MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO UNIVERSITY SATELLITE SEMINAR SERIES, THE: A CONVERSATION WITH THE CREATORS OF "THE SIMPSONS," "KING OF THE HILL," AND "SOUTH PARK" {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. This seminar, held in Los Angeles and moderated by vice-president and Los Angeles Museum director Steven A. Bell, features a panel discussion with the creators of three popular animated series, with questions from various universities across the country via satellite. First, Bell introduces Matt Groening, creator of "The Simpsons"; Trey Parker and Matt Stone, co-creators of "South Park"; and Mike Judge, creator of "King of the Hill" and "Beavis and Butt-head." (Panelist biographies immediately follows this summary.) Bell then introduces a highlight tape which features the panelists' work. After the clips, the panelists discuss the following topics, among others: reasons that animation took twenty years to re-emerge on prime-time television; reasons the networks decided to take chances on these animated shows; the backlash they have received from network executives; and their major television influences. The panelists then take questions from universities across the country -- including West Virginia University, Ramapo College, Western Michigan University, Scottsdale Community College, George Washington University, University of North Carolina, University of Texas, and Central Missouri State University, among many others, where students view the seminar live via satellite -- leading to discussion of various subjects. Topics discussed include: the process of making an animated program; the source of ideas for their shows; the wide differences among their respective series; whether the negative backlash from audiences or executives has ever affected their show's content; their shows' messages about suburban culture; the way the central character on "The Simpsons" has apparently changed from Bart to Homer; casting voices for characters; whether animated characters can get away with more than a live-action character can; whether any subjects are off-limits; the pros and cons of computer animation; whether they would ever allow their characters to age; improvements in the animation process on "The Simpsons"; reasons that Kenny on "South Park" gets picked on the most; the way the merchandising of each series factors into their creative minds; the working relationships between the writing staff, animators, producers, and creators; whether they molded the characters after real people from their lives, especially those on "King of the Hill"; and the creators' favorite characters.
(This seminar contains adult-oriented language.)
Biographies Matt Groening is the creator and executive producer of "The Simpsons," televisionÕs longest-running prime-time animated series, and the artist behind the irreverent "Life in Hell" comic strip, which currently appears in more than 250 newspapers worldwide. His published works include "BinkyÕs Guide to Love" and "Simpsons Comics SimpsÐOÐRama," as well as the CD-ROMs "The Simpsons Cartoon Studio" and "The Simpsons: Virtual Springfield."
Mike Judge is the cocreator and executive producer of "King of the Hill," as well as the voice behind Hank Hill and Boomhauer. Prior to that he was the creator of "Beavis and Butt-head," an MTV series based on Frog Baseball, a short film he had entered in Spike and MikeÕs Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation in 1992. His motion picture work includes "Beavis and Butt-head Do America" and the live-action feature "Office Space."
Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the creators and executive producers of "South Park." They first met while attending film classes at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where they produced such shorts as "American History," a Student Academy Award-winner, and "Frosty vs. Santa Claus," the precursor to the infamous "South Park" pilot, "Spirit of Christmas." The duoÕs live-action feature work includes "Cannibal: The Musical," "BASEketball," and "Orgazmo."
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: October 8, 1998 5:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:26:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:54502
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steven A. Bell … Moderator
- Matt Groening … Panelist
- Mike Judge … Panelist
- Trey Parker … Panelist
- Matt Stone … Panelist