[ Posted by Erin Maxwell]

The Simpsons came en masse to take on more than 3,000 crazed fans. The panel included Matt Groening (creator and executive producer, at right, looking jolly), Al Jean (executive producer and head writer), Matt Selman (executive producer), Michael Price (co-executive producer), Matt Warburton (co-executive producer), Don Payne (consulting producer), Carolyn Omine (consulting producer), Mike Anderson (supervising director) and David Silverman (movie and TV series director).

However, the panel did not include name tags that would allow me to tell who is who. And, rather than a moderator to host the event, fans were given a mike to exorcise their demons upon the panel. So, I now give you Team Simpsons vs. Ballroom 20:

Q: Will Marge ever gain weight rather than have Homer lose weight? (NOTE: Asked by either an 8-year-old or a short adult with a really high pitch. Sorry. I had terrible seats.)
A: *Stunned look from the panel*

Q: What celebrities will be on the show next season?
A: We have Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Forster and Denis Leary. Denis will be on the show about Bart wanting a cell phone, but his parents won't let him have it. Denis loses a golf tournament and throws his phone. Bart finds it and does funny things like call his agent and sign him up for Everyone Poops: The Movie. Also, Seth Rogen will be on the show.

Q: Matt, will you be doing more with your Life in Hell comic?
A: For those who don't know, I draw a weekly comic called Life in Hell for the L.A. Weekly. It used to be in the San Diego Reader, but they don't like portrayals of gay couples in their publication, like with the characters Akbar and Jeff. So now every year I come to Comic-Con and denounce the San Diego Reader.

Q: What is the strongest season of the show?
A: Next season!

Q: Tell us about the ride (at Universal Studios Hollywood).
A: If you take drugs and watch The Simpsons on TV, you don't have to take drugs anymore. This will be like doing drugs and watching The Simpsons.

Q: What do you make of the rumors that this is the last season of the show?
A: Nothing should last forever, except The Simpsons.

Q: Why do the characters never age?
A: It would be like The Cosby Show. When the cute kids got older, they just brough on more cute kids. We can't do that with the show because it would change it. Sometimes we wonder what it would be like to see Bart as a teenager. Then you realize he would commit a felony, be tried as an adult and go to jail. We don't want to do that show.

Q: What do you think of all The Simpsons merchandising?
A: I saw this great diorama once at Comic-Con a few years ago of the Simpsons surfing. It was beautiful. The guy told me it was imported from Australia. Then he looked at me for a second and said, "Wait, didn't you create the Simpsons?" I said, "Yes. Yes I did." He said, "Sir, it would be an honor to sell this to you."

Q: Where do you get your jokes from?
A: Family Guy.

Q: How much of your life experiences are used in the show?
A: Well, when I was a kid they put a dome over my city and my family escaped to Alaska.

Q: What's it like to work on The Simpsons?
A: It's a labor of love. And a labor of work.

Q: Words of advice?
A: Remember folks, if you hang in there for 30 years, you too will have an animated show on Fox.