The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family
Encyclopedia
The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family is a book
published in 1997 by HarperCollins
. It was edited by Ray Richmond
and Antonia Coffman; Matt Groening
receives credit as the creator of The Simpsons
, the television series upon which the book is based, and for an introduction to the book.
Although the title includes the word "Complete", the book is rather an episode-by-episode history of The Simpsons, as the fictional story that appears on television
; a non-fictional, behind-the-scenes history of the television show is almost neglected. As it is printed in 1997, only the first eight seasons that had aired by then are covered. Nevertheless, the book is notable as a "definitive guide". According to Groening's foreword, the book was nearly titled Encyclopedia Simpsonica.
, Marge
, Bart
, Lisa
and Maggie
. Short biographies of other Simpsons characters are also available as sidebars to each episode's page, starting with Santa's Little Helper
for "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
" and ending with Willem Dafoe
's Commandant from "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson
". Each full-length episode receives one-page coverage, or two-page coverage, featuring a synopsis, credits, pictures, and memorable quotes, as well as the episode's blackboard joke. Obscure or hidden jokes are also brought to attention.
The episodes are arranged in chronological order, and at the beginning of each season are two-page special features, such as a list and brief description of the Simpsons shorts
, a list of times Homer has cried "D'oh!", and a list of Itchy and Scratchy's cartoons.
The first printing of this volume had dozens of factual errors and omissions which have slowly been corrected in subsequent printings. Note however that all editions of the book are labelled "First Edition" even though the book has been through at least four versions. By the fourth version (23rd printing) most errors had finally been corrected.
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
published in 1997 by HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
. It was edited by Ray Richmond
Ray Richmond
Ray Richmond is a globally syndicated critic and entertainment/media columnist. Richmond has also worked variously as a feature and entertainment writer, beat reporter and TV critic for a variety of publications including the Los Angeles Daily News, Daily Variety, the Orange County Register, the...
and Antonia Coffman; Matt Groening
Matt Groening
Matthew Abram "Matt" Groening is an American cartoonist, screenwriter, and producer. He is the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell as well as two successful television series, The Simpsons and Futurama....
receives credit as the creator of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, the television series upon which the book is based, and for an introduction to the book.
Although the title includes the word "Complete", the book is rather an episode-by-episode history of The Simpsons, as the fictional story that appears on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
; a non-fictional, behind-the-scenes history of the television show is almost neglected. As it is printed in 1997, only the first eight seasons that had aired by then are covered. Nevertheless, the book is notable as a "definitive guide". According to Groening's foreword, the book was nearly titled Encyclopedia Simpsonica.
Features
On pages 10-11 are short biographies of each of the five immediate members of the Simpson family, namely HomerHomer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
, Marge
Marge Simpson
Marjorie "Marge" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the eponymous family. She is voiced by actress Julie Kavner and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
, Bart
Bart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
, Lisa
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening...
and Maggie
Maggie Simpson
Margaret "Maggie" Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She first appeared on television in the Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Maggie was created and designed by cartoonist Matt Groening while he was waiting in the lobby of James...
. Short biographies of other Simpsons characters are also available as sidebars to each episode's page, starting with Santa's Little Helper
Santa's Little Helper
Santa's Little Helper is a recurring character in the American animated television series The Simpsons. He is the pet greyhound of the Simpson family. The dog was introduced in the first episode of the show, the 1989 Christmas special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", in which his owner abandons...
for "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", also known as "The Simpsons Christmas Special", is the first full-length episode of The Simpsons to air despite originally being the eighth episode produced for season one. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 17, 1989...
" and ending with Willem Dafoe
Willem Dafoe
Willem Dafoe is an American film, stage, and voice actor, and a founding member of the experimental theatre company The Wooster Group...
's Commandant from "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson
The Secret War of Lisa Simpson
"The Secret War of Lisa Simpson" is the season finale of The Simpsons eighth season, first aired by the Fox network on May 18, 1997. Bart gets sent to a military academy as punishment for bad behavior. While visiting the academy, Lisa sees that the school is far more challenging than hers and she...
". Each full-length episode receives one-page coverage, or two-page coverage, featuring a synopsis, credits, pictures, and memorable quotes, as well as the episode's blackboard joke. Obscure or hidden jokes are also brought to attention.
The episodes are arranged in chronological order, and at the beginning of each season are two-page special features, such as a list and brief description of the Simpsons shorts
The Tracey Ullman Show shorts
The Simpsons shorts are a series of 48 one-minute shorts that ran on the variety show The Tracey Ullman Show for three seasons, before the characters spun off into The Simpsons, their own half-hour prime time show. It features the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie...
, a list of times Homer has cried "D'oh!", and a list of Itchy and Scratchy's cartoons.
The first printing of this volume had dozens of factual errors and omissions which have slowly been corrected in subsequent printings. Note however that all editions of the book are labelled "First Edition" even though the book has been through at least four versions. By the fourth version (23rd printing) most errors had finally been corrected.
Books list
| Seasons covered | Book title |
|---|---|
| 1 to 8 | The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family |
| 9 & 10 | The Simpsons Forever! The Simpsons Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Continued The Simpsons Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Continued is an episode guide book for the ninth and tenth seasons of the television series, The Simpsons. The book is the first companion to the original The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family, and is also published... |
| 11 & 12 | The Simpsons Beyond Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Still Continued The Simpsons Beyond Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Still Continued The Simpsons Beyond Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Still Continued is an episode guide book for the eleventh and twelfth seasons of the television series, The Simpsons. It was published in 2002 by HarperCollins. It is edited by Jesse L... |
| 13 & 14 | The Simpsons One Step Beyond Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Continued Yet Again |
| 1 to 20 | Simpsons World The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1-20 Simpsons World The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1-20 Simpsons World The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1–20 is the fourth sequel to the Simpsons episode guide The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family. The book covers seasons 1 to 20 covering "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" through "Coming to Homerica". The book was released on... |