It’s hard to believe that ‘The Simpsons’ has been running since 1989. Looking at it now, and the amount of fans it has generated you almost wouldn’t believe it started life as a small relatively unheard of show!

Over the last few years The Simpsons have grown even more in popularity, and have even attracted a huge variety of guest stars to provide voices for different characters such as David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson voicing their X Files alter ego’s ‘Mulder and Scully’, Leonard Nimoy and most recently even Ricky Gervaise.

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Things are only set to improve too, with the release of the much anticipated movie version of the show due for release sometime in 2007 it is sure to attract a whole new generation of Simpsons viewers.

The show mostly focuses on Homer Simpson, his wife Marge and their family (Bart, Lisa and Maggie) as they live their lives in ‘Springfield’ but there are also some fantastic reoccurring characters such as Chief Wiggam, Krusty the Clown, Sideshow Bob (Voiced brilliantly by Kelsey Grammer) Mr Burns, Ned Flanders and many more.

Homer has immortalised the catchphrase ‘Doh!’ forever in the minds of all the viewers and with a variety of different comedic storylines and mishaps in each episode it has now become a cult TV show for kids and adults of all ages.

You are likely to find repeats of many classic Simpsons episodes on channel 4 week days at 6pm and the best place to watch new episodes is Sky One, or the Fox Network. This is definitely the perfect series to sit down and watch when you need to unwind or are just in the mood for some light hearted comedy.

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Cast list for The Simpsons: Adam West, Albert Brooks, Alec Baldwin, Alex Rocco, Barry White, Charles Napier, Chris Latta, Dan Castellaneta, Dana Gould, Danny DeVito, Dave Thomas, Deb Lacusta, Denice Kumagai, Dick Tufeld, Doris Grau, Elizabeth Taylor, Eric Idle, Frank Welker, Gary Coleman, Gedde Watanabe, George Takei, Glenn Close, Greg Berg, Hank Azaria, Hank Williams Jr., Harry Shearer, Jackie Mason, James Earl Jones, Jan Hooks, Jane Kaczmarek, Jo Ann Harris, Joan Kenley, Joe Frazier, Joe Mantegna, John Kassir, Jon Lovitz, Julie Kavner, Karen Maruyama, Karl Wiedergott, Kelsey Grammer, Larry King, Leonard Nimoy, Lona Williams, Maggie Roswell, Marcia Mitzman Gaven, Marcia Wallace, Maurice LaMarche, Michael Carrington, Michael Dees, Michael McKean, Nancy Cartwright, Pamela Hayden, Pamela Reed, Paul Winfield, Phil Hartman, Ron Howard, Ron Taylor, Russi Taylor, Sab Shimono, Sally Stevens, Sam McMurray, Shawn Colvin, Stacy Keach, Stephen Hawking, Steve Allen, Susan Blu, Susan Sarandon, Thomas Pynchon, Tito Puente, Tony Bennett, Tress MacNeille, William Daniels, Yeardley Smith.

Channel five’s new station ‘Five Life’ (Digital Channel 36) have recently been working their way through showing the entire 6 seasons of the popular teen drama Dawson’s Creek. This is great news for younger viewers as they will no longer have to spend their money on the DVD box sets to experience the series responsible for creating a whole new generation of Hollywood stars.

The show is set in the fictional town of Capeside where the two main characters Dawson and Joey spend their teenage years. Along with a group of close friends they learn to experience the ups and downs of life, love and friendship.

Through the six hugely successful seasons we see them change from naﶥ children to your average group of American teenagers facing some tough decisions and taking on college life.

The series itself is created by the brilliant Kevin Williamson who also brought you films such as ‘Cursed’, ‘Scream 3′ and ‘The Faculty’. His mix of humour, realism and drama always prove to be a winning formula and this series really does reflect that.

Dawson’s Creek is the series that launched the careers of virtually all of the teen stars appearing on the show such as James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams and of course Katie Holmes (Now famously married to mega star Tom Cruise).

Whilst some of the earlier episodes of Dawson’s Creek are admittedly a little dated, they would still appeal to a wide audience and with an explosive and touching final episode to look forward to it is well worth watching them all. If you have teenage kids, or enjoy teen drama filled with angst this is the series for you!

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Cast list for the TV series Dawson’s Creek: Adam Kaufman, Afemo Omilami, Alex Wharff, Ali Larter, Andrea C. Pearson, Annie Morgan, Ashleigh Sumner, Aubrey Dollar, Avery Clyde, Barret O’Brien, Bianca Kajlich, Bianca Lawson, Bourke Floyd, Brett Claywell, Brian Lafontaine, Bridgett Newton, Brittany Daniel, Busy Philipps, Carly Schroeder, Caroline Kava, Carolyn Hennesy, Chad Michael Murray, Chris Blackwelder, Christopher Berry, Christy Jo Wilburn, Colin Fickes, Corey Jackson, Corie Berkemeyer, Dana Ashbrook, David Downs, David Dukes, David Monahan, Deron Barnett, Dylan Neal, Ed Grady, Eddie Mills, Edmund Kearney, Eion Bailey, Elaine Nalee, Gareth Williams, Geoffrey Lewis, George Mims, Greg Rikaart, Hal Ozsan, Hank Troscianiec, Harry Shearer, Harve Presnell, Helen Baldwin, Ian Kahn, Irene Ziegler, J.R. Rodriguez, Jack Osbourne, James Van Der Beek, Jason Behr, Jason Davis, Jenifer Kruskamp, Jennifer Morrison, Jensen Ackles, Jeremy D. Shepherd, Jesse Janowsky, Joe Flanigan, John Bennes, John Driscoll, John Finn, John Wesley Shipp, Johnny Alonso, Jonathan Lipnicki, Jonathan Parks Jordan, Jordan Bridges, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, Keith Flippen, Kelly Cheston, Kelly Cole Childers, Ken Marino, Kerr Smith, Kevin P. King, Kristen Solt, Kyle Searles, Leann Hunley, Lee Norris, Logan R. Berkshire, Lourdes Benedicto, Lukas Behnken, Lynn O’Connell, Marcus Hester, Mark Matkevich, Mary Beth Ayers, Mary Beth Peil, Mary-Margaret Humes, Matt Lutz, Matthew Slate Wells, Maya Tai Dorsey, Megan Gray, Melissa Bragg Lumsden, Melissa Claire Egan, Melissa Ponzio, Melissa Suzanne McBride, Meredith Monroe, Meredith Salenger, Micah Cover, Michael Hagerty, Michael Hartson, Michael Pitt, Michelle Williams, Mick Walker, Mika Boorem, Mike Pniewski, Mitchell Laurance, Moe Michaels, Monica Keena, Ned Brower, Nick Gomez, Nicole Bilderback, Nicole Nieth, Niklaus Lange, Nina Repeta, Obba Babatund, Obi Ndefo, Oliver Hudson, Pam Hurley, Patt Noday, Paul Gleason, Pauley Perrette, Peter Jurasik, Rachael Leigh Cook, Rasool J’Han, Rebekah Dean, Rhoda Griffis, Ric Reitz, Richard Fullerton, Richard K. Olsen, Richard Reed, Rob Nagle, Rob Zapple, Robert C. Treveiler, Robert Longstreet, Robin Dunne, Rodney Scott, Roger Howarth, Ryan James Bittle, Sabine Singh, Sallie Hedrick, Sam Doumit, Sam Robison, Sarah Shahi, Sasha Alexander, Satu Rautaharju, Scott Foley, Sebastian Spence, Sherilyn Fenn, Stefan Hajek, Stephen Michael Ayers, Steve Boles, Tamara Taylor, Tammy Arnold, Taylor Handley, Terry Loughlin, Todd Thompson, Traci Dinwiddie, Vanessa Dorman, Wendy Fowler, Wesley Morris, Yolanda Camille Chambers.

Every once in a while Film 4 shows a classic yet slightly cheesy film that for some reason we all remember and love. This week they have chosen to show ‘Mask’ starring singer/actress Cher and Eric Stoltz.

This film was first released in 1985?(not to be confused with the Jim Carrey film of the same name released in 1994) and soon became one of those movies that almost defined what 80’s films were all about. It had the sentimental sappy moments that you can’t help but be moved by, combined with a strong lead character fighting his way through life and defying the odds, and to top it all off, it was also based on a true story.

The storyline itself revolves around ‘Rocky’ a seriously disfigured teenage boy being raised by his mother ‘Rusty’ (Cher) who is determined he should lead a life as normal as possible.

Battling her own drink and drugs problems and trying to cope with her son’s illness proved to be the ultimate test for Rusty as we watch her slowly fall deeper into despair being held up only by Rocky’s positive and almost child like outlook on life.

Cher is one of those people that you will either love, or hate in a film. Personally I am not a huge fan of her as an actress (although I loved her in Moonlighting) but I thought that she fit this part perfectly and that she really made it her own.

Eric Stoltz also gives a fantastic and utterly believable performance as Rocky and has the ability to really make you challenge the way we perceive people with disability and illness.

Looking back on this film now, it has to be said it does look slightly dated, but it has still managed to retain all of its original charm, emotion and appeal that will without doubt manage to pull at your heart strings just as much as it did when it was first released. Catch it on Film 4 this week and see exactly what I mean.

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Full cast list for the 1985 film Mask: Alexandra Powers, Allison Roth, Andrew Robinson, Anna Hamilton Phelan, Anna Thea, Barry Tubb, Ben Piazza, Beth McKinley, Cathy Arden, Charles Taylor, Cher, Christopher Rydell, Creed Bratton, David Scott Milton, Dennis Burkley, Dorothy Hack, Eddie Paul, Eric Stoltz, Estelle Getty, Gale Ricketts, Harry Carey Jr., Howard Hirdler, Ivan J. Rado, Jack Wright, Jeannie Dimter Barton, Jeff Jensen, Jill Whitlow, Joe Unger, Jo-El Sonnier, Kelly Jo Minter, L. Craig King, Laura Dern, Lawrence Monoson, Les Dudek, Lou Felder, Louis Waldon, Marilyn Hamilton, Marsha Warfield, Michael Adams, Micole Mercurio, Nick Cassavetes, Norman Kaplan, Paige Matthews, Patricia Pelham, Rebecca Wood, Richard A. Dysart, Robert ‘Duckie’ Carpenter, Rummel Mor, Sam Elliott, Scott Willardsen, Stan Ross, Steve James, Todd Allen, Toni Sawyer, Wayne Grace.

Based on one of the best selling Playstation games of all time ‘Resident Evil’ made a big impact on movie goers and gamers everywhere when it was first released in 2002.

The film stars the gorgeous Milla Jovovich (from The Fifth Element)?and Michelle Rodriguez alongside Eric Mabius (The Crow - Salvation).

Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson this is not your average videogame remake, the story has now become much more evolved, maintaining a good balance between some completely different aspects of the storyline and some familiar features for the die hard gaming fans such as the ‘Lickers’ the monstrous creatures that roam the abandoned buildings.

The main storyline for those of you who have not played the Resident Evil games (Shame on you!) is that a virus has escaped into a testing facility ran by a corporation called ‘Umbrella’ that turns anyone who comes into contact with it into flesh eating zombies.

A special task force team is sent into the building known as ‘The Hive’ to shut everything down and attempt to quarantine the virus. However, what soon follows becomes a mission far more deadly than any of them could have expected.

Fans of the game will probably be a little under whelmed by this film, it was after all a very complex and captivating experience that feels almost as though it has been dumbed down a little for the movie.

However, it still passes as a great action/horror movie with a good storyline and some great actors. Milla Jovovich does what has now become expected of her and goes in guns blazing and kicks ass from start to finish.

There is also a great supporting cast and a variety of zombie scenes which will keep the hardcore movie and gaming fans entertained throughout. All in all, this is well worth checking out!

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Full cast list for the film Resident Evil: Anna Bolt, Colin Salmon, Eric Mabius, Fiona Glascott, Heike Makatsch, Indra Ove, James Purefoy, Jamie Harding, Jason Isaacs, Jaymes Butler, Jeremy Bolt, Joseph May, Liz May Brice, Marc Logan-Black, Martin Crewes, Michaela Dicker, Michelle Rodriguez, Milla Jovovich, Oscar Pearce, Pasquale Aleardi, Robert Tannion, Ryan McCluskey, Stephen Billington, Torsten Jerabek.

Pitch Black is an all action science fiction movie starring Vin Diesel and Radha Mitchell. It is set in the future, and focuses on a group of passengers on board a spaceship who find themselves stranded on a strange and distant planet.

They are lead by Carolyn Fry who soon realises that she may have to rely upon a deadly criminal on board the ship ‘Riddick’ (Played by Vin Diesel) to lead her and the rest of the passengers through the treacherous planet that once every 22 years is plummeted into complete darkness and taken over by strange reptilian creatures who have an unnatural desire to feed on life forms.

Only Riddick has the ability to see in the dark and so the group must trust this convicted criminal if they want to make it off the planet alive.

It really is action all this way in ‘Pitch Black’. The movie has a unique blend of terror, action and science fiction that really seems to work well. Playing upon most people’s fear of the dark, and unknown territory director David Twohy has created a rare gem of a movie in which the ‘Bad Guy’ ultimately finds himself becoming the unwilling hero of the film.

This is one of Vin Diesel’s best films in my opinion; it shows him at his best, playing a cold dark character who is not afraid to look fear straight in the eye. All in all Pitch Black is a brilliant concept for a movie that has been acted and directed to high standards making it one that will definitely appeal to science fiction and horror fans everywhere. You can catch it yourself on Film 4 this week!

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Full cast list for Pitch Black: Angela Moore, Claudia Black, Cole Hauser, Firass Dirani, John Moore, Keith David, Ken Twohy, Les Chantery, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Peter Chiang, Radha Mitchell, Rhiana Griffith, Ric Anderson, Sam Sari, Simon Burke, Vic Wilson, Vin Diesel.

Coming to Film4 this week is a fantastic film: Arlington Road. With an all star cast including Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack and Jeff Bridges this is truly one of my all time favourite movies.

The basic Plot outline, without giving too much away is that recently widowed College Professor Michael Faraday (Jeff Bridges) forms a friendship with his neighbours Oliver and Cheryl Lang after he saves the life of their only son. Things seem to be going well, and the couples children soon become best friends, but as time passes Michael begins to get the feeling that his neighbours are hiding a disturbing secret. The more Michael learns about Oliver, the more his concerns grow and eventually lead up to an explosive and captivating ending that is not to be missed.

I cannot praise this movie enough. Tim Robbins plays an excellent role as the creepy and suspicious Oliver Lang, this accompanied by a stand out performance from Joan Cusack (usually better known for her comedy roles) as his equally unbalanced wife and Jeff Bridges as the curious next door neighbour makes for a brilliantly acted and genuinely captivating storyline.

You can’t help but be drawn into this complex and unsettling plot that really gets you wondering “How well do I really know my own neighbours?!” The ending to this movie is one of the best that I have seen; it is completely unexpected with the perfect mix of tension and urgency leading up to the final harrowing scene.

This is the perfect movie to tune in to if you are feeling in the mood for something that requires a little bit of brainpower and will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire 117 minutes run time. Definitely worth making time for!

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Full cast list for Arlington Road: Auden Thornton, Billy D. Washington, Charles Sanders, Charlie Webb, Christopher Dahlberg, Cindy Hom, Darryl Cox, Dave Allen Clark, Deborah Swanson, Denver Williams, Diane Peterson, Gabriel Folse, Gina Santori, Grant Garrison, Hans Stroble, Harris Mackenzie, Homer Jon Young, Hope Davis, Hunter Burkes, Jeff Bridges, Jenni Tooley, Joan Cusack, John Hussey, Johnathan Gwyn, Josh Ridgway, Ken Manelis, Laura Poe, Lee Stringer, Lin Oeding, Loyd Catlett, Mary Ashleigh Green, Mason Gamble, Michelle Du Bois, Naya Castinado, Paul Pender, Robert Gossett, Sid Hillman, Spencer Treat Clark, Stanley Anderson, Steve Ottesen, Tiffany Grant, Tim Robbins, Todd Terry, Viviane Vives, Willie Dirden.

Bones is a popular American TV show starring David Boreanaz as a FBI agent and Emily Deschanel as a highly skilled forensic anthropologist who helps him work on his most difficult cases. The series is very reminiscent of early X Files episodes (Starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson) and has gained a cult following with hard core X Files fans as well as building its own fan base of dedicated viewers during its time on air. You can currently catch it on Sky One in high definition widescreen.

With its blend of dry humour and interesting and complex cases to rival crime drama ‘CSI’ it is exactly the TV series that we have been waiting to see on our screens.

The chemistry between the two main characters Seeley Booth and Temperance Brennan is evident from the very first episode and I think that the ‘Will they, won’t they get together’ element of the show is going to be a winning formula.

Another thing that makes the show interesting is Dr Brennan’s complete inability to relate to people, preferring instead to focus on her work and almost ‘push away’ real life. This may be linked to the disappearance of her Mother and Father as a child; the case has never been solved and is something that is often referred to in the show. I would expect to see some interesting developments with this storyline shortly.

The show has a strong supporting cast in the form of Temperance Brennan’s work colleagues at the Jeffersonian Institute who inject a vast amount of comedy and depth into the show with their own individual sub stories and tasks.

I’m sure that ‘Bones’ is going to continue to grow into and even more popular and entertaining show as time goes by and it is well worth catching on TV when you can.

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Cast list for the TV series Bones: Adam Lieberman, Anne Dudek, Coby Ryan McLaughin, Dave Roberson, David Boreanaz, Dotan Baer, Emily Deschanel, Eric Millegan, Federico Dordei, Fredric Lehne, Heath Freeman, Heavy D, Jessica Capshaw, John M. Jackson, John Sterling Carter, Jonathan Adams, Matt Sigloch, Michaela Conlin, Said Faraj, T.J. Thyne, Tamara Taylor, Ty Panitz.

At 9:00pm on Friday 9th December Jack Black starred in the hit comedy ‘School of Rock’ shown on Film4. He plays the role of ‘Dewey Finn’ a struggling rock musician desperate to launch his music career. When he finds himself sacked from his band because of his immature behaviour and crazy stage antics his debts soon begin to pile up leaving him in desperate need of work.

Thinking that drastic action is definitely needed, he impersonates his well qualified friend Ned Schneebly (played by Mike White who stars as Buck?in Chuck and Buck) to take on a temporary job teaching music at one of America’s top prep schools. Unable to teach anything but rock music, Finn soon realises that some of the kids are genuinely talented so he convinces them that they should enter a ‘Battle of the bands’ competition which could prove to be the perfect solution to his money problems and his one last shot at hitting it big in the world of Rock.

This is made a reality because Finn has a natural ability to make shy retiring people come out of their shell and behave like confident rock stars. It’s all about attitude!

School of Rock is one of those brilliant movies that appeals to both children and adults and is genuinely entertaining for both. Fans of Jack Black will know that he has been singing for a long time as one half of the comedy rock band ‘Tenacious D’ so he is certainly no stranger to music and is capable of playing this role to the best of his ability.

Black oozes life and energy in all of his scenes and has some brilliant one-liners and comedy moments that only Jack Black could carry off. The supporting cast in this movie are mainly children, all of whom do a great job performing and playing various different instruments and really add to the ‘feel good’ factor of the whole film.

This is no nonsense family friendly comedy that is worth watching again and again, especially if you like this kind of music, which I really do.

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Full cast list for School of Rock: Abraham Esparza, Adam Pascal, Aleisha Allen, Amber Gristak, Ambi Daniel, Amy Sedaris, Angelo Massagli, Angus Young, Barry Shurchin, Brian Falduto, Caitlin Hale, Carlos J. Da Silva, Carlos Velazquez, Cary Clark, Catherine A. Callahan, Chris Line, Chris Stack, Cole Hawkins, Crash Cortez, Elisa Pugliese, Eron Otcasek, Frank Whaley, Heather Goldenhersh, Ian O’Malley, Jack Black, Jaclyn Neidenthal, James Hosey, Jane DeNoble, Janet Huege, Joan Cusack, Joanna Adler, Joe Wachowski, Joey Gaydos Junior, John E. Highsmith, Jordan-Claire Green, Kate McGregor-Stewart, Kathleen McNenny, Kelly Anne Burns, Kevin Alexander Clark, Kim Brockington, Kimberly Grigsby, Kyle Meaney, Lauren Adler, Leanne Cabrera, Lee Wilkof, Lucas Babin, Lucas Papaelias, MacIntyre Dixon, Mandy Siegfried, Marty Murphy, Mary Fortune, Maryam Hassan, Michael Dominguez-Rudolph, Mike Clemente, Mike White, Miranda Cosgrove, Nicky Katt, Nicole Ilise Clark, Rebecca Brown, Riley G. Matthews Junior, Robert Lin, Robert Tsai, Ryan O’Connor, Sarah Silverman, Scott Graham, Scott Skversky, Sharon Washington, Stewart Summers, Suzzanne Douglass, Tim Hopper, Timothy ‘Speed’ Levitch, Veronica Afflerbach, Wally Dunn, Zachary Infante.