
official word in the 2001 edition of the Oxford Dictionary.
The Simpsons also received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame.
On February 16, 2003, The Simpsons
celebrated its remarkable 300th episode featuring
professional skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, alternative
rock band blink-182 and Malcolm in the Middle's Jane
Kaczmarek. Also paying a visit to Springfield this season
are Elliot Gould, Marisa Tomei, Little Richard, Steve
Bucsemi, Eric Idle and The Simpsons' own James L. Brooks.
The Simpsons reside in the town
of Springfield. Homer works as a safety inspector at the
local nuclear power plant; Marge tries to keep peace in
her family; Bart is the mischieveous ten-year-old hellion;
Lisa is the intelligent, saxophone-playing vegetarian
member of the family; and baby Maggie conveys emotions
via pacifier sucks. Viewers also have come to know and
love the rich, and sometimes quirky, universe of characters
that inhabit Springfield.
Giving voice to the Simpsons and
other Springfield citizens are Dan Castellaneta as Homer,
Krusty, Grampa, Barney, Mayor Quimby and Groundskeeper
Willie; Julie Kavner as Marge, Patty and Selma; Nancy
Cartwright as Bart, Nelson and Ralph Wiggum; Yeardley
Smith as Lisa; Hank Azaria as Moe, Apu, Chief Wiggum,
Professor Frink, Comic Book Guy and Dr. Nick Riviera; and
Harry Shearer as Mr. Burns, Smithers, Ned Flanders,
Principal Skinner, Reverend Lovejoy and Kent Brockman.
In October 2002, The Simpsons'
most recent episode guide book - seasons 11, 12, and 13 -
entitled "The Simpsons Beyond Forever: The Complete
Guide to Our Favorite Family Still Continues" was released
and graced the New York Times bestseller list.
Matt Groening Biography
Matt Groening, creator and
executive producer of Fox's Award-winning series The
Simpsons, made television history by bringing animation
back to primetime and creating an immortal nuclear
family. In February 1997, The Simpsons became the longest-
running comedy on television. On March 28, 1999, Groening
premiered his newest creation, the Emmy Award-winning
Futurama, now in its fifth season on Fox.
Originally brought to life in
1987 for the Emmy Award-winning series The Tracey
Ullman Show, The Simpsons was Groening's introduction into
the animation world. Previously, he was best known for his
"Life In Hell" cartoon strip, an irreverent portrayal of
broken life that debuted in 1977 and currently appears
in more than 250 newspapers worldwide.
In 1993, he formed Bongo Comics
Group, for which he serves as publisher of the following:
Simpsons Comics, Bart Simpson Comics, Radioactive Man Comics,
and the annual Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror Comics.
In addition to producing his weekly comic strip, keeping
on top of the ongoing production demands of two television
series, and meeting regularly with the Bongo team, Groening
oversees all aspects of the licensing and merchandising
of The Simpsons and Futurama.