|
Planet Simpson
''Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation'', also abbreviated to ''Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation'', is a non-fiction book about ''The Simpsons'', written by Chris Turner and originally published on October 12, 2004 by Random House. The book is partly a memoir and an exploration of the impact ''The Simpsons'' has had on popular culture. Background ''Planet Simpson'' was written by Canadian author Chris Turner, who is a big fan of ''The Simpsons'', although "not even the biggest fan I know personally ... I think I am actually a pretty average hardcore fan. What I brought to it was a sense that because the show is as well put together as it is, it really offers a wide lens for looking at culture generally." Turner notes: "I can count on ''The Simpsons'' to provide me with a solid thirty minutes of truth, of righteous anger, of hypocrisies deflated and injustices revealed, of belly laughter and joy. It ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chris Turner (author)
Chris Turner (born July 25, 1973) is a Canadian journalist and author. Biography Turner was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where his father, a fighter pilot, was stationed with the Canadian military. As a military brat, he lived in the Canadian North, the American Midwest, and Germany. He graduated from Queen's University, in Kingston, Ontario, in 1996 with an honours Bachelor of Arts in history. He also holds a journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto (1998). While at Ryerson, he completed an editorial internship at '' Shift'' magazine. Following graduation from Ryerson, Turner reported on culture and technology for '' Shift'' from 1998 to 2003. His writing has also appeared in, ''The Walrus'', ''The New Yorker'', ''The Globe and Mail'', ''The Independent'', ''The Sunday Times'', ''Time'', ''The Guardian'', ''Utne Reader'', ''Adbusters'' and '' The South China Morning Post''. His latest work is ''How To Breathe Underwater'' (2014), a collection of his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reverend Timothy Lovejoy
Reverend Timothy "Tim" Lovejoy, Jr. is a recurring character in the animated television series ''The Simpsons''. He is voiced by Harry Shearer, and first appeared in the episode "The Telltale Head". Rev. Lovejoy is the minister at The First Church of Springfield—the Protestant church in Springfield. Initially kind-hearted and ambitious, Lovejoy has become somewhat bitter and apathetic towards other people and religion because of Ned Flanders's chronic, over-the-top scrupulosity. Role in ''The Simpsons'' Profile Lovejoy is the pastor of the Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism First Church of Springfield, which most of the show's characters regularly attend. He attended Texas Christian University. He initially came to Springfield in the 1970s as an eager, enthusiastic, young man, only to become cynical and disillusioned about his ministry, mostly due to Ned Flanders, who constantly pesters him with minor issues such as "coveting his own wife" or thinking that ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rainier Wolfcastle
The American animated television series ''The Simpsons'' contains a wide range of minor and supporting characters like co-workers, teachers, students, family friends, extended relatives, townspeople, local celebrities, and even animals. The writers originally intended many of these characters as one-time jokes or for fulfilling needed functions in the town of Springfield, where the series primarily takes place. A number of these characters have gained expanded roles and have subsequently starred in their own episodes. According to the creator of ''The Simpsons'', Matt Groening, the show adopted the concept of a large supporting cast from the Canadian sketch comedy show '' Second City Television''. A Agnes Skinner Agnes Skinner (voiced by Tress MacNeille) is the mother of Principal Skinner and first appears in the first season episode " The Crepes of Wrath" as an old woman who embarrassingly calls her son "Spanky". However, as episodes progress, the character turns bitter.''The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kent Brockman
Kent Brockman is a fictional character in the animated television series ''The Simpsons''. He is voiced by Harry Shearer and first appeared in the episode "Krusty Gets Busted". He is a grumpy, self-centered local Springfield news anchor. Profile Kent Brockman hosts the Channel 6 weekday news, as well as '' Smartline'', a local current-affairs program (a parody of the national current-affairs program '' Nightline''), '' Bite Back! With Kent Brockman'' (a parody of ''Fight Back! With David Horowitz''), '' Eye on Springfield'' (a parody of ''Eye on LA''), which focuses mostly on Springfield's entertainment news, the game show '' Springfield Squares'', and has his own personal commentary segment of the 6:00 p.m. news, "My Two Cents". In the episode "The Mansion Family", he co-hosted an award show with pop music singer Britney Spears. It has been hinted that Brockman is ethnically Jewish, having changed his surname from Brockelstein; this was first indicated in a 1960s flas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Groundskeeper Willie
William MacMoran MacDougal, better known as Groundskeeper Willie, is a recurring character on ''The Simpsons'', voiced by Dan Castellaneta. He is the head groundskeeper and Janitor at Springfield Elementary School. Willie is almost feral in nature and is immensely proud of his Scottish origin. He is easily identifiable by his red hair and beard, as well as his aggressive temperament and thick, stereotypical Scottish accent. Role in ''The Simpsons'' Willie is the groundskeeper and janitor at Springfield Elementary School and lives in a shack on the school premises. He is a Scotsman with an aggressive temper. Willie is an uncouth and unpleasant character, though essentially harmless. His personality is depicted as being incompetent, drunken, slow-witted, and quick to anger for little or no reason. Willie has shown antipathy to both his employer, Principal Skinner, and Bart Simpson, who frequently plays practical jokes on him. In the alternate continuity of "Treehouse of Horror VI", h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is a recurring character in the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. He is an Indian immigrant proprietor who runs the Kwik-E-Mart, a popular convenience store in Springfield, and is known for his catchphrase, "Thank you, come again". He was formerly voiced by Hank Azaria and first appeared in the episode "The Telltale Head". He was named in honor of the title character of ''The Apu Trilogy'' by Satyajit Ray. A 2017 documentary, ''The Problem with Apu'', written by and starring comedian Hari Kondabolu, criticized the character as a South Asian stereotype. In January 2020, Azaria reacted to this by announcing that he and the production crew of the series agreed for him to step down as the voice of the character. ''Simpsons'' creator Matt Groening stated in August 2019 that Apu would remain on the show. The final time that Azaria voiced Apu was in the season 29 premiere "The Serfsons" in 2017; after that episode and as of 2022, the charact ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Comic Book Guy
Jeff Albertson, commonly known as Comic Book Guy, is a recurring fictional character in the animated television series ''The Simpsons''. He is voiced by Hank Azaria and first appeared in the second-season episode " Three Men and a Comic Book", which originally aired on May 9, 1991. Comic Book Guy is the proprietor of a comic book store, The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop. He is based on "every comic book store guy in America" and represents a stereotypical middle-aged comic-book collector. He is well known for his distinctive accent, disagreeable personality and his catchphrase, "Worst ever!" Role in ''The Simpsons'' Profile Comic Book Guy (who states Jeff Albertson to be his real name in the episode "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass") is a nerdy, snobby and quarrelsome man. He is best known for his eloquence and crabby, sarcastic quips. He is obsessed with collecting comic books and is an avid science fiction buff. He holds a master's degree in folklore and mythology (hav ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abraham Simpson
Abraham Jebediah "Abe" Simpson II, better known as Grampa, is a recurring character in the animated television series ''The Simpsons''. He made his first appearance in the episode entitled " Grandpa and the Kids", a one-minute Simpsons short on '' The Tracey Ullman Show'', before the debut of the television show in 1989. Grampa Simpson is voiced by Dan Castellaneta, who also voices his son, Homer Simpson. He is the paternal grandfather of Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson. In the 1,000th issue of ''Entertainment Weekly'', Grampa was selected as the "Grandpa for The Perfect TV Family"."TV: Breaking Down the List," ''Entertainment Weekly'', #999/1000 June 27 & July 4, 2008, 56. Grampa Simpson is a World War II veteran and retired farmer who was later sent to the Springfield Retirement Castle by Homer. He is known for his long, rambling, often incoherent and irrelevant stories and senility. Biography Grampa Simpson is the father to Homer Simpson, father-in-law to Marge Simpson and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ned Flanders
Nedward "Ned" Flanders Jr. is a fictional character in the animated television series ''The Simpsons'', voiced by Harry Shearer and first appearing in the series premiere episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire." He is the good-natured, cheery next-door neighbor to the Simpson family and is generally loathed by Homer Simpson, though there are numerous instances where the two are portrayed as good friends. A scrupulous and devout evangelical Christian, he is among the friendliest and most compassionate of Springfield's residents and is generally considered a pillar of the Springfield community. He was one of the first characters outside the immediate Simpson family to appear on the show, and has since been central to several episodes, the first being season two's " Dead Putting Society". His last name comes from Flanders Street in Portland, Oregon, the hometown of ''Simpsons'' creator Matt Groening. When he was created, he was intended to just be a neighbor who was very nice ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marge Simpson
Marjorie Jacqueline "Marge" Simpson () is a character in the American animated sitcom ''The Simpsons'' and part of the Simpson family, eponymous family. Voiced by Julie Kavner, she first appeared on television in ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' short "Good Night (The Simpsons), Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Marge was created and designed by cartoonist Matt Groening while he was waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks' office. Groening had been called to pitch a series of shorts based on ''Life in Hell'' but instead decided to create a new set of characters. He based the character on his mother Margaret Groening. After appearing on ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' for three seasons, the Simpson family received their own series on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox, which debuted December 17, 1989. Marge is the Matriarchy, matriarch of the Simpson family. With her husband Homer Simpson, Homer, she has three children: Bart Simpson, Bart, Lisa Simpson, Lisa, and Maggie Simpson, Maggie. Marge is th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series ''The Simpsons''. She is the middle child and most accomplished of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa was born as a character in ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' short " Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening created and designed her while waiting to meet James L. Brooks. Groening had been invited to pitch a series of shorts based on his comic ''Life in Hell'', but instead decided to create a new set of characters. He named the older Simpson daughter after his younger sister Lisa Groening Bartlett. After appearing on ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' for three years, the Simpson family were moved to their own series on Fox, which debuted on December 17, 1989. Intelligent, kind and passionate about the planet and all living things, Lisa Simpson, at nine years old, is the second child of Homer and Marge, the younger sister of Bart, and the older sister of Maggie. Lisa's high intell ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
