A "stampede" of one billion SIMPSONS stamps began escaping from America's 34,000 Post Offices and infiltrated the nation's mailstream following the issuance of THE SIMPSONS stamps and postal cards on Thursday.
The first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony took place at Twentieth Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles. There, THE SIMPSONS Creator and Executive Producer, Matt Groening, along with Executive Producer James L. Brooks join the voices behind the famous characters appearing on the stamps (Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith) in conjunction with the Postal Service in celebrating the stamps. Hank Azaria and other voice actors from THE SIMPSONS will be in attendance to lend their support. The longest-running primetime comedy in television history has become a cultural and ground-breaking phenomenon since the series launch in 1990. This honor solidifies their place in history.
The Postal Service is reminding the world to visit www.usps.com/simpsons to vote early and often for their favorite SIMPSONS stamp. Results of the ballot stuffing that ends May 14 will be announced shortly thereafter.
"It's an incredible honor to be on a U.S. postage stamp," said Groening. "I honestly can't believe it. I thought the Pillsbury Doughboy would come before us."
Joining Cochrane and Groening in dedicating the stamps were THE SIMPSONS Executive Producer, James L. Brooks, actor Kelsey Grammer, and Chairman of 20th Century Fox Television, Gary Newman.
"It's only supposed to be dead people on stamps," said Brooks. "Somehow we were able to overcome that."
Elie Dekel, Executive Vice President of Fox Licensing and Merchandising added, "After 16 years in development, we are so proud to have reached this major milestone for THE SIMPSONS. An amazing accomplishment for a show that the world has loved and laughed at for twenty years, and counting."
The U.S. Postal Service receives approximately 50,000 suggestions for stamp subjects each year, yet only about 20 topics make the cut. THE SIMPSONS is the only television show to be featured as the sole subject of a stamp set while still in prime-time production. SESAME STREET and MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL were in production when they were honored on stamps as part of the Celebrate the Century: 1970s series issued in 1999. SEINFELD aired throughout the 1990s. The SEINFELD stamp was issued in 2000 as part of the Celebrate the Century: 1990s series.
Other stamps commemorating TV shows that were not in production as part of the 1999 Celebrate the Century series included: I LOVE LUCY, STAR TREK and ALL IN THE FAMILY. Jim Henson, the Man Behind the Muppets was honored in 2005. THE MUPPET SHOW aired from 1976 to 1981.
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 1-800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes, to themselves or others, and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
The Simpsons Stamps7001 South Central, Rm. 338Los Angeles, CA 90052-9998
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by July 8, 2009.
Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 1-800-STAMP-24 or writing to:
Information FulfillmentDept. 6270U.S. Postal ServiceP.O. Box 219014Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Order Philatelic Products at www/usps.com/Simpsons
