'Simpsons' draws 'em

July 30, 2007

TV's favorite animated family, "The Simpsons," already has a hit movie that took in an estimated $71.85 million over the weekend, a video game on the way, a new theme-park ride, and the title of America's longest-running sitcom. So what's next? Plenty, according to creator Matt Groening and his team of writers, who spoke to a crowd of more than 6,500 fans at the Comic-Con entertainment expo over the weekend. Fans can expect the return of Sideshow Bob, with guest stars John Mahoney as his father and David Hyde Pierce as his brother, said head writer Al Jean. Sideshow Bob will also be part of the new Simpsons ride, set to open in spring 2008 at Universal Studios in Orlando and Universal City, Calif. A new comic-book store will be coming to Springfield, said "Simpsons" writer-producer Matt Selman. The shop owner will be voiced by Jack Black, with guest stars including Art Spiegelman, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Maus," and "recluse wizard genius" Alan Moore, the writer behind "V for Vendetta" and "Watchmen." Springfield will also become the unlikely site of the first presidential primary in the nation, said writer-producer Michael Price. Jon Stewart and "another giant 'Simpsons' nerd, Dan Rather," lend their voices to the candidates. Springfield residents, tired of the politicking, submit a protest vote. "They decide to write in the most ridiculous, insane, stupid protest candidate they can think of, which is Ralph Wiggum," Price said. (AP)

A scene from Bobby and Peter Farrelly's movie "The Heartbreak Kid," in which Ben Stiller's character gets slapped by his S&M-loving wife, played by Malin Ackerman, while they are in bed was deemed too racy for the kiddos attending the Comic-Con festival, which ended yesterday in San Diego. The Los Angeles Times reported the scene from the remake of the 1972 flick was dropped from the show because it is trying to attract bigger family audiences. (NY Post)

Steve Martin (inset) married girlfriend Anne Stringfield during a ceremony at his Los Angeles home, his publicist said. Former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey, a friend of Martin's, presided over Saturday's ceremony, Alan Nierob said. "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels was Martin's best man. Most of the roughly 75 guests -- who included Tom Hanks, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Carl Reiner, and Ricky Jay -- were not told that he and Stringfield would wed when they were invited to his home for a "party," Nierob said. Martin, 61, was previously married to actress Victoria Tennant. (AP)

Saturday's canceled wedding of Usher and Tameka Foster -- who is due to have the couple's baby this fall -- was the result of the past few bumpy days for the couple, a source tells People. At issue were family matters and the event itself. "Usher's mother [and former manager, Jonetta Patton, whom he fired in May] is against the wedding. That is one of the main obstacles," according to the source, who also said of the bride, 37, and groom, 28: "They only decided two weeks ago to have a wedding. They wanted to have it take place before the baby bump started showing." The New York Post said Usher's godfather, Broadway star Ben Vereen, had been removed from the guest list because of his view toward Foster, and that Usher's mother had not been invited to begin with. (People.com)