From a merchandising standpoint, the wacky Simpsons offer something not seen in decades, an animated cartoon shown in prime time with a broad following.

That company failed to gain a broad following among consumers and, perhaps more notably, advertisers, and it shut down its consumer operations in 2001.

Gargiulo's, a fancier Italian restaurant on West 17th Street, also has a broad following.

Although the critics found the show interesting, it did not develop a broad following among audiences.

German investigators say that his organization does not have a particularly broad direct following among the estimated 4,000 to 5,000 members of far-right groups in Germany.

The logic was that online booksellers had been ignoring these groups to appeal to a broader following.

The other theory, which seems to have been gaining a broader following of late, is that she's in league with the Devil.

He also points to his support by several large unions as an indication that his candidacy is attracting a broad following.

But celebration of Shakespeare's Englishness also inspired a broad patriotic following.

"She has developed a much broader following, which has helped her clothing line," Ms. Taffet said.