Gordon Brown Rules Out Simpsons Cameo
Self deprecating humor can be an x-factor when it comes to politics, especially when it comes to television comedy. Basically, by showing that one’s able to take a joke, a politician can demonstrate a good natured bit of humility while, at the same time, demonstrating a bit currency with popular culture.
In this regard, figures from Janet Reno to John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Al Gore have appeared on Saturday Night Live, usually with humorous results. The most surprising, of the four just mentioned, was former Attorney General Janet Reno. McCain, Giuliani, and Gore were billed as guest hosts. Nobody knew, or expected Janet Reno, right after she left her job at the Justice Department, to barge onto the set of a Will Ferrell sketch, entitled “Janet Reno’s Dance Party.” Ferrell was done up in drag, impersonating Reno. Naturally, the real Reno confronted Ferrell, before the two ended the sketch by dancing. Of course, all of it was finely scripted and planned, and Reno managed to keep her planned appearance quiet, which is amazing, given how Washington DC, during the Clinton era, was known for press leaks and nothing staying too secret for too long.
Of course, the Simpsons is not only an American phenomena, as Al Jean’s honorary “Irishness” or Groundskeeper Willie’s appearance in a Scottish
poll shows. This fits into politics too. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair appeared on The Simpsons while he was an occupant of 10 Downing Street. This sense of humor, however, doesn’t seem to have carried over to the current PM, Gordon Brown, according to the AFP:
LONDON (AFP) — Prime Minister Gordon Brown ruled out Wednesday making a cameo appearance in the hit US television cartoon series “The Simpsons”.
Brown’s predecessor Tony Blair voiced a yellow cartoon version of himself in a 2003 episode of the show entitled “The Regina Monologues”.
But Brown vowed there would be no repeat.
“I think Tony Blair did that, I don’t think that is for me,” he told GMTV television, insisting he would also not appear on music talent contest or ballroom dancing shows.
In “The Regina Monologues”, the Simpson family traveled to London and were greeted by Blair, though dim-witted dad Homer Simpson mistook him for the fictional bumbling eccentric Mr Bean.
December 12th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
[...] James L. Brooks and President Bush by Richard Ristow Not that many heads of state have actively chosen to appear on comedy shows. Sure, there’s President Nixon and “Laugh-In” (A precursor to Saturday Night Live that featured a young Goldie Hawn). King Abdullah of Jordan, who was educated in England, is an ardent Star Trek fan, and he once made a cameo appearance on a Trek show, while visiting America. Then, of course, there’s Tony Blair, who lent his voice to an England themed Simpsons episode. His successor, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has since refused an invitation to be on The Simpsons. [...]