Contest lets winner create ‘Simpsons’ character

LOS ANGELES -- "The Simpsons" is giving one lucky contest winner the chance to make others yellow with envy by creating a character for the TV series.

The new Springfield resident will appear in a 2010 episode featuring Chris Martin of Coldplay as guest star.

The contest, part of the Fox show's 20th-anniversary celebration, is for those 18 and older. It opened yesterday and runs until 11:59 p.m. EDT next Saturday.

Online submissions at TheSimpsons.com should be "pithy and funny," said executive producer Al Jean, who will help judge them with series creator Matt Groening.

The winner will get a trip to Los Angeles to work with producers and the show's animation director. The top entry will be announced in mid-November.

Entries are expected to describe the character's traits, including his or her name/nickname, age, appearance, occupation and catchphrases (think Homer Simpson and "D'oh!").

"It's gotta be a human being. We've narrowed it down that much," Jean said.