DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
 
 
 
Homer Simpson Will Go Live Sunday to Answer Viewer Questions
May 14, 2016  | By David Hinckley  | 392 comments
 

Seeing three minutes of Homer Simpson on a Simpsons show might not seem like a big deal if the three minutes he’s doing this Sunday (5/15) weren’t going to be live.

Yup, that’s the plan. For the last three minutes of Sunday’s 8 p.m. ET telecast, Homer will be answering viewer questions in real time.

Woo hoo!

The decision to have Homer go live stemmed from the plotline of the show, executive producer Al Jean told TV writers Monday.

After bungling a speech to his coworkers, Homer decides to polish his skills by doing improv comedy. His three live minutes are life imitating art, with his improv answers designed to flow out of the prerecorded material.

It helps, Jean noted, that Dan Castellaneta (below), the long-time voice of Homer, “does improv all the time. … He’s terrific at it.”

Castellaneta will do separate versions for the East and West Coast feeds of the show, and Jean says the producers “will pick the funnier one” for media reruns. The other will be made available later, probably online.

To get in on the action, viewers can start calling 888-726-6660 a half hour early. They will propose questions and the show’s writers will pick the most promising candidates.

“There are just a few rules,” says Jean. “You have to be over 18. And the question can’t be about Dan. It has to be for Homer.”

Castellaneta has done a few trial run-throughs, and “the first two,” Jean said, “were a little rough, which you expect from a rehearsal. Then we kind of got the phone lines down smoothly.”

That doesn’t mean it will sound slick. This is Homer, after all.

“If Dan is [trying to] find an answer as Homer it’s almost funnier than having an answer,” said Jean. “The way he stumbles over words and gets to something and you never see where he’s going, it’s great.”

Castellaneta has prepped only in broad areas. “Obviously, we’ve talked about what people might be likely to ask,” Jean said, “like what the heck, are people voting for Donald Trump?”

Purely from a TV production perspective, a comedian doing a couple of minutes of improv Q&A isn’t nearly as impressive as creating live, on-the-fly animation.

The process by which this can be done, said Jean, is called “motion capture” and was only honed to its present level over the last couple of years.

“It was in existence actually as long ago as 2000,” he said. “We considered doing a ‘live’ appearance by Homer on The Tonight Show in 2007 to promote The Simpsons movie, but what we saw didn’t seem to have smooth enough animation.

“Now it’s advanced to the point where we think we can do three minutes.”

Castellaneta will be in a booth speaking into a micro

phone, and Jean said, “He’s not hooked up by electrodes or anything. His motions are captured and translated into Homer’s moves, which will then appear in the animation. It will look like the normal show.

“We have background animation that’s been pre-animated with several jokes but everything Homer does, the center of it, is live.”

It’s a production departure, since Simpsons episodes ordinarily are produced six months in advance or more.

But it’s not quite working without a net. A backup three minutes has been filmed in case something catastrophic like a zombie apocalypse renders the studio unusable.

Jean is optimistic that won’t happen.

“I’m very lucky,” he said, “to be on a show where nothing’s really gone wrong for 27 years.”

 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
KCWTO
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 20  | Go to page: 
392 Comments
 
 
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely great. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful website.
Aug 26, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely great. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful website.
Aug 25, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely great. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful website.
Aug 24, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely great. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful website.
Aug 23, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
salsapela
https://www.quransheikh.com/quran-recitation/
Aug 23, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely great. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful website.
Aug 19, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
For someone like me who vapes a lot, the Hayati Pro Ultra 25000 Puffs is a blessing. It saves me from constantly switching devices or charging batteries. The flavor is smooth, the vapor is satisfying, and it genuinely lasts as long as advertised. Definitely worth buying.
Aug 14, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
I was searching for a fresh gaming platform and stumbled upon Alano Lucky official link. The sign-up was quick, the bonuses were surprisingly generous, and the game collection kept me hooked for hours. It’s refreshing to find a site that combines smooth performance with fair play.
Aug 12, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
ruth jones net worth
Find Full Celebrity Biographies and Interesting Facts About Famous Figures at CelebrityBio UK
Aug 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
ruth jones net worth
Find Full Celebrity Biographies and Interesting Facts About Famous Figures at CelebrityBio UK
Aug 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. This is very nice one and gives indepth information. Thanks for this nice article.
Aug 9, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Luck 57 is a fantastic game that mixes luck and strategy in a fun way. The app runs smoothly and offers lots of bonuses that keep the gameplay exciting. I appreciate how easy it is to use, even for new players. It’s a great choice if you want to enjoy quick games with chances to win big.
Aug 8, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
3 Patti Crown offers an exciting card game experience with a modern twist. The gameplay is smooth, and the interface is easy to navigate, making it enjoyable for both beginners and experienced players. I especially like the daily bonuses and tournaments that add extra fun and competition. It’s definitely one of the best options if you love classic card games with a competitive edge.
Aug 8, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
I really enjoy playing 3 Patti Ludo because it combines the thrill of cards with the fun of classic board gameplay. The game is easy to understand, and the graphics are smooth. Plus, there are great bonuses that make every session more exciting. It’s a perfect way to relax and challenge friends online.
Aug 8, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
jjlsh;sf;sf'sfs;ddf;sfs
Aug 8, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
wfsfsdf
https://3patiludoo.org
Aug 8, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Precast construction is a unique and amazing construction technique in today's competitive market. Get your dream construction done with the fastest and low cost construction style.
Aug 6, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
I am usually to blogging and i genuinely appreciate your content regularly. This content has truly peaks my interest. I will bookmark your web site and maintain checking achievable details.
Aug 5, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Momen “kejutan naga” jadi topik hangat di komunitas gamer. Naga Hitam kini jadi bahan perbincangan utama karena banyak yang berhasil menang besar. Game ini kembali naik pamor di kalangan pecinta slot malam.
Aug 4, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Ibtasam
Funny how even animated characters like Homer deal with everyday problems—if only he had a tool like this tree removal price calculator: https://treeremovalcostcalculator.net/how-deep-are-palm-tree-roots/ when that giant oak fell in the backyard! Tools like that make it much easier for homeowners to estimate costs.
Aug 3, 2025   |  Reply
 
Hey, Ibtsasam ! thanks for sharing this amazing tool.
Aug 3, 2025
 
 
Hi, i just tried the tree removal cost calculator you mentioned in the commensts. It's really amazing now i can easily estimate tree removing prices.
Aug 3, 2025
 
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 20  | Go to page: