Since then, the screen name has been inactive, until a few days ago when Chunkylover53's "Away" message appeared, prompting people to click on a link and run an executable in order to see "a *new* Internet-only exclusive Simpson's episode."

Of course, the file doesn't show a Simpsons video. It infects the machine with a Trojan that throws up error messages, crashes the computer when attempting to open Windows Explorer and drops other nasty files onto the machine, making it part of what is believed to be a Turkish botnet, according to FaceTime, which secures IM, collaboration and Web apps for corporations.

Labels: THE MARGE REPORT, WEB-WATCH, WRITER WATCH

Labels: PARDON MY ZINGER, WRITER WATCH

Labels: WRITER WATCH

Simpsons will be on until the computers develop intelligence and shut down the meat people's world, or until a Mega Volcano destroys our culture, or until the per episode syndication price falls below the cost of producing an episode.

Labels: SMARTLINE, WRITER WATCH

Most of you are showing hate towards the episode title, Mona Leaves-a. I'm the writer for this episode, and also pitched the title. I'm here to say that it's supposed to be a bad pun...

We don't mind you people criticizing the episodes after they've aired, but judging them like you do, when all you know is the title, really makes us mad towards you. Hey, what a great pun! New episode title here we come!

Labels: WRITER WATCH

Labels: AZTEC THEATRE, WAGON TRAIN, WRITER WATCH

Responding to a comment by current show runner Al Jean that he would have simply ''laughed'' off an invite to work on the movie, in Entertainment Weekly for its Simpsons cover story that hits stands this Friday, O'Brien deadpanned:

''I cleared my talk show schedule for a year at great financial cost to myself, got an apartment right outside the Fox lot, and told them I was ready to report to work. All I heard back was that they were having trouble finding me a parking space, and then they stopped returning my calls altogether. I am stunned and disappointed.... Truth be told, I worry that the Simpsons-writing portion of my brain has been destroyed after 14 years of talking to Lindsay Lohan and that guy from One Tree Hill, so maybe it's all for the best.''

Labels: PARDON MY ZINGER, SMARTLINE, WRITER WATCH

"The Simpsons" scribe/co-exec producer Dana Gould has set up a pair of projects, including a zombie laffer at Comedy Central... tentatively titled "The Last Larry." Partially inspired by "Shaun of the Dead," half-hour is set in a post-apocalyptic world in which the few remaining survivors are trying to get on with their lives.

"It's a very traditional sitcom set in the world of a zombie holocaust," Gould said. "I felt fairly positive after I pitched it that I wouldn't hear a lot of 'Not that idea again.' "

Comedy Central is developing a script for "Larry," which Gould would write and exec produce. Tom Lassally and Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment will also exec produce.

Gould -- who continues to perform regularly as a standup -- would star in the project, which would explore how people deal with the small things in life even after something cataclysmic.

"I hope to rip off not only 'Shaun of the Dead' but also 'Battlestar Galactica,' " Gould joked. "If I could combine those two shows in a sitcom, I think I'd be accomplishing something."

Labels: WRITER WATCH

Labels: SPRINGFIELD SHOPPER, WRITER WATCH

Labels: WRITER WATCH

"Hey you know it's been more than three years, maybe we oughta get around to satirizing the war in some way"

Labels: WRITER WATCH