SPRINGFIELD OF DREAMS: THE LEGEND OF HOMER SIMPSON Airs Sunday, October 22, 2017, on FOX

Documentary Honors 25th Anniversary of THE SIMPSONS’ “Homer at the Bat”

NEW YORK, NY – Twenty-five years after THE SIMPSONS’ “Homer at the Bat” originally aired, America’s favorite family once again forays into America’s favorite pastime. In advance of the network’s 20th year broadcasting the World Series, FOX Sports today announced that a comedic “Simpsonized” documentary, SPRINGFIELD OF DREAMS: THE LEGEND OF HOMER SIMPSON, will air adjacent to regional NFL broadcasts on Sunday, Oct. 22 on FOX. The World Series presented by YouTube TV begins Tuesday, October 24 on FOX.

The one-hour special celebrates the legendary episode “Homer at the Bat,” in addition to Homer Simpson’s “induction” into The National Baseball Hall of Fame earlier this year. A satire of Ken Burns’ epic documentary, “Baseball,” the special features interviews from eight Major League Baseball players appearing in the original episode, along with baseball historians, sportscasters, and iconic personalities, such as FOX Sports’ Joe Buck, sports announcer Bob Costas, author George Will, Dr. Oz, fashion consultant and television personality Tim Gunn and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio. Current Yankee slugger and Major League Baseball AL MVP candidate Aaron Judge appears in the special.

The feature also contains six minutes of never-before-seen original animation from THE SIMPSONS, including character “interviews” from Homer, Moe, Chief Wiggum and Apu, voiced by Dan Castellaneta and Hank Azaria.

Directed by Academy Award nominee Morgan Spurlock, the documentary is produced by FOX Sports Originals.

“We’re glad Morgan is strange enough to take this on,” said James L. Brooks, Executive Producer, The Simpsons.

“I love THE SIMPSONS so much and am proud to be reunited with them on this incredible special. A special so special that it not only celebrates Springfieldian Homer Simpson, but one that reminds us all, that maybe if we tried a little less, great things can happen,” said Spurlock.

FOX Sports features live regionalized NFL coverage at 1:00 PM ET and 4:05 PM ET with NFL broadcasts available in both competing teams’ home markets, as well as select additional cities around the country. Viewers with an NFL matchup airing at 1:00 PM ET get to watch the documentary at 4:30 PM ET; viewers with an NFL matchup airing at 4:05 PM ET get to watch the documentary at 3:00 PM ET. “Springfield of Dreams” also airs on Friday, Oct. 20 at 6:00 PM ET on FS1.

“Collaborating with Morgan Spurlock has been an ideal fit for FOX Sports Originals,” said Charlie Dixon, FS1/FS2 EVP of Content. “Working together has allowed us to showcase our partnership with Major League Baseball in a creative and unconventional way.”

Click here for sneak peek into documentary.

Also that night, the annual Halloween-themed “Treehouse of Horror XXVIII” episode of THE SIMPSONS airs. Maggie becomes possessed by an ancient demon, Lisa discovers a creepy/perfect version of her family in an alternate universe and Homer cannibalizes himself in the all-new “Treehouse of Horror XXVIII” episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Sunday, Oct. 22 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT). Ben Daniels (THE EXORCIST), director William Friedkin (“The Exorcist”) and chef Mario Batali make guest-voice appearances.

ABOUT THE SIMPSONS:
The longest-running scripted show in television history, THE SIMPSONS exploded into a cultural phenomenon in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world. Currently airing its record-annihilating 29th season, THE SIMPSONS has won 32 Emmy Awards, 34 Annie Awards, a 2017 People’s Choice Award, was the first animated series to win a Peabody Award, and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2012 for the theatrical short “The Longest Daycare.” The Simpsons Movie was a hit feature film, their mega-attraction The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios has received historic expansion updates with the addition of ‘Springfield’ and the show was honored with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000. It has been named the “Best Show of the 20th Century” by Time Magazine, called the “Greatest American Sitcom” by Entertainment Weekly in 2013, and declared “The Best TV Show Ever” in 2016 by Vulture.com.

THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the Executive Producers. The Gracie Films Worldwide Brand Division develops and produces the licensed content for the series.

ABOUT FOX SPORTS
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FS1, FS2; FOX Sports Regional Networks, their affiliated regional web sites and national programming; FOX Soccer Plus; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com and FOX Sports GO. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.

ABOUT WARRIOR POETS
Warrior Poets is a New York-based production company founded in 2004 by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. His first film, SUPER SIZE ME, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004, winning Best Directing honors. The film went on to win the inaugural Writers Guild of America Best Documentary Screenplay award as well as garner an Academy Award nomination for Best Feature Documentary. Since then he has directed, produced, and distributed multiple film and TV projects, including COMIC CON: EPISODE IV, THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD and WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? Spurlock and his partners, Jeremy Chilnick and Matthew Galkin, have produced multiple award winning films, digital series, and television programs, with recent credits including the Oscar shortlisted THE EAGLE HUNTRESS, IDA award-winning CNN series MORGAN SPURLOCK: INSIDE MAN and Toronto International Film Festival official selection SUPER SIZE ME 2: HOLY CHICKEN!.