Groening reveals roots of Marge's hair, occupant of "Simpsons" Oval Office, Murdoch's graciousness

NYT/AP: Groening Reveals Roots of Marge's Hair
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 22, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- Marge Simpson's gravity-defying blue beehive is a hybrid creation, Matt Groening has revealed.

The ''Simpsons'' matriarch's impressive hair was inspired by ''The Bride of Frankenstein'' and by his own mother's hairdo from the 1960s, the series' creator told The New York Times Magazine in an interview published Sunday.

Marge, Homer and the rest of the Springfield gang will make the leap from TV to the big screen when ''The Simpsons Movie'' opens Friday.

In the film, the Oval Office is occupied by President Arnold Schwarzenegger.

''We needed a president that would make people laugh,'' Groening told the magazine. ''And Schwarzenegger was the obvious choice.''

In 18 years on Fox, ''The Simpsons'' has taken several swipes at Rupert Murdoch, the network's owner. Groening said Murdoch has been gracious every time the two men have met.

''He played himself on the show, and we wrote the line, 'I'm Rupert Murdoch, the billionaire tyrant, and this is my skybox,' as his entrance line,'' Groening said. ''He performed it with great zeal.''

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-People-Groening.html