Simpsons movie

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mmmmmm....mmovieeee!!

PART 1 INTERVIEW: Producer Mike Reiss

talks "Simpsons" DVD and Movie!

POSTED ON 02/10/04 AT 12:30 A.M.

BY THOMAS CHAU

By Lisa Zlotnick and Thomas Chau

DVDFanatic.com was able to chat with one of the producers and veteran writers of “The Simpsons,” Mike Reiss, and he gave us a scoop on the next “Simpsons” DVD and confirmed rumors about “The Simpsons” movie. We even have a speculated release date! Read below for some great news on one of the best shows on the networks and be sure to check out Part 2 tomorrow where we talk about the recently released "The Critic" DVD, which has been selling extremely well.

DVDFanatic.com (Tom Chau): Are you currently working on the next season’s “Simpsons” DVD?

Mike Reiss: Yes I am. In fact, it’s funny, I’m going in, in a couple hours to do more commentary and Jon Lovitz will be there. We could not get Jon Lovitz, he just wasn’t available to do “The Critic” commentary and he’s in town so he’ll be doing some “Simpsons” commentary on the episodes he appeared in.

DVDFanatic.com: Is there anything new on “The Simpsons” DVD this time around that you can let us in on?

Mike: You know, I own these DVDs, I comment on them but I never watch any of them! I don’t know what bonus material they have but they always seem to deliver. They take these DVDs very seriously so there is certainly a lot of commentary. There is commentary on every episode and we’re getting the cast in more to do commentary so that’s something.

DVDFanatic.com: How involved with “The Simpsons” are you nowadays? Have you started working on "The Simpsons" movie yet?

Mike: My partner, Al Jean is running the show. He’s the boss and I just come in a day a week as a consultant. I come in every Tuesday and just help and put in my two cents. Al and I and five other veteran writers of the show are currently writing “The Simpsons” movie.

DVDFanatic.com: What can you tell us about the movie? We’ve heard that there was supposed to be a "Simpsons" movie for the past several years but you don’t want to just simply put three episodes together, so how are you creating something new that’s not been done before?

Mike: That’s been the biggest challenge. They’ve wanted to do this since season two. It’s been 13 years of wanting to do “The Simpsons” Movie. Finally FOX said, “Let’s just do it!” We never had the greatest idea that was compelling but FOX said, “Maybe if we start paying you, you’ll get inspired.” And sure enough it worked! We’ve got a very good and interesting idea and it’s different from the show. You know, it’s like the “South Park” movie where it’s just a bigger, longer, amplified version of the show. I can’t tell you anything specific about it. My wife doesn’t even know the secret.

DVDFanatic.com: When do you think “The Simpsons” movie will come out?

Mike: I will say two years from this summer. I think it’s going to be Summer 2006 or maybe Christmas 2006. It’s a reality after being just sort of this phantom idea. I think it is really gonna happen.

DVDFanatic.com: How long do you think “The Simpsons” will run for on T.V.?

Mike: I think there’s no end in sight. I have to give credit to Al who went back to the show. I feel he rejuvenated it. It might have gotten a little tired but there’s a lot of fresh blood in the show. We’re writing next year’s episodes already and it looks good. There’s plenty of juice left in it. I think “The Simpsons” conceivably, if they run it right, could run like SNL, where it just runs and runs and runs and keeps refreshing and rejuvenating itself.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our interview with Mike Reiss, where we talk about the recently released "The Critic: The Complete Series" on DVD

http://www.dvdfanatic.com/news.php?id=0402101