The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family

Nearly a decade into their run, it's clear that The Simpsons is one of the best-loved and most influential television shows to come down the pike in a long while. If the show's attitude was a little less pervasive, this encyclopedic book would be aimed solely at Simpsons addicts. But that's not entirely true--Matt Groening and Ray Richmond have created a book that is essential for anyone interested in where TV is today. That's not to suggest that the book is serious, though--it's not. The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family (that's debatable, but who cares?) is a collection of everything related to the show, from all the "couch gags" during the end of the opening credits, to the complete words to the theme song from The Itchy and Scratchy Show. There are broadcast dates, credits, and hidden jokes for every episode. You'll even find a list of things that make Homer go "Mmm..." If you're a fan of the show, you'll be hard-pressed to find fault with Ray Richmond's collection. The only glaring one is that the stills often look a little blurry. Oh, and couldn't they have come up with a funnier title? But that's nitpicking. Simpsons fans, you know what to do.