Simpsons Did It!: “A Streetcar Named Marge”

the-simpsons

Today’s episode was actually blocked from the Fox affiliate in the city of New Orleans when it first ran.  Apparently, some critic got ahold of the lyrics for one of the made-up songs in the fake musical Marge appears in.  Said lyrics describe New Orleans as being full of pirates, thieves, whores, and the like.  That angered people.  What they didn’t see was the song was a joke and the lyrics were way over the top and that no one involved with the show actually was saying that stuff about New Orleans was true.  The people there found that out when the episode was back as a rerun.

Meanwhile, the estate of Tennessee Williams blocked using A Streetcar Named Desire from being used, but American copyright law allows for the use of a handful of lines so long as it doesn’t go beyond that.  That was why Marge is in a musical in the first place.

Continue reading Simpsons Did It!: “A Streetcar Named Marge”

The Rise Of Cinematic Universes

I'm sure it is only a matter of time...
I’m sure it is only a matter of time…

Recently, it was announced that a new Scooby Doo movie would launch a Hanna-Barbera cinematic universe.  We also know that the Men in Black/21 Jump Street movie is supposed to actually happen.

Basically, that means that anything can be a cinematic universe these days.  While sitting around the Gabbing Geek Editorial Office, I came up with a few of my own.  See them after the cut.  Hollywood, feel free to use these for a small piece of the gross.  Not the net.  I won’t be screwed over that way.

Continue reading The Rise Of Cinematic Universes