Synopsis
Reporter John Ortved provides a terrifically entertaining and informative oral biography of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie Simpson, not to mention Grandpa, Patty and Selma, Santa's Little Helper, Flanders, Apu and Manjula, Principal Skinner, Chief Wiggum, Mr. Burns, Smithers, Barney, Moe, Milhouse, Nelson, Krusty, Sideshow Bob, Troy McClure, Mayor Quimby, Hans Moleman, Disco Stu, Comic Book Guy, Rainer Wolfcastle, the Sea Captain, the Capital City Goofball and all of the other residents of Springfield, ?. Using dozens of interviews with writers, producers, actors, and fans of the show, including Conan O'Brien, Brad Bird, Hank Azaria, and Rupert Murdoch, Ortved charts the amazing evolution of THE SIMPSONS, from its genesis as a spontaneous napkin drawing by creator Matt Groening to its historic place as the longest-running sitcom in television history.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 2009-10-13 |
| Size | | Length: | 332 pages | | Height: | 9.0 in | | Width: | 6.0 in | | Thickness: | 1.0 in | | Weight: | 19.2 oz |
Publisher's Note
An unstinting behind-the-scenes history of the popular animated series traces its rise from an animated short on The Tracy Ullman Show to a mainstream institution while exposing alleged clashes between its studio executives and creative producers. 60,000 first printing.
Industry Reviews
"[T]he testimony about the [Simpsons] empire [that Matt] Groening created is contentious and mesmerizing....[Y]ou have to admire all the work that went into this unauthorized history. It's the labor of a disenchanted fan, but a smart, loving fan nonetheless."
(10/23/2009)
"Ortved's 'uncensored, unauthorized' history...is as tasty as a pink-glazed donut with sprinkles, as refreshing as a Duff beer and as piquant as a curry slushy from Kwik-E Mart."
(11/08/2009)
"The shoddy fact-checking may only trip the alarms of hardcore fans, but even casual readers may be put off by the book's redundancy....Lucky for Ortved, the material saves him, because the show is such a force (even in its twilight) that insight into its routines and eccentric personalities can't help but fascinate. As The Simpsons celebrates its 20th anniversary, it's still good to get a peek--however flawed--behind the curtain."
(11/12/2009)
| See an error? Submit a change request |
All rights reserved.
