Having trouble getting to the forbidden donut shop? Homer Simpson can help—the animated family man is now on the TomTom App for iPhone, and can act as your co-pilot. The PR folks tell us this is the first time a celebrity voice has ever been available for mobile phone based GPS. They added: more ›

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Mercato 55: The other buzzed-about opening this week is this Meatpacking District African brasserie. The menu at Mercato 55 – the name means “market” in Italian – is intended to evoke the vibe of Africa's largest outdoor market, Addis Merkato in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Two floors accommodate 150 diners; earth tones, exposed wood and murals painted with scenes from African markets add to the intended ambience. The food isn’t confined to Ethiopian fare, but there are Ethiopian classics like a dish of chicken stewed with onions, ginger, garlic, and spices served in a cast-iron pot, accompanied by traditional injera bread. A small plates menu has a wide range of dishes, such as merguez sausage, corn pap and chili mustard sauce. Large plates cost $16-$32; the cheapest being a burger with green tomato and awase mayo. And dessert brings out Homer Simpson’s inner soul brother: African doughnuts. 55 Gansevoort St. (212) 255-8555.
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Did your commute feel more like Springfield than New York today? If you're out and about than you'll likely run into the Simpson-izing of Manhattan! Too bad we don't have a monorail here. more ›

Last night television created a new internet superstar (though we're sure they won't make any money off this whole internet thing), when Homer Simpson paid homage to Brooklyn's own Noah Kalina. You can watch the original video here, and Homer's below. more ›

A look at some noteworthy television this week: more ›

Giving Proper Credit to CBS 2 and Scott Weinberger more ›

Emergency newswires are reporting that Port Authority cops requested that the Emergency Services Unit hustle over to Laguardia's main terminal this afternoon - and with a cage - because there was a monkey on the loose inside the airport. The animal apparently arrived at Gate B6 on Spirit Airlines' Flight 180. more ›

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The blog Ironic Sans is going through different animated films or TV shows that show Manhattan and analyzing how they portray the city. It's really great, and so far, there are entries on Fritz the Cat, Antz, Sundae in New York, The Simpsons: The City of New York Vs. Homer Simpson, Tom & Jerry: Mouse in Manhattan, Family Guy, and the Rhapsody in Blue segment in Fantasia 2000. Ironic Sans' David says he has a long list of films and shows to go through, and we hope that the short-lived animated show, The Critic, is included. We also remember the Animaniacs segment, Goodfeathers, but we're not sure if it was specifically set in NYC. And would Paul Dini and Bruce Timm's Batman: The Animated Series count? Probably not, but it was awesome. more ›

Sometimes we get a kick out of strange criminal activities. Especially when they remind us of pop culture references that we hadn't thought of for a while. For instance, when we got to A Sugar-Plumb Stupid Theft in today's Post the first thing, and for a few moments only thing, that came to our mind was the immortal words of Homer Simpson: "In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women." more ›

Well, the Post has ruined butter knives for us. There is a story about a career criminal hiding a knife in his buttocks. Or at least that's what the authorities think. George Konstantides apparently pulled out a knife to threaten correction officers (with the typical "If you come near me, I'll cut you" spoken threat), but then hid it in his buttocks. The Post says officers used the "BOSS" Body Orifice Scanning System that can "detect metal secreted in a suspect's rectum" but there was "no sign of the weapon." Ew ew ew. And worse (or brilliant), the Post headline: " COPS MAKE BUTT-ER KNIFE CON SPREAD 'EM." But the Homer Simpson in us does sort of crave some warm French bread and Vermont butter. more ›

Besides fumbling with the newspaper, the subway game Gothamist plays is "Do we really need to hold onto the bar/pole to remain steady?" Sometimes, we're able to lean against the doors (yes, the MTA doesn't advise this, but we're skilled at it). Or sometimes we'll work on our balance and just plant our legs firmly on the ground and will ourselves not to topple into others. But most of the time, Gothamist grabs onto the bar or pole and whip out the Purell as soon as we're out of there. more ›

For some reason, this reminds us about The Simpsons episode, The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson (4F22), where Bart yells from the Statue of Liberty to a boat full of immigrants that the country is full. New York City is obviously not full, and Gothamist welcomes the newcomers with open arms. Now give us some of that money. more ›

Check out Spitzer's Eliot Spitzer 2006 website. And you know something really is wrong with Albany when there's another NY Times lede that says, "Something unusual happened in Albany this week: Things actually happened." more ›

Of all of the reports about the stalled contract negotiations between Fox and the vocal talent of The Simpsons and current work stoppage, you have to hand it to Variety. Their article ended on this pearl of wisdon:

Homer Simpson, in 1995 episode "The PTA Disbands," gave Lisa this piece of advice on work stoppages: "If you don't like your job, you don't strike. You just go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American Way."

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Rotten Tomatoes on The Passion of the Christ: So far, rotten. But Roger Ebert gives it 4 stars, calling it "the most violent film I have ever seen." Hey, Newmarket Films, there's your blurb to get the teenage boys in the doors! more ›

You can also watch the commercials at AdAge. more ›

, rather than what the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (aka the people behing the Emmys) do, which is put The Simpsons in the animated cartoon category. more ›