FIRST TV Special!

[JVN]

Ohh man!

Apparently FOX television is in trouble due to the "low-brow" content of their prime-time programming. In order to counter the effect of such shows as "Paradise Hotel" FOX has been ordered to include more educational programming in their prime-time lineup. (I think they were issued a quota of 1 hour per month).

So...
What does this mean?

FOX is in negotiations with FIRST to do an hour long Simpsons special in which Bart is forced onto a local FIRST team because of his prankster hijinx. I don't know many details but, I'm sure we'll be hearing more about it real soon...

Has anyone else heard more about this? Anyone got a neighbor who works for FOX or something?

[Koko Ed]

Originally posted by JVN
Ohh man!

Apparently FOX television is in trouble due to the "low-brow" content of their prime-time programming. In order to counter the effect of such shows as "Paradise Hotel" FOX has been ordered to include more educational programming in their prime-time lineup. (I think they were issued a quota of 1 hour per month).

So...
What does this mean?

FOX is in negotiations with FIRST to do an hour long Simpsons special in which Bart is forced onto a local FIRST team because of his prankster hijinx. I don't know many details but, I'm sure we'll be hearing more about it real soon...

Has anyone else heard more about this? Anyone got a neighbor who works for FOX or something?

I am suddenly having nightmarish vsions of FOX getting ahold of FIRST and trying to make it more "rating friendly" by either introducing more "demographically appealing "(i.e. model like) team members prone to back stabbing and making out between competitons with the worst performing teams being voted out.
Or to have FOX's overzealous sports department with their over dramatic sports commercials making competitions sound like a battle between good and evil with that melodramatic guy doing the voice over for the commercials " This Sunday in Cleveland, 64 teams battle for it all at the Buckeye regional to see who gets to move on to Atlanta and who is heading for home!"or having Simon Cowell as one of the judges at the competitions belittling teams for poor performing robots. "you call that a robot? I 've used can openers that we're more advanced!"
oy, I have a headache....

[Dan Richardson]

there is no way.. this has gotta be a rumor, if this is true, I'm going to pass out and die on the spot..

It will be amazing street cred for FIRST tho, and a great promoting tool to attract more students into the FIRST program

I hope they incorporate speed holes

Originally posted by Koko Ed
I am suddenly having nightmarish vsions of FOX getting ahold of FIRST and trying to make it more "rating friendly" by either introducing more "demographically appealing "(i.e. model like) team members prone to back stabbing and making out between competitons with the worst performing teams being voted out.
Or to have FOX's overzealous sports department with their over dramatic sports commercials making competitions sound like a battle between good and evil with that melodramatic guy doing the voice over for the commercials " This Sunday in Cleveland, 64 teams battle for it all at the Buckeye regional to see who gets to move on to Atlanta and who is heading for home!"or having Simon Cowell as one of the judges at the competitions belittling teams for poor performing robots. "you call that a robot? I 've used can openers that we're more advanced!"
oy, I have a headache....

hehe that would be funny.. but I doubt that FIRST nor FOX would want to be that involved with each other, FIRST is cool but when people see bots, they'd wrather see them destroying each other, I don't think we will be on network television ne time soon.. other than the nasa tv

Although you never know what people will do .. so I might have to eat my words later

[kristen]

How would they do this without including ACTUAL teams... I mean, the numbering would have to be different, otherwise people on the ACTUAL teams might be finding themselves animated

[David Kelly]

man, i heard something about that at IRI. i thought they were just joking or something... maybe its true... dude tha'd be sweet!

[J Flex 188]

i think speed holes have become an integral part of every teams strategy = )..

still its amazing what the simpsons have done for popular culture.. one such example would be speed holes.. sometimes the zany and wacky lines end up having a peculiar effect on people and sometimes worm theyre way into speaking.. quite a nice effect.. but as Koko Ed said.. if this does happen, hopefully it wont turn into anything too crass.. -__-"

[Madison]

Okay, so, imagine this --

A very Battlebots-esque competition is coming to the home of the Springfield Isotopes -- Duff Stadium.

Bart gets to work immediately, mayhem and hilarity ensues, and finally, he ends up with a machine of wanton death and destruction. Canyonero 2.0.

Lisa impresses the judges of the science fair and joins Springfield High's FIRST Team -- sponsored by the Leftorium.

At the end of the episode, it comes down to Lisa's finely engineered piece of machinery versus Bart's monster. Of course, Lisa's cunning engineering skills and strategy win over brute strength and mindless violence.

If The Simpsons are going to be involved, they've got to take cheap shots at *something*

[seanwitte]

Bart and Lisa are in elementary school, so unless it was a FLL team it wouldn't be possible. Cool idea though.

It would be a better fit with Malcolm in the Middle. Malcolm joins to build robots, then Reece jumps in when he finds out they're going to Atlanta for the championships.

[Madison]

Originally posted by seanwitte
Bart and Lisa are in elementary school, so unless it was a FLL team it wouldn't be possible. Cool idea though.

It would be a better fit with Malcolm in the Middle. Malcolm joins to build robots, then Reece jumps in when he finds out they're going to Atlanta for the championships.

Bart and Lisa have been in elementary school for over 10 years. I don't think realism is a top priority of The Simpsons.

[WakeZero]

I am not sure the Simpsons would be the best place to get the word of FIRST across...

Before I say anything else however, I would love to see something in writing before I believe the rumor

[jon]

Originally posted by M. Krass
Bart and Lisa have been in elementary school for over 10 years. I don't think realism is a top priority of The Simpsons.

Well, every episode doesn't span over the course of the time until the next episode, so they could just be picking up where they left off.

But yes, it's true it's not a believable show.

Also, how the hell would this be educational? On some level yes... but come on, it's The Simpsons.

[Jeff Waegelin]

I think it would be interesting. If done right, it could be very good publicity for FIRST. Of course, John could just be leading us on...

[Beth Sweet]

Well, it would definately be an interesting twist!!! And I'm sure that many of our team members would be interested. If anyone saw our pits this year, and stopped to watch the video, at "intermission" there is a scene of about half of the team sittin in the gm lunchroom watching the simpsons. It's rather commical. Seriously though, it would definately be a great idea.

[Joel J]

Originally posted by WakeZero
I am not sure the Simpsons would be the best place to get the word of FIRST across...

Before I say anything else however, I would love to see something in writing before I believe the rumor

I am interested to know why you think the Simpsons isn't "the best place to get the word of FIRST across.." because, as of now, it doesn't sound like such a bad idea.

[ZACH P.]

I dont think that Bart being forced into the team would be good, because it wouldn't be of his free will, and mioght make it seem like joining a FIRST team is a punishment. Also at the end, or whatever they could get the point across that FIRST is a real program, and then give contact information, or interview a team, etc. kinda like Arthur!