Watching Simpsons

Due to the vagaries in international law, sometimes interesting conflicts come up. For example, for years the world had two separate Budweisers. There was the American brand, and one that existed in the former Czechoslovakia (which is now the Czech Republic). Of course, the Czech beer was the better Budweiser, and the people at Anheuser-Busch knew it. After all, Pilsner styled beer was created in Czech republic, in a town called Pilzen. Anheuser-Busch spent years trying to buy out the company. When exported, the beer went under the name Bud-var. Of course, Anheuser-Busch beers in general are usually not of great quality, especially if you compare them to microbrews in places like Denver.

So what does this possibly have to do with The Simpsons, you ask? The vagaries of international law have lead a real Duff Beer. Minerva Brewing, in Mexico, has tried to create such a brand. By doing so, it taps into the global phenomenon that is The Simpsons media empire. Whether on TV, DVD, or in Comic books, Homer drinks a lot of Duff Beer. Sure, one might say that in a work of satire, Duff is really a stand in for all American beer, but in Springfield, it is the dominant brand. As for Minerva, they have planned the usual varieties, like “Lite” – but none of the actual special names used in the Simpsons episodes. The only similarity, really, with the Groening “Duff Beer” is in name only. However, according to some news sources, Minerva has had conversations about paying a royalty and marketing Duff Beer in the United States. However, the Brewery has conceded that is too far out of their scope – the Mexican marketplace being a tough place on it’s own. This sort of publicity stunt is not new, however. More recently, long after their crack at Duff Beer, Minerva tried naming a beer after an infamous narco trafficker.

Beer, Bud-var, Budweiser, Duff Beer, The Simpsons, Moe’s Tavern, Homer Simpson, Barney

Lets see, the possibilities here are both interesting and hard to imagine. David Duchovny, of X-Files fame, hoped that the show would do a cross over with The Simpsons. It’s interesting, because Duchovny’s ambition could not have been ratings motivated – both The Simpsons and The X-Files have – or had, in the case of the X-Files – solid ratings and solid followings. Duchovny thought that resulting episode could have been a “Roger Rabbitt” styles mixture of animation and live action. I’m sure, given the quality of writers both shows have had, over the years, that somebody could have hashed out a fairly credible X-Files script.

Still, as of this writing, it’s kind of hard to think about how exactly such an episode could be pulled off. After all, it’s much easier to animate Mulder and Scully and have them visit Springfield. There are the usual plot devices that could have been used, such as either the episode as a dream sequence or a drug induced fantasy. But then again, that would just be cliché. For the resulting episode to work in an X-File sense, there would have to be some deterioration of the boundaries between dimensional realities. But then again, even that has been done a lot. Plus, the biggest problem, in a proposed cross over, would have been the mismatch in tones. Basically, The Simpsons would, by the very nature of the characters, would have dampened the usual seriousness hanging over Scully and Mulder. So, as has been pointed out, writing such an episode would be a tough challenge. At any rate, it’s purely in the realm of what if, now. Lately, The X-Files had a highly anticipated movie, but there’s no way that the show will make a comeback on TV.

X-Files, The Simpsons, Crossovers, Television, Fox

Just about everybody, at one point in time, has had a boss that they really didn’t like, and perhaps that’s putting it mildly. Let me try another way of phrasing it: I’d like to think that, throughout the span of one’s life, they’ve worked for an unbearable person that they’ve loathed. I certainly had, a number of times. Once, roughly a little more than 10 years ago, I worked in a steak house. The boss really was a creep: in his sixties, he saw no problem with hitting on the 16 year old wait staff. I washed dishes at the time, and one day, he had me on garbage duty. It was Mothers Day, and the dumpster was overflowing. He had me – I kid you not – climb into the dumpster with a push broom and “beat down the trash to make more space.”

At least, one can say, employers like the one mentioned above are not as unbearable on TV. Redorbit.com has a tiny list of some of the most offending bosses on TV. Ricky Gervais, in the original version of The Office, not the NBC Remake, tops the list. Others mentioned include Gordon Ramsey, the hilariously mean Brit on “Hell’s Kitchen.” Since the list is likely of British origin, one of the names would seem obscure to American readers. However, the sole remaining, however, knows no boundaries. Montgomery Burns has always been wonderfully megalomaniacal, and his list of evil doing stretches back over the centuries. Still, Mr. Burns is deliciously evil. In real life, however, bad bosses are just jerks. Plus, given the list’s recent posting date, it’s interesting that Dr. Gregory House didn’t make the cut.

Mr. Burns, The Office, House, Gordon Ramsey, The Simpsons, Bosses, Televsion

photo from Reuters

One can really gauge the cultural clout of something by the amount of fan art it inspires. Look, for example, at Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Star Trek. On the internet, there’s plenty of fan fiction based on one of those three. Plus, the there’s always homemade skits and tributes that make it onto YouTube. The Simpsons has seen a little bit that too, especially with the live action version of the intro, or even an Indian clip about “The Singhsons.” The last bit also speaks to the global reach of the show. However, there are some truly wacky things out there. In England, there’s always the neo-pagan chalk outline of Homer in his underpants, holding a donut aloft.

Recently, something just as crafty surfaced in Spain, and it involves counterfeiting money. According to Reuters, a shop keeper recently found a fake Euro coin in his cash register. One side of the coin features something close to the likeness of Homer Simpson’s head, grinning. The original coins, as pictured above, features the face of King Juan Carlos. Usually, when currency features a monarch or head of state, the expression is either somber, serious, or unemotional. In the case of King Juan Carlos, the demeanor is serious.

Of course, pranks such as these are nothing new. If you stick “Bill Clinton” and “Fake dollar” into Google’s image search, you come up with a number of interesting results. Somebody has made a “Hillary Dollar” – not to mention fakes that feature, Gore, Bush, and Bill Clinton. There have always been stories of people trying to spend the fakes too. And while that may be a funny thought, it’s actually a very serious and punishable crime.

The Simpsons, Homer Simpson, Money, Euro, Dollar, Fake Money

There’s a couple of reasons why The Simpsons has likely survived all these years on television. Compelling, memorable characters is probably first and foremost – Bart, Lisa, Marge, Maggie, and Homer are now iconic figures in American pop-culture. Also, one can make a case that’s it’s even has some cultural clout in other countries too. After all, the characters have been tapped to sell French cars after all. Or, even a bit of creep into the art scene. Still, even with interesting characters, the show would be nothing without good writing.

Some may argue that the show is in a decline, but that’s beside the point. Compared to a lot of what’s on TV, The Simpsons remain relevant, partly because the writing keeps the show current every season or so. Still, it’s sometimes interesting to see where some of the Show’s writers go, after their stint comes to an end. Take Larry Doyle, for instance.

Doyle wrote seven episodes between 1999 and 2001. He’s also racked up credits writing a Looney Tunes movie as well as the hit MTV cartoon Beavis and Butthead. According to IMDb.com, he takes credit for “Simpsons Bible Stories,” “Worst Episode Ever,” and a few others. Recently, Doyle has come into new acclaim and accolades. The Baltimore Sun reports that his book, I Love You, Beth Cooper recently nominated for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. Prior winners include: Jon Stewart, the staff at The Onion, David Sedaris, and a many others. This year, Doyle’s competition consists of Patricia Marx and Simon Rich. The eventual winner will receive a commemorative crystal, as well as a check for $5000. More importantly, however, it places the winner in the pantheon of humorists of the written word. After all, as a writer, James Thurber was no slouch.

The Simpsons, James Thurber, Thurber Prize, Humor, Awards, Writing