Matt Groening, creator of hit Fox animated TV series The Simpsons, is mourning the death of his mother Margaret, who inspired the show's matriarch Marge Simpson.

Mrs. Groening died in her sleep on April 22 in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 94. She was born Margaret Wiggum on March 23, 1919, in Chisolm, Minn. Wiggum is another familiar "Simpsons" name -- the town's police chief and his son Ralph share the surname.

Margaret is survived by her son and two daughters -- yes, Lisa and Maggie. Her eldest daughter, Patty, passed away earlier this year and was the inspiration for Marge Simpson's ...

The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon is undergoing chemotherapy after he was diagnosed with cancer.

The 57-year-old writer and producer, who devised the hugely popular cartoon with Matt Groening and James L. Brooks, was told by doctors he has colon cancer last year, but reveals the potentially deadly disease has spread to other vital organs.

Explaining his health battle to radio presenter Jon Leiberman on Howard 101's Leiberman: Live at 5, a spin-off of Simon's pal Howard Stern's daily radio show, he says, "The diagnosis was - I was feeling bad for a couple (of) years, and I was diagnosing...

It's that time of year again. Television fans have appointments with their couches as the fall season kicks off this month with tons of returning favorites and new shows. DVRs will be working overtime as viewers record their must-see-TV programs and talk about them later at the watercooler.

Check out the premiere dates of the new season (brand new shows are indicated with italics and by *). All times are eastern unless otherwise indicated.

Monday, September 10
The Voice 8 p.m. NBC

Tuesday, September 11
Go On 9 p.m. NBC *
The New Normal 9:30 p.m. NBC *
Parenthood 10 p.m. NBC

Wednesday, ...

Justin Bieber has cemented his superstar status by landing a guest role in The Simpsons.

The pop singer will play himself in an upcoming episode of the long-running animated show, and will be seen attempting to enter a talent contest.

The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean has confirmed the news to website EW.com, revealing, "He tries to get into a talent show that Bart is playing piano in and they won't admit him. Draw your own conclusions... It's a cameo, but all of his fans should watch every minute of the show, before and after he's on."

Bieber also shared his excitement with fan...

The Simpsons are no stranger to having guest stars on their series - you could argue they are the Saturday Night Live of animation. For the unprecedented 24th season, Springfield will once again have the who's who of Hollywood in their midsts.

Bart Simpson will be chasing after a long-lost love voiced by Zooey Deschanel when the family heads to New York once more. Steve Carell will be a bowling buddy of Homer's that apparently has ties to the mob. Patton Oswal will be a neighborhood child that befriends Bart. Other guests for the season include Jeff Gordon, Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein,...

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has scored a cameo on The Simpsons after a chance encounter with the cartoon's bosses.

The Sherlock star was at a meeting when he overheard a role on the animated series was up for grabs, and he jumped at the chance to lend his vocal talents to an upcoming episode.

He tells Britain's InStyle magazine, "I was at a meeting yesterday in the same place The Simpsons is recorded and heard there was a part going in an episode. I said, 'I hate to muscle in here, guys, but could I record it?' Next thing, I'm standing in a room with all those famous voices: Bart...

FOX has released its primetime schedule for the 2012-2013 television season, adding three new comedies and two dramas to its slate. "Glee" will move this fall to Thursdays, following all-new installments of "The X Factor," which will feature two new judges (Britney Spears and Demi Lovato).

This fall, two new half-hour comedies – "The Mindy Project" and "Ben And Kate" – will join "Raising Hope" and "New Girl" on an all-new Tuesday night comedy block.

"The Mindy Project" features Mindy Kaling as a skilled OB/GYN navigating the tricky waters of both her personal and professional life, as sh...

Golden Girls legend Betty White is the latest star to enter the National Association of Broadcasters' Hall of Fame.

The veteran actress was inducted into the prestigious institution at a special ceremony in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

White was selected for the honor in recognition of her lengthy career, her seven Emmy Awards and her numerous TV and film roles.

NAB President-CEO Gordon Smith says, "Betty White is admired by generations of audiences. She has remarkable energy and an incredible ability to connect with viewers. Betty's contributions to television and entertainment as a whole a...

"The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening has revealed which Springfield inspired his fictional town in the cartoon series.

For years fans have been debating which of the many American Springfields gave the animator the idea for the town where his colourful characters live - and now he has revealed he based his fictional place on another fictional Springfield, based in Oregon.

Groening tells the Smithsonian Magazine, "Springfield was named after Springfield, Oregon. The only reason is that when I was a kid, the TV show 'Father Knows Best' took place in the town of Springfield, and I was thrill...

"The Hunger Games" is a beloved book -- soon to be a beloved movie -- featuring an ensemble cast fighting to survive a post-apocalyptic world.

"The Simpsons" is a beloved TV show featuring an ensemble cast fighting to survive ... err, Springfield.

"The Hunger Games" and "The Simpsons"? They're great together! With the help of Old Red Jalopy, we decided to depict various "Hunger Games" characters as part of the "Simpsons" cast, because, well, why not?

In this week's Top Gear, Adam, Tanner and Rutledge take their lives in their own hands again, driving three allegedly dangerous cars: the Ford Pinto, Suzuki Samurai, and Chevy Corvair.

Rutledge gets the potentially flaming Corvair, while Adam gets a chance to blow himself up in the Pinto, and Tanner has to drive the unturnable Samurai, all of them en route to (what else?) a demolition derby. "I don't feel like there's a huge amount of inherent danger in the car," Rutledge says, while Adam agrees "There's good and bad in everything in life." At least our guys are optimistic in the ...

The Simpsons creator Matt Groening has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the same week the 500th episode of the classic cartoon aired.

Groening, who created Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson in the 1980s, was joined at the ceremony on Tuesday by Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, and Yeardley Smith, who voice several of the characters on the show.

The screenwriter said at the unveiling, "I want to thank Nancy Cartwright, who channeled a ten-year-old, troubled boy, the day I met her in 1987 and here's a secret about the show - whenever we run into a spot of...

Embattled WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is the latest in a long line of famous faces to be featured on The Simpsons.

Controversial WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will guest star on The Simpsons next month. Assange has been tapped to lend his voice and image to a guest character appearing on the 500th episode of the long-running animated comedy, Fox confirmed this week.

The Australian-born Assange, 40, will befriend the Simpsons after they are kicked out of their native Springfield, Simpsons producer Al Jean told Entertainment Weekly Monday.

In the episode, the Simpsons -- Homer, Mar...

Jonah Hill has created and provided the voice for a new animated show on Fox. Or we should say, about half of Jonah Hill has done that. After his impressive weight loss, the new Hill met with the Television Critics Association to discuss his new show, Allen Gregory.

Allen Gregory is a seven-year-old who wears a suit and claims to have written novels. He has two fathers and has to go to elementary school, where the kids, and even the adults, are not as smart as he thinks he is. Allen Gregory premiers Sunday night at 8:30 on Fox.

Q: You must be even busier than I am and I struggle with how ...

Usually celebrated on Oct. 16, National Boss' Day is being observed today because yesterday was a Sunday.

In honor of the non-secular "holiday," Starpulse is honoring some of our favorite television bosses.

Check out the slideshow below (in no particular order), and tell us who YOUR favorite boss is!

The Simpsons will live on!

Fox has renewed the longest-running comedy for two more seasons, Seasons 24 and 25, which will include the show's 500th episode in February 2012, the network announced Friday.

The Simpsons cast close to signing deal — but how much will they make?

The renewal comes as a relief to fans. On Monday, the network reportedly gave the cast an ultimatum: Agree to take a 45 percent pay cut by Friday or the animated series will be...

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The Simpsons, Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwrigh...

In what some may find the most upsetting TV news in decades -- or at least since the last time this threat landed -- a salary and contract battle could mean the end of The Simpsons.

After word broke that the voices of Springfield are embroiled in contract negotiations again, Fox confirmed today that The Simpsons is indeed in trouble.

If castmembers Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer don't agree to a hefty pay cut, there may not be a season 24 for Bart, Homer and friends. Doh!

"23 seasons in, The Simpsons is as creatively vibran...

Labor Day is over, signaling the unofficial end of summer and the start of the new TV season. While television is somewhat entertaining during June, July, and August, it's the fall debuts that many TV addicts anticipate.

Next week the networks start rolling out new and returning series, kicking off with "90210" and "Ringer" on the CW on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Check out the list below to see when your favorites air:

Tuesday, September 13
8 pm 90210 CW
9 pm Ringer (NEW!) CW
10 pm Parenthood NBC

Wednesday, September 14
8 pm H8R CW
8 pm Survivor: South Pacific CBS
9 pm America’s Next Top Mode...

Pop star Lady Gaga is to guest star on The Simpsons as herself.

The Bad Romance hit-maker will appear in an upcoming episode titled Lisa Goes Gaga - as Lisa Simpson's self-esteem coach.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly about the experience of becoming a cartoon character, she says, "I make music, but I don't do voice overs every day of the week, and their characters are so awesomely convincing and sincere and wild and funny, I had to remind myself constantly of the sincerity of the humor.

Like the real Gaga, her animated self is a fashionista who appears in a variety of wardrobe chang...

Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian have been added to the Teen Choice Awards winners list.

Many prizes were not handed out during the ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday night, including Lopez's Choice TV Personality and bride-to-be Kardashian's Choice Female Reality/Variety TV Star.

Chace Crawford was also a post-show winner - he picked up the Choice TV Actor (Drama) honor for "Gossip Girl" - and "The Simpsons" was named Choice Animated Show.

"Pretty Little Liars" picked up three post-ceremony awards - Choice Summer TV Show and Choice Summer TV Stars (Lucy Hale and Ian Harding).

Meanwhile...

Following our earlier peeks at New Girl and The X Factor, it's time to talk about two new FOX comedies and one show we've been hearing about for what seems like forever. FOX's TCA (Television Critics Association) presentation continued with looks at Allen Gregory, I Hate My Teenage Daughter, Terra Nova, and the network's upcoming presentation of the Primetime Emmy Awards.

Allen Gregory

It was a case of deja vu: once again, FOX used a themed lunch to show us a new Sunday animated comedy. Last year, it was Bob's Burgers. This year, it was Allen Gregory. It's always struck me as a bit stra...

Following in the footsteps of fellow Saturday morning stalwarts Scooby Doo, Speed Racer, Yogi Bear, Inspector Gadget and many more, the Smurfs at long last make their big screen debut (only a decade or two after most would really care), begging the question: What other classic cartoons could possibly be left for a live action / CGI movie adaptation? Well, lots, actually, but we’re only listing the top ten (along with some cast and director suggestions).

THE JETSONS
A live version of Hanna-Barbera’s modern space-age family has been bandied about for years, but as with so many cartoon and ...

Kate Winslet, Jennifer Aniston and Scarlett Johansson are all set to become street girls next year when they unveil stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jennifer Lopez, Boyz II Men, Heart stars Ann and Nancy Wilson and British actor Malcolm McDowell are also among the 2012 honorees, while acting legend Richard Burton and soul star Barry White will both receive posthumous stars.

John Pavlik, chairman of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Selection Committee, says, "The committee has selected a fabulous slate of stars to add sparkle and luster to the Hollywood Walk of Fame over the next year."

"Th...

FOX just released its 2011-12 primetime schedule, showcasing "a really fresh, creative new lineup for next season, From razor-sharp comedies to epic dramas to a massive talent competition series, I think we have the goods to continue to be pop culture’s most vibrant platform, as well as the top network.” said Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.

Check out the list of returning and new shows below:

MONDAY

8 p.m. Terra Nova (new)

9 p.m. House

TUESDAY

8 p.m. Glee

9 p.m. New Girl (new)

9:30 p.m. Raising Hope

WEDNESDAY

8 p.m. The X-Factor (new)

...

Let’s be honest: I doubt that any of the moms on this list are as awesome as your own mother (suffice it to say that none of them are as amazing as mine). But these women, these television moms, are certainly worthy of mention. You may have grown up with some of them or you may have watched them last week, but one thing’s for sure: they’re moms, and they’re pretty terrific. So, in honor of Mother’s Day (and in no particular order) I present our favorite TV moms.

1. Joyce Summers (Kristine Sutherland) - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Was Joyce kind of clueless? At first, yeah, but her clueless na...

So far it's been a wild parade of stars lining up for their chance to poke, prod, and eyeball-doink each other to hilarious effect in Peter and Bobby Farrelly's spiffy new rendition of "The Three Stooges." Everyone from Sean Penn to Johnny Knoxville has been in the running so far, and we'll wager even Lindsay Lohan had an audition as Moe at one point.

The Farrellys have noted in the past their intent to cast one person first and then build the rest of the trio of Moe, Larry, and Curly around that individual. Now, in a glorious case of casting to-type, Canadian cueball Will Sasso seems to b...

Hit family cartoon "The Simpsons" has been edited for TV in Europe to remove sensitive storylines involving a disaster at a nuclear plant in light of the current crisis in Japan.

Officials in the Asian country have been struggling to contain radiation levels around a nuclear centre in Fukushima since the complex was damaged in the earthquake and tsunami which struck Japan on March 11.

TV producers at Germany's Pro7 channel reacted to the disaster by checking through new episodes of "The Simpsons" and removing "unsuitable" segments featuring trouble at character Mr. Burns' nuclear power pl...

Traditional North American 'family' sitcoms seem to have at their core misogyny, and either fear, hatred or disinterest in children. Wives are to be eluded and duped by any means possible. The man-child husband dreams of freedom from his wife-mommy, and creates ever more elaborate schemes to elude the horrible captivity of his family. Each week, a quick setup explains why the poor, put upon husband wants, needs, and deserves some toy, alone time, or escape. The wife explains why this is not feasible or possible. Husband decides to do it anyway, despite wife's wishes. Hubby gets hopelessly e...

The Simpsons are going to the Oscars on Fox February 20 (one week before ABC airs the real deal), and 2001 winner Halle Berry will be on stage to present an animated film award.

"Bart makes a short film version of his Angry Dad Web series and is up for an Oscar and other awards, but Homer tries to take all the credit," executive producer Al Jean tells TV Guide Magazine. "Halle starts talking about herself as she's presenting. She ad-libbed something she actually dreams about at night that we left in."

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The SimpsonsHalle BerryAl Jean

Cartoon couple Marge and Homer Simpson have become hot porn property - the animated pair has come to life for a new X-rated sex movie.

Top adult stars like Briana Blair, Evan Stone and Andy San Dimas don full-body yellow make-up and wild hair to portray the colourful characters in Simpsons - The XXX Parody.

The saucy film revolves around a fictitious sex tape filmed by Marge & Homer, and features The Simpsons regulars Moe, McBain, Barney and Flanders.

The DVD comes with the tagline, "Sex has never been this yellow!"