MMM ... GUATEMALAN INSANITY PEPPERS

In honor of this week's Simpsons movie, we point you to 10 Zen Monkeys and its recap of "the six trippiest scenes from The Simpsons."

Best one: When Homer eats Guatemalan Insanity Peppers and receives wisdom from a coyote voiced by Johnny Cash. More, please.

SEE THE HOMER. BE THE HOMER.

Springfield's bid to capture the movie premiere of "The Simpsons" goes goofy on Saturday, with a public filming on Park Central Square. It's a cattle call, kids, with more than 400 extras needed for a scene "depicting a downtown commotion over the prospective premiere of the movie."

Details from the Convention and Visitors Bureau:

1) Need to meet in the square itself at 11 a.m. Filming will last no later than 4 p.m.
2) Should consider bringing the whole family for the filming.
3) Will complete a release form (Minors must bring a guardian to sign.).
4) Are encouraged to bring creative signs in protest of The Simpsons Movie coming to Springfield, Missouri. Signs cannot include profanity. Some suggestions include: “Simpsons. No way. No how.” “Go home Hollywood!” “D’ohn’t Come Here” “I Prefer Springfield Cardinals Homers.” “Bart Simpson: Eat MY Shorts!” “Dooooughnuts. Nuts is Right!”

Seems they're trying mighty hard to land the movie premiere. Too hard, probably. The theme of Springfield's entry is apparently anti-Simpsons. Sorry, but even Cletus and Brandine would see through that reverse psychology.

JOHNNY HART, 76

He created a little comic strip called B.C. He died Saturday. The Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin reports:

Hart's B.C. comic strip was launched in 1958 and eventually appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers worldwide with an audience of 100 million. He lent his characters to promote many local agencies and activities, including the Broome Dusters hockey team, BC Transit, Broome County Parks and the professional golf tournament which became the B.C. Open.

B.C. participated in the nation's space program. In 1972, Hart received a public service award from NASA for outstanding contributions.

Later in his career, some of Hart's cartoons addressed religious themes -- a reflection of his own deepening Christian faith -- which dismayed some readers and delighted others.

Hart also was co-creator of Wizard of Id.

IWAO TAKAMOTO, 81

Brother Richard gets the point in the increasingly vigorous competition. Fox News reports:

In a career that spanned more than six decades, Iwao Takamoto assisted in the designs of some of the biggest animated features and television shows, including "Cinderella," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp" and "The Flintstones."

But it was Takamoto's creation of Scooby-Doo, the cowardly dog with an adventurous heart, that captivated audiences and endured for generations. ...

Born in Los Angeles to parents who had emigrated from Japan, Takamoto graduated high school when World War II began. He and his family were sent to the Manzanar internment camp in the California desert, where he learned the art of illustration from fellow internees.

The competition breakdown: Richard called it at 2:17 a.m. Tuesday. John Stone, the Curbstone Critic, chimed in at 4:33 a.m.

Thom from Dustyhouse Studios puts the proper perspective on Takamoto's death:

This completes the HB trifecta that was begun around Dec 18th when Chris Hayward and Joe Barbera died. Sad month for cartoon land.

Mighty sad.

TOM, JERRY BUSTED FOR SMOKING

Underdog isn't around because he popped a pill before becoming a crime fighter. Now, other cartoon characters are getting nailed for their old, bad habits. Reuters reports:

Turner Broadcasting is scouring more than 1,500 classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons, including old favourites Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, to edit out scenes that glamorise smoking.

The review was triggered by a complaint to media regulator Ofcom by one viewer who took offence to two episodes of Tom and Jerry shown on the Boomerang channel, part of Turner Broadcasting which itself belongs to Time Warner Inc. ...

The regulator's latest news bulletin stated that a viewer, who was not identified, had complained about two smoking scenes on Tom and Jerry, saying they "were not appropriate in a cartoon aimed at children."

In the first, "Texas Tom", the hapless cat Tom tries to impress a feline female by rolling a cigarette, lighting it and smoking it with one hand. In the second, "Tennis Chumps", Tom's opponent in a match smokes a large cigar.

"The licensee has ... proposed editing any scenes or references in the series where smoking appeared to be condoned, acceptable, glamorised or where it might encourage imitation," Ofcom said, adding that "Texas Tom" was one such example.

Don't tell anyone, but we're pretty sure Bugs Bunny is a cross-dresser.