SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) -- Forget red.

The arrivals-line carpeting leading into Barker Hangar was chicken - appropriate, accustomed the night's honorees: Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge and Maggie Simpson, all on duke to celebrate 20 years of "The Simpsons." Their alternation is the longest-running American sitcom, the longest-running American animated program, and it recently surpassed "Gunsmoke" as the longest-running American primetime scripted entertainment program.

"You know, it's absolutely weird," noted Simpsons creator and alternation controlling ambassador Matt Groening. "I mean, I thought the show would be successful. But the actuality that we're still continuing here some 20 years after and talking about it is actual peculiar. But actual happy."

Brace yourself for another "Simpsons" milestone, as matriarch Marge Simpson appears on the cover of November's Playboy, as well as in a three-page spread for the developed magazine.

"Well, I talked to Marge today," said Al Jean, "The Simpsons" controlling producer. "She's a little embarrassed. She wanted bodies to know the photo is Photoshopped. It's absolutely the anatomy of Wilma Flintstone."

The carpeting was crammed with guest stars who've lent their choir to "Simpsons" episodes, including Robert Englund, the amateur best accepted for arena Freddy Kreuger in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" movies, and one who appears eager to see added of Mrs. Simpson. "Marge is hot - big hair and all," he confessed. "And I've admired (actor) Julie Kavner (who supplies the voice of Marge) back 'Rhoda.' So, I'm glad some manifestation of her is accepting to finally show it off."

"It is hilarious," added! "Star T rek" amateur George Takei. "(The Playboy spread) is the affectionate of affair that makes 'The Simpsons' a perennial. It's going to live long and prosper," he continued, laughing.

Some reporters along the chicken carpeting couldn't resist drawing comparisons between "The Simpsons" advanced Bart Simpson and the so-called "Balloon Boy," a 6-year-old who was said to be hiding in the rafters of his family's barn following reports Thursday that he was flying over the plains of Colorado in a giant, homemade helium balloon.

Authorities said Sunday that the adventure was a hoax concocted to land a reality television show, and the boy's parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene, will acceptable face felony charges.

"Such a perfect 'Simpsons' episode," commented documentarian Morgan Spurlock, who serves as director of "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special in 3-D on Ice," which will air in January. "All of that arena out in real time was so unbelievable. But it's America. It was American news at its best. We run with article without accepting all the facts. We about-face it into a big lead story. That's what it's all about."

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