From cartoon to concert hall: Simpsons’ Cypress Hill gag comes true

The Simpsons see the future -- again. 

Cypress Hill is dropping a live double album with The London Symphony Orchestra, a collaboration once so improbable it sparked a gag on “The Simpsons.” 

A “Simpsons” writer imagined the musical mismatch in an 1996 episode titled “Homerpalooza,” and a Twitter exchange between Cypress Hill and London Symphony Orchestra in 2017 set wheels in motion for an eventual 2024 performance, according to The New York Times. Cypress Hill has enjoyed lasting success, bridging rap and rock, since their 1991 debut.

“‘We love you,’ an enthused fan shouted, using an expletive, during what would normally be a sacrosanct break between movements,” The Times reported from the show. 

“Cypress Hill & The London Symphony Orchestra: Presents Black Sunday Live At The Royal Albert Hall” arrives across physical and digital media June 16. 

💡Nostalgia in the Now: What was once something improbable, ill-advised or ridiculous that could be revisited in our current age? An old April Fools’ stunt that’s not as foolish? A head-scratching collaboration that’s no longer out of left field? Times change. Social norms come and go. Target customers age. It may not be as bold as High Times magazine regulars Cypress Hill jamming with an orchestra, but your big swing may still grab attention. 

Nostalgia clips

🏀After Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the largely unadorned court left many fans underwhelmed, longing for a time when the hardwood’s flair matched the significance of the series. Missing: Insignia for the finals and the championship Larry O’Brien Trophy — the type of visuals that would have been underfoot greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. By Game 2, the NBA digitally inserted trophies and logos on the court during the game’s broadcast, reports Fast Company.  

🎬“The Goonies” hit theaters 40 years ago, and just like that ragtag group of explorers, its appeal won’t say die. Anniversary celebrations included a convention panel, social media reflections by the cast and a celebration in the filming location, Astoria, OR. AND a sequel is in the works, according to Variety!  

👾The World Video Game Hall of Fame enshrined Tamagotchi, Quake, GoldenEye 007 and Defender into its 2025 class. An initiative of The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y., the game HOF “recognizes electronic games of all types that have enjoyed popularity over a sustained period and have exerted influence on the video game industry or on popular culture and society in general.” You can even make your own nomination here. 

Cool creator

Chicago-based artist Mike Noren (@gummyarts) flexes his skills with colored pencils to imagine baseball cards for icons across the spectrum of sports and entertainment. 

Throwback