Twenty-five years after THE SIMPSONS' "Homer at the Bat" originally aired, America's favorite family once again forays into America's favorite pastime. In advance of the network's 20th year broadcasting the World Series, Fox Sports today announced that a comedic "Simpsonized" documentary, SPRINGFIELD OF DREAMS: THE LEGEND OF HOMER SIMPSON, will air adjacent to regional NFL broadcasts on Sunday, Oct. 22 on FOX. The World Series, presented by Youtube TV, begins Tuesday, Oct. 24 on FOX.
The one-hour special celebrates the legendary episode "Homer at the Bat," in addition to Homer Simpson's induction into The National Baseball Hall of Fame earlier this year. A satire of Ken Burns' epic documentary, "Baseball," the special features interviews with eight Major League Baseball players appearing in the original episode, along with baseball historians, sportscasters, and iconic personalities, such as
FOX Sports' Joe Buck, sports announcer Bob Costas, author George Will, Dr. Oz, fashion consultant and television personality Tim Gunn and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio. Current Yankee slugger and Major League Baseball AL MVP candidate Aaron Judge also appears in the special.
Additionally, the feature contains six minutes of never-before-seen original animation from THE SIMPSONS, including character "interviews" with Homer, Moe, Chief Wiggum and Apu, voiced by Dan Castellaneta and Hank Azaria.
Directed by Academy Award nominee Morgan Spurlock, the documentary is produced by
Fox Sports Originals.
"We're glad Morgan is strange enough to take this on," said James L. Brooks, executive producer, THE SIMPSONS.
"I love
THE SIMPSONS so much and am proud to be reunited with them on this incredible special. A special so special that it not only celebrates Springfieldian Homer Simpson, but one that reminds us all that maybe if we tried a little less, great things can happen," said Spurlock.
FOX Sports features live regionalized NFL coverage at 1:00 PM ET and 4:05 PM ET with NFL broadcasts available in both competing teams' home markets, as well as select additional cities around the country. Viewers with an
NFL MATCHUP airing at 1:00 PM ET get to watch the documentary at 4:30 PM ET; viewers with an
NFL MATCHUP airing at 4:05 PM ET get to watch the documentary at 3:00 PM ET. SPRINGFIELD OF DREAMS: THE LEGEND OF HOMER SIMPSON also airs on Friday, Oct. 20 at 6:00 PM ET on FS1.
"Collaborating with Morgan Spurlock has been an ideal fit for
Fox Sports Originals," said Charlie Dixon, FS1/FS2 EVP of Content. "Working together has allowed us to showcase our partnership with Major League Baseball in a creative and unconventional way."
Click
here for a sneak peek at the documentary.
The annual Halloween-themed "Treehouse of Horror XXVIII" episode of
THE SIMPSONS also airs on Oct. 22 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT). In the episode, Maggie becomes possessed by an ancient demon, Lisa (Yeardley Smith) discovers a creepy/perfect version of her family in an alternate universe and Homer (Castellaneta) cannibalizes himself. Ben Daniels (THE EXORCIST), director William Friedkin ("The Exorcist") and chef Mario Batali make guest-voice appearances.
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