By Andreas Trolf
Wired.com guest blogger
Gonzo filmmaker Morgan Spurlock tries his hand at bright yellow journalism when he tackles the cult of The Simpsons in an hour-long special early next year.
The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special: In 3-D! One Ice!, which airs Jan. 10 on Fox, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative team behind the universally beloved animated series. It also introduces several superfans who can't get enough of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. One featured British fan has collected 30,000 pieces of Simpsons memorabilia.
Spurlock, the director who made it big – really big – by documenting a 30-day McDonald's binge in his 2004 movie Super Size Me, brings a healthy respect for The Simpsons as he maps the show's massive influence.
"What an impact it's had on popular culture," Spurlock said Thursday during a conference call with journalists. The Simpsons has "transcended generations," he said, and even as it nears its 450th episode after two decades on the airwaves, it's "breeding incredibly smart and smart-aleck kids."
Raised on BBC comedies like Monty Python's Flying Circus and Black Adder, Spurlock says he felt an affinity for The Simpsons from the very first episode, which he said "felt like a British show."
"It made people laugh and made people think from the very beginning," he said. "[They] treated you like somebody who pays attention."
Spurlock credits the show's success to the "unsung heroes working behind the scenes," and calls out former Simpsons writer Conan O'Brien, former executive producer Mike Scully and current executive producer Al Jean as his favorites. These are the folks, he claims, that the fans want to see.
In addition to the writers and producers, Spurlock heaped praise on the show's legion of guest stars. In particular, DJ/musician Moby, who devotes spare time to writing remixes of Barney Gumble and Linda Ronstadt's "Mr. Plow" jingle, according to Spurlock. Several of the show's noteworthy guest stars will be featured in the special, including John Waters, Sting and Jerry Springer.
"Who better to talk about a dysfunctional family," Spurlock said, "than Jerry Springer?"
When asked why he was chosen to direct the special and whether he identified with Simpsons creator Matt Groening, Spurlock said that the two "shared cynicism," which was maybe a poor choice of words.
Better, perhaps, was his assertion that they had in common a "distrust of the world" – an outlook that combines the best qualities of the cynic with the hopefulness of an idealist (a mix The Simpsons has always seemed to evoke).
The show, as much as it has been attacked by conservative idealogues over the years, is as much a celebration of humanity as it is a send-up.
As Spurlock discussed the show's global impact, he pointed to the real-world effect that even a small fictional character can have. Case in point: There's a fierce Scottish rivalry raging between Glasgow and Aberdeen over which city can claim the distinct honor of being the birthplace of Groundskeeper Willie.
My vote goes to Aberdeen, since Homer himself has been heard to proclaim that "Aberdeen rules!"
See Also:
- Scavenger Hunt, Family Values Fuel Simpsons' 20th Year
- Simpsons Still Haunts After 2 Decades of 'Treehouse of Horror'
- The Simpsons Mock Cult of Apple
- New Season of The Simpsons Promises Stars, Satire, Obama
- Woo-hoo! Simpsons' Krusty Gets His Own Roller Coasters
- Simpsons 20th Anniversary Continues With Stamps, Couch Gags
