Watching Simpsons

People tend to be more forgiving if a person demonstrates an ability to laugh at themselves. Think about it, for a moment, if Martha Stewart, fresh out of prison, decided to go onto Saturday Night Live and do a bunch jail jokes. Likewise, imagine if Paris Hilton, rather than causing a media stir, stepped into the public spotlight and laughed about the way she’s acted. People can get a lot of mileage out of such things. Look at former Vice President Al Gore, for example. Back in 2000, the speculation was that he was a wooden policy wonk, and now, at the Academy Awards, and on shows like 30 Rock, he demonstrates a sense of humor, and people become a little more willing to change their perceptions regarding him – not everybody though.

So, it’s interesting, then, to note that Britney Spears is in talks and negotiations to appear on The Simpsons. To some, Britney may be beyond saving, but then again, a good appearance in Springfield may help turn around the publicity nightmare that’s been her life, recently. Of course, appearing on The Simpsons won’t wipe her slate clean. Plus, when somebody is forever pursued by paparazzi, they are bound to make other slip ups that will spark new outrages. Yet, when somebody can take part in their own satire, it just helps them look more human. As the cliché goes, laughter can be a healing force.

This isn’t, of course, another moment where I speculate about a possible appearance, as I did with Hugh Laurie. Via Now Magazine:

Britney Spears is being given a career lifeline – she is being lined up to star in The Simpsons.

And producers of the hit US show want to present the 25-year-old in a favourable light.

‘Britney is ripe for the picking,’ says Yeardley Smith, who voices Lisa Simpson. ‘But we have to do it well – I don’t want to be cruel.’

Brit is tentatively going to appear in a sketch that will take the mickey out of her infamous first video for Hit Me Baby One More Time.

The Simpsons, Britney, Britney Spears, K-Fed, Kevin Federline