Watching Simpsons

This just has me scratching my head, wondering what I have missed. I have to admit total ignorance. Yet, on Page 6 of the New York Post, the gossip is that George Takei (Sulu of the original Star Trek) did voice over work for The Simpsons. Takei, the article alleges, creeped out the rest of the Simpsons talent, and as such, won’t be asked back. I’m scratching my head, because unlike Phil Hartman or Kelsey Grammar, I honestly can’t remember Takei being a semi regular guest, or even a guest, period. More than anything, I remember that he’s had some feuds in the past with William Shatner, but that’s Star Trek nonsense, with a cast that was notorious for its squabbling. At any rate, The New York Post cites Hank Azaria:

THE producers of “The Simpsons” stopped using “Star Trek” stalwart George Takei (Sulu) to do voiceovers because he “creeped out the staff” and kept calling one of the interns “sweetie.” So said Hank Azaria, the voice of Moe the bartender, Apu the Kwik-E-Mart owner, Police Chief Wiggum, Professor Frink, Dr. Nick Riviera and Comic Book Guy.

The Simpsons, Hank Azaria, George Takei, Star Trek

Kelsey Grammar, beyond the late, great Phil Hartman has the distinction as one of the guest hosts that always returns and gives audiences a great episode. That’s partly because Sideshow Bob is a great, wonderful character. So, in terms of ‘coming to Springfield,” this sort of blog entry is a little different than the ones done for Hugh Laurie or America Ferrera. I’d like to see Sideshow Bob return to Springfield and do something different than try to murder Bart. It would be a welcome change of pace, because, frankly, the whole “Revenge” angle is recently hit it’s limit. After Bob’s most recent appearance, one where his whole family tries to kill Bart and ends up in Jail, there doesn’t seem to be any variations on that storyline left. So, here’s what I imagine could be new territory for Sideshow Bob: give him a new vendetta. To do that, he should be pitted against one of the least developed minor characters on the show, Sideshow Mel.

He is a fascinating character. Think about it. Sideshow Mel is always one of the vocal leaders, when it comes to mass crowd, but there is an intellectual component to the character. In one of the episodes past, The Simpsons go to Shelbyville, and discover that the despised rival town has a theater district. One of the show billboards, interestingly enough, advertises Sideshow Mel staring in “Equus” – that controversial play that Daniel Radcliffe, of Harry Potter fame, turned heads with. Mel usually has quirky little references to this. So, here is my idea for a show pitting Bob against Mel

Bob is released, once again, from prison due to a technicality. This time, he bottles up his rage against Bart, but he realizes that he needs a job. So, he tries to get Krusty to fire Mel and rehire him; at this point, we could also throw in a diabolical scheme, ala Halloween 3, to brainwash children via television. (If need be, for sake of continuity, this is where a nod to the “Kill Bart!” theme can come in). Mel doesn’t go down without a fight, however. Plus, Bart and Lisa, can assist Mel as needed.

The Simpsons, Sideshow Bob, Kelsey Grammar, Sideshow Mel, Equus

The mock sincerity here is priceless.

The Simpsons, Sideshow Mel, Krusty, Krusty The Clown

The Simpsons has the distinction of being the longest running television cartoon, ever. There are many reasons for this, but I like to think it’s the characters, and the humanity at the core of them. That said, the cartoon The Simpsons replaced was no slouch, and, in fact, it used to be the yardstick a lot of other shows were measured by. I am, of course, talking about The Flintstones (which, by the way, worldtravelerjournal.com, has documented a place that’s about as close to Bedrock is one’s going to find.)

The similarities between the shows are undeniable. Both The Simpsons and The Flintstones are sitcoms, and both are focused around aspects of “family.” There’s a universe at work too. Homer drives around Springfield, and Fred Flinstone drives around Bedrock. But the man fundamental difference come from the main characters. Fred Flintstone and Homer Simpson are fundamentally different people.

Homer Simpson is a lovable moron, he’s a working class boob of lower intelligence. Fred Flintstone, on the other hand, is a little bit rougher. Homer is more stupid, but Fred is more pigheaded. In short, there’s more pride, more stubborn swagger with Mr. Flintstone. After all, one could easily suggest that he’s patterned off of Ralph Kramden, of the Honeymooners. Homer is just an institution unto himself, independent of television precedent

If one is thinking about other points of comparison, there’s always Marge vs. Betty. But once again, the shows, and the time period that helped shape them, are fundamentally different. But then again, some things never change. Homer and Fred are both men who love to eat. Homer has his donuts, and Fred has his dinosaur ribs that, unfortunately, lead him to being locked out of the house, crying “WILMA!!!” as the credits scroll upwards.

The Simpsons, The Flintsones, Ralph Kramden, Homer Simpson, Homer, Fred Flintstone

Spock, on Star Trek, once remarked that, “In an insane world, is a sane man truly sane?” Sanity, intelligence, moral authority — sometimes these are relative terms, defined by the society around them. In a way, it’s also close to something Tom Waits said in his song “Singapore,” where “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” Whenever I think of Lisa Simpson, I think of those two sayings. Lisa really does occupy a unique place within the Springfield universe. To an extent, she really is the only sane person — even Martin, the other nerd, has his own unique delusions. For example, whenever the fire torch wielding Springfield mob forms, and usually consists of the whole town, Lisa had never taken part. Usually, Lisa is the lone voice speaking out against the mob, trying to get them to disperse, despite the protests of Sideshow Mel. Of course, she didn’t always fit that description, as she was less defined and more bratty in the Tracy Ullman shorts.

Still, it’s kind of sad to see people pick on the spiky haired girl in a red dress. Over on Drownedinsound.com, the majority, in a rather small discussion thread, seems to be going against Lisa. The think she’s whiny, unfunny, and, if one can interpret those sentiments, an all around drag and party pooper. However, there are a few commenters over sticking up for her, and they bring up an few important things about Lisa Simpson that bare thinking about.

Mhann24 writes that Lisa is:

… the glue that holds Springfield together. Without her, that town would have gone the way of the dinosaurs a long time ago. Just from a writing standpoint, she has to be right because everyone else is so wrong.

I agree wholeheartedly. Still, while I disagree with much posted on that thread, it’s always nice to see an internet discussion that’s both civil and intelligent.

The Simpsons, Lisa, Lisa Simpson, Nerds