5 things you need to know Wednesday

1. D'Oh! 'The Simpsons' turns 25

Pick up a six-pack of Duff at the Kwik-E-Mart because we are celebrating. For 25 years, America's favorite animated family The Simpsons has delighted audiences with its functionally dysfunctional humor. Through its run, the series has won awards, heaps of praise and the hearts of fans across the country – heck, they even have their own website.

2. Sony hackers' threats cause star Seth Rogen to cancel media appearances

The Interview saga continues. Actor Seth Rogen has suspended media appearances through Wednesday for the film as hackers made threats against the theaters that will show it. Variety reported that the New York premiere was canceled. The Guardians of Peace group said there would be 9/11-like attacks on movie theaters that screen the comedy about an assassination attempt against North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

3. Pope Francis celebrates birthday – with some tango!

His holiness celebrates his 78th birthday on Wednesday, and 7,000 tango dancers are to perform for him. He's due to watch the dancers, who have come to town for a two-hour flash mob, with about 3,000 of them attending Francis' regular Wednesday afternoon general audience in St. Peter's Square. No word yet on whether the leader of the Catholic church will actually be dancing Argentina's famed dance, but we can sure hope.

4. Fed to walk 'tightrope' on rates at meeting's end

The Federal Reserve is due to issue a statement Wednesday following a a two-day policy meeting. Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com, said he expects the Fed to finally jettison from its post-meeting statement the phrase "considerable period of time," which refers to how long interest rates will be maintained at the current, near 0% levels. McBride says now is an "opportune time" for the Fed "to start conditioning markets" for the eventuality of interest rate hikes in 2015.

5. British and German soldiers play soccer to mark World War I 'Christmas Truce'

It was one of the few rays of light during the dark and bloody days of World War 1: British and German soldiers climbed out of their trenches on Christmas Day 1914, shook one another's hands and played a game of soccer. Now, almost 100 years later, teams representing the same fighting forces today meet in southern England to remember what became known as the "Christmas Truce." The match comes after Prince William visited the U.K.'s National Memorial Arboretum on Dec. 12 to unveil a statue commemorating the truce.

And, the essentials:

Weather: Rain and snow will be the big weather story in the West on Wednesday while other storms bother the Northeast and southern Plains.

Stocks: U.S. stock futures gained Wednesday.

TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Michael Bublé's Christmas in New York and the Survivor finale.

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