Exciting news now for fans of "The Simpsons", which premiered in 1989 and is the world's most-watched American television show, syndicated across more than 100 countries. Twenty-five years later, "The Simpsons" remains just as relevant and fresh as ever, and now a special lego episode will celebrate the iconic show's 550th episode.
Fox's hit animated show "The Simpsons" has used the donut-loving Homer and his dysfunctional family to satirize U.S. popular culture for a quarter of a century...
And like many other mornings for the past 25 years, Al Jean is hard at work in his cramped office at the 20th Century Fox lot in Los Angeles. The executive producer of "The Simpsons" is always searching for the next big thing to make fun of.
And while Bart and the rest of the family haven't changed, the country certainly has, and that's what Jean says keeps the show relevant.
"I think that the mood now is maybe a little more pessimistic than it was 25 years ago, in the general view of the world. We were always sarcastic and didn't take institutions too seriously," said Al Jean, Exe. producer of "The Simpsons".
The iconic show is getting ready to celebrate another milestone with a plastic makeover in the form of Lego building blocks. "Brick Like Me," which airs on May 4th, will mark the show's 550th episode.
It's the brainchild of longtime "Simpsons" writer-producers Brian Kelley and Matt Selman, and it will see both the characters and the town of Springfield re-imagined as toy bricks.
"And if you watch the episode slowly we put in tons of hidden background jokes, references to "The Simpsons," references to Legos. So, it really rewards a close viewing. We are not going to waste this opportunity, we jammed every little freeze frame Lego reference background joke we could possibly do. So, watch it closely superfans," said Matt Selman, writer of Simpsons "Lego" episode.
And as season 26 goes into production, fans can also prepare for a big episode where a character dies - but the only hint that Jean would give, is that the character's voice actor has won an Emmy for the role.