After the Disney/Fox merger was finalized a few months ago, one of the biggest questions I had was whether the newly acquired Fox properties would be making an appearance at Disney’s D23 Expo later this summer.
While we will still have to wait for announcements on whether Fox film properties will make an appearance (I’m looking at you Aliens and Planet of the Apes), we do have confirmation of at least one hit TV show making its convention debut.
The longest-running primetime scripted show in television history, The Simpsons, makes its first appearance at the D23 Disney Expo in August. Fans will get insight on the upcoming all-new season in a lively panel Saturday August 24th at 10 a.m. in the D23 Expo Arena with Creator Matt Groening, Executive Producer Al Jean, Executive Producer Matt Selman, Supervising Director Mike B. Anderson, and stars Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith. Expect lots of surprises, including an exclusive Simpsons collectible item for everyone in attendance.
The Simpsons exploded into a cultural phenomenon in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world. Recently finishing its historic 30th season, The Simpsons has won 33 Emmy Awards, 34 Annie Awards, 9 Environmental Media Awards, 7 People’s Choice Awards and 12 Writers Guild of America Awards including the 2019 Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program Award. It was the first animated series to win a Peabody Award and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2012 for the theatrical short “The Longest Daycare.” The Simpsons Movie was a hit feature film, the mega-attraction The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios has received historic expansion updates with the addition of “Springfield,” and the show was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000. It has been named the “Best Show of the 20th Century” by Timemagazine and called the “Best TV Show Ever” by Vulture in 2016.
During the D23 Expo, The Simpsons fans will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with Bart, Lisa, and the rest of The Simpsons family on the convention floor. A few lucky fans will even get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Matt Groening and the rest of the panelists during a one-hour autograph signing session of an exclusive The Simpsons mini-poster following the panel.
This sounds fantastic BUT like all big conventions like D23 and San Diego Comic Con, big panels are scheduled against each other and tough choices need to be made. The Simpsons panel is counter-programmed against the biggest panel of the entire weekend–the Disney films panel–where Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Studios, Pixar, and Walt Disney Animation Studios will reveal their upcoming film slate for the next two years, complete with clips, surprise celebrity guests, musical performances, and big announcements. This automatically and unfortunately makes The Simpsons panel the “consolation prize panel #1″. D’oh! Hopefully this panel will be recorded and posted online somewhere.
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