Talking Simpsons

We were saddened to hear about the passing of Simpsons writer Dan McGrath, who wrote the episodes "Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood" and "Bart of Darkness," and also co-wrote the Treehouse of Horror Segments "The Devil and Homer Simpson" and "Time & Punishment." Back in August of 2018, we were able to interview Dan, and because this podcast has never been available outside of our Patreon, we've decided to make it free for all to hear. So listen in, and celebrate the life of Dan McGrath: a writer who brought so much to The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Mission Hill, and more.

"Homer, please; don't tempt the gods! I mean GOD—there's one god! Only one. Well, sometimes there's three..." - Ned Flanders Broadcast season 16 begins with three spooky tales that probably should have aired less than a week after Halloween. Ned Flanders receives deadly premonitions, Lisa becomes a Victorian-era detective, and the entire family takes a fantastic voyage into the withered body of Mr. Burns. All this, and two uses of the Perfect Strangers theme? Let the commencement begin-ulate! Our guest: Merritt K from 1-900-HOTDOG Support this podcast and get over 200 ad-free bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod, not to mention Bluesky and Instagram!

September 19, 1994: a day that will live in... Wait, what's the opposite of infamy? 31 years ago, the lives of Simpsons fans changed forever when their favorite show went from a weekly thing to a twice-daily thing thanks to the power of syndication. In this week's format-breaking podcast, we take a look at the programming package that made a certain era of The Simpsons a second language for TV-addicted latchkey kids. Our guests: Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher from Found Footage Fest Support this podcast and get over 200 ad-free bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod, not to mention Bluesky and Instagram!

We've reached the end of the month, which means it's time for another episode of our community podcast! With this episode, we welcome you to the beginning of constant, round-the-clock coverage of The Simpsons Movie sequel; it's coming, and you're going to be hearing about it for the next 20 months. After dishing dirt on Hollyweird, we discuss the beginning of broadcast season 37—including the latest Treehouse of Horror—and the all-but-confirmed rumors of Simpsons characters appearing in Fortnite. And, as always, we read and respond to your comments and questions from the last round of episodes. It's all happening on Talk to the Audience: the entertainment property that doesn't make you wait two decades between installments! Support this podcast and get over 200 ad-free bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod, not to mention Bluesky and Instagram!

"Marge, look at me. We've been separated for a day, and I'm as dirty as a Frenchman. In another few hours I'll be dead. I can't afford to lose your trust again!" - Homer Simpson To regain some confidence and overcome his supposed slowness, Homer takes on a new part-time job teaching a class on marriage at the Springfield Adult Education Annex. But this place of learning soon becomes a house of hearing about things when he starts revealing secrets about Marge to capture the attention of his students. Our guest: Wife of the show, Nina Matsumoto Support this podcast and get over 200 ad-free bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod, not to mention Bluesky and Instagram!

In a battle for media control, Mr. Burns attempts to buy every outlet in Springfield except for Lisa's independent press. The hosts explore themes of propaganda and media consolidation while highlighting Lisa's determination to stand against Burns' intimidation tactics. With humor reminiscent of Ren & Stimpy, they dive into nostalgic references to mimeographs and critique the absurdity of child-as-adult humor. Ultimately, the episode showcases the power of independent voices amid a landscape dominated by corporate conglomerates.

"You know, you remind me of a poem I can't remember, and a song that may never have existed, and a place I'm not sure I've ever been to..." - Abe Simpson Marge plays matchmaker and forges a love connection between her mother and Abe Simpson, despite Homer's protests that this pairing will make their children retroactively inbred. But their cozy senior romance takes a turn for the worse when Mr. Burns enters the picture and sweeps Jackie off her feet with his incredible dancing and kissing skills. Listen in, for each Talking Simpsons could be your last! Our guest: Toby Jones, writer and director of AJ Goes to the Dog Park Support this podcast and get over 200 ad-free bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod, not to mention Bluesky and Instagram!

Brendan James, co-host of the Blowback podcast, dives into the political intricacies of 'Bart-Mangled Banner.' The discussion explores how the episode reflects post-9/11 America, with cautious critiques of the Bush administration. They touch on the unique reluctance of The Simpsons to name names and the media's overreaction to patriotism fears. Brendan highlights parallels to the Iraq War and Abu Ghraib controversies, while humorously dissecting moments like Apu's hyper-patriotism and Marge's media fallout, making it a thought-provoking commentary on satire and public sentiment.

We've reached the beginning of the month, which means it's time for another episode of our community podcast! Because Henry is on assignment/vacation in L.A./Japan for the next few weeks, Wife of the Show Nina Matsumoto joins Talk to the Audience to discuss the few scraps of news available before season 37's long-awaited premiere. And, as always, we read and respond to your comments and questions from the last round of episodes. It's all happening on Talk to the Audience: one podcast you're not going to SCREW WITH!

"I know you can read my thoughts, Bart. Just a little reminder: if I find out you cut class, your ass is mine. Yes, you heard me. I think words I would never say." - Seymour Skinner When Bart plays hooky and witnesses what results in Springfield's trial of the century, he finds himself up to his neck in hot chowder. Or is it chowdah? Whatever the case, if you don't listen for our sake, do it for McGarnigal. Our guest: Jordan Morris from the Free With Ads and Jordan, Jesse, Go! podcasts Support this podcast and get over 200 ad-free bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod, not to mention Bluesky and Instagram!