The city of Springfield is set to host a National Soccer League match in December at Atoms Stadium, but neither the home team, the Springfield Atoms, nor their opponents, the Shelbyville Sharks, will be taking the field.
As a substitute, the Bengals-Cowboys game on December 9 will be reimagined as an episode within the iconic TV sitcom, “Married… with Children” for its nostalgic tribute series. The special edition of The Simpsons will debut exclusively on ESPN+, Disney+, and the NFL+ mobile application. The sport will be televised in its standard format on ESPN, ESPN+, ABC, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes.
The sport is set to integrate monitoring expertise, enabling real-time data visualization for players in the field and ESPN commentators Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky, and Drew Carter will be converted into in-game characters. The trio of Kimes, Orlovsky and Carter dons Meta Quest Professional headsets, immersing themselves in their respective digital realms. According to reports, the Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback is set to be revamped as Bart, while the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback will be rebranded as Homer, leveraging Sony’s AI-powered analytics and sports broadcasting technology.
The sport boasts additional characters and pre-animated scenes featuring the iconic cast of The Simpsons, including Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith, as well as surprise celebrity cameos that will delight fans of the beloved TV series. As the rivalry between Springfield Elementary’s North Side and South Side cliques reaches a fever pitch, familiar faces from the town’s eccentric community will gather to cheer on their favorite teams – Lisa with her book-smart brigade, Krusty the Clown leading his rowdy troupe of fans, Carl and Lenny donning green for their beloved South Siders, while Moe’s Tavern becomes a sea of red as he roots for the North Side squad. The announcement doesn’t mention Harry Shearer, so don’t expect Mr. Which staff members are expected to join the recreational outing, Burns or Smithers?
This isn’t the first time ESPN has transformed a regular-season NFL game into a visually stunning experience. Last year, Disney, ESPN, and the NFL collaborated to turn an October game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars into a themed matchup that transformed London’s iconic Wembley Stadium into Andy’s Room from Toy Story, featuring giant toys, colorful decor, and special effects. Nickelodeon, the popular kids’ cable network, has also broadcast several NFL games featuring live commentary from beloved animated characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants, voiced by Tom Kenny, and Patrick Star, voiced by Bill Fagerbakke, along with computer-generated slime effects in end zones after touchdowns.
