Gracie Films: Difference between revisions
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===Background=== | ===Background=== | ||
'''Gracie Films''' is the film and television production company of [[w:James L. Brooks|James L. Brooks]], established in 1986 and named after comedian '''Gracie''' Allen (1895-1964). Their first production was ''The Tracey Ullman Show'', an early hit for Fox. Alongside other theatrical films like ''Broadcast News'', ''Big'', and ''Say Anything'', they are best-known for producing ''The Simpsons'' (which came from ''The Tracey Ullman Show''). | '''Gracie Films''' is the film and television production company of [[w:James L. Brooks|James L. Brooks]], established in 1986 and named after late comedian '''Gracie''' Allen (1895-1964). Their first production was ''The Tracey Ullman Show'', an early hit for Fox. Alongside other theatrical films like ''Broadcast News'', ''Big'', and ''Say Anything'', they are best-known for producing ''The Simpsons'' (which came from ''The Tracey Ullman Show''). | ||
===1st Logo (April 5, 1987-January 25, 2009)=== | ===1st Logo (April 5, 1987-January 25, 2009)=== | ||
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'''Trivia:''' This logo was parodied at the end of ''Queer Duck: The Movie''. The audience is different here (consisting of the main characters of ''Queer Duck''): instead, we hear the normal shushing, we also hear Queer Duck (voiced by Jim J. Bullock) saying "Oh, hush yourself, b**ch!", and the text in the projector screen reads "DISGRACE FILMS". | '''Trivia:''' This logo was parodied at the end of ''Queer Duck: The Movie''. The audience is different here (consisting of the main characters of ''Queer Duck''): instead, we hear the normal shushing, we also hear Queer Duck (voiced by Jim J. Bullock) saying "Oh, hush yourself, b**ch!", and the text in the projector screen reads "DISGRACE FILMS". | ||
''' | '''Variants''' (a few of them, anyway): | ||
* ''The Simpsons'' has featured many alternate variations of the logo over the years, with different music, sound effects, and/or dialogue. One recurring variation is on Halloween episodes, where a woman screaming is heard followed by a pipe organ playing the theme. For a | * ''The Simpsons'' has featured many alternate variations of the logo over the years, with different music, sound effects, and/or dialogue. One recurring variation is on Halloween episodes, where a woman screaming is heard followed by a creepy pipe organ playing the theme. For a full comprehensive list of variations, see The Simpsons Archive's Alternate Credits Guide or our variations page on this company. | ||
* Another example of a variant is on ''The Simpsons'' episode "Kamp Krusty", where a mariachi band plays the jingle, and after that, a bunch of people yell "¡Olé!". | * Another famous example of a variant is on ''The Simpsons'' episode "Kamp Krusty", where a mariachi band plays the jingle, and after that, a bunch of people yell "¡Olé!". | ||
* The first visual variation of this logo on a ''Simpsons'' episode was at the end of "Last Tap Dance in Springfield" (which can be shown on this page). | * The first visual variation of this logo on a ''Simpsons'' episode was at the end of "Last Tap Dance in Springfield" (which can be shown on this page). | ||
* On the webisodes of ''The Critic'', the logo is in the center of the screen, is brighter and blue, and is still. This variant uses the end theme of the show. | * On the webisodes of ''The Critic'', the logo is in the center of the screen, is brighter and blue, and is still. This variant uses the end theme of the show. | ||
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'''FX/SFX:''' The hand raising, the lights dimming, and the company name fading in. | '''FX/SFX:''' The hand raising, the lights dimming, and the company name fading in. | ||
'''Music/Sounds:''' The sound of an audience muttering and murmuring is heard (voiced by former Fox CEO Garth | '''Music/Sounds:''' The sound of an audience muttering and murmuring is heard (voiced by former Fox CEO Garth Anchier and composer Jeffrey Townsend, double tracked to sound like more than two people), sometimes extended during the logo's early years, followed by a shushing sound effect (provided by British comedian Tracey Ullman), then a 9-note piano theme with drums composed by Jeffrey Townsend on a tiny Korg 05R/W rack with a custom preset. The tune is very similar to the refrain of "The King of Wishful Thinking" by Go West, but since this logo predates that song, this is just a coincidence. | ||
'''Music/Sounds Trivia:''' | '''Music/Sounds Trivia:''' | ||
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'''Music/Sounds Variants:''' | '''Music/Sounds Variants:''' | ||
* On Halloween episodes of ''The Simpsons'', starting with "Treehouse of Horror IV", a woman screaming cowardly replaces the shush, and the logo theme is played on an electric organ. Numerous other alternate versions of the theme have been used over the years (see "Variants" above). Earlier Halloween shows lack some parts of the audio. On "Treehouse of Horror XXI" (2010), the woman's scream is replaced with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_scream Wilhelm scream]. | * On Halloween episodes of ''The Simpsons'', starting with "Treehouse of Horror IV", a woman screaming very cowardly replaces the shush, and the logo theme is played on an electric organ. Numerous other alternate versions of the theme have been used over the years (see "Variants" above). Earlier Halloween shows lack some parts of the audio. On "Treehouse of Horror XXI" (2010), the woman's scream is replaced with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_scream Wilhelm scream]. | ||
* Some episodes might use a soundbite from the episode, or use a voiceover from a character in that episode that plays alongside the jingle. Others have sound effects and/or voiceovers completely replacing the jingle. | * Some episodes might use a soundbite from the episode, or use a voiceover from a character in that episode that plays alongside the jingle. Others have sound effects and/or voiceovers completely replacing the jingle. | ||
* On some ''Simpsons'' episodes that feature songs during the closing credits, such as "Dancin' Homer" and "Monty Can't Buy Me Love", the closing song continues playing over the Gracie Films logo. This includes some syndication prints that shift the closing music so it starts after the last commercial break, causing the music to end over the logo. | * On some ''Simpsons'' episodes that feature songs during the closing credits, such as "Dancin' Homer" and "Monty Can't Buy Me Love", the closing song continues playing over the Gracie Films logo. This includes some syndication prints that shift the closing music so it starts after the last commercial break, causing the music to end over the logo. | ||
* The ''Simpsons'' episode "Fat Man and Little Boy" features a low tone version of the jingle. | * The ''Simpsons'' episode "Fat Man and Little Boy" features a low tone version of the jingle. | ||
* On many ''Simpsons'' episodes since Season 4, the logo is shown without the murmuring (you hear the "Shhh!" right after the last note of the closing theme, which is heard right at the start of the logo). With the show's cable debut on FXX on August 21, 2014 (when the ''Every Simpsons Ever'' marathon began), new syndication prints which are cropped (with some parts stretched) to fill the 16:9 screen now feature two credit cards for the Spanish Language audio track in between the copyright card and the Gracie Films logo, so now this is not seen on the new syndication prints. However, this is preserved on the DVD releases, existing local syndication prints, and on [[Disney+ Originals|Disney+]] (4:3 option must be selected). | * On many ''Simpsons'' episodes since Season 4, the logo is shown without the murmuring (you hear the "Shhh!" right after the last note of the closing theme, which is heard right at the start of the logo). With the show's cable debut on FXX on August 21, 2014 (when the ''Every Simpsons Ever'' marathon began), new syndication prints which are cropped (with some parts stretched) to fill the 16:9 screen now feature two credit cards for the Spanish Language audio track in between the copyright card and the Gracie Films logo, so now this is not seen on the new syndication prints. However, this is preserved on the DVD releases, existing local syndication prints, and on [[Disney+ Originals|Disney+]] (4:3 option must be selected). | ||
* | * An even shorter version is found on the short-lived ''Phenom'', which cuts off the first two notes along with the murmuring and "Shhh!". | ||
* ABC airings of ''What About Joan'' used a generic theme. | * ABC airings of ''What About Joan'' used a generic theme. | ||
* On the first 3 seasons of ''The Tracey Ullman Show'', the jingle was slightly high pitched, but throughout the first season of the show, the last note of the jingle was extended. | * On the first 3 seasons of ''The Tracey Ullman Show'', the jingle was slightly high pitched, but throughout the first season of the show, the last note of the jingle was extended. | ||
* On a season 3 episode of ''The Tracey Ullman Show'', Ullman says "go home" (her catchphrase) during the middle of the logo. This was the first variant of the logo. | * On a season 3 episode of ''The Tracey Ullman Show'', Ullman says "go home" (her catchphrase) during the middle of the logo. This was the very first variant of the logo. | ||
'''Availability:''' Very common. Can be seen on all episodes of ''The Simpsons'' from "Simpsons Roasting On an Open Fire" to "Lisa the Drama Queen" in local syndication and on home video. Also seen on the PSP and Nintendo DS versions of ''The Simpsons Game''. Lesser known shows that have this include ''What About Joan'', ''Sibs'', ''Phenom'', ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' (which was the first show to have this logo), and ''The Critic''. The webisode variant can be found on ''The Critic'' webisodes on the 2004 DVD of ''The Critic: The Complete Series''. On Disney+'s 4:3 print of ''The Simpsons'' episode "Like Father, Like Clown", a single frame of this logo briefly appears before switching to the second logo, due to sloppy visual plastering. Don't expect this to appear on early films such as ''Broadcast News'', ''Big'', ''Jerry Maguire'' and ''Spanglish''. | '''Availability:''' Very common. Can be seen on all episodes of ''The Simpsons'' from "Simpsons Roasting On an Open Fire" to "Lisa the Drama Queen" in local syndication and on home video. Also seen on the PSP and Nintendo DS versions of ''The Simpsons Game''. Lesser known shows that have this include ''What About Joan'', ''Sibs'', ''Phenom'', ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' (which was the first show to have this logo), and ''The Critic''. The webisode variant can be found on ''The Critic'' webisodes on the 2004 DVD of ''The Critic: The Complete Series''. On Disney+'s 4:3 print of ''The Simpsons'' episode "Like Father, Like Clown", a single frame of this logo briefly appears before switching to the second logo, due to sloppy visual plastering. Don't expect this to appear on early films such as ''Broadcast News'', ''Big'', ''Jerry Maguire'' and ''Spanglish''. | ||