 The cast did the first of three table readings in May 2005 , and began recording every week from June 2006 until the end of production . James L. Brooks directed them for the first time since the television show 's early seasons . Castellaneta found the recording sessions " more intense " than recording the television series , and " more emotionally dramatic " . Some scenes , such as Marge 's video message to Homer , were recorded over one hundred times , leaving the voice cast exhausted . 
