“The Simpsons” Writer Reveals the 1 Celebrity Guest Star They're “Still” Trying to Book Almost 4 Decades Later (Exclusive)

FOX; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• The Simpsons writer Matt Selman revealed the one celebrity guest star the show still wants to book after almost 4 decades in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE

• Selman serves as the current showrunner of the FOX series

• The Simpsons will air its 800th episode on Sunday, Feb. 15

The SimpsonswriterMatt Selmansays there is one celebrity he's still trying to get as a guest star on the long-running animated series.

Selman, 54, who also serves as the current showrunner ofThe Simpsons,spoke with PEOPLE exclusively at the show's 800th episode party in Los Angeles on Feb. 6.

When asked who his most sought-after guest star for the show remains, Selman responded, "Will Ferrell."

"Come on, Will. We keep writing great stuff for you," he added, speaking directly to the 58-year-old actor.

The Simpsonshas landed high-profile guest stars since it premiered on FOX in 1989.

Some notable cameos over the years have includedLady Gaga,Meryl StreepandPaul McCartney, to name a few.

Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty

During his chat with PEOPLE, Selman also spoke about the show's unique reputation for writing storylines that seeminglypredict the future.

"The more you try to predict or not predict, it screws up the predictions. So you just got to go in pure and just let them happen or not," he said of the series' writing process.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Selman added, "People want magic to be real. That's what the insight is. People want to believe in magic. And is magic real? Well, it's real in people's minds. So maybe it is real. But I don't think it's really real. But whatever — coincidences are real. If there were no coincidences, that would be the really unlikely thing."

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Selman also dished on the show's 800th episode, which will air on Sunday, Feb. 15, revealing how the plot for it came to be.

"Luckily, I have the best writers in the world who think of things for me, and I can just take the credit," he joked. "But they wanted to do a show, one of our funny travel shows set in Philadelphia."

"We wanted to do the show about the emotional rollercoaster of pet ownership. And they also wanted to do a show that parodied aNational Treasure-typeJerry Bruckheimeradventure movie," Selman added.

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Selman also called out one part of the milestone episode that really stands out: "The speech Marge gives at the end about the journey and the emotional toll of owning a pet."

"I think it's as good as anything that the show has ever done in the spirit of [show co-creator]James Brooks'harsh, tortured, real view of what it's like to be a modern, emotional person in modern times," Selman explained. "So, as funny and silly as the speech at the end is, it's [also] a love letter to [James]. It's a love letter to the show. It's a love letter to pets. It's a love letter to Marge. I'm so proud of it."

The Simpsonsairs on FOX.

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byAndy Corry

in

February 14, 2026

“The Simpsons” Writer Reveals the 1 Celebrity Guest Star They're “Still” Trying to Book Almost 4 Decades Later (Exclusive)

FOX; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty NEED TO KNOW The Simpsons writer Matt Selman revealed the one celebrity guest star the show still wants to bo...

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Rosanna Arquette Reveals She Wasn’t Invited to the Premiere of Her Hit ‘80s Film Starring Madonna

Orion/Kobal/Shutterstock

NEED TO KNOW

• On Feb. 10, 2026, Rosanna Arquette joined Sirius XM's Andy Cohen Live to discuss her breakout film, Desperately Seeking Susan

• During the podcast, the 66-year-old actress revealed that, at the time, she had not been invited to the Hollywood movie premiere

• Since then, Arquette has found her way back to the big screen as part of Charli xcx's mockumentary movie, The Moment

Rosanna Arquetterecently reflected on a "strange" moment from one of the biggest films of her career.

During a Feb. 10 appearance onSirius XM'sAndy Cohen Live, the actress shared that she was not invited to the Hollywood premiere of her breakout movie,Desperately Seeking Susan.

"While [Madonna] became so huge, they decided to make the movie around her. Which of course, made sense to make money, right?" the 66-year-old actress told Cohen. "But, they didn't invite me to the Hollywood premiere ofDesperately Seeking Susan."

Mondadori via Getty

The 1985 comedy followed a bored New Jersey housewife who becomes fascinated with a free-spirited woman named Susan after reading personal ads. Arquette played Roberta, whose obsession leads her into a case of mistaken identity and a whirlwind adventure through New York City.

Madonna, then on the brink of global superstardom, portrayedthe magnetic and mysterious Susan. As the singer's reputation exploded, the film's marketing increasingly centered around her.

Arquette recalled that she was in New York at the time, handling promotional duties, when she realized she hadn't been invited to the premiere of her own movie.

"I was here in New York doing this. Like, press... And so I was like 'what?' " the actress recalled on the podcast. "That was weird... It was very strange. But then you find out why that happened, the management... they made a thing about it because it ended up being [her movie]."

Despite the awkward moment, Arquette's performance earned critical acclaim, including a British Academy Film Award for best actress in a supporting role.

Gary Gershoff/Getty

Now, decades later, Arquette finds herself in a new chapter. Known as the eldest member of the famous Arquette family – she is known for memorable roles in films likePulp Fictionand for inspiring the title ofToto's hit song, "Rosanna."

At 66, however, Arquette says her focus has shifted toward personal growth. After a challenging few years that includeda divorceand a move to the East Coast, Arquette recently described this period in her life as one of renewal.

"It almost feels likeI was released from prison," she told PEOPLE exclusively. "I'm alone but not lonely."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In January 2026, Arquette returned to screens in a new way by starring inThe Moment– a mockumentary from Charli xcx that draws partial inspiration from 1984'sThis Is Spinal Tap.

"Charli wrote me the loveliest letter telling me she was a fan and it would mean the world to her if I came and played this part," she recalled. "I told my daughter [actress Zoë Bleu, 31, with ex-husband John Sidel], and she was like, 'Oh my God!' It definitely got me some cool points with her."

Read the original article onPeople

byAndy Corry

in

February 14, 2026

Rosanna Arquette Reveals She Wasn’t Invited to the Premiere of Her Hit ‘80s Film Starring Madonna

Orion/Kobal/Shutterstock NEED TO KNOW On Feb. 10, 2026, Rosanna Arquette joined Sirius XM's Andy Cohen Live to discuss her breakout ...

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Hollywood talent agent Casey Wasserman to sell company over Epstein files revelations

Casey Wasserman, a prominent entertainment and sports agent and the chair of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, is putting his eponymous talent agency up for sale after facing backlash over his appearance in files the US Justice Departmentreleasedlast month related to its investigations into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In an internal memo sent to agency staff on Friday, which was obtained by CNN,Wassermansaid he has "become a distraction" to the company's "efforts."

"That is why I have begun the process of selling the company, an effort that is already underway," Wasserman wrote.

Wasserman faced pressure from his talent to step aside in recent weeks, as well as calls to step down from the Olympics coordinating committee, after the files showed he held a deeper and more intimate relationship with Esptein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, than had been previously known.

Wasserman has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. CNN has reached out to a crisis communications firm representing him.

Wasserman rode on Epstein's plane and exchanged suggestivemessageswith Maxwell, the files the DOJ released show.

Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, was convicted of sex trafficking and other crimes in 2021 and is serving a 20-year sentence. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.

In Friday's memo, Wasserman said he only had "limited interactions with those two individuals," referring to Epstein and Maxwell.

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"It was years before their criminal conduct came to light, and, in its entirety, consisted of one humanitarian trip to Africa and a handful of emails that I deeply regret sending," Wasserman said. "And I'm heartbroken that my brief contact with them 23 years ago has caused you, this company, and its clients so much hardship over the past days and weeks."

Sources close to the business told CNN that Wasserman's investors were upset over the situation and pushed him to make this move.

In an earlier statementreported by the Associated Presslast month, Wasserman clarified that his exchange with Maxwell "took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light."

"I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. As is well documented, I went on a humanitarian trip as part of a delegation with the Clinton Foundation in 2002 on the Epstein plane. I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them," his statement read.

Details of Epstein's alleged secret lifefirst emerged in 2005when several underage girls accused him of offering to pay for massages or sex acts at his Palm Beach mansion. Epstein pleaded guilty to two state prostitutioncharges in 2008and served 13 months in prison.

Since the release of the latest files, singerChappell Roanannounced she was leaving Wasserman's agency. Singer Orville Peck quickly followed, and then singer-songwriter Weyes Blood, among others.

CNN's Michael Williams, Alli Rosenbloom and Lisa Respers France contributed to this report.

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byAndy Corry

in

February 14, 2026

Hollywood talent agent Casey Wasserman to sell company over Epstein files revelations

Casey Wasserman, a prominent entertainment and sports agent and the chair of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, is putting h...

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Germany Issues Warning to United States Amid 'Deep Rift'

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.S. President Donald Trump during a summit in Egypt on Oct. 13, 2025. Credit - Evan Vucci—Getty Images

German ChancellorFriedrich Merzhas warned of "a deep rift" between Europe and the United States, arguing that the latter "will not be powerful enough to go it alone."

In his address at the Munich Security Conference Friday, Merz urged Europe and the U.S. to "repair and revive trans-Atlantic trust together" in what he referred to as an "era of great power rivalry."

Switching to English as he addressed American "friends," Merz nodded to Trump'scontentious relationship with NATO,insisting that "being a part of [the alliance] is not only Europe's competitive advantage. It's also the United States' competitive advantage."

While he acknowledged that the existing global order has long been flawed, Merz—when discussing the "under destruction" theme of this year's conference—argued the "international order based on rights and rules is currently being destroyed."

He also referenced Vice President J.D. Vance'sspeechfrom last year's conference. Vance drew ire from European leaders when he argued that what concerned him most was Europe's "threat from within... the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values—values shared with the United States of America." He used "free speech" as an example of the values in retreat.

"The culture war of the MAGA movement is not ours," Merz continued. "Freedom of speech ends here with us when that speech goes against human dignity and the constitution. We do not believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade."

The German leader appeared to make further strides to distinguish Europe from the Trump Administration, adding: "We stick to climate agreements and the World Health Organization (WHO) because we are convinced that global challenges can only be solved together."

On Jan. 22, the U.S., under Trump's direction, officially pulled out of the WHO. The move has garnered muchcriticismfrom global health experts.

In response to Merz's remarks, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told TIME: "Friends tell friends hard truths, and the President has also been clear to our European friends that they must follow his lead by ending unfettered migration, reversing'Green New Scam' policies,and moving away from leftist ideology, or risk their own destruction."

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Read More:Trump and Vance May Have Accidentally United Europe

As Europe takes part in ongoing negotiations regarding the hope for a cease-fire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Merz said he has also started private talks with French President Emmanuel Macron about "nuclear deterrence."

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Merz's concerns echo those made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Davos in January. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Carney argued that the old world order was "not coming back" and encouraged people not to "mourn" the way things used to be. He accused "great powers" of using economic pressure to yield results while urging middle powers to push back.

Carney's remarks were delivered shortly afterTrump threatened to tariff countrieswho oppose his campaign toannex Greenland—a threat he has since walked back. Trump laterlashed out in responseto Carney's speech.

Read More:Carney Hits Back at Trump as Relations Sour: 'Canada Doesn't Live Because of the U.S.'

The U.S. President will not be appearing at the Munich Security Conference. Instead, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will represent the U.S. on Saturday and deliver a highly-anticipated speech.

Rubio also warned of a "new era" in geopolitics as he boarded his flight to Germany.

When asked if his message to Europeans will take a softer approach than Vance's address last year, Rubio told reporters: "The world is changing very fast right in front of us. We live in a new era in geopolitics, and it's going to require all of us to sort of re-examine what that looks like and what our role is going to be."

On Friday afternoon, the U.S. Department of Stateconfirmedthat Rubio and Merz had met in Munich, after the German Chancellor's speech.

"They discussed pressing global challenges including securing supply chains, advancing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, and strengthening the partnership between the United States and Europe," said a spokesperson. "The Secretary expressed appreciation for Germany's strong support for Ukraine, including over $76 billion in assistance since 2022, and discussed continued coordination on reconstruction efforts."

Contact usatletters@time.com.

byAndy Corry

in

February 14, 2026

Germany Issues Warning to United States Amid 'Deep Rift'

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.S. President Donald Trump during a summit in Egypt on Oct. 13, 2025. Credi...

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Tour bus driver indicted on homicide charges in deadly crash

The driver of adeadly tour bus crash in upstate New York in August 2025has been indicted of multiple counts of homicide and manslaughter, authorities said.

The crash on Aug. 22, 2025, leftfive people dead and dozens injuredafter the bus traveling from Niagara Falls to New York City crashed, overturned and rolled onto an embankment off Interstate 90 between Rochester and Buffalo, authorities said at the time. The bus was carrying over 50 people, and multiple passengers were ejected, while others were trapped inside.

Bin Shao, 56, of Flushing in Queens, New York, was charged with five counts of criminally negligent homicide and five counts of second-degree manslaughter, both felonies. Each count corresponds to one of the five people killed in the crash, Genesee County District Attorney Kevin Finnell said at a news conference the afternoon of Feb. 13.

Finnell said the charges stemmed from actions and decisions Shao made while operating the bus, but declined to provide specific details. There is no evidence that drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash, he said.

The second-degree manslaughter charges carry a potential sentence ranging from an unconditional discharge or probation to five to 15 years in state prison. The criminally negligent homicide charges carry a possible sentence of unconditional discharge, probation or up to four years in prison.

USA TODAY has reached out to attorneys listed as representing Shao in a separate lawsuit and to the Genesee County Public Defender's Office for comment.

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New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt. Dan Howard said Shao was arrested on Feb. 11 in Putnam Valley after he was indicted by a Genesee County grand jury.

"This was a large-scale and complex incident involving more than 300 first responders and 95 members of the New York State Police," Howard said. "Investigators conducted interviews with passengers, hospital staff and witnesses, processed extensive digital evidence, and reconstructed the crash through the Troop A Collision Reconstruction Unit."

Shao was arraigned on Feb. 13 in Genesee County Court, where he pleaded not guilty. Bail was set at $100,000. Shao is scheduled to return to court on March 9 for a discovery conference.

What caused the deadly crash?

Five people were killedanddozens more injuredon Aug. 22, 2025, when a tour bus operated by Staten Island-basedM&Y Tourswas returning to New York City from a sightseeing trip to Niagara Falls. Authorities said the bus veered off the road in Pembroke, Genesee County, and rolled multiple times.

Troopers previously said the driver became distracted moments before the crash. According to state police, Shao lost control of the bus and overcorrected, causing it to leave the roadway and overturn. There were 54 people on board at the time – 52 passengers and two employees of the tour company. Many passengers were not wearing seat belts, and several were ejected when the bus overturned.

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle:Tour bus driver faces charges in deadly upstate New York crash

byAndy Corry

in

February 14, 2026

Tour bus driver indicted on homicide charges in deadly crash

The driver of adeadly tour bus crash in upstate New York in August 2025has been indicted of multiple counts of homicide ...

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Alexei Navalny died from 'dart frog toxin,' UK accuses Russia of poisoning

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died after being poisoned with a rare "dart frog toxin," the United Kingdom's Foreign Office said in a statement released Feb. 14.

The announcement comes two years after Navalny died in a Siberian penal colony. The UK and several other European countries including France, Sweden and Germany accused Russia of orchestrating the poisoning.

"Only the Russian government had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin against Alexei Navalny during his imprisonment in Russia," UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said. She was speaking during an appearance at the Munich Security Conference, which runs through Feb. 15.

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"Russia saw Navalny as a threat," Cooper said in Germany, where she met with Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya. The Russian government has not sent a delegation to Munich for the annual security and defense forum. Russia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a comment on the poisoning allegation.

The Foreign Office said lab tests of Navalny's body was "consistent" with a deadly toxin found in the skin of Ecuador dart frogs, named epibatidine. It said the samples found in his body "highly likely resulted in his death."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Alexei Navalny died from 'dart frog toxin,' UK accuses Russia

byAndy Corry

in

February 14, 2026

Alexei Navalny died from 'dart frog toxin,' UK accuses Russia of poisoning

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died after being poisoned with a rare "dart frog toxin," the Unit...

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James Van Der Beek's brother shares 'devastation' after actor's death: 'I now know why people call it heartbreak'

Kimberly Van Der Beek/Instagram

Key points

• James Van Der Beek's younger brother, Jared, shared a candid and moving tribute to the late actor after his death at 48.

• Jared said he's experiencing "a feeling of devastation and pain": "I didn't know it would hurt so badly."

• The actor's brother also thanked Van Der Beek's friends and loved ones for their support: "The healing has already begun with all the outpouring of love."

James Van Der Beek's brother is paying tribute to the lateDawson's Creekactor.

Jared Van Der Beek, the younger brother of theVarsity Bluesstar,shared a candid and emotional messagereacting to hisdeath this week at the age of 48.

"There's a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken," Jared Van Der Beek began in an Instagram message he posted Friday. "I now know why people call it heartbreak when you lose someone close to you. There is a feeling of devastation and pain that runs so deep in the heart. I didn't know it would hurt so badly."

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Van Der Beek went on to express his admiration for his older brother. "He was my person, the one I went to for any and all things," he wrote. "I've looked up to him since I was born. He has never failed to be there for me whenever I needed him."

The actor's sibling added that seeing fans' and loved ones' reactions to James' death has been a meaningful experience for him. "It has been wonderful reading and seeing how he touched so many lives not because of something he did, but because of who he was," Van Der Beek wrote. "He shared with an open heart and with his wise soul. As painful as this pain deep in the heart is, the healing has already begun with all the outpouring of love, prayers, and support."

Van Der Beek is immensely grateful for all the support he and his family have received in recent days. "I truly thank all of you [who] have taken the time to reach out, letting me know that you're there," he wrote. "The community of people who were intimately involved in his passing were nothing short of amazing. Thank you to everyone known and unknown who helped his transition be as beautiful as possible."

He concluded his remarks by addressing his late brother directly. "James, I already miss your physical being and your words of wisdom over the phone," he said. "Yet, I also feel your presence so strongly and I know you will continue to be guiding me. Thank you for living your life with me. I love you."

Andrew Toth/Getty

The actor's wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek,announced his deathfollowing a colorectal cancer diagnosis in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," she wrote. "He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."

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After his death, Van Der Beek's friends launched aGoFundMe campaignto support Kimberly and the couple's six children. The campaign has raised $2.5 million to date, including a$25,000 donation from Steven Spielberg, who was the idol of Van Der Beek'sDawson's Creekcharacter, Dawson Leery.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAndy Corry

in

February 14, 2026

James Van Der Beek's brother shares 'devastation' after actor's death: 'I now know why people call it heartbreak'

Kimberly Van Der Beek/Instagram Key points James Van Der Beek's younger brother, Jared, shared a candid and moving tribute to the la...

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