Simpson's to unleash October surprise on Nov. 5th

[Quixote1818]

Simpsons Pitch Tent in Anti-War Camp

Anyone who thinks Hollywood is run by a liberal cabal won't change his mind after watching The Simpsons' annual Halloween special. The episode, which airs Nov. 5, concludes with an Iraq war satire that may rank as the most pointed political statement the show has ever made. In the segment, aliens invade Springfield to prevent mankind from obtaining "weapons of mass disintegration," but their mission, called "Operation Enduring Occupation," turns into a quagmire. "You said we would be greeted as liberators!" accuses one alien.

"We were looking for an ending to the episode, and it just kind of suggested itself," says Simpsons executive producer Al Jean. "I'd like to take credit for being adventuresome, but I think we're expressing a viewpoint 69 percent of the country agrees with."

Perhaps—but in the past, the show's writers have usually been careful to maintain an ironic distance from the hot-button issues they've tackled, including abortion and evolution. The Halloween segment, in contrast, feels remarkably earnest, right up to its final line: "This sure is a lot like Iraq will be." That line may not make it to the air; some of the writers want it cut, says Jean, though not because it's politically loaded. "The debate is whether people already get it and we're being too obvious," he adds.


VIEW FROM THE GREEN ZONE Springfield ... or Baghdad?

More at:

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2006/10/simpsons-pitch-tent-in-antiwar-camp.php

[Rick Myers]

1. Check out the official website

http://www.thesimpsons.com/index.html

Click on "Attention Earthlings" and it takes you to a do-it-yourself PROMO MAKER like the one the car company did earlier... You assemble clips, add titles, sound effects etc to make a promo... It's alot of fun!!! You can manipulate some of the footage from that show!!!

[spag68]

2. It amazes me

that some of the way out shows are on fox.

[Quixote1818]

3. FOX just cares about money. The bottom line. nt

[AlCzervik]

4. it's about $$$ period. If the Simpsons didn't generate big ad revs.

Fox would pull the plug.

[BlueManDude]

5. How long before we hear some afilliate won't run it?

[tridim]

6. They'll probably claim it's a campaign ad

and thus, not "fair and balanced".

[BlueManDude]

7. It'll happen n/t

[Eric J in MN]

8. There was a "Simpsons" episode dealing with abortion?

Anyone know which episode?

[Eric J in MN]

9. It's good they're pitching in, but most people will have decided...

...their votes by November 5.