Home Theater Forum  ›  Forums  ›  Entertainment and Media  ›  TV and HDTV Programming  ›  Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)
Forum Nav More Forums | All New Posts | New Thread

Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

#1
Rating: 0
2/14/09 at 3:30pm
  • Joined: January 2004
  • Post Count: 2,357
After nearly 20 years, The Simpsons have changed their intro with full episodes now broadcast in Widescreen HD.



YouTube - The Simpsons - NEW Main Title
Export to Wiki
#2
Rating: 0
2/14/09 at 3:36pm
  • Joined: December 1998
  • Location: Cham-Bana, IL
  • Post Count: 2,831

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Nice to see they are keeping elements from the old opening sequence. I think that the couch chasing goes on a little too long, though.

Lawn Ranger Motto: You're only young once, but you can be always be immature.

Export to Wiki
#3
Rating: 0
2/14/09 at 3:42pm
  • Joined: March 2003
  • Post Count: 2,372

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

If I remember correctly, they were using the wider theatrical film animation cels and plates (or whatever, not familiar with all the terminology) to create the show for years, so it's probably not a big deal for them to create the show for a 16:9 frame.

Damn TV wasn't mounted right!
Export to Wiki
#4
Rating: 0
2/15/09 at 5:04am
  • Joined: January 2009
  • Location: Indiana
  • Post Count: 13

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Love that new intro even though Burns and Smithers were replaced by Lenny and Carl. And did my eyes decieve me or did Maggie's price change? I wonder if the switch to widescreen means we'll start getting the season sets on blu-ray. Hope so.
Export to Wiki
#5
Rating: 0
2/15/09 at 11:39am
  • Joined: April 2000
  • Post Count: 4,316

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Hmmm. I have mixed feelings about it. It's technically well made but it just feels "off" and a bit antiseptic.

STOP THE MADNESS! STOP THE BUTCHERING AND ABANDONMENT OF TV SHOWS ON DVD!

My DVD List at DVD Aficionado, Now Featuring Blu-Ray

Export to Wiki
#6
Rating: 0
2/15/09 at 2:34pm
  • Joined: January 2003
  • Post Count: 4,489

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Well, I suppose with all that happened over the years, and update to the intro was due.

Quote:
I think that the couch chasing goes on a little too long, though.

Yeah, in the last few years many of the couch gags go on for very long. They seem to be producing shorter episode running times I guess.


STOP HIM! He's supposed to die!
Export to Wiki
#7
Rating: 0
2/15/09 at 3:59pm
  • Joined: March 2003
  • Post Count: 2,372

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Karl Pozorski
Love that new intro even though Burns and Smithers were replaced by Lenny and Carl. And did my eyes decieve me or did Maggie's price change?

I don't know what the original sequence price was, but this one is pretty easy to see now. Before scanning Maggie, the total was $243.26 and afterwards it was $486.52.
Export to Wiki
#8
Rating: 0
2/15/09 at 4:02pm
  • Joined: November 2004
  • Location: The basement of the FBI building
  • Post Count: 12,729

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicholas Martin
I don't know what the original sequence price was,
$847.63
Export to Wiki
#9
Rating: 0
2/15/09 at 4:08pm
  • Joined: January 2009
  • Location: United States
  • Post Count: 152

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

I like it. Nice to see they've moved to widescreen. I'm betting however that it will be shortend down latter on.

"As soon as television became the only secondary way in which films were watched, films had to adhere to a pretty linear system, whereby you can drift off for ten minutes and go and answer the phone and not really lose your place."
-Christopher Nolan

Export to Wiki
#10
Rating: 0
2/15/09 at 4:41pm
  • Joined: March 2003
  • Post Count: 2,372

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
$847.63


I just downloaded the flv file of this sequence and paused it to read what it said.


I hope you had to look that up, or paused the original sequence, because to just know that offhand....yikes!

Export to Wiki
#11
Rating: 0
2/15/09 at 7:13pm
  • Joined: November 2004
  • Location: The basement of the FBI building
  • Post Count: 12,729

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicholas Martin
I hope you had to look that up, or paused the original sequence, because to just know that offhand....yikes!
As sick as it is, I did know it off hand. I'm a walking encyclopedia of about the first decade of The Simpsons but I think that's always stuck with me because I got into an argument with someone who was trying to tell me that it actually said "NRA4EVER" (like the joke in The 138th Episode Spectacular says) and I ended up freeze framing it and showing him the $847.63 and he still wouldn't believe me. That debate ranks as one of the dumber ones that I've ever gotten into.
Export to Wiki
#12
Rating: 0
2/15/09 at 8:17pm
  • Joined: January 2009
  • Location: Indiana
  • Post Count: 13

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

The $847.63 also unlocked an Easter egg on the Season 3 3rd Disk. It gives you access to audio outtakes from that season.
Export to Wiki
#13
Rating: 0
2/16/09 at 7:43am
  • Joined: April 2000
  • Post Count: 4,316

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by WillG
Yeah, in the last few years many of the couch gags go on for very long. They seem to be producing shorter episode running times I guess.

Good. The new episodes are just torturous. The shorter they are, the better.

STOP THE MADNESS! STOP THE BUTCHERING AND ABANDONMENT OF TV SHOWS ON DVD!

My DVD List at DVD Aficionado, Now Featuring Blu-Ray

Export to Wiki
#14
Rating: 0
2/16/09 at 3:11pm
  • Joined: March 2003
  • Post Count: 2,372

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
As sick as it is, I did know it off hand. I'm a walking encyclopedia of about the first decade of The Simpsons but I think that's always stuck with me because I got into an argument with someone who was trying to tell me that it actually said "NRA4EVER" (like the joke in The 138th Episode Spectacular says) and I ended up freeze framing it and showing him the $847.63 and he still wouldn't believe me.

I didn't remember the actual numbers shown there, but knew the NRA gag was never part of it (though I'm sure like your friend a LOT of people started believing it was really there after that episode) because they were clearly numbers.

There must be 100 or more episodes of the show I've never seen because I gave it up around 2000 or so entirely, because once I started seeing promos of upcoming episodes that had Marge becoming a weightlifter with huge arms and other ridiculous things, I was done.

1992 to around 1997 are when I loved it, especially 92, 93 and 94.
Export to Wiki
#15
Rating: 0
2/16/09 at 5:00pm
  • Joined: August 2001
  • Post Count: 1,827

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

The HD version of this episode was really a treat. It was just so colourfull.

Are they going to be in HD from now on?

-----
Scott

View My DVD Collection
Stop the on-screen Bugs!!!!!!

Export to Wiki
#16
Rating: 0
2/16/09 at 5:41pm
  • Joined: March 2003
  • Post Count: 2,372

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Yup.
Export to Wiki
#17
Rating: 0
2/16/09 at 6:46pm
  • Joined: November 2007
  • Post Count: 320

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

What sucks is that Fox (at least in my area) doesn't letterbox the show for non-HD broadcast so, if you're unfortunate enough to be watching on a 4:3 TV, as I was last night, the picture is completely ruined by extreme cropping.
Export to Wiki
#18
Rating: 0
2/16/09 at 6:56pm
  • Joined: March 2003
  • Post Count: 2,372

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by SD_Brian
What sucks is that Fox (at least in my area) doesn't letterbox the show for non-HD broadcast so, if you're unfortunate enough to be watching on a 4:3 TV, as I was last night, the picture is completely ruined by extreme cropping.

That is dependent on the local affiliate, because some Fox channels (and Global here in Canada) did letterbox the episode for standard definition broadcast.
Export to Wiki
#19
Rating: 0
2/16/09 at 7:22pm
  • Joined: January 2005
  • Post Count: 489

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

What sucks is that Fox (at least in my area) doesn't letterbox the show for non-HD broadcast so, if you're unfortunate enough to be watching on a 4:3 TV, as I was last night, the picture is completely ruined by extreme cropping.


Yeah, it was pretty noticable. I remember at least a couple of times where Lisa was talking, but she was almost completely out of the frame.
Export to Wiki
#20
Rating: 0
2/17/09 at 5:17am
  • Joined: October 2001
  • Post Count: 524

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Why is this show still on the air? I stopped watching around 2000 as well, but every once in a while I will watch an episode out of curiousity. I have not laughed once in about five years. The movie,on the other hand, was really good. They should cancel the show, and stick to theatrical features.
Export to Wiki
#21
Rating: 0
2/17/09 at 6:36am
  • Joined: November 2004
  • Location: The basement of the FBI building
  • Post Count: 12,729

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shad R
Why is this show still on the air?
Because good or bad, people still watch it.
Export to Wiki
#22
Rating: 0
2/17/09 at 8:55am
  • Joined: March 1999
  • Post Count: 892

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shad R
Why is this show still on the air? I stopped watching around 2000 as well, but every once in a while I will watch an episode out of curiousity. I have not laughed once in about five years. The movie,on the other hand, was really good. They should cancel the show, and stick to theatrical features.


Because apart from American Idol, these are the only two shows in the Fox line-up that actually have a steady audience. The rest aren't even a blip on the ratings board. Plus, what was said above, the worldwide numbers for the Simpsons are huge. Like the 138th episode said, it will continue so long as the show remains profitable.
Export to Wiki
#23
Rating: 0
2/17/09 at 9:46am
  • Joined: November 2004
  • Location: The basement of the FBI building
  • Post Count: 12,729

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anthony Hom
Because apart from American Idol, these are the only two shows in the Fox line-up that actually have a steady audience.
At least House, Lie To Me, Fringe, Bones and 24 are all currently doing better than The Simpsons. That's not to say that The Simpsons isn't still a winner for Fox but it's certainly not their only show either.
Export to Wiki
#24
Rating: 0
2/17/09 at 10:13am
  • Joined: July 1999
  • Location: The stars at night.....
  • Post Count: 4,273

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

"I want to live in the sauce!"

"No one would know us there."

-Far From Heaven- (2002)

Export to Wiki
#25
Rating: 0
2/17/09 at 10:26am
  • Joined: March 2001
  • Location: Rochester, NY
  • Post Count: 6,306

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

And the Simpsons' TV is now widescreen too? I liked that little touch, at the 1:50 point, where the credits show on their TV.

However, I watched the new HD intro on my SD Tivo in the bedroom. I'll have to watch it again while Tivo HD still has it.
Export to Wiki
#26
Rating: 0
2/17/09 at 10:52am
  • Joined: September 2002
  • Post Count: 2,163

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

I watched it on 4x3 as well. The first two segments were cropped pretty heavily. But, when they came back from the final break, it was ltbxed.

I don't know if someone in the control room finally noticed or what.

And KING OF THE HILL was ltbxed as well.
Click Here to Visit My Blog
Export to Wiki
#27
Rating: 0
2/18/09 at 5:44am
  • Joined: February 2004
  • Post Count: 3,141

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

I liked the new opening segment. After 20 years, it was a good call to update it. And it's not like they haven't tinkered with it before - heck, they change the ending virtually every week.

I'd be fine with the show staying on the air another 20 years. (Although I still want to see an episode that reflects real time - you know, Bart wakes up one day and is 30 years old and wants to know what the hell happened to his teens and 20s.)


I don't have time enough to watch all these DVDs!

DVD Comment: Reviews Of DVDs & Digital Formats - 30 Rock Season 2
Export to Wiki
#28
Rating: 0
3/2/09 at 5:15pm
  • Joined: March 1999
  • Post Count: 892

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

The new couch gag for How The Test Was Won was another long one, but a nice homage to classic sitcoms over the years. I must say the story for the show was not very original. Weren't the bullies and Bart hidden away before?
Export to Wiki
#29
Rating: 0
3/2/09 at 5:44pm
  • Joined: March 2004
  • Post Count: 2,305

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Yeah, it's happened at least once in the past. I didn't catch the full thing because NASCAR delayed it and so I only got about 15 minutes of this because I set King of the Hill to record (of course I didn't get any of that...)

I know I'm probably the only dinosaur at HTF who doesn't have an HDTV yet, but I'm sick of how the networks refuse to air these shows letterboxed. NBC used to be good about this but lately The Office, 30 Rock, SNL, etc. are full frame and cropped. Last night on The Simpsons I couldn't read the first word(s) of the chalkboard gag because it was cut off.
DVD Challenge \'05

TV DVD
Export to Wiki
#30
Rating: 0
3/2/09 at 6:45pm
  • Joined: February 2003
  • Post Count: 308

Re: Simpsons Season 20 (New HD Intro)

Quote:
Originally Posted by AnthonyC
I know I'm probably the only dinosaur at HTF who doesn't have an HDTV yet, but I'm sick of how the networks refuse to air these shows letterboxed. NBC used to be good about this but lately The Office, 30 Rock, SNL, etc. are full frame and cropped. Last night on The Simpsons I couldn't read the first word(s) of the chalkboard gag because it was cut off.

This isn't the networks. I assume you're probably watching on cable. This is a byproduct of the digital transition and how your provider is carrying the feed. Since the analog feed is going away, cable providers have begun to take the digital feed provided to them and also use it as their standard channel. For this most just crop the sides and send it out that way. Most shows on CBS and ABC are shot for the safe 4:3 area so you don't notice it. But like you said NBC's shows were all shown letterbox because they are shot to use the 16:9 frame. Now that the cable providers are cropping the sides, it's very noticeable. Not sure about other FOX shows but, I noticed the simpsons and king of the hill both appeared to be composed for widescreen now. When i saw the shots of Hank and the gang in the alley, they covered the whole screen. I was thinking at the time "i bet this looks awful on the SD channel." I assume most of hank and boomhauer were cut off.
Export to Wiki
Forum Nav More Forums | All New Posts | New Thread