Highlights from "The Simpsons" at the Hollywood Bowl

I've attended many events at the Hollywood Bowl over the years, but none have been more consistently entertaining, or have meant more to me personally, than "The Simpsons Take the Bowl." Maria and I attended the event on Sunday -- the last of three consecutive nights of shows -- and had a blast. In honor of the show's 25th anniversary (it's actually heading into its 26th season this fall), the Bowl show was a fantastic celebration of all things "Simpsons," geared especially to the show's early, groundbreaking years. Hank Azaria (Moe, Prof. Frink, Apu) hosted the evening, which also included guest spots from Conan O'Brien, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Beverly D'Angelo, Jon Lovitz, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, and others. Fellow voice stars Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith also participated, while creator Matt Groening kicked things off. Several animated moments were also especially created for the show, which ended with a fireworks display. Some highlights:





The Simpsons try to find their seat at the Hollywood Bowl


By the power of Homer Simpson, the Hollywood sign is reimagined as his signature "D'oh" grunt.



Hollywood Bowl Orchestra principal conductor Thomas Wilkins takes to the stage, wearing a Homer helmet.


Matt Groening -- dubbed "the world's richest underground cartoonist" by evening host Hank Azaria, opens the show. He kicks things off by reading a few network notes from long ago, when the show first started. (In one, an exec suggests that Homer shouldn't say "Help me, Jeebus," but instead, "Help me, Jesus.")




Host Hank Azaria won the crowd over by voicing some of his classic characters, including Chief Wiggum. He also performed the song and dance number "Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart" as Apu. (His favorite voice, however, is Prof. Frink.)



Voice of Lisa, Yeardley Smith, was there, and also introduced Kipp Lennon -- the voiceover artist who mimicked Michael Jackson's singing voice in "Stark Raving Dad." Jackson voiced the character, but Lennon sang "Happy Birthday Lisa," which he did on stage on Sunday night.


"Weird Al" Yankovic ("He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life") performs the new parody "Homer and Marge," to "Jack and Diane," as well as "The Simpsons" theme on accordion.


Nancy Cartwright's Bart engages Hank Azaria's Moe in a signature "Simpsons" phone bit.


Conan O'Brien pays tribute to Phil Hartman and performs "Monorail," from the classic episode he wrote.



Composer Hans Zimmer leads the orchestra as the perform the score to the Oscar-winning short "The Longest Daycare." Later, he also conducted the orchestra and the LA Gay Men's Choir in the "Stonecutters Song."


Beverly D'Angelo, as country singer Lurleen Lumpkin, sings "Bagged Me A Homer."


Jon Lovitz performs "Chimpan A to Chimpan Z"


A tribute of all the Fox entertainment presidents who have held the job during "The Simpsons" run, predicts that Gary Newman and Dana Walden will keep the job through 2021.






Fireworks!



For the big finish, Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart) leads us in a rendition of "Do The Bartman."

Earlier in the evening, outside the Bowl:


Marge!


Fan with Lisa and Bart


The three-eyed radioactive fish!


"Why are you stack parking yourself? Why are you stack parking yourself?"


Kent Brockman with some disturbing news.

"The Simpsons" returns on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 8/7c on Fox with "Clown in the Dumps," in which a Springfield resident dies.

Scenes from "The Simpsons Movie" Premiere and After Party

Marge's hair looms over the Fox Westwood Village Theatre, where "The Simpsons Movie" premiered on Tuesday night.

Finally -- 18 years after "The Simpsons" bowed in 1989 (I'd been a fan since first seeing the shorts on "The Tracy Ullman Show") -- there I was Tuesday night, enjoying the long-awaited "The Simpsons Movie" in a crowd that included the voice actors, Matt Groening, exec producers like James L. Brooks and Al Jean, execs like Peter Chernin, producers extraordinaire like Brian Grazer, writers like Judd Apatow, and more.

Security was tight: Those who weren't able to sneak their phones in the door (and there were a lot who pulled off this feat) had to check them in. I was standing behind Brian Grazer, who, with Blackberry in hand, was trying to figure out where to go.

I brought along my friend Tony, who writes for "King of the Hill" (animation fight!) and we plopped down in the front row balcony. Premieres never start on time, and this one finally got going about 40 mins. after its 7:30 start time.

Then, the movie. What a fun ride. Some of the story points are semi-familiar (after 400 episodes, how could they not be?). But finding a big enough story to make it worthy of a "Simpsons Movie" couldn't have been easy -- and yet, the writers pulled it off. The jokes are on-target and the animation is beautiful. The action focuses mostly on the family -- so although all of your favorite characters are there, few of them play major roles. (Good parts for Flanders and Comic Book Guy, however.)

Afterward, the party at the Wadsworth Theatre (on the VA grounds in Brentwood) was big enough that it never felt crowded. Food was on the not-so-healthy side (Mac and cheese, pot roast, tacos, etc.) -- but what else would you expect from the Simpsons. Celebs sighted included Joe Mantegna (who voices Fat Tony), Fred Willard, Michelle Kwan, B.J. Novak ("The Office"), Rex Lee ("Entourage"), Masi Oka ("Heroes"), Nancy Cartwight (voice of Bart)...

And yes, there were donuts. Some pics:


Homer's head, meanwhile, hung over the Bruin, where "The Simpsons Movie" was also screening.


The Duff Beer blimp flies over the yellow carpet festivities.


A gospel chorus sings "Spider-Pig." (See the movie -- you'll understand.)


"Marge-a-rita," anyone?


Dancing Lisa and Marge silhouettes.


Bart's chalkboard gag.


Bartenders pour drinks inside a massive fake donut.


"Simpsons"-style donuts: Pink frosting on Krispy Kremes. A sugar explosion. I'm still bouncing off walls.


Fried Candy Bars. Mmmmm.... grease!


Fried Milky Way. I tried a few bites, but it was a little too doughy and the Milky Way wasn't melted enough. Yes, I should probably throw up now from all the junk I ate last night.

Thanks to 20th Century Fox Film's Chris Petrikin for squeezing a couple TV guys into the screening and shindig.