As the 300th episode of The Simpsons quickly approaches, Entertainment Weekly has looked back at "Homer and co.'s most hilarious, inspired moments" and has compiled a list of their 25 favorite episodes of all time. Topping the list is "Last Exit to Springfield" at #1, "Rosebud" at #2, "Cape Feare" at #3, "Marge vs. the Monorail" at #4, and "Homer's Phobia" rounded out the top 5. In addition, "Bart to the Future" was singled out as their least favorite Simpsons episode. Click here to view the full list!

"Fans of The Simpsons have received an email from Homer after his internet address appeared in a recent episode in the US. Viewers emailed in after watching the episode in which a private eye emailed him at that address. Executive producer Al Jean said the show's writer-producer Matt Selman registered the email address 'chunkylover53@aol.com' before the episode aired. He has since replied to fans who emailed in following the episode.

Jean told the New York Post: "He logged in the night that the episode aired and it was immediately filled with the maximum number of responses. "He's tried to answer every one of them and then as soon as he answers a hundred, a hundred more pop in. "It's like letters to Santa Claus, he's trying to answer them as Homer and give advice." Original Article >>>

For more than a decade they have reigned as television's favorite dysfunctional family, and creator Matt Groening says eternal youth is a key ingredient of the show's success. "I didn't expect to be on the air this long," Groening said. "One of the great things about doing an animated show is your characters don't age. So your show stays fresh." One thing is certain. It isn't big bucks that keeps the ensemble coming back year after year. "Altogether, we still don't make as much as one 'Friend,"' joked Dan Castellaneta. The actors clearly enjoy their work, even if they have to suffer silly questions from fans at public appearances.

And the quote of the week goes to Yeardley Smith. "The strangest question I ever got is: Do I sound like Lisa Simpson when I'm having sex? And the answer is no." Read More >>>

The Hollywood Reporter, the entertainment industry's premier trade publication, is celebrating the 300th episode of The Simpsons with a special issue devoted to behind-the-scenes looks at the show. Available on February 11th, this issue is sure to be a collectible. US residents, Click this link to order your copy today! Those outside the US should use this form to order.

A Hitchhiker's Guide To Springfield is celebrating one year since the purchase of its domain with a brand new design. The new look is much cleaner and easier to use than the previous one. Definitely an improvement. The Simpsons Network was recently redesigned. The color scheme has changed dramatically, from blue to yellow. Looks nice either way. Duffland is back on the net after a lengthy absence. Viva Los Simpsons is currently offline.

Writer and producer Rich Appel is amazed at how far The Simpsons has come since he worked with the show. Though it's been more than five years since he left Matt Groening's insanely popular series to work on Fox's other animated hit King Of The Hill, Appel is frequently barraged by Simpsons inquiries and observations, mostly from giddy teenagers lucky enough to find themselves in his presence. The show, after all, casts an enormous shadow. Even his own 9-year-old son is obsessed.

"What I meet typically are 12, 13, 14-year-old sons of friends who will not stop with questions literally until you leave the room, and they know the episodes better than I!" Appel says of the Simpsons fans. Read More >>>

"Most right-thinking television viewers know that Marge Simpson works hard to coax her reluctant family to church each Sunday. They know, too, that Apu is a devout Hindu, Krusty is Jewish, and the Flanders family are just about the most enthusiastic Christians in the world. There is lots to learn about religion and spirituality and how it is examined in the comings and goings of the residents of Springfield. Religion is a constant theme that exists in the long-running cartoon sitcom.

So, it made perfect sense for a parishioner at a church in Don Mills to look deeper into how religion works its way into The Simpsons and use it as a way to spark discussion at Immanual Baptist Church. David Tang started teaching a series of classes called 'The Gospel According to the Simpsons,' something that is sort of half about The Simpsons approach to religion, and half about the approach taken to God by everyone else." Read More >>>

"Al Jean, who's been a part of The Simpsons since it debuted, is sticking around Springfield. Jean, currently the showrunner for the long-running animated comedy, has signed a new deal with the producer to remain at the show's helm through at least the 2004-05 season. FOX recently renewed the show for that long. "Al is simply one of the very best, and we're sick and tired of how he gets overlooked because people have longer names," fellow Simpsons executive producer James L. Brooks tells The Hollywood Reporter. Jean joined the show in 1990, during its first season, and has worked as a writer, producer or consultant for The Simpsons ever since. He's in his second stint as showrunner." Read More >>>

"Remember the episode of The Simpsons where Lisa decides to go vegetarian after petting a baby lamb at the children's zoo? Sara Schwartzman does. That half-our of television sent the Weston 16-year-old down the road toward vegetarianism five years ago. "See, television can positively affect children," jokes Sara, a junior at Cypress Bay High School who eats no meat, fish nor fowl, nor candy and gum that contains gelatin. Whether it's television, peer pressure, concern for animal rights or a way to distance themselves from their family, a growing number of teens and college students are following Lisa Simpson's lead and giving up meat." Read More >>>

"Don't look now, but it looks like The Simpsons might be coming back to Toronto. Not as another animated episode, but as in a real live visit from the talented voice-over cast. The cast of the show could all be Toronto bound this July as the live troupe repeats the hit show they put on last summer at Montreal's Just For Laughs comedy festival. Creator Matt Groening says he would love to accompany the gang to Toronto, the city where he sold his Life In Hell comic strip some 20 years ago. Details about where or when the stage show would take place are still to come. The Simpsons cast stage shows have been a huge hit in London, Australia and Montreal." Read More >>>

Exciting Springfield is back at a new location and a few new staff members. This nice little site stopped updating a long time ago, so it's great to see it back and in full promising form. Simpson Crazy has been redesigned. The new look was well received after a preview was announced, and with good reason. It looks great. Last of all, Maggie And Eric has a brand new design. As usual, it's looking very professional and spectacular.

"Like many of my friends - not to mention the show's 14.3 million viewers - I adore the 'The Simpsons.' My two brothers and I have taped every episode since its debut on Dec. 17, 1989. I was 14 then and the fact that 'The Simpsons' and 'Seinfeld' existed made perfect sense. I thought, 'This is what TV is supposed to be.' I remember feeling that as a result, there would be more great shows to come. As we know, that never happened. There have been some very good sit-coms in the post-'Cheers' era that had streaks of greatness - 'Friends' and 'Frasier' to name two - but neither of them matches up to the content depth and staying power of 'The Simpsons.'" Read More >>>

"Ozzie and Harriet have nothing on Homer and Marge. That is why The Simpsons is poised to replace "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" as the longest-running sitcom in history. In any contest between a family that is so pretentiously functional and a family that is so ostentatiously dysfunctional, the latter must prevail. Not just because dysfunctionals fight dirty. They win because they are more real, even if they are cartoon characters.

Of television's 10 most durable sitcoms, eight are about families. But apart from The Simpsons and the crass "Married With Children" (10 seasons), every other show featured nuclear units that were unnaturally wholesome. Remember "Make Room for Daddy" and "My Three Sons"? When, even once in 14 seasons, did Ozzie have to impose real discipline? The boys got rambunctious occasionally. But it amounted to nothing against the subversions of Bart and Lisa Simpson." Read More >>>

Two webmasters have decided to open a site titled Springfield In Pixels. It's aim is to educate other webmasters about how to create a good website. Features mainly include html and photoshop tips, which are sure to be of use to people, not just those in the Simpsons community. If you're not experienced in any of these areas, this site is a great starting point.

After disappearing from the net due to the cancellation of irsburger.com, The Simpsons Folder is back, all new, at simpsonsfolder.com. With it comes an original, but wacky design revolving around a train station and 8-bit Simpsons figures. It's different, i'll give him that. To make up for lost time, the Folder has updated with some new content that should give you something to keep you busy. Good to see it back.

"The yellow-skinned folks known as Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie walked (well, Maggie crawled) through hotel hallways among TV critics. On the loudspeakers, Harry Shearer, in the role of Mr. Burns, invited writers to sit down for "our depressing presentation." Luckily, little of Fox Broadcasting's presentation on the final day of the winter Television Critics Association Tour was depressing. In fact, it was highlighted by a jolt of pure joy: The cast of "The Simpsons" lined up onstage to perform a live table reading of an episode in which Lisa gets a crush on bad-boy Nelson.

The presentation helped Fox deliver an energy boost to members of the press, and the journalists were grateful for it at the end of 13 days of interviewing and schmoozing with the stars and creators of new and old series." Read More >>>

The Simpsons did not win the Golden Globe for best "musical or comedy series" tonight, as that honor went to HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." The other shows besides OFF that were nominated included "Sex and the City," "Friends," and "Will & Grace." Congratulations anyway to The Simpsons for receiving its first Golden Globe nomination.

Fox, being the geniuses that they are, have decided to slot another new episode between The Dad Who Knew Too Little (episode 299) and Barting Over (episode 300). Episode 299.5 if you like, titled Strong Arms Of The Ma will be the next Season 14 episode, to air on February 2 as a double feature alongside a rerun of Large Marge, which aired last year.

While it appears that "Strong Arms.." is now the 300th episode, Fox still insists that they will advertise "Barting Over" as the 300th episode to go to air on February 16th, as this has been the plan for months. Fox felt it necessary to add another episode so that fans were not without a new episode for four weeks. Programming at its best, folks. Thanks goes to snpp.com for some of the information presented in this article.

We started this month by confirming that Fox had renewed The Simpsons until Seasons 16, but a week later, sources were telling us a 17th Season was also on the line. Until now it has been speculation, but Fox has revealled that the show has only been renewed until Season 16; taking it until May 2005. This however, does not rule out the possibility of any further Seasons. King Of The Hill has also been renewed until May 2004.

"The Simpsons renewal means the show will make it through a jaw-dropping 16th full season and roughly 360 episodes, allowing Homer and Co. to edge past "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" to claim the mantle of longest-running laffer in TV history. "Watch out, 'Gunsmoke,' you're next," quipped Al Jean, executive producer of The Simpsons. ("Gunsmoke" ran for a record 20 years.)" Read More >>>

Bringing you up to speed on the latest web news. Homer has found his new home at Homerpalooza. The site has just opened, but with the lack of quality Homer dedications on the net today, it has already become the best Homer site on the net. Have a look.

Simporium has a new design, based around a museum structure. Very creative. The Simpsons Community has opened, featuring episode details and news, as well as profiles on the newest websites.

"The voices — and the peerless ability to poke and pull at the masks of public figures, exposing the insatiable egos beneath — are all Harry Shearer, on his radio program, 'Le Show.' For a cadre of listeners around the world, Mr. Shearer's cutting wit, broad musical tastes and unfailingly subversive approach have made 'Le Show' a weekly ritual for 20 years. 'He's not only the best political satirist around,' said the writer, publisher and veteran pundit Paul Krassner, who has performed with and known Mr. Shearer since the mid-80's, 'but there hasn't been anyone since Lenny Bruce producing these little theater pieces and playing all the parts." Read More >>>

Following up on our previous report on Sunday, CBBC Newsround has now confirmed that not only are we guaranteed Seasons 15 and 16 of The Simpsons, but Season 17 as well. This would take the show well into 2006. "Indeed, in 2002 its creator, Matt Groening, said: "I think we are closer to winding it up." But now Fox Television has confirmed that they have a deal to keep the show going until at least 2006. This will take it to the end of Season 17, meaning around 75 new episodes." Read More >>>

"Matt Groening's success as a cartoonist may be the best counter we have to the old adage that no one ever lost money underestimating the intelligence of the public. From his comic strip "Life in Hell" to the ongoing bastion of American satire "The Simpsons" and its cousin "Futurama," Groening has shown that the comedy of dysfunction and disrespect can pull in a wide audience. But much has changed technologically since "Life In Hell" made its first appearance -- even in the 13 years since "The Simpsons" first revitalized and revolutionized animated television. In this interview conducted by the Online Journalism Review, Groening offers his views on Web cartooning, digital vs. hand-drawn animation, and how technology has changed the way we view comedy." Read The Interview >>>

UK: "The rising number of single people together with interactive episodes of The Simpsons are helping Domino's Pizza grab an ever-larger slice of the £1bn pizza delivery market. The chain currently controls one-fifth of the pizza delivery market in the UK and Ireland - a market it estimates will more than double by 2010 (though Nick Laws says he'll stick to Pizza Hut). Changing demographics and better online and digital technology are key factors driving up sales.

Couch potatoes watching the popular 'The Simpsons' cartoons on interactive television can already order a Domino's pizza during advertising breaks. All they need to do is press the little red button on their control and place their order. "We call this The Simpsons rush", explains Mr Dunese." Read More >>>

Hot off the heels of their Golden Globe nomination, The Simpsons has been nominated once again for an Annie Award from ASIFA-Hollywood, the International Animated Film Society. Our favorite family, "Disney's Kim Possible," "The Flintstones on the Rocks," "Futurama," and "Invader Zim" were all nominated for outstanding animated TV production. The Simpsons has received several Annie Awards over the years, so here's hoping for another. Read More >>>

"It's easy to accept Matt Groening is the kind of person who locks himself away in a room and creates life. Like the mad scientists of film, Groening certainly looks the part as he speaks passionately and protectively of the "family" he imagined, gave birth to with pen and paper and then unleashed on an unsuspecting world. But unlike the mad scientists, Groening has succeeded in taking over the planet with his creations.

In more than 60 countries, Groening's Simpson family is instantly recognised and loved. Their first-run cartoon series regularly wins its timeslot, repeats often do the same and phrases first uttered by these characters have entered the mainstream vernacular. It is a huge achievement for a cartoon, but one he attributes to an ideal he has always stuck with: to always look beyond the main characters and create an entire world for The Simpsons." Read More >>>

"The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean has revealled that you can expect at least two more years of the show. "They just closed a deal to do two more years," Jean says. "You get to do quality work. Here in Spain I see it on television. People love it. It's the best TV job I can think of. I just signed on to do another two or three years, depending on how long the show goes. I'd be happy to stick with it until the show goes off."

The Simpsons marks its 300th episode Feb. 16 with Bart learning that he was a baby star, and that Homer squandered his earnings. In another episode, Ned Flanders dates a movie star in a sendup of Notting Hill. Still another episode features David Byrne singing Homer's song about how he hates Ned." View Original Article >>>

The first nice surprise in this new year has been revealed, and it involves one of the oldest fan sites still standing. Yesterday Picks' Tribute to The Simpsons was given a fresh new look for the first time in more than a year. The design contains many new elements but also sticks with the same formula that made its previous layout so well-liked. Take a look!

"Homer Simpson has been kidnapped, uh, sort of. An inflatable 7-foot Homer dressed as Santa Claus was stolen last week from the front yard of a Harrison Township home and hasn't been found. 'It's irritating when you can't even put out a Christmas decoration without getting it stolen,' said homeowner Debbie Large.

'He shouldn't be too difficult to locate because he is lit up,' said her husband, David. 'He is very bright. You can see him a block away.' The depiction of the character from the hit television show, 'The Simpsons,' on the Fox network, was taken from their front yard on Hickory Street between 6 and 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23." Read More >>>

The Simpsons may have rocked with the Stones and Paul McCartney, but when show creator Matt Groening was tapped to organize the upcoming All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Los Angeles, his musical tastes proved more esoteric. Groening's initial list of bands for the latest in the ongoing series of underground music festivals includes: ... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, the Breeders, Wire, Yo La Tengo, the Fall, Neko Case and the Boredoms. The shows are slated for June 18 and 19 at UCLA's Royce Hall and June 20-22 at three other as-yet-unannounced venues. Also scheduled to perform are: the Bangs, Blonde Redhead, DJ Coldcut, the Danielson Famile, Melt-Banana, Jah Wobble and the Melvins. Read More >>>