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 Simpson Trivia - Vote Yellow!

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Article from the UK's Radio Times.  (30 Oct-5 Nov 2004)  www.radiotimes.com.  Added to the website by Amy, so thanks a lot for that

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
It's 17 years since the Simpsons first hit TV screens and sparked a yellow revolution.  Faster then Homer demolishing a doughnut, they were swallowed up by the pop culture of America and, before long, Britain.  But while at first glance, The Simpsons is full of slapstick and fun for all the family, scratch the surface and there's a political point fighting to get out.  "There's a little political undercurrent in every episode of The Simpsons" admits creator Matt Groening.  Gay marriage is the latest taboo to be broken by the show in America, and The Simpsons has given its unique treatment to subjects from unionisation to breast implants, religion to radioactive leaks.  Executive producer Al Jean says "We've got a generation that grew up with The Simpsons, and if i could hope for a legacy it would be: 'Mistrust what you hear in the media or are told by people in authority, and find out for yourself what the truth is.'  Its a world where there are corporate interests that aren't out for the little guy.  Its kind of funny to me that a show that's owned by a huge corporation [Rupert Murdoch's Fox] is putting forward this message"

Another irony is that right-wing critics continue to blast The Simpsons, even though they're a traditional, nuclear American family.  George Bush Sr notoriously said that American families should be "a lot more like The Waltons and a lot less like The Simpsons".  "The Simpsons are a conservative, Jesus-fearing, church-going, praying family - and still the right-wing pundits aren't satisfied" says Groening shaking his head in mock exasperation.

Jean, more honestly, admits that the show capitalises on its respectable image to get its message across.  "I think we're able to do quite a bit of politics, because on the surface we seem like a friendly, family show, so we can make sly little asides and comments" he says.  "We have one episode where Granpa and the senior citizens can't afford their medicine, so they sneak over the border to Canada to bring it in like drugs, but it's prescription drugs.  We end up satirising trends rather then personalities.  Shows that are political and wear it on their sleeves fade out pretty quickly, because they get associated with a moment and they don't last as long.  So we probably get the best of both worlds."

Having started out as a 30-second experimental animated slot on The Tracy Ullman Show, The Simpsons is now a global industry.  Its won 21 Emmy's, and Homer's trademark cry "D'oh!" has been included in the Oxford English Dictionary.  But while American's are voting for their new president, The Simpsons writers will have to keep their views on the election to themselves.  The first episode of the new, 16th, series (C4 begins showing series 12 over here this week) doesn't air in the USA until next Sunday, after the count - with a six-month production schedule, there's no way they could refer to the winner.  Groening says that, were The Simpsons to deal directly with the race for The White House, its allegiance might not be as clear-cut as you'd expect:  "Our writing staff isn't politically united: you'd think that we were all strident, left-wing, Hollywood communists, but we have two angry Republicans."  Even before the election, putting over a clear viewpoint on current affairs wasn't easy.  Jean explains, "We haven't done an extended satire of George W Bush, because opinion has changed every six months: people go from not liking him to really liking him to not liking him again, so you can't tell what it's going to be like when it comes out"  But one of their biggest dreams is still to persuade a US president to take part in the show.  After Tony Blair's guest appearance last year, their more hopeful someone will give it a go.  "About ten years ago we tried to get all the ex presidents and they all said no," says Jean.  "The only nice letter we got was from the Assistant to President Reagan, but everybody else said: you're out of your mind.  We're going to try for Bill Clinton again when he's feeling better - we haven't tried since Blair did it, but that might make a difference."  Groenings more sanguine as to why politicians might not appear: "They don't see any percentage points in doing it.  They've not just said 'no', they've said 'hell, no'.  But we had Al Gore play himself on my other show Futurama, and he should have been president at the last election, so i guess we sort of have had the President."

Homer's Manifes-D'OH! - As written exclusively for Radio Times by The Simpsons writing staff.

  • A friend to one, a friend to all.  (Except Flanders)
  • There is nothing to fear except fear itself.  Oh, and fear of the voices.....the constant voices telling me to do things....bad things.
  • I promise there will be fewer nuclear disasters with me as your mayor then with me as your nuclear safety inspector.
  • I will fill the potholes, help the potheads and eat the pot pies.
  • I will put a man on Mars within the decade.  That man will be Flanders.  and he will not return.
  • No big government, just big waist sizes.
  • Children are the future.  That's why they must be stopped today.
  • I will make the trains run on time.  On second thought, coal might be better.  I will make the trains run on coal.
  • I will legalise the hunting of sisters-in-law.
  • Repeal all taxes...make Sweden pay for everything.