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  • For its special 800th episode, ‘The Simpsons’ is headed to Philadelphia

    For its special 800th episode, ‘The Simpsons’ is headed to Philadelphia

    On the 800th episode of The Simpsons, the beloved show will send its cartoon family to Philly.

    Now in its 37th season, the comedy will ring in the milestone on Feb. 15 with “Irrational Treasure,” a spoof on Nicolas Cage’s National Treasure franchise that filmed (a bit) in Philadelphia.

    The episode will feature a slate of Philly-raised talent including Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson, The Bondsman actor Kevin Bacon, and The Roots drummer Questlove — as well as Boyz II Men, who will sing their own rendition of the show’s legendary theme song.

    A still from “The Simpsons” episode “Irrational Treasure,” airing on Fox on Feb. 15.

    “Marge’s crusade to get the family dog in better shape leads to her entering Santa’s Little Helper in canine agility competitions and a trip to the National Dog Show in Philadelphia,” reads the logline, according to Entertainment Weekly. “There, Marge and Homer suddenly find themselves — and the dog — mixed up in a historical conspiracy adventure worthy of a National Treasure movie.”

    The Philly adventure will see Homer (Dan Castellaneta) chomping on a cheesesteak in front of Pat’s and Geno’s, and a Segway tour guide (voiced by Questlove). The Roots will also make an animated cameo. Given the dog show premise, could there also be a reference to Best in Show, another classic Philly film? We’ll have to wait and see.

    The Roots make a cameo in a milestone episode of “The Simpsons.”

    Brunson will voice a character named Adrienne (Yo! Is that perhaps a Rocky reference?), while Bacon takes on a Philly concierge.

    Other guest stars include The Pitt actors Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa, and Taylor Dearden voicing a doctor, nurse, and intern, respectively. (The HBO show is set in Pittsburgh, but the actors aren’t from there.)

    Questlove will voice a Philly segway tour guide in “The Simpsons” special 800th episode, airing Feb. 15 on Fox.

    The Simpsons have spotlighted Philadelphia icons previously, from a purple Gritty appearance in one of the “Treehouse of Horror” episodes, to parodies of M. Night Shyamalan thrillers Sixth Sense and Trap.

    The 800th episode of “The Simpsons” premieres 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, on Fox.

  • Pennsylvania Farm Show unveils a 1,000-pound butter sculpture honoring America’s 250th birthday

    Pennsylvania Farm Show unveils a 1,000-pound butter sculpture honoring America’s 250th birthday

    It’s January, and that means one of Pennsylvania’s grandest spectacles is back again: the annual Farm Show butter sculpture.

    Every year, in Harrisburg, a new 1,000-pound sculpture is unveiled to the public at the Farm Show Complex, a 1-million-square-foot event space that hosts the long-running show. Some years, the sculpture features mascots, like Gritty. This year’s sculpture is titled, “A Toast to Our Nation’s 250th Anniversary: Inspired by Founders. Grown by Farmers” in honor of America’s Semiquincentennial.

    “The butter sculpture is a people-pleasing favorite every year at the Pennsylvania Farm Show,” Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in a news release. “In this America250 year, it takes on a deeper meaning reflecting how agriculture has been the roots of our nation’s growth and prosperity for 250 years, and how Pennsylvania farmers will continue to lead us forward.”

    If you’ve been to the show, with its live calf births, livestock shows, concerts, and dizzying array of food options, then you know. If you haven’t been there, it’s time to call out sick and hit the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

    The completed butter sculpture crafted from 1,000 pounds of butter over 14 days by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.

    The show began on Friday and runs daily through Saturday. The butter sculpture, which has been part of the Farm Show for over half a century, is enclosed in a large, refrigerated case.

    This year’s sculpture is a 1776 Philadelphia tableau, featuring Benjamin Franklin and the Founding Fathers at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, complete with a celebratory toast with milk. The Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross make an appearance, too.

    Like most years, the butter sculpture was created by Conshohocken artists Jim Victor and Marie Pelton. They’ve worked with chocolate, cheese, and ice over their careers, but butter’s brought them the most acclaim.

    The butter is often donated by large national producers like Land O Lakes or Keller’s, and no, it can’t be melted and drizzled on popcorn.

    “It’s waste butter we get from plants,” Pelton told The Inquirer in 2020. ”It’s stuff that’s been extruded or cleaned out, or stuff that’s been damaged, or generally can’t be sold to the public.”

    According to the Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural expo in the nation, featuring nearly 5,000 animals, 12,000-plus competitive entries from more than 4,600 competitors, plus more than 250 commercial exhibits, and hundreds of educational and entertaining events. Admission is free. Parking is $15 per vehicle. Farming, according to the Department of Agriculture, provides 593,000 Pennsylvania jobs and contributes $132.5 billion to the state’s economy each year.

    Marie Pelton and Jim Victor with the mascot-themed butter sculpture they created for the 104th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg in January 2020.