Alt.tv.simpsons 673353 215263860 2008-05-27T12:56:02Z Rockfang 5403270 clean up, Replaced: {{FootnotesSmall|resize=92%}} → {{reflist}} using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{lowercase|title=alt.tv.simpsons}}<!--Do NOT add a linebreak here please--> '''alt.tv.simpsons''' (called "a.t.s." by regular readers) is a [[usenet]] [[newsgroup]] dedicated to discussing the [[United States|American]] [[television]] program, ''[[The Simpsons]]''. The newsgroup achieved notoriety when its existence was alluded to on the program itself in the episode ''[[Radioactive Man (The Simpsons episode)|Radioactive Man]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Turner |first=Chris |authorlink= |title=Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation |publisher=[[De Capo Press]] |date=2005 |pages=282-283 |isbn=030681448X}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Tossell |first=Ivor |title=Worst. Column. Ever. |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070726.wgtweb27/BNStory/ |publisher=''Globe and Mail'' |date=2007-08-02 |accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref> == History == The newsgroup was created by Gary D. Duzan during the third week of March [[1990]], four months after the first airing of a regular episode of the program, which was the Christmas special that aired on [[December 17]], [[1989]]. The comments of alt.tv.simpsons have been extensively quoted or cited in the writings of mass media commentators. This has led to times where relations between writers and viewers have become strained. In one infamous case, writer [[Ian Maxtone-Graham]] made notorious comments about the fans on the internet, calling them "beetle-browed" and saying that he had barely seen the show before he was hired to write for it, in an interview with ''[[The Independent]]''.<ref name="theindependent">{{cite web | title=Behind Every Homer Is a Very Tall Man | work=[[The Independent]] | url=http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/ian.html | last=O'Sullivan | first=Charlotte | date=[[1998-06-22]] | accessdate=March 30 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> Writer [[Bill Oakley]] used to respond to select ''Simpsons'' fans through e-mail in a friendly manner,<ref name="salon">{{cite web | title=Worst episode ever | work=[[Salon.com]] | url=http://archive.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2000/01/24/simpsons/ | last=Weinman | first=Jaime J. | date=[[2000-01-24]] | accessdate=March 30 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> but by [[1996]] claimed "[t]here are people who take it seriously to the point of absurdity".<ref name="timeout">{{cite web | title=Family Fortunes | work=[[Time Out]] | url=http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/oakley.silverman.html | last=Davies | first=Laura Lee | date=[[1996-09-25]] | accessdate=March 30 | accessyear=2007}}</ref><ref>Since [[2005]], Oakley occasionally posts - albeit rarely - on the [[NoHomers.net]] message board.</ref> ''Simpsons'' voice cast members [[Harry Shearer]] and [[Yeardley Smith]] have posted to a.t.s, and in a [[1994]] ''[[Life in Hell]]'' cartoon [[Matt Groening]] implied that he read the newsgroup.<ref name="groening">{{Comic strip reference | cartoonist=Groening, Matt | strip=[[Life in Hell]] | date=[[October 28]], [[1994]] | syndicate=Acme Features Syndicate}}</ref><ref name="simpsonsarchive1">{{cite web | title=Sideshow Bob Roberts | work=[[The Simpsons Archive]] | url=http://www.snpp.com/episodes/2F02.html | last=Cherry | first=James A. | date=[[1995-12-12]] | accessdate=July 8 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> Also, former executive producer [[Mike Scully]] posted on the newsgroup in [[1998]] anonymously. On the [[DVD]] commentaries to the Simpsons, the directors and writers also mention the effect that the newsgroup had on them. This has made alt.tv.simpsons one of the first newsgroups to ever give rise to communication between a television program's fanbase and its producers. Within the series, the character [[Comic Book Guy]] is often used to represent a stereotypical inhabitant of alt.tv.simpsons. Shortly after some readers began declaring certain new Simpsons shows to be the "worst episode ever," the Comic Book Guy began using that as his catchphrase. In addition, the episode "[[The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]" is largely seen as a satire of the "hardcore fans" that make up the newsgroup.<ref name="simpsonsarchive2">{{cite web | title=The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show | work=[[The Simpsons Archive]] | url=http://www.snpp.com/episodes/4F12.html | last=Briere | first=Frederic | date=[[1997-09-21]] | accessdate=March 30 | accessyear=2007}}</ref><ref name="salon"/> == Episode capsules == The newsgroup grew rapidly, serving readers who missed new episodes or who live overseas with 'episode capsules.' Started by [[Raymond Chen]]<ref name="earlyyears">{{cite web | title=A HISTORY OF ALT.TV.SIMPSONS: THE EARLY YEARS... | url=http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.tv.simpsons/browse_thread/thread/841968cbe281808f | last=Hall | first=Dave | date=[[1999-08-01]] | accessdate=July 30 | accessyear=2007}}</ref>, but quickly becoming a labor of love for a large group of volunteers, the capsules include episode transcripts, as well as observations, reviews, and other comments. Episode capsules include explanations of culture-specific jokes for the benefit of viewers outside of [[North America]]. Lists of references to previous episodes and other elements of [[popular culture]] are also common. The capsules are stored and maintained on the newsgroup's website, ''[http://www.snpp.com The Simpsons Archive]'', the most comprehensive archive of ''Simpsons'' information on the Internet. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=alt.tv.simpsons alt.tv.simpsons] on [[Google]] Groups. *[http://www.snpp.com The Simpsons Archive] *[http://archive.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2000/01/24/simpsons/index.html ''Salon'' article about alt.tv.simpsons] *[http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=451131 Worst episode ever@][[Everything2.com]] *[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.simpsons/msg/44d7c1808394313f?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22worst+episode+ever] The original post that mentions "worst episode ever", on Google Groups. [[Category:The Simpsons]] [[Category:Newsgroups]]