As they do every year at Comic-Con, the mad geniuses behind FOX’s The Simpsons packed the largest auditorium at the San Diego Convention Center with fans eager to hear all the latest news and gossip from an enchanted, animated place called Springfield. Series creator Matt Groening, supervising producer Al Jean, producer David Mirkin, director David Silverman and Lisa Simpson voicer Yeardley Smith were among the panelists on hand to answer questions about the hit movie and dish some details about the new season of the TV show, which kicks off on Sept. 23.
The panel began with an exclusive look at a scene from The Simpsons Movie that wasn’t seen in theaters. ‘This was every movie writers’ favorite scene that didn’t make it into the movie,’ said writer Matt Selman in setting up a clip where Homer hitches a ride on a sausage truck. Upon letting homer off, the driver (voiced by Hank Azaria) goes to the back of the truck to find all of his cargo gone. We then see homer with a string of sausages dangling from his mouth as he climbs a rocky hill and witnesses some strange goings on a la Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Silverman said it was also one of the animators’ favorite scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor.
Also cut from the movie was a scene that expanded the role of ‘Spider-Pig,’ Homer’s new pet, which will make an appearance in the first episode of the new season. Fans were teased with various other bits of information about the latest batch of installments, and were even treated to a preview of this year’s Treehouse of Horror episode. The clip started with Marge speaking to the camera as she shares her recipe for Halloween cookies. She soon becomes annoyed by an endless string of promos for other FOX show that stream across the bottom of the screen. ‘Can’t anyone just watch the show they’re watching anymore?’ she grumbles before spraying tiny NFL players with insecticide, chopping up Family Guy‘s Peter Griffin with a kitchen mixer, pinning 24‘s Jack Bauer to the refrigerator and exploding Dr. House in the microwave.
Selman discussed a new episode he wrote in which Jack Black will guest star as the owner of a new comic book store that opens in Springfield and provides some competition for Comic Book Guy’s establishment. ‘This episode will contain more comic-book references than any other show in the history of entertainment,’ said Selman, who also noted that famed graphic novel author Alan Moore and other comic-book dignitaries will also do cameo bits in the installment.
Groening said he was looking forward to a storyline that revolves around the character Ralph Wiggum. In the show, a clerical mix-up will have Springfield hosting the nation’s first presidential primary election. When the town become overrun by crazy politicians, the residents decide to retaliate by writing in the most ridiculous candidate they can think of. As a result, the dim-witted Wiggum boy becomes the frontrunner for both parties. ‘The campaign poster will be a picture of Ralph with his finger up his nose that reads, ‘Pick a winner,” Jean added. Daily Show host Jon Stewart and former news anchor Dan Rather will guest star in the episode.
Fan favorite Kelsey Grammer will return as Sideshow Bob in November, and is bringing a couple of his Frasier co-stars along for the ride this time. David Hyde Pierce will voice the role of Bob’s brother, Cecil, and John Mahoney will play their father, Groening revealed. He also noted that another upcoming episode will have Nelson play Sid to Lisa’s Nancy that finds the two strung out and addicted to chocolate in a parody of the punk rock biopic Sid and Nancy.
Groening closed the program by giving credit where it is due. ‘I’d like to offer my praise and thanks to all the animators who knocked themselves out on the movie and TV show,’ he said. ‘They did a really fantastic job.’
