MUMBAI: US broadcaster Fox has renewed ?The Simpsons?, the longest-running comedy in television history, for a 24th and 25th season, bringing the series total to 559 episodes.
In India, the show airs on Star World.

The longest-running scripted show in television history exploded into a cultural phenomenon in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world.
Matt Groening created the iconic family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. In February 2012, the show will celebrate its historic 500th episode.

The series has won 27 Emmy Awards, been the subject of a film, created "Krustyland" and a virtual coaster ? The Simpsons Ride ? at Universal Studios theme park, received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, been honoured with five US postal stamps personally designed by Matt Groening, and named the "Best Show of the 20th Century" by Time Magazine.

Following the MLB American League Championship Series and World Series games on Fox, the show returns with all-new episodes beginning with "Treehouse of Horrors XXII," on 30 October. In the spooky opener, Homer takes a dangerous dive into an isolated canyon on Candy Peak, but when a crashing boulder traps his arm, he channels Aron Ralston (guest voicing as himself) to save himself.

In "The Diving Bell and Butterball," the first of three hair-raising Halloween tales, a venomous spider bite leaves Homer paralyzed, but when Lisa discovers Homer?s ability to communicate through natural gases, he is able to express his love for Marge. The killer spells continue in "Dial D for Diddly," when Ned Flanders, devout preacher by day, transforms into a cold-blooded vigilante by night.

In the final tale, ?In the Na?Vi?, Bart and Milhouse are assigned on a mission to access a sacred extract on a distant planet. They morph into the land?s indigenous one-eyed avatars, but when Bart finds love and an eternal mate abroad, he is caught in planet warfare.
 

MUMBAI: Star Movies has launched a new initiative, Star Movies Hollywood Premieres, to bring exclusive screenings of the Hollywood titles for their fans a day prior to their official theatrical release.

For the same, the channel will be leveraging the strength of their studio tie ups.

The channel will ask the viewers to participate in a contest and answer questions that will be broadcasted on Star Movies and their India Facebook Fan page. Lucky viewers will get the opportunity to attend the exclusive premiere screening of the latest upcoming movie title.

The property is kick starting with the premier of The Three Musketeers on 13 October at select theaters in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata.

To engage viewers further, the English movie channel will also conduct other activities during the screening like lucky draws which gives the viewers a chance to win a Blackberry and Star Movies branded merchandise.

Star movies also holds the exclusive right to premiere other Hollywood biggies like In Time, Twilight Saga- Breaking Dawn and The Darkest Hour among others.

Star India GM and Sr VP, English Channels Saurabh Yagnik says, "Star Movies is a Hollywood expert and a leading destination for the biggest Hollywood blockbusters in India. We are delighted to bring the most awaited and acclaimed Hollywood titles for our Indian viewers and are committed to growing the consumption of Hollywood movies here. We want to continue as Hollywood experts and believe in giving our viewers the complete Hollywood experience by launching a premium brand property, ?Star Movies Hollywood Premieres?. This will give the viewers the opportunity to exclusively experience the premiers, prior to their official theatrical release in India. We have tie ups with some of the biggest studios and aim to enhance viewer engagement and build brand Star Movies."

MUMBAI: US cable network AMC has announced that Emmy Award-winning make-up effects artist Greg Nicotero has been a named co-executive producer of ?The Walking Dead?.

Nicotero has also inked a first-look deal with the network, which gives him the opportunity to bring his own passion projects to AMC.

At the recently held Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Nicotero won Best Prosthetic Make-up for ?The Walking Dead?. Nicotero directs a series of webisodes this season and is also set to direct an episode.

AMC senior VP of original programming, production and digital content Joel Stillerman said, "Greg‘s talent extends well beyond the word of special fx makeup. He is also a truly talented director, and has an incredibly comprehensive understanding and appreciation for great storytelling. His knowledge and respect for the genre is unparalleled, and we are looking forward to expanding our relationship with him with an eye towards developing more great original series."
 
Nicotero, who co-owns KNB EFX GROUP, one of Hollywood‘s most successful Make-up Effects Studios, premiered his film The United Monster Talent Agency on AMC‘S Fearfest last Halloween.

His work on ?The Walking Dead? continues this season on amctv.com. Beginning on 3 October, fans are able to watch the six-episode web series.

Produced by Generate, and conceived and directed by Nicotero and written by John Esposito, the webisodes tell an ?origin? story of a woman‘s struggle to survive and to protect her family as the world begins to fall apart. Fans have the opportunity to explore the back story of one of the most celebrated ?walkers? last season. It focuses on "Bicycle Girl," the infamous zombie from season one, who was shot by Rick Grimes in the pilot episode. Fans learn about this woman‘s life before the apocalypse, and watch her story unfold into what becomes her ultimate demise into zombie-hood.

Nicotero said, "Working on ?The Walking Dead? with such a fantastic cast and crew has been an amazing opportunity, and to have our contribution to the show celebrated is a tremendous compliment. I have always felt like the show had a cinematic feel and everyone involved is dedicated to making this show something special. To be able to branch out and to develop not only the web series but also genre material is something I have always wanted to do; given the people I have had the pleasure of working with over the last 23 years."

Mumbai: US cable network AMC has announced that Emmy Award-winning make-up effects artist Greg Nicotero has been a named co-executive producer of ?The Walking Dead?.

Nicotero has also inked a first-look deal with the network, which gives him the opportunity to bring his own passion projects to AMC.

At the recently held Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Nicotero won Best Prosthetic Make-up for ?The Walking Dead?. Nicotero directs a series of webisodes this season and is also set to direct an episode. 

AMC senior VP of original programming, production and digital content Joel Stillerman said, "Greg?s talent extends well beyond the word of special fx makeup. He is also a truly talented director, and has an incredibly comprehensive understanding and appreciation for great storytelling. His knowledge and respect for the genre is unparalleled, and we are looking forward to expanding our relationship with him with an eye towards developing more great original series."

Nicotero, who co-owns KNB EFX GROUP, one of Hollywood?s most successful Make-up Effects Studios, premiered his film The United Monster Talent Agency on AMC?S Fearfest last Halloween.

His work on ?The Walking Dead? continues this season on amctv.com. Beginning on 3 October, fans are able to watch the six-episode web series.

Produced by Generate, and conceived and directed by Nicotero and written by John Esposito, the webisodes tell an ?origin? story of a woman?s struggle to survive and to protect her family as the world begins to fall apart. Fans have the opportunity to explore the back story of one of the most celebrated ?walkers? last season. It focuses on "Bicycle Girl," the infamous zombie from season one, who was shot by Rick Grimes in the pilot episode. Fans learn about this woman?s life before the apocalypse, and watch her story unfold into
what becomes her ultimate demise into zombie-hood.

Nicotero said, "Working on ?The Walking Dead? with such a fantastic cast and crew has been an amazing opportunity, and to have our contribution to the show celebrated is a tremendous compliment. I have always felt like the show had a cinematic feel and everyone involved is dedicated to making this show something special. To be able to branch out and to develop not only the web series but also genre material is something I have always wanted to do; given the people I have had the pleasure of working with over the last 23 years."