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The Simpsons' 500th episode airs The Simpsons' 500th episode airs
(about 3 hours later)
The Simpsons has reached a major television milestone with the broadcast of its 500th episode on Sunday.The Simpsons has reached a major television milestone with the broadcast of its 500th episode on Sunday.
The family is exiled from Springfield to a community of outsiders where they meet Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. It saw the cartoon family exiled to a community of outsiders where they met Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Fox TV said Assange recorded his lines from the UK, where he is fighting extradition to Sweden over alleged sex offences - charges he denies.Fox TV said Assange recorded his lines from the UK, where he is fighting extradition to Sweden over alleged sex offences - charges he denies.
The animated comedy is in its 23rd season, making it the longest-running prime-time scripted programme on TV.The animated comedy is in its 23rd season, making it the longest-running prime-time scripted programme on TV.
The show is contracted to run for another two seasons, which will bring it to 559 episodes. The show is contracted to run for another two seasons.
In the 500th episode, entitled At Long Last Leave, the Simpsons sneak into a secret town hall meeting and hear they are about to be thrown out of town. In the 500th episode, entitled At Long Last Leave, the Simpsons are shown sneaking into a secret town hall meeting where they hear they are about to be thrown out of town.
The complaints against them include the usual: Bart's antics and Homer's boorishness. But in a twist, Marge's niceness is also cited. They subsequenty find a welcome in "The Outlands", where Assange is their neighbour.
They find a welcome in "the Outlands", where Assange is their neighbour. Previous guest voices on the programme include former Prime Minister Tony Blair, graffiti artist Banksy and novelist Thomas Pynchon.
Bart asks: "How ya doin', Mr. Assange?" Once the show's 25th season has been completed, the number of episodes made will stand at 559.
Assange replies: "That's my personal information, and you have no right to know about it." Creator Matt Groening said the writers still had stories to tell, mostly involving "characters we've never dealt with".
Previous guest voices on the programme have included former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, graffiti artist Banksy and novelist Thomas Pynchon. "We have a character we call Squeaky-Voiced Teen," he told the href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-the-simpsons-20120219,0,5164788.story?" >Los Angeles Times. "I'd like to know a little bit more about that guy."
While still popular, critics say the show has faded from its former glory during the 1990s and now regularly rehashes themes from past episodes.