Latest news with #Groening
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
No political jokes in Springfield, says Simpsons creator Groening
Like many American families struggling for unity in the polarised United States, The Simpsons have decided to avoid political jokes, the creator of the series Matt Groening told AFP. Despite the potential for storylines and humour, Groening ruled out venturing into America's toxic politics for laughs. "We don't do political humour because political humour is very limited. It dates very quickly," he said during an interview at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in the French Alps. A Simpsons season takes at least six to nine months to produce, raising the risk of gags turning stale, Groening explained. The show –- broadcast on US network Fox TV and on Disney Plus, which now owns the series –- has sometimes appeared to predict real events, such as Donald Trump's election, which was first referenced in an episode in 2000. It has also featured parodies in the past of a host of politicians from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger. "We just have to stay true to our characters, their spirit and their relationships. And when they face the sadness of the world, people feel briefly connected to them," writer-producer Matt Selman told AFP. Despite Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie remaining frozen in time since their debut in 1989, the writers have ensured the story lines move with the times. A recent episode parodied artificial intelligence when a chatbot was asked to write the finale. "In the plot of that episode, AI was given the job of writing the perfect finale. And of course, it just regurgitated and spat out all the other finales from all the other shows in very unoriginal and silly ways that of course would be terrible," said Selman. "It was our attempt to push back at AI, push back at ever ending the show." The natural environment remains a rich source of inspiration, including in "The Simpsons Movie" in 2007 which featured a disaster caused by Homer that leads to Springfield being sealed under a giant dome. "The environment's not going to get cleaned up anytime soon," Groening added. The Simpsons Movie grossed $536.4 million worldwide, but the creators ruled out making a sequel -- for the moment. "We are still recovering from the first movie," joked Groening. "And the sad truth is we don't have enough time to do both the show and the movie unless we decide we want to work really, really hard." The Simpsons has been translated into 26 languages and broadcast in around 100 countries. The 800th episode is set to air in early 2026. mli-adp/giv
France 24
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
No political jokes in Springfield, says Simpsons creator Groening
Despite the potential for storylines and humour, Groening ruled out venturing into America's toxic politics for laughs. "We don't do political humour because political humour is very limited. It dates very quickly," he said during an interview at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in the French Alps. A Simpsons season takes at least six to nine months to produce, raising the risk of gags turning stale, Groening explained. The show –- broadcast on US network Fox TV and on Disney Plus, which now owns the series –- has sometimes appeared to predict real events, such as Donald Trump's election, which was first referenced in an episode in 2000. It has also featured parodies in the past of a host of politicians from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger. "We just have to stay true to our characters, their spirit and their relationships. And when they face the sadness of the world, people feel briefly connected to them," writer-producer Matt Selman told AFP. Despite Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie remaining frozen in time since their debut in 1989, the writers have ensured the story lines move with the times. A recent episode parodied artificial intelligence when a chatbot was asked to write the finale. "In the plot of that episode, AI was given the job of writing the perfect finale. And of course, it just regurgitated and spat out all the other finales from all the other shows in very unoriginal and silly ways that of course would be terrible," said Selman. "It was our attempt to push back at AI, push back at ever ending the show." The natural environment remains a rich source of inspiration, including in "The Simpsons Movie" in 2007 which featured a disaster caused by Homer that leads to Springfield being sealed under a giant dome. "The environment's not going to get cleaned up anytime soon," Groening added. The Simpsons Movie grossed $536.4 million worldwide, but the creators ruled out making a sequel -- for the moment. "We are still recovering from the first movie," joked Groening. "And the sad truth is we don't have enough time to do both the show and the movie unless we decide we want to work really, really hard." The Simpsons has been translated into 26 languages and broadcast in around 100 countries. The 800th episode is set to air in early 2026.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Je Suis Milhouse': Matt Groening Gets Emotional At Annecy As He Reveals The Motivation Behind The 800-Episode Longevity Of ‘The Simpsons'
Matt Groening, arguably the greatest TV animator of all time, grew visibly emotional receiving the Honorary Cristal Award at today's Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which he labeled the 'best festival in the world, animation or otherwise.' Receiving the gong in front of a packed house, he paid tribute to the 'gods and goddesses' in the audience, who 'fill the universe with crazy characters who do what you tell them to do.' More from Deadline From Brink Of Bankruptcy, TeamTO Unveils Six New Shows & Adult Animation Push At Annecy Neil Court Joins Coolabi As Chairman Amid 'Warrior Cats' Growth Push And M&A Opportunities Sola Media Posts First Deals For Annecy Title 'Captain Sabertooth And The Countess Of Grel' 'You can have them be brave but isn't it more fun to have Homer fall off a cliff?,' he said. 'We torment our characters and have fun with them.' Groening was emotional as he thanked his family and reminded the audience that the main characters in The Simpsons are famously named after his father and mother, Homer and Marge, his sisters, Lisa and Maggie, and his grandfather, Abe. Is Bart named after Groening? 'I'll let you into a little secret…. Je suis Milhouse,' joked Groening, in reference to Bart's loveable, dorky best friend. After watching a new ep of The Simpsons, the audience were treated to a masterclass from Groening, animator David Silverman and showrunner Matt Selman. During this session, Groening revealed the real thing that has motivated him to return to The Simpsons after all these years. 'We don't think about being responsible but our main motivation is to surprise ourselves,' he said to applause. 'If we surprise ourselves then we think we can surprise the audience.' The secret to the 36-year-old animation stalwart's 800-episode longevity is never to be lazy and keep layering the humor, he added. 'As it goes on we become known for different kinds of jokes,' added Groening. 'We have parodies of cinema and references to books, TV shows and personal autobiographical anecdotes. The sum total of the show is that contribution of everyone involved.' In the next season of The Simpsons, there will be an ode to famous American cartoonist Jules Feiffer and Groening quoted Feiffer when referencing The Simpsons' long-lasting success: 'Jules said with every advance in technology comes decline in quality. So we have tried to maintain that hand drawn quality.' He also faced questions over the show's odd knack for predicting real-life events, including an episode in which Lisa references a President Donald Trump years before he became POTUS. 'All the conspiracy theories are true,' joked Groening, who pretended that the creative team pulls its predictions out of a Marge Simpson-shaped wig that his team had brought on stage. Groening and the team then proceeded to pull out a set of joke predictions including that the 'Statue of Liberty will be returned to France when no one in America can remember what the word 'liberty' means,' and 'electric cars will use a new energy source powered by a hatred of Elon Musk.' In terms of the advice he'd give future animators, Groening first said 'do not let your mom throw away your comic book collection when you leave High School,' and secondly became emotional once more as he urged the crowd of young animators: 'Whatever you're working on, finish it. The world is full of half-finished pieces of animation, so finish it and get it out there.' Groening was speaking on the second day of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which is being attended by all the big American studios. Groening labeled Annecy 'the best festival in the world, animation or otherwise.' Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media Where To Watch All The 'John Wick' Movies: Streamers That Have All Four Films
