On this week's episode of TalKing of the Hill, Bobby finds his calling when he's scouted for the modeling industry in a plus-size clothing store. Obviously, Hank isn't thrilled about this, and to make things worse, Bobby's big fashion show moment of fame could end in tragedy if his dad doesn't race to the rescue. Listen in and learn about the advanced polymers used in making giant overalls, the mysterious contents of Bobby's scrapbook, and just how much love it takes to crush a little b...
2021-04-30 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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It's the end of the Fishmas season, which means it's once again time for our monthly community podcast. Listen in as we discuss the passing of yet another member of the Simpsons' creative team, Julio's new voice actor, The Simpsons' recent Morrisey slam, the latest in a long line of episode-specific oral histories, the never-made Krusty spinoff, and more! And, as always, we respond to your questions and comments from our most recent round of episodes. So wave "hello" to Funky Winkerbean and g...
2021-04-28 04:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Hey, you're an all star! 2001 was a huge year in countless ways, and one of the many reasons was the arrival of Shrek, the CGI ogre who changed animation forever. Love him or hate him, theatrical animation was never the same after Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and the rest first appeared in theaters. We look back on how Jeffrey Katzenberg's vision for animated films slowly was born in Shrek, the many alterations made along the way, and if this film is still a shooting star that breaks the mold!
2021-04-26 16:44:42 +0000 UTC
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Hey now, it's a preview, of a podcast, 'bout Shrek! Yes, this month's premium podcast for the Talking Simpsons Network is about the 20th anniversary of one of the most influential (and memed) films of the millennium! This month our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2001's Shrek! Listen now to this free extended preview of the adventures of an ogre, a donkey, and a princess. Then subscribe at the $...
2021-04-26 04:02:00 +0000 UTC
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Hey everyone, the podcast embedded in this post provides an audio version of this update, but if you want a text-based version that's easier to reference, we're more than happy to provide it below.
Starting in July of 2021, we're changing the What A Cartoon schedule a bit—and don't worry, the PTA has not disbanded. As we did at the start of 2020, we're scaling back What A Cartoon a bit to better suit our production pipeline, and because of that we'll soon be ...
2021-04-24 16:31:00 +0000 UTC
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This month, we're covering a surprisingly touching episode of Futurama that looks all the way back to Fry's adolescence in the late '80s. And we're joined by Karen Chu of the podcast Good Job, Brain! When Fry needs to turn his luck around, the search for his fabled seven-leaf clover leads him to discover that his brother has stolen it and Fry's name... or...
2021-04-24 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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This week, Hank unwittingly becomes a crack consumer in his search for a surefire way to catch fish—but his naivete lands him in trouble with the law when he's caught scoring more rocks for his latest fishing expedition. Listen in and learn the horrifying conditions of factory worm farms, the proper way to commit non-obvious arson for the sake of insurance fraud, and the history of the real-life creative sentencing judge that inspired this episode. All this, and important information about ...
2021-04-23 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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This week's episode is all about online conspiracy theories, and our guest is an expert: Travis View of the investigative podcast QAnon Anonymous! As Homer becomes the unknown arbiter of online rumors, this episode is all about the dangers of bull plop on a then relatively young internet of 2000. Learn how much things have changed and what stayed the ...
2021-04-21 04:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber James, we're exploring both the edgy comics of the '90s and the USA Network in the forgotten Savage Dragon adaptation! The series resurfaced unexpectedly on Peacock's streaming service, so we dive into its strange creation, the early '90s comic boom, as well as some tangents about the weirdest stuff that's happened in Savage Dragon comics. Listen now for a ride on the Cartoon Express!
2021-04-19 04:00:02 +0000 UTC
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It's a classic battle of Good versus Candy on this week's TalKing of the Hill, as Hank's favorite holiday gets threatened by an Evangelical Christian with a hatred for Halloween. Listen in and learn all about Mega Lo Mart's generous hole-punching policy, why backspin is so important when it comes to throwing toilet paper, and how a hate crime can be when someone hates you, specifically. So sit back, and remember: it's just liver—it's not going to KILL you!
2021-04-16 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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We all grab our putters for this week's episode as we welcome comedian and writer Mike Hanford from the band/podcast The Sloppy Boys! This is the first major Ned Flanders episode, as Homer becomes much angrier than usual while forcing Bart to play mini-golf. With Lisa's help, Bart finds inner peace and ultimately learns a lesson while Homer and Ned we...
2021-04-14 04:00:02 +0000 UTC
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This week, we're covering a crossover anime hit sponsored by premium patron Loki! On the surface, the premise for Death Note sounds absurd: a magical notebook that kills someone if you write their name in it. Despite the outlandish premise, this hit manga series captured the attention of readers worldwide with its cat-and-mouse psychological thriller antics—all built on the foundation of very sound internal logic. And thankfully, the anime version adapts this compelling story as faithfully ...
2021-04-12 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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When Hank unwittingly digs up a Native American arrowhead, his simple quest for a new rototiller blade leads him down a dark path that results in the total destruction of his yard and a potential emotional affair for Peggy. Listen in and meet a smarmy new character played by Maurice LaMarche, learn about the many uses of hemp, and have Bill teach you how to properly get rid of possums. So sit back and get ready for a podcast that'll make your brain swell up as big as it'll go!
2021-04-09 04:01:01 +0000 UTC
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The results are in! Thanks to your votes, next month's episode of the What A Cartoon Movie podcast will be 1992's Cool World. Folks on the $5 level of our Patreon can hear the extended free preview of this podcast when it goes live on Monday, May 31, but $10 subscribers will be able to acc...
2021-04-08 19:00:04 +0000 UTC
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This week's episode is one of the most controversial Simpsons ever, and we lean upon the insights of returning fave Nick Wiger from the great podcasts Doughboys and How Did This Get Played?! Homer becomes Burns' prank monkey for high pay and low dignity, lead...
2021-04-07 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Happy April Fools 2021 as we continue our podcast tradition of covering a live-action cartoon, and we've got a real cult classic for you! Created by Chris Elliott, Adam Resnick, and David Mirkin, Get A Life was a weird and transgressive Fox sitcom from 1990, and it has grown as a cult icon in the years since AND had immense influence on some of the best years of Simpsons. Listen now to learn how to stand in the place where you live!
2021-04-05 04:00:02 +0000 UTC
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This week, we're looking at a Twister-inspired, action-packed episode of King of the Hill where Hank squares off against one of the deadliest forces of nature! Listen in and learn how the Egyptians un-tipped the pyramids, the terrifying tale of Humpty's Revenge, and how to start a man's heart with a downed power line (there's really no wrong way to do it). So sit back and listen to this week's podcast, rated level four by the Fujisaki Scale!
2021-04-02 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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It's another new month, meaning tons more stuff is coming to the Talking Simpsons Network! As we enter April (and while still appreciating Nina Matsumoto's excellent art above), we're on track for another of our monthly $10 premium podcast, and we'll need your help to decide what we'll be covering in May.
Currently, we're so far ahead in podcast recordings that we've already recorded April's Wh...
2021-04-01 12:00:01 +0000 UTC
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What a big month of podcasts we just had, and not to mention a ton of Simpsons news to reflect on. The show got renewed, there was the 700th episode, and controversy about continuity. We'll discuss all that plus some fun teases about future podcasts, we discuss what we played/watched during the month, AND we respond to some of our favorite Patreon comments! So listen now!
2021-03-31 04:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Spring has sprung once again, and for the first time in a while it looks like the world is changing for the better. Thankfully, there's still plenty of time for podcasting, and we've got quite a lineup for you on the What A Cartoon Podcast this month. We kick things off with our traditional April Fool's podcast about a live-action cartoon (one very important to the history of The Simpsons), then move...
2021-03-30 19:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1990's DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our prev...
2021-03-29 04:40:00 +0000 UTC
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The early '90s brought about an opportunity for Disney to stop being so precious with their content in the form of MovieToons: cheaper, smaller movies that could be done outside of Burbank. And while this new brand eventually led to direct-to-video billions, it all started with 1990's DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp. The first and only DuckTales theatrical outing, Treasure of the Lost Lamp amounts to a big learning process for Disney—and some growing pains for their soon-to-b...
2021-03-29 04:00:02 +0000 UTC
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This month, it's Christmas in March as we look at an episode so hated by Fox that it was booted to a later time slot during the next broadcast year of Futurama! In this second Xmas episode, Santa returns—though John Goodman doesn't—and Bender soon finds himself in the killer robot's role. Listen in and learn the importance of paradox-absorbing crumple zones, what the traditional Kwanzaa gift is, and how to dislodge a toy from your brain. So sit back and start dreaming of a red Xmas with a...
2021-03-27 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Welcome to the season premiere of TalKing of the Hill Season 2 Part 1! This week, we're covering King of the Hill's gun episode—which could have ended up "very special," but it's 1997 and the show takes place in Texas. Listen in and find out where to find the children's guns section in your local superstore, how to fit into a father/son poncho, and the amount of points you lose by blowing away an entire picnicking family. Thanks again for your support, and look forward to another grea...
2021-03-26 04:01:00 +0000 UTC
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We head out to the ball game with our returning guest, Podcast: The Ride's Mike Carlson! Mike helps us understand the magic of baseball, the history of small-town mascots, and more in this week's classic episode of Homer becoming a Minor League star. All that plus we try to deconstruct the weird editing of this episode's framing device, all in one nutty...
2021-03-24 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Our Spring 2021 podcast miniseries is just around the corner! That's right, we're covering the first half of King of the Hill's second season over the next eleven weeks—and you can only hear it if you sign up at the $5 tier or higher. We're so excited to return to King of the Hill that we even commissioned Nina Mat...
2021-03-22 19:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Alex, we explore some defining works of Golden Age animation from UPA. We cover the complex history of UPA and its two best directors, and then explore two of their most beloved cartoons, the original Gerald McBoing Boing and the jazzy Rooty Toot Toot! Listen now before HUAC makes us name names!
2021-03-22 04:00:00 +0000 UTC
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We're about to do a new TalKing of the Hill podcast miniseries on Patreon, making this the perfect time to interview KotH's Supervising Director Wes Archer! Not only was Wes the first animator ever hired to work on Simpsons during the Ullman days, but Archer is also the creator of the Twister M...
2021-03-19 03:59:59 +0000 UTC
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This week's environmental episode is joined by the returning Kat Bailey, our friend and co-host of the newly relaunched Axe of the Blood God podcast! We cover the ultimate episode about the show punishing Lisa for believing in something, plus we discuss Homer doing a bunch of weird stuff and the career of Joshua Jackson. Listen now or we'll sit in ...
2021-03-17 04:00:02 +0000 UTC
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We're heading back to the DCAU for one of the most successful creations ever born out of a stupid executive's idea! Yes, it's the teen Caped Crusader of the future show, or Batman-meets-Spider-Man-meets-Akira, all in one shiny package. We revisit this retro-future, dig into its history, and discuss the third episode, Black Out! Listen now, it's totally schway!
2021-03-15 03:59:59 +0000 UTC
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