'Simpsons Movie': Homer's Odyssey

Thankfully no stones were thrown during a Portland, Ore., test screening in March. Audience response was positive, minus a few criticisms. As a result, the producers strengthened or lost secondary characters' bits — the film has 98 speaking parts — and ditched a meta end-credits gag in which resident aliens Kang and Kodos pick apart the film. Also from this rewrite came a trailer highlight: Homer playing with his pig while singing ''Spider-Pig/Spider-Pig/Does Whatever a Spider-Pig Does.'' After more screenings and tweaking — jokes were being added in the final few days — even the Sultan of Sweat was pleased. Says Brooks: ''I know the picture is funny.''

What the Simpsons masterminds also know is that trying to please all diehards and successfully corral 18 seasons of minutiae into 86 minutes and 45 seconds is like Homer trying to restrain himself in a candy store: Ain't gonna happen. ''Listen, I've stood in line for the restroom at Comic-Con every year, and whatever the big movie is, I've heard the real-life versions of Comic Book Guy, so we're prepared for all kinds of reactions,'' says Groening. ''Everybody's got a different idea of the perfect Simpsons experience. People are going to say, 'You put in Lenny — why not Carl?''' He pauses. ''We have both, by the way, for all those Carl fans out there.''

But have some of those Carl fans tuned out while holding their breath for the movie? Although the series still nets nice demos, it's not the juggernaut it was. During the inaugural 1989-90 season, The Simpsons averaged 27.2 million viewers; last season, 8.8 million. The show's principals would be concerned...if fans weren't persistently peppering them with movie questions. Fox's Rothman maintains that the wait signals that this isn't a cash grab. ''Look, it's a triumph it got done in the aughts,'' he says. ''We accepted a long time ago they were going to do this on their own time frame. We weren't worried because Homer Simpson was going to be a fantastic character in 2007 or 2010.''

Not that the producers are muttering Mmmmm...pan-demographic 200-mil grosser with unlimited sequel possibilities just yet. Warns Jean: ''We only have one penguin in our animated film.'' (But they do have a scene in this PG-13 affair that's already gained notoriety: Bart bares all during a skateboarding dare. Before you blanch at the prospect of seeing the little dude's little dude, Groening explains: ''It's a very simple oblong.'') Blockbuster or bust, the boys behind Bart wish to accomplish one sentimental goal: create a communal living-room experience. ''Whenever we show clips from an episode to an audience, it gets such an amazing reaction, [because] you're so used to watching TV alone,'' says Groening. ''I'm hoping a lot of people begin dating and marrying as a result of this movie — meeting in the lobby, sharing some popcorn, and taking it from there.''

Now that the union of landmark pop culture icon and silver screen has been consummated, where do the Simpsons d'oh next? ''At some big executive meeting, they said, 'What's the craziest Simpsons fantasy you'd love to see done?''' recounts Groening. ''I said, 'How about a giant blimp shaped like Homer that would fly over the Super Bowl?' And they go, '[pause] Any other ideas?' And I said, 'Okay, okay — 600-foot-tall statue of Homer. His head rotates once an hour. You eat dinner in his noggin, and at 10 p.m. every night, spotlights come out of his eyes and go around the city like the Bat Signal, then he tilts his head back at midnight and laughs, and it fills the entire city with laughter.' And they said, '[pause] Any other ideas?' And I said, 'No...that's all I got.''' Deliver the Best. Movie. Ever. and you guys can do anything you want to. Bonus points if it happens in under, say, 18 years.

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