Season 30 Information Thread

[That Don Guy]

For those of you interested in such things, Fox's preseason Sunday night game will be Seattle at Minnesota on 8/18

[Brad Lascelle]

Woo-hoo Dunnit? airs on May 5th as expected. Here are the details courtesy of thefutoncritic.com...

LISA'S COLLEGE FUND GOES MISSING ON AN ALL-NEW "THE SIMPSONS" SUNDAY, MAY 5, ON FOX

Will Forte and Ken Burns Guest-Voice

When the secret stack of cash - aka Lisa's college fund - Marge keeps under the sink goes missing, the documentary crime series "Deadline Springfield" goes in-depth to solve the case, leaving no stone unturned in the all-new "Woo-Hoo Dunnit" episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Sunday, May 5 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (SI-3015) (TV-PG D, L, V)

Voice Cast: Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson; Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson; Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson and Nelson; Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson; Hank Azaria as Moe; Harry Shearer as Skinner; Tress MacNeille as Dolph; Pamela Hayden as Milhouse; Harry Shearer as Flanders; Harry Shearer as Mr. Burns; Harry Shearer as Smithers; Harry Shearer as Lenny; Harry Shearer as Dr. Hibbert; Harry Shearer as Reverend Lovejoy; Harry Shearer as Kent Brockman; Harry Shearer as Otto; Harry Shearer as Jasper; Harry Shearer as Rainier Wolfcastle; Harry Shearer as Harry Shearer; Harry Shearer as OldSchoolerSimpsons

Guest Voice Cast: Will Forte as King Toot, Ken Burns as Himself

[Venomrabbit]

Didn't know OldSchoolerSimpsons was a character on the show!

Kinda interesting plot, not really saying a whole lot about it, guess there's no subplot either, fair enough, more time to focus on the main one.

[Brad Lascelle]

Promo pics for D'oh Canada have been up on Fox Flash for the past few hours but have yet to make their way to the usual hype outlets.
I imagine they'll pop up sometime tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's a sneak preview of my fellow countryman and Christmas birthday buddy, Justin Trudeau...

[ComicBookGal]

Promo pics for D'oh Canada have been up on Fox Flash for the past few hours but have yet to make their way to the usual hype outlets.
I imagine they'll pop up sometime tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's a sneak preview of my fellow countryman and Christmas birthday buddy, Justin Trudeau...

you're lucky you share a birthday with Trudeau, I share a birthday with one of the Trumps (not Donald though)

[Nameless]

Is Woo-Hoo Dunnit? a "show within a show" deal like Homer is Where the Art Isn't or 22 for 30?

[Rutherford]

How will the show be affected by the WGA drama?

[Dark Homer]

It shouldn't be affected at all, contracts for seasons 31-32 were already negotiated, and I don't see why agents would be necessary if the writers are already on staff. But I don't know anything about anything

Sidenote, Al Jean/Mike Reiss/Conan O'Brien's former agent Gavin Polone is on the writers' side https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...agents-1197093

[Rutherford]

It shouldn't be affected at all, contracts for seasons 31-32 were already negotiated, and I don't see why agents would be necessary if the writers are already on staff. But I don't know anything about anything

Sidenote, Al Jean/Mike Reiss/Conan O'Brien's former agent Gavin Polone is on the writers' side https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...agents-1197093

Well, 11 years ago, it affected writing for the 20th production season. That's why only 20 scripts were produced, instead of the ordered 22. Family Guy was badly hit at the time that they only aired 12 episodes before declaring the season is over.

[That Don Guy]

The NFL has released its 2019 schedule, and there will not be an NFL nationwide lead-in to the Season 31 premiere on 9/29.

Speaking of the NFL, remember that the next Super Bowl is on Fox, although the lack of any upcoming titles that sound like they're football related makes me think The Simpsons won't get the post-Super Bowl slot (which is not that surprising, although I figure there's a chance Fox would air an episode along with a Bob's Burgers episode that would be a lead-in to next summer's movie).

[biffwestwood]

"Crystal Blue-Haired Persuasion" is the episode that will air as the season finale.


"The Incredible Lightness of Being a Baby" will be saved for sometime next season or who knows when?




SUNDAY, MAY 12

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Audio descriptions for tonight's episodes of THE SIMPSONS, BOB'S BURGERS, and FAMILY GUY are available on the SAP Audio Channel.]

**SEASON FINALE**--*"THE SIMPSONS" - (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) CC-HDTV 720p-Dolby Digital 5.1

MARGE OPENS A NEW-AGE STORE ON THE ALL-NEW SEASON FINALE OF "THE SIMPSONS" SUNDAY, MAY 12, ON FOX

Werner Herzog, Jenny Slate and Illeana Douglas Guest-Voice

After Homer's work cuts children's healthcare benefits, Marge turns to buying healing crystals as a cheaper solution for Bart's ADD. Bart begins to succeed in school, prompting Marge to open her very own crystals empire and sell to the naive mothers at school in the all-new "Crystal Blue-Haired Persuasion" season finale episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Sunday, May 12 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (SI-3016) (TV-PG D, L, V)

Voice Cast: Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson; Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson; Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson and Nelson; Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson; Hank Azaria as Moe; Harry Shearer as Skinner; Tress MacNeille as Dolph; Pamela Hayden as Milhouse; Harry Shearer as Flanders

Guest Voice Cast: Illeana Douglas as New Age Clerk, Werner Herzog as Walter Hotenhoffer, Jenny Slate as Piper Paisley

[ComicBookGal]

so it's kind of a remake of brother's little helper...but now I'm tempted to once again say "didn't south park already do this?" I believe the episode was called Cherokee hair tampons

[That Don Guy]

"Crystal Blue-Haired Persuasion" is the episode that will air as the season finale.

It looks like the show has come down to, "Roll a die - on a 1 or 2, it's a marriage crisis; on a 3 or 4, Marge starts a new business; on a 5 or 6, The Simpsons Are Going To...", and this time, somebody rolled a 3.

"The Incredible Lightness of Being a Baby" will be saved for sometime next season or who knows when?

I think Al Jean had already mentioned that it was being moved to next season.

Hmmm...Paradise Island premieres on 5/9. It's possible that the original plan was to repeat the premiere on Sunday 5/12, followed by a new episode the next night, then air the Simpsons (and Bob's Burgers and Family Guy) season finales on 5/19, which would explain why Al Jean said the season finale was going to be on 5/19, but eventually decided against it.

Well, I was partially right; Fox is repeating the Paradise Hotel premiere on 5/12...at 7 Eastern (in place of the usual Simpsons & Bob's Burgers repeats)

Also, to the surprise of pretty much no one, Fox has officially cancelled Rel (and The Gifted, although there is a chance that ends up somewhere else), so there's an opening on Sundays at 9:30 - the fall schedule will be announced by May 13.

[jbauer]

Well, 11 years ago, it affected writing for the 20th production season. That's why only 20 scripts were produced, instead of the ordered 22. Family Guy was badly hit at the time that they only aired 12 episodes before declaring the season is over.

The current WGA situation involves talent agencies and the way they unethically profited over the efforts of writers. It has nothing to do with the 2007 strike. That was against the AMPTP (AKA the big studios) and it had more to do with the dispute over new media residuals and the need for more story research on each project.

The Simpsons writers could fire their agents tomorrow, if they haven't already. It wouldn't change a thing. They're already employed. There's no possibility of a strike anytime soon because it doesn't involve studios yet. That could change eventually, but not right now. The last WGA/studios renegotiation took place last year. By the time the current contract expires, seasons 31 and 32 will be long done.

[Szyslak100]

.@TheSimpsons great read today! pic.twitter.com/86bg4XEbYO

— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 18, 2019

[Venomrabbit]

Lisa still needs braces!

(bit of an odd choice for a finale, Woo-hoo Dunnit sounded a bit more like finale material)

[Dark Homer]

Kinda blowing my mind that Werner Herzog is now a recurring simpsons voice actor and in the upcoming star wars show

[Szyslak100]

Yesterday I shared Al Jean's tweet about ZABF05, Hail of the Teeth. Now, the writer is confirmed: Elisabeth Kiernan Averick.

Elisabeth Kiernan Averick (first Simpsons script)

— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 19, 2019

That's a great news for me. Female writers did an awesome job in season 30 (Bart's Not Dead, Werking Mom, I'm Dancing as Fat as I Can, Bart vs. Itchy & Scratchy, Girl's in the Band) and I'm happy because this trend continues. Her more relevant job was in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, like writer and producer. I haven't seen that show yet, so i can't make an opinion.

[YaBoiTheDuck]

How many times is Marge gonna get a new job or start a business?

[That Don Guy]

How many times is Marge gonna get a new job or start a business?

My theory is, Al Jean rolls a six-sided die;
If it's a 1 or 2, Homer does something to cause Marge to question their marriage;
If it's a 3 or 4, Marge gets a new job;
If it's a 5 or 6, "The Simpsons are Going to..."
...and this time, he rolled a 3

[Wile E. the Brain]

Well, to be fair, Marge getting a new job is still less frequent than Homer getting a new job.

[MDB]

Mt. Splashmore is back i guess.

[Nameless]

Our latest view of the Curran-Payne Movie Classic...

https://twitter.com/Rlazebnik/status...08028469108736

"Cesar" is Cesar Mazariegos, the staff writer who arrived midway through the production lines. I'm not sure who Juliet or Nick are.

[Szyslak100]

https://ew.com/tv/2019/04/24/the-sim...mpression=true

I do not have high expectations for the end of the season. I want to believe that he will have several jokes and good characterizations like the previous episode of Amram, but the incentive of an original plot and a different story is not, taking into account that even Al Jean has given to understand that this will be a predictable episode (“it all hinges on whether Bart is really using the crystals to get the A’s or not. You can kind of guess what the answer is.”). I can not wait for the coyote cameo of The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer, one of the best one-off characters on the show. Do not ruin it, please.

[friz]

prediction: bart uses the crystals as an elaborate set of mirrors to see the answer sheet on the teacher's desk

[Nameless]

Seems Jon Lovitz will be back as Artie Ziff soon.

https://twitter.com/realjonlovitz/st...85119753719809

[CousinMerl]

Tweet is gone now so maybe it was false, but it would be neat to see Ziff again. Last time he's been in an canonical episode and aside from any flashbacks was, as far as I recall, way back in 'The Ziff Who Came To Dinner' in season 15.

[Robot sidekick]

My theory is, Al Jean rolls a six-sided die;
If it's a 1 or 2, Homer does something to cause Marge to question their marriage;
If it's a 3 or 4, Marge gets a new job;
If it's a 5 or 6, "The Simpsons are Going to..."
...and this time, he rolled a 3

What about Homer's crazy schemes, or Another billionth Lisa episode. Bart feels more like a sidekick these days. Always upstaged by his sister. You rarely get Bart plots anymore.

[ComicBookGal]

oh so Ziff is being released from jail now unless this if for a flashback scene which seems to be more likely in this day and age

[Brad Lascelle]

Detailed preview article on this weekend's upcoming D'oh Canada's health-care focused plot along with commentary from episode writer Tim Long.

'The Simpsons' Canada-Themed Episode Will Focus On Health Care, Producer Tim Long Says - Huffingtonpost.ca

Episode will look at Canada's health-care system

It happens when the Simpsons visit Niagara Falls and, through a series of wacky mishaps, Lisa goes over the powerful flow of water that separates Ontario and New York.

She lands on the Canadian side and is admitted to hospital, where she realizes Canada is the place for her.

"She is not unscathed, but because of Canada's incredibly generous health-care system, she ends up just fine," said Long, who co-wrote the episode with his wife, screenwriter Miranda Thompson.

"The Simpsons, when they see her in the hospital, are fully prepared to go bankrupt, because that's what would happen to them in America. But they're stunned and amazed and delighted to find the health-care system takes care of them."

'Shocking number of Canadian things'

Yes, much of the Simpsons clan also visits Canada in the episode, which Long said has "a shocking number of Canadian things" that "95 per cent of the American audience won't get."

"They're briefly there but then Homer gets belligerent and they're asked to leave, except for Lisa. Then much of the rest of the show features the Simpsons plotting to get her back and trying to convince Lisa that she should come back, because she's at least initially very happy."

Incidentally, this will be the second time that a Simpsons family member topples over the Niagara Falls as Marge and Homer already pulled off that stunt while making love inside a bounce house in Season 15's Catch 'Em If You Can.

Perhaps Bart or Maggie will go over the falls in Season 45.