Fox News vs. Fox TV (Simpsons' Content)
 

Fox nearly sued itself over 'Simpsons' parody: Matt Groening

NEW YORK (AFP) - Rupert Murdoch's Fox News Channel threatened to sue the makers of "The Simpsons" over a parody of the channel's right-wing political stance, the creator of the hit US television show has claimed.


In an interview this week with National Public Radio, Matt Groening recalled how the news channel had considered legal action, despite the fact that "The Simpsons" is broadcast on sister network, Fox Entertainment.


According to Groening, Fox took exception took a Simpsons' version of the Fox News rolling news ticker which parodied the channel's anti-Democrat stance, with headlines like "Do Democrats Cause Cancer?"


"Fox fought against it and said they would sue the show," Groening said.


"We called their bluff because we didn't think Rupert Murdoch would pay for Fox to sue itself. So, we got away with it."


Other satirical Fox news bulletins featured in the show included: "Study: 92 per cent of Democrats are gay... JFK posthumously joins Republican Party... Oil slicks found to keep seals young, supple..."


While the lawsuit never materialized, Groening said some action was taken.


"Now Fox has a new rule that we can't do those little fake news crawls on the bottom of the screen in a cartoon because it might confuse the viewers into thinking it's real news," he said.


"The Simpsons," featuring the dysfunctional family of patriarch Homer Simpson and his rowdy brood, is now in its 14th year and is expected to become the longest-running situation comedy in US history in 2005

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Thats pretty funny. Murdoch could have shifted some money from his left pocket to his right pocket had he won the lawsuit.

We all know what happenes when Murdoch gets mad, remember in the super bowl episode where Homer and crew stole his luxury suite?;)

I hate that crap...
 

I feel like Matt Groening needs to lay off though. He is starting to remind me of Michael Moore. What an ass. Itis funny once, but give it a break. I like Fox, I proudly admit. I watch Greta Van Susteren nightly, she is a genious. She goes over the legal cases better than anyone else on TV. She had the Shiavo family on last night and did a great job at explaining the debate legally. I know you guys get mad at me, but they are the best... I am serious. Check her out tonight. Better than Larry King, that is for sure.

Re: I hate that crap...
 

Larry who?

Re: Re: I hate that crap...
 

Larry Bird

Great Celtic ball player

Re: Re: Re: I hate that crap...
 

Celtics?

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Back to the topic...

Damn these dysfunctional cartoon figures!

Re: Re: Re: Re: I hate that crap...
 

sorry

Matt Groening does need to check himself. As far as Greta goes, she is a good legal analyist with good interview skills. thats something not a lot of people have.

I am assuming the whole Larry Bird Celtics thing is a joke because I am thourghly confused. but then again that doesn't take much.

Larry Bird is unbelievable
 

Larry King... The polygamous man who claims to be an interviewer for CNN... Greta does have the best legal knowledge though. I like her interviews a lot more, the only comlaint I have is that she is on too late... I would watch every night if I could stay up that late.

Not a big Larry King fan at all. In fact, I have a hard time watching him.

I'm not that crazy (no pun here, either) about Greta on the air, but do appreciate her expertise -- and she gets solid and knowledgable guests, at least on legal issues.

Also think she has some degree of objectivity wich I sometimes find lacking on FOX -- but we've talked about that before, haven't we?

I watch Fox News all the time and its because they have it on at work in the lunch room and since i don't have control of the remote, I can't really change it. But anyway, I laught at it but over time, that do do a lot of scooping and have some really strong opinions so I am sort of getting addicted to Fox News. I still hate Bill O'Reilly, though!

Funny stuff. I wouldn't be suprized if the parody became true to life come president election time.