From Entertainment Weekly: All this poster is missing is Waldo. Tied to the DVD release of The Simpsons‘ 20th season (out Jan. 12), Fox has created an updated poster of their famous shot from 2007’s The Simpsons Movie. Because, clearly, they did not fit enough characters on their first poster. Slackers. (You can only enjoy this new and improved poster in larger form here—this shot is exclusive to EW!) Springfield folks I’m glad made the cut this time around? The Golem from “Treehouse of Horror XVII,” the angel skeleton from “Lisa the Skeptic,” and Ray Romano’s Ray Magini from “Don’t Fear the Roofer.” But I’m absolutely stoked to see one of my favorite characters, Eleanor Abernathy (a.k.a. Crazy Cat Lady), if only because she reminds me of who I will be in 30 years’ time … Have Matt Groening & Co., missed anyone?

If you click the photo above you will be able to see the FULL SIZE version of the poster so you can closely examine which characters are featured. Altho I haven’t been as faithful a Simpsons watcher as I used to be, I still love the show very much and am happy it is celebrating its 20th season … with the promise of more to come! This poster is really fun. Which Simpsons characters are your faves?

[Source]

Playboy has had brunets, blonds and redheads grace the cover of its monthly magazine. Now it’s going blue. For the first time, Playboy is using a cartoon character, Springfield’s own Marge Simpson, as its cover girl. The November issue will hit the newsstands next Friday, said Jimmy Jellinek, Playboy’s editorial director. “It’s a very, very racy pictorial, with implied nudity at the very least,” Jellinek said. “Whether or not you see more … well, you’ll have to hit the stands to find out.” The November issue will feature Marge in a five-page pictorial, as well as a two-page pullout poster, he said. In mid-July, Playboy approached Matt Groening, the creator of “The Simpsons,” and the television show’s creative team about the prospect of using Marge on the cover, Jellinek said. “They were totally on board with the idea,” Jellinek said. “This is their 20th anniversary, and they’ve got an episode coming out called ‘The Devil Wears Nada,’ where Marge will disrobe, so this sort of goes in hand with all that.” Currently Playboy has no plans to give other cartoon women, such as Betty Boop or Wilma Flintstone, a pictorial, Jellinek said. “We’re going to take it one fictional celebrity at a time,” he said. Homer Simpson was unavailable for comment.

Is it wrong that I think this is hot? Okay … so not hot hot but hot in a cool fun way. The Simpsons have done some pretty cool things in their 20 years of existence and Marge’s Playboy cover is but the latest. I can’t wait to see what the rest of Marge’s Playboy pictorial spread looks like ;)

[Source via Source]

“Simpsons” fans can get the first peek at stamps featuring Homer, Marge & Co. — and vote for their favorite — when the U.S. Postal Service unveils the designs Thursday morning. The stamps will be available nationwide on May 7. “This is the biggest and most adhesive honor ‘The Simpsons’ has ever received,” said creator and executive producer Matt Groening. Executive producer James Brooks quipped, “We are emotionally moved by the Post Office Department’s selecting us rather than making the lazy choice of someone who has benefited society.” The Postal Service is encouraging people to vote for their favorite “Simpsons” character on its Web site (http://www.usps.com). Fans also can preorder the 44-cent first-class stamps on the site and register for a sweepstakes for a limited-edition “Simpsons” poster signed by Groening. Elie Dekel, executive vice president at 20th Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising, said the previously announced stamps are a key part of the show’s 20th anniversary celebration. “‘The Simpsons’ is more than just a television show, it’s an American institution,” he said. “These stamps help solidify this legacy.” David Failor, U.S. Postal Service executive director of stamp services, also predicted a benefit for his organization. “Issuing ‘The Simpsons’ stamps, which includes known philatelist Bart Simpson, will serve as a great opportunity to interest youngsters in stamp collecting.”

It’s not every day that I get excited about a new postage stamp … well, OK, there is never a day that I get excited about a postage stamp … but I do think it’s kinda cool that The Simpsons have each been honored with their own stamp. There is a requirement in this country that says that only deceased people and animated characters can be featured on postage stamps … happily, The Simpsons fall into the second category. In an age where snail mail is becoming less and less important, I think it’s very wise of the US Postal Service to do fun things like this in order to get people to buy stamps. After the jump, check out how the rest of The Simpson family will look on their own stamps …

I’m not sure which character I would vote for as my fave. I think it really comes down to either Homer or Bart. Lisa Simpson has always been my fave member of the family (she totally reminds me of my good friend Diana) but I’m pretty sure she won’t be chosen by popular vote as the fave Simpson … even in Springfield, it’s a man’s world. In any event, I love all of these stamps … and altho I don’t use them very often, I’m gonna make sure that I pick up a sheet of these stamps on my next visit to the post office.

[Source]

MARGE Simpson cast off her conservative image when she KISSED a hot pal in last night’s Simpsons. The blue-bouffanted matriach, voiced by Julie Kavner, plants a smacker on her attractive pal in the living room of her family home in Springfield while husband Homer looks on. But all is not what it seems – it transpires that the smooch is a figment of beer-swigging hubby Homer’s imagination. The lardy mid-lifer had been panicking about the disasters that could befall his family after his insurance expires but soon started day-dreaming about his wife locking lips with another woman. The episode – How The Test Was Won – aired in America last night … The show has been broaching lesbianism more over the last few years and revealed in 2005 that Marge’s disapproving older sister Patty was a closet lesbian, who consequently gets engaged to a female golf player Veronica.

Yay! I love that Marge is finally gettin’ in on the same-sex lovin’ … even if it is only in Homer’s imagination. After the jump, check out a pic of the animated ladies lip-locked in their passionate embrace …

Oh baby! LOL. Last night’s ep of The Simpsons was pretty damn funny … this same-sex kiss wasn’t even the highlight. Ralph Wiggum was a central character so you know that there was a lot of laugh at … and the ep ended with a dance sequence homage to Footloose — brills! But, props to The Simpsons for continuing to bring the Homer-sexual fun to the series. I’m glad that Patty Bouvier isn’t the only lady in Springfield gettin’ the lesbian lovin’ ;)

[Source]

“The Simpsons” is finally going HD—and, in what some fans might consider an even bigger development, getting a new opening title sequence as well … The network actually made a low-key announcement of the news late last month, casually mentioning the developments as part of its episodic listings of various shows. According to Fox, Sunday’s “Simpsons”—entitled “Take My Life, Please”—will include the first full, permanent revamp of the show’s opening titles since its premiere in 1989. The last few seconds of the title sequence have long featured a different weekly “couch gag.” Fox also airs both a full-length and an abbreviated version of the credits. While “The Simpsons” has never aired in high-def, Sunday’s episode won’t be the first time fans of the show have been able to see Homer and Co. in their full digital splendor on television. HBO aired “The Simpsons Movie” in HD last year. While most live-action scripted network shows now air in HD, animation hasn’t been as quick to make the leap, although that’s starting to change. The producers of “South Park” recently announced their Comedy Central series would go HD starting with its 13th season, which bows March 11.

Longtime fans of the series are prolly very familiar with the opening title sequence that takes the viewer thru a quick trip around Springfield … this newly revamped sequence makes a lot of additions and amendments that are sure to breathe new life into the time-honored traditional opening (every single scene in the traditional opening has been amended in some way). In case you missed it, you can watch it right here. After the jump, check out the new main title opening sequence of The Simpsons …

I won’t share too much … you’ll have to tune in at 8pm on Sunday November 2 and see for yourself. For the Charlie Brown spoof alone, it’s worth watching. Trust me ;) There is a funny little political joke at the start of the episode, too. The Simpsons really outdid themselves this year.

No plans for tonight … Tony asked if I wanted to attend the Robyn concert at Spaceland tonight so I might do that … dunno, we’ll see. I’m gonna hafta tackle my dreaded laundry at some point … unfortch. If y’all never hear from me again, it’s prolly cuz I was crushed and killed under the weight of my laundry pile. Ugh.