2007'S CLASS CLOWNS: THE SIMPSONS

It took almost two decades to get made. And the plot involved pig poop. But when Homer's henchmen finally unveiled The Simpsons Movie, something amazing happened: It didn't suck. Like, $525 million-worldwide-gross didn't suck. ''That people thought it was at least pretty good was the most enormous sigh of ‘Thank God!' I've ever had in my life,'' says writer-producer Al Jean. What about those fans who demand a sequel and won't take d'oh! for an answer? ''It would be hurtful to not let us recover a little more,'' says Simpsons creator Matt Groening, ''but I'm hoping it will be sooner than 18 years.'' — Dan Snierson

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