| The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject(s) | The Simpsons |
| Genre(s) | Television, Humor |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Publication date | November 12, 1997 |
| Media type | Print (Softcover) |
| Pages | 249 pp[1] |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-00-638898-1 |
| Followed by | The Simpsons Forever! |
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".[1] According to Groening's foreword, the book was nearly titled Encyclopedia Simpsonica.
Contents |
On pages 10-11 are short biographies of each of the five immediate members of the Simpson family, namely Homer, 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.[2]
| Seasons covered | Book title |
|---|---|
| 1 to 8 | The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family |
| 9 & 10 | The Simpsons Forever! |
| 11 & 12 | The Simpsons Beyond Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Still Continued |
| 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 |
As an in-joke, the Guide made an actual appearance in the 2003 episode "Today I Am a Clown", where Lisa uses it to remind Homer that Santa's Little Helper was supposedly neutered in a previous episode (specifically, "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds"). However, the episode proves her information false. In actuality, the book contains no reference to Santa's Little Helper being neutered.
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