Alec Baldwin, Kelsey Grammer, William H. Macy, Ricky Gervais, Terry Bradshaw, Lily Tomlin, Frances McDormand, former basketball great Dennis Rodman and Yankee pitcher Randy Johnson are among the upcoming guest voices on the Seventeenth season of The Simpsons. Homer gets some stiff competition from guest star Baldwin in the season premiere episode "Bonfire of the Manatees," Sunday, September 11. Marge, outraged after discovering Homer allowed Fat Tony to shoot an a "gentlemen's" film in their living room in compensation for his football gambling debt, flees, leaving Homer with the kids. While on her journey of self-discovery, Marge befriends Caleb Thorn (guest-voice Baldwin), an attractive marine biologist on a quest to save not only the endangered manatee, but Marge from a husband who doesn't seem to appreciate her.

Former athletes Terry Bradshaw and Dennis Rodman, playing themselves, stir up tricks and treats in the annual "ghoultide" Halloween trilogy, "The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror XVI," Sunday, November 6. Other upcoming guest voices include Michael York, boxer Joe Frazier, Kelsey Grammer returning as Sideshow Bob and – to the delight of Patty and Selma – Richard Dean Anderson. Later in the season, McDormand, Rob Reiner and famed Yankee pitcher Randy Johnson turn up to throw a curve ball.

Al Jean doesn't look like one of the funniest men on the planet. Nor does he assail his entourage with hilarious pop-culture observations, or compulsively cut those around him down to size with his rapier wit. Instead, the the man who as head writer has presided over 375 episodes of The Simpsons, arguably the funniest television programme ever made, requests a mineral water, sits down quietly and launches into a breathless spiel. "We just recorded the Ricky Gervais episode. He really wanted to do something where we satirised Wife Swap. It's a very funny episode." Jean, who is big and bluff-looking, resembling an outgrown 44-year-old college boy in a polo shirt and slacks, giggles at the thought. "Ricky was over to collect his Golden Globes for The Office. There are so many of our writers who are fans of his that we thought we'd throw a lunch for him. And he mentioned that he would be interested in writing an episode with us. Before we knew it, it was worldwide news."

Back in October 2004 we reported that Christina Aguilera was to appear in The Simpsons. Now that the episode in question, A Star Is Torn, has come and gone, we seem to have left that piece of news slip away from us, but what became of it? It has come to hand that Aguilera turned down the cameo after all. The sexy star was offered a part in the latest series of the show but snubbed the offer. Producers had wanted the singer to play an aspiring pop star competing in a parody of US TV talent show 'American Idol'. However, Christina, 24, rejected the part forcing producers to look elsewhere. A month later we reported that Fantasia Barrino had recorded the scenes, and now that the episode has been nominated for an emmy we're wondering if Aguilera is regretting her decision.

Details of Ricky Gervais's Simpsons episode have been gradually released but this article should give you a full rundown of the episode. The episode titled "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife" is set to air next season in the month of February. The episode will see Homer and Marge going on a 'Wife Swap' style reality show, but while Homer only enters it to win a widescreen television set. Charles, Gervais's character, is smitten by the raspy-voiced matriarch. He explains, "I play this bloke who works in an office and is downtrodden by his wife. She goes to live with the Simpsons and she thinks they're monsters. But Charles can't believe he's met someone like Marge and he falls in love with her. He tries to woo her with a love song." And fans of The Office won't be disappointed, Gervais promises there are elements of the irritating David Brent in his animated alter-ego.

British funnyman Ricky Gervais is prouder of writing an episode of animated comedy The Simpsons than winning a string of awards for his hit sitcom The Office. The 44-year-old was amazed when the cartoon's creator Matt Groening asked him to write a one-off script for the show, because it's been his lifelong ambition to contribute to the programme. And he insists the six BAFTAs and two Golden Globes he won for The Office are nothing compared to his work on The Simpsons episode, which features a character similar to his David Brent character, who tries to seduce animated mother Marge Simpson. He says, "My ambition was always to get a joke on The Simpsons, and here I am at the read-through sitting next to Homer. "I've won awards for The Office, written extras and written an episode of The Simpsons. But if there is one thing on your CV, make sure it's The Simpsons. That's what I'm really proud of."

Speaking via satellite tonight on Australian talk show Rove Live, Nancy Cartwright dropped some hints about a few upcoming projects including the Simpsons movie. In telling signs that the Season 7 DVD is well underway and may be out in time for Christmas, Cartwright said "We're recording Season 7 right now and Rob Reiner is over at the studio helping on the commentary for Bart Sells His Soul but they're gonna have to do it without me because I'm with Rove McManus." Cartwright remained tight lipped about the Simpsons movie despite having revealed a lot in previous interviews. "I've heard rumors of that, too. But I'm not supposed to talk about it. Yeah, you know, it's gonna happen, I'm pretty sure it's gonna happen. We'll just have to see." Sounds like somebody's told her to keep quiet after what she revealed last month, which gave us some of the most solid information on the movie so far. Cartwrights appearance on the show followed a two hour Simpsons marathon on Network Ten.

This month's issue of Simpsons Comics (#108) hits the streets on Wednesday, so make sure you pick up your copy early. In this edition, In an attempt to fend off the FBI, Mr. Burns frames Homer with his felonious offenses. A very short trial later, Homer finds himself in federal prison. There he meets a surprising number of friends and foes. In other Bongo news, Simpsons Classics #5 is out this month, in which Bart and Milhouse accidentally go on a fantastic voyage through Mr. Burns' enfeebled body, forcing Homer to go after them in a martini olive-shaped space capsule. Then, Bart turns Lisa's diary into to a tell-all book sensation.

Futurama's back! Voice actor for Matt Groening's late cartoon, Billy West (Fry, Zoidberg, Professor), revealed this weekend from San Diego's Comic Con International that a brand-new direct-to-video Futurama movie has been greenlit. Not only that, but there is also an option for a second movie as well. With the model established by Family Guy's return – where a direct-to-video movie eventually spawned the show's return to Fox primetime as well – could the much-missed Futurama also be on the way back to a set near you? We're sure Matt Groening and the gang would love to see themselves working back on Futurama in any shape or form, so this is definitely good news no matter what the decision could spawn in the future.

The Simpsons Top 100 has been redesigned, reformatted, and updated for your viewing. The owner has returned a form of simplicity to the site allowing ease of use and frequent updates. Gone are user ranked lists based on secondary factors like design; the site now offers one list of the 100 greatest Simpsons sites on the net and web news on the front page.

Some churchgoers are drawing lessons about prayer from an unlikely source: Bart Simpson. The irreverent fourth-grader was the focus of discussion recently at Pasadena Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. It was the second installment of the church's series "The Gospel of the Simpsons," which uses the satirical show as a catalyst for spiritual discussions. That day, an episode of the show, "Bart Gets An F," was projected onto a screen in the church sanctuary. After watching the episode the group of 18, several of them students, read a prayer from Psalms and the Lord's Prayer and compared them to Bart's prayer from the show. "He did have faith," said Janice MacMillan, 53, of Pasadena. "He said, 'Thank you in advance.' He believed." Bill Pixley, 63, of Pasadena said that Bart's prayer showed how people often want God to rescue them even though they don't deserve it. "We want someone to cover us even though we're guilty," he said.

The Simpsons has again been nominated for three emmy awards this year for three different episodes over a number of categories. For Animated Program (less than one hour) the episode Future Drama is up against Family Guy's North By North Quahog, South Park's Best Friends Forever, Samurai Jack, and Spongebob Squarepants. The other two nominations come thanks to composer Alf Clausen. For Music Composition (Dramatic Underscore) a piece from Treehouse Of Horror XV was picked, while for Music and Lyrics, he and writer Carolyn Omine pick up a nomination for the song 'Always My Dad' which won Lisa the Krusty's Lil' Starmaker contest in A Star Is Torn. These Emmy awards will be presented at the Creative Arts ceremony on September 11, which also acts as the season premiere for The Simpsons. Other Emmy's are presented an broadcast a week later on September 18. We'll let you know how they fare.

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane said an episode of The Simpsons where a Homer Simpson clone was identified as Peter Griffin was "definitely a slam." But since the Family Guy team dishes out plenty of its own insults, it should be able to take some, MacFarlane told Blender magazine. "To me, Peter is much more similar to Ralph Kramden than he is to Homer, right down to his voice," he said, referring to the character from The Honeymooners. "That's what I see. But because The Simpsons and Family Guy are really the only two shows of their kind of television, there'll be comparisons made." MacFarlane said he was definitely influenced by The Simpsons. "I mean, in its prime, it was one of the greatest comedy shows of all time," he said. "But it's not the show it was. It can't be. You can't do 16 seasons and be consistent."

• Fans of both The Simpsons and Family Guy should pick up this month's Blender magazine for more, including a verbal debate between websites The Simpsons Channel and The Drunken Clam over which television series reigns supreme.

Fox has confirmed a September premiere for Season 17. Last month we were told the season would begin on September 18, but they've changed it for the better, to September 11. This should allow them to screen more than two episodes before the Baseball playoffs begin in October. The confirmed date means that the episodes screening in September will be counted as official season seventeen episodes and not 'bonus viewings' bridging the two seasons. The show remains in its long standing 8:00pm slot, followed by the premieres of The War At Home, Family Guy, and American Dad. King Of The Hill will premiere a week later and Arrested Development has been moved to Mondays beginning September 19. It is unknown which episode will act as the season premiere at the moment but The Girl Who Slept Too Little would be a good bet as it was originally scheduled to be the Season 16 finale.

In last night's episode of Family Guy titled "8 Simple Rules For Buying My Teenage Daughter", Stewie took a jab at fans of The Simpsons as he ranted about his new babysitter's boyfriend. Stewie said "Now go back to the quad and resume your hackee sack tourney. I'm not gonna lie down for some frat boy bastard with his damn Teva sandals and his Skoal Bandits and his Abercrombie & Fitch long sleeved open stitched crewneck Henley smoking his sticky buds out of a soda can while watching his favorite downloaded Simpsons episodes every night. Yes we all love Mr. Plow. Oh, you've got the song memorized do you? So does everyone else! That is exactly the kind of idiot you see at Taco Bell at 1 in the morning. The guy who just whiffed his way down the bar skank ladder." There's been a running joke that the creators of The Simpsons and Family Guy do not get along well but this is the first time the show has been referenced in an episode. Peter Griffen appeared as a Homer clone in Season 14's Halloween special.

Ricky Gervais has spoken once again about his upcoming episode for the seventeenth season of The Simpsons. "I've only done two things this year: my own show and writing an episode of The Simpsons. That's it. But I suppose if there is one thing on your CV make sure it is that.' After he won his two Golden Globes Gervais was called in for an audience with Matt Groening and the 20 Simpsons writers - they all sat there quoting The Office to him. 'They asked me if I wanted to be in it? And I said: "What are the hours?" And then they said: "Why don't you write an episode?" No one had done that before. So I said yes, of course I would. And then I walked out and panicked a bit.' The episode, in which a Brent character tries to seduce Marge, will be out next March. 'My ambition was always to get a joke on The Simpsons, and here I am at the read-through sitting next to Homer.'"

San Diego prepares for its upcoming staging of Ron Hutchinson's behind-the-scenes of "Gone With The Wind" drama Moonlight and Magnolias starring Dan Castellaneta, voice of Homer Simpson. The show will perform in the Old Globe Theatre July 16-August 14. Castellaneta and director John Rando also collaborated in the same actor-director dynamic for last year's staging of Steve Martin's The Underpants. The new Hutchinson play recently played its New York debut at Manhattan Theatre Club's Off-Broadway space. Moonlight and Magnolias finds its setting in 1939 Hollywood as big-time movie producer David O. Selznick (Castellaneta) shuts down production on the epic movie "Gone With the Wind" and locks himself, screenwriter Ben Hecht and director Victor Fleming in his office to rewrite the script.

It's the one that has outwitted and outplayed just about all other shows - and that threatens to outlast them as well. "Survivor"? Be serious. It's "The Simpsons." My criteria were simple. The great American show has to embody the breadth and depth of who we are. And the shallowness. I considered "The Wire," David Simon's heroic attempt to show us the nuts, bolts, nit and grit of how a modern city works (or doesn't), and "Deadwood," David Milch's raunchy microcosm of how we civilized ourselves. I thought about "The Honeymooners," "All in the Family" and "Roseanne," our three great comedies about everyday working stiffs and our dreams. Worthy candidates all, but none of them has the scope and seeming inexhaustibility of Matt Groening's cartoon about a curiously yellow family and the town of Springfield, at once generic and unique, where they live and shop.

Homer has morphed into a lanky fellow and Marge's towering blue hair is brown and tastefully cropped. The event is a "table read," when the cast of The Simpsons gathers with a roomful of writers, producers, and guests and use their imaginations to conjure the animated family with the distinctive mustard hue. It is just one of the steps towards crafting an episode of this television phenomenon. The table read is held in a trailer at the 20th Century Fox studio in Los Angeles, where the series is produced. Actors, producers and writers sit at a huge table littered with water bottles and note pads. Invitation-only visitors ring the table. Noticably absent are the network executives who often haunt rehearsals for shows, but The Simpsons has a rare stipulation, won by executive producer James L. Brooks, limiting Fox executive meddling. "It's sort of the hottest ticket on the lot," says Yeardley Smith, who voices Lisa Simpson.