Get ready for a “d’oh”-lightful twist on “Monday Night Football” as ESPN, Disney, and the NFL team up to bring you “The Simpsons Funday Football.” On December 9th, the Cincinnati Bengals’ clash with the Dallas Cowboys will be transformed into a real-time animated spectacle, immersing viewers in the iconic world of Springfield.
This innovative presentation, powered by Sony’s Beyond Sports technology, will reimagine the game within the beloved Simpsons universe. Homer Simpson will be rooting for the Cowboys, while Bart Simpson throws his support behind the Bengals. The father-son duo will even have opportunities to influence the game, choosing key moments to take the field on offense or defense.
A Springfield Showdown:
The action unfolds at Atoms Stadium in Springfield, where Marge and Lisa will conduct sideline interviews, Maggie will pilot the SkyCam, and familiar characters and Springfield landmarks will bring a unique Simpsons flavor to the broadcast.
ESPN’s Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky, self-proclaimed Simpsons enthusiasts, will provide animated commentary alongside play-by-play announcer Drew Carter. The trio will be transformed into Simpsons characters and utilize VR technology to experience the game from within the virtual world of Springfield.
How to Watch:
“The Simpsons Funday Football” will be available to stream on Disney+, ESPN+, and NFL+. Fans can also tune in to the traditional “Monday Night Football” broadcast on ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes, or catch “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” on ESPN2.
Highlights of the broadcast will include:
- A Myriad of Simpsons Characters: The telecast will feature dozens the show’s iconic characters, with each character playing into their well-known persona.
- Authentic Simpsons Voices: Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner and Yeardley Smith will voice several of their characters in prerecorded bits and skits.
- Picking Sides: Homer and Bart will rally their supporters who will join them on their respective sidelines throughout the matchup. Lisa, Krusty, Nelson, Milhouse and Ralph will be with Bart (Bengals); while Carl, Barney, Lenny and Moe will be with Homer (Cowboys).
- Custom Simpsons Scenes and Writing: Outside of the live game, Simpsons producers have written original content for the telecast that will be utilized before, during and after the game.
- The Simpsons Music: The timeless theme song and more jingles from the show will be employed.
- The Simpsons and ESPN: Animated segments incorporating Stephen A. Smith, Peyton and Eli Manning and more will appear in the telecast, with their segments written by the Simpsons creators.
- Bengals and Cowboys Players: Players from both teams will have pre-recorded segments which include interactions with Simpsons characters.