In 1977, aspiring cartoonist Matt Groening moved from his hometown of Portland, Oregon to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming a writer. Like most people who move to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming a writer, he took on some of the most menial jobs imaginable. Groening worked in a sewage treatment plant, as a dishwasher, and as a waiter. All the while, Groening worked on what would become his signature creation, the "Life in Hell" comic strip.
Groening would leave "Life in Hell" comics in a small corner of Licorice Pizza, the celebrated Los Angeles record store where he occasionally worked. It was an embittered strip about modern life, a harsh critique of life, love, school, and work. Groening attacked everything the establishment celebrated as normal and good, finding nothing but misery in the real world.
"Life in Hell" was picked up by Wet Magazine and, later the Los Angeles Reader.
Groening would leave "Life in Hell" comics in a small corner of Licorice Pizza, the celebrated Los Angeles record store where he occasionally worked. It was an embittered strip about modern life, a harsh critique of life, love, school, and work. Groening attacked everything the establishment celebrated as normal and good, finding nothing but misery in the real world.
"Life in Hell" was picked up by Wet Magazine and, later the Los Angeles Reader.
- 3/30/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The Simpsons Movie is an animated comedy film based on the animated sitcom The Simpsons by American cartoonist, Matthew Groening. The movie featured the cast from the sitcom’s regular cast including Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, and Pamela Hayden. The Simpsons Movie which was released in 2007 had its screenplays rewritten many times. The movie’s script was revised over 100 times, by a team of 11 writers including James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Scully, Ian Maxtone-Graham, George Meyer, David Mirkin, Mike Reiss, Matt Selman, John Swartzwelder and Jon Vitti. The...
- 10/23/2023
- by Nkem
- TVovermind.com
This article contains spoilers for the Disenchantment series finale.
A new animated series from Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons and Futurama, should have been a clear winner and modern cartoon classic. Oddly enough, Bean’s misadventures through Dreamland and its constant fantasy genre subversions in Disenchantment have barely left a mark on the medium. It initially seemed like Disenchantment had somehow learned the worst lessons from The Simpsons and Futurama through a focus on dense lore and heavy serialized stories. Disenchantment, while fun, would struggle with its growing scope and undergo a perpetual identity crisis on the type of series it wanted to be and what it does best.
It’s been a bumpy journey, but Disenchantment impressively pulls everything together for its final season. This last batch of episodes finally figures out how to use this big world and its many supporting characters after seasons of awkward attempts to connect these dots.
A new animated series from Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons and Futurama, should have been a clear winner and modern cartoon classic. Oddly enough, Bean’s misadventures through Dreamland and its constant fantasy genre subversions in Disenchantment have barely left a mark on the medium. It initially seemed like Disenchantment had somehow learned the worst lessons from The Simpsons and Futurama through a focus on dense lore and heavy serialized stories. Disenchantment, while fun, would struggle with its growing scope and undergo a perpetual identity crisis on the type of series it wanted to be and what it does best.
It’s been a bumpy journey, but Disenchantment impressively pulls everything together for its final season. This last batch of episodes finally figures out how to use this big world and its many supporting characters after seasons of awkward attempts to connect these dots.
- 9/2/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The ‘90s were the decade of The Simpsons, sorry Seinfeld. The family was introduced in 1987 through a series of short clips in between skits on Fox’s The Tracey Ullman Show, overstayed their welcome and were spun off. The series debuted on Dec. 17, 1989 with a holiday special, “Simpsons Roasting on An Open Fire,” before hopping on the rotisserie of regular rotation on Jan. 14, 1990 with “Bart the Genius,” directed by David Silverman, and written by Jon Vitti.
The half-hour animated series was created by Matt Groening, who came up with it as a last-second pitch to foil his own plan to animate his comic strip Life in Hell. The Simpsons was produced by TV legend James L. Brooks, who drove The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi, and Sam Simon, who wrote for Taxi and Cheers.
The voice talent continued over from the shorts. Dan Castellaneta performed the voices of Homer Simpson,...
The half-hour animated series was created by Matt Groening, who came up with it as a last-second pitch to foil his own plan to animate his comic strip Life in Hell. The Simpsons was produced by TV legend James L. Brooks, who drove The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi, and Sam Simon, who wrote for Taxi and Cheers.
The voice talent continued over from the shorts. Dan Castellaneta performed the voices of Homer Simpson,...
- 4/23/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Looking back on this still-young century makes clear that 2007 was a major time for cinematic happenings — and, on the basis of this retrospective, one we’re not quite through with ten years on. One’s mind might quickly flash to a few big titles that will be represented, but it is the plurality of both festival and theatrical premieres that truly surprises: late works from old masters, debuts from filmmakers who’ve since become some of our most-respected artists, and mid-career turning points that didn’t necessarily announce themselves as such at the time. Join us as an assembled team, many of whom were coming of age that year, takes on their favorites.
I was born in June of 1992, a year particularly important to Simpsons lore. On one hand, my date of birth fell three months before the airing of the show’s fourth season, which is considered by many...
I was born in June of 1992, a year particularly important to Simpsons lore. On one hand, my date of birth fell three months before the airing of the show’s fourth season, which is considered by many...
- 7/27/2017
- by Ethan Vestby
- The Film Stage
Sam Simon, a comedy writer and producer who co-developed groundbreaking animated sitcom "The Simpsons," has died after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 59.
Among his many career highlights, Simon "served as the showrunner on the sitcom 'Taxi' at the age of 23; wrote for and produced the comedies 'Cheers' and 'The Drew Carey Show'; and created a Fox series for the legendary stand-up comic George Carlin in the mid-1990s," according to The Hollywood Reporter. He most recently worked as a consultant on Charlie Sheen series "Anger Management."
But Simon was best-known for helping shepherd the creation of "The Simpsons," alongside Matt Groening and James L. Brooks. The trio worked together on "The Tracey Ullman Show," on which Bart and co. first got their start, later giving the Simpsons family its own Fox series in 1989.
"The Simpsons" is now the longest-running primetime series in television history.
Among his many career highlights, Simon "served as the showrunner on the sitcom 'Taxi' at the age of 23; wrote for and produced the comedies 'Cheers' and 'The Drew Carey Show'; and created a Fox series for the legendary stand-up comic George Carlin in the mid-1990s," according to The Hollywood Reporter. He most recently worked as a consultant on Charlie Sheen series "Anger Management."
But Simon was best-known for helping shepherd the creation of "The Simpsons," alongside Matt Groening and James L. Brooks. The trio worked together on "The Tracey Ullman Show," on which Bart and co. first got their start, later giving the Simpsons family its own Fox series in 1989.
"The Simpsons" is now the longest-running primetime series in television history.
- 3/9/2015
- by Katie Roberts
- Moviefone
Last year around this time, I wrote a column laying out what is the best movie theaters in Tampa. The criteria ranged from the comfort level of seats to the whether or not they sold beer. I even explored the social demographics that venture to a particular theater. Since I'm summoned to the theater about 3-4 times a week to see the upcoming releases, who better to guide my fellow Tampanians on choosing a theater.
Since my "inception" in the movie reviewer world, the Regal Cinema in Citrus Park mall is always an invite I dread getting. Always heard the veteran critics (Bill Gibron, George Meyer, Bob Ross, Lance Goldenberg & Steve Persall) bantering on how the Citrus Park theater is the worst place for screenings. I recall going there a couple times prior to becoming a critic and the one thing that bugged me was how every teenager in Tampa flocked to that place.
Since my "inception" in the movie reviewer world, the Regal Cinema in Citrus Park mall is always an invite I dread getting. Always heard the veteran critics (Bill Gibron, George Meyer, Bob Ross, Lance Goldenberg & Steve Persall) bantering on how the Citrus Park theater is the worst place for screenings. I recall going there a couple times prior to becoming a critic and the one thing that bugged me was how every teenager in Tampa flocked to that place.
- 5/15/2010
- Tampa Film Examiner
Photo credit: Joe Belcastro
The recently completed Florida Film Critics Circle Web Site is now up and running. This is a great resource to read credible reviews from some of the most respected film critics in the country. In the next couple weeks, the Ffcc will be voting on the year end awards and submitting it to all the major studios per their request.
Currently, all the members are constantly rubbing their eyes, for they've been receiving screeners from all the major studios that believe their flicks deserve consideration for the awards. A wide range of films are being considered and this year's award race is wide open for the most part. The Ffcc is one of 20+ critic associations that are solicited by studios.
Some notable members right here in Tampa are Steve Persall of the St. Pete Times. Steve's been around since the mid 90s in Tampa and has...
The recently completed Florida Film Critics Circle Web Site is now up and running. This is a great resource to read credible reviews from some of the most respected film critics in the country. In the next couple weeks, the Ffcc will be voting on the year end awards and submitting it to all the major studios per their request.
Currently, all the members are constantly rubbing their eyes, for they've been receiving screeners from all the major studios that believe their flicks deserve consideration for the awards. A wide range of films are being considered and this year's award race is wide open for the most part. The Ffcc is one of 20+ critic associations that are solicited by studios.
Some notable members right here in Tampa are Steve Persall of the St. Pete Times. Steve's been around since the mid 90s in Tampa and has...
- 12/10/2009
- Tampa Film Examiner
With The Simpsons 12th Season arriving in-stores on DVD today, Fox sent Starlog a trio of clips from the new box set.
See the clips below the jump, along with the full specs on this massive Mint Condition set that is Comic Shop Guy Approved!
Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie return for more outrageous adventures when “The Simpsons” The Complete Twelfth Season arrives on DVD August 18th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. The longest running animated series in television history, the latest DVD collection features all 21 classic episodes from the 2000-01 season including Bart’s boy band odyssey in “New Kids on the Blecch” featuring pop sensations N’Sync and a hilarious less-than-ordinary day for Homer, Bart and Lisa in “Trilogy of Error.” The season also boasts an impressive line-up of talented guest stars including Drew Barrymore, Edward Norton, Justin Timberlake, Stephen King, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Roger Daltry and many more.
See the clips below the jump, along with the full specs on this massive Mint Condition set that is Comic Shop Guy Approved!
Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie return for more outrageous adventures when “The Simpsons” The Complete Twelfth Season arrives on DVD August 18th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. The longest running animated series in television history, the latest DVD collection features all 21 classic episodes from the 2000-01 season including Bart’s boy band odyssey in “New Kids on the Blecch” featuring pop sensations N’Sync and a hilarious less-than-ordinary day for Homer, Bart and Lisa in “Trilogy of Error.” The season also boasts an impressive line-up of talented guest stars including Drew Barrymore, Edward Norton, Justin Timberlake, Stephen King, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Roger Daltry and many more.
- 8/18/2009
- by no-reply@starlog.com (James Zahn)
- Starlog
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