US rejects 'real' Simpsons

It started as a quaint British tribute to America's great TV export The Simpsons - but the US producers liked it so much they've included it in one of the shows.

A 'real-life' version of the opening credits, which has been running on Sky One for weeks, was broadcast on the other side of the Atlantic for the first time on Sunday.

It was slotted into an episode, called 'Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife,' written by Office star Ricky Gervais. The comedian also turns up as a guest voice in the episode.

But reaction to the sequence from die-hard Simpsons fans was muted. On the official website's messageboards, fans were unimpressed.

'The girl portraying Lisa is horrendous,' wrote one. 'I was expecting a blonde girl in a red tube dress and pearl necklace dangling around her neck. I think Britain screwed it up.