Apu To Be Dropped From The Simpsons - Page 9

**Jester** · 09-26-2020, 02:00 AM

Kinda suprised they didn't just promote Kevin Michael Richardson to series regular.

*Wildcat* · 09-26-2020, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

No, he flat out wanted the character gone. I'm sure had he thought of it he woulda considered a different voice actor of actual Indian descent, but since no one saw them ever replacing Apu's voice actor.... it sounded like he just flat out wanted Apu gone from the show.

I really do not know now. Only saw it once.

I seem to remember he still liked Apu. Just not what he meant to pop culture.

*Leo656* · 09-26-2020, 03:40 AM

I didn't watch the documentary on account of idiots like that guy aren't worth my precious time. No matter his intent, if his feelings were so hurt by a cartoon character that he had to make a goddamn MOVIE about it then he's a nitwit doing more harm than good in this world. But I remember reading an article in which he said something like, he wasn't necessarily trying to get the character sh*tcanned, he was merely "trying to start a conversation", or something to that effect.

What he SHOULD have said was Nothing, because that one trickle of water started a whole damn flood of nonsense and bullsh*t.

The episode where Lisa and Marge look at the camera and basically handwave it was the only correct way to address the situation, if indeed they HAD to address it. It was a very polite way of saying, "F*ck you, you whiny little pissant bitch, and the same goes for anyone dumb enough to think or infer the same way you do. Get a backbone, get a sense of humor, and stop reading too much into things and interpreting hostile intent when none was ever there. We're not dignifying your bullsh*t with a response, because we didn't do anything wrong." THAT was the correct way of handing it, but then they walked it back.

Is Apu a stereotype? Absolutely. But there is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, in and of itself. Every single character on that show is a stereotype! That's the point of satirical humor! Apu is a stereotype of the local Indian convenience store worker, of which there's a bunch in every town in America who act and talk Just Like That, and if you say you've never met an "Apu" you're a liar. Likewise, Homer is the stereotype of the Do-Nothing Idiot Father Figure. Marge is the stereotype of the Well-Meaning Nag Of A Wife. Bart is the stereotype of the Hell-Raising Troublemaker Son. Lisa is the stereotype of the Put-Upon Middle Child. Jimbo and Nelson and the others are the stereotypical Big Bullies. Burns is the stereotype of every Rich And "Evil" Tycoon Boss, everyone from Howard Hughes to Donald Trump all rolled into one guy. Barney is the stereotypical fall-down drunk who never leaves the bar and constantly relapses whenever he tries to clean up. And so on and so on. EVERY character on The Simpsons is an absurd stereotype. If you don't know any of these types of people in Real Life, then your real life is very sheltered.

Every single stereotype is built on a foundation of truth, which is then taken to somewhat absurd extremes for the sake of comedy. That's the entire function. Stereotypes, in and of themselves, are NOT racist or offensive or anything else. Eddie Murphy addressed this very well in his own stand-up, many times. To paraphrase: "Things can't be 'offensive' if they are ALSO TRUE."

Apu talks the way those people talk. It's "offensive" because why? Because a white actor did the voice? That's stupid. If a Chinese guy tries to mimic an Irish accent, is that "racist"? For my money, not if he somehow nails it perfectly. I'd be more impressed than offended, frankly. You know how bad those people are with hard Rs.

See? That's a stereotype. But it's not "offensive" because it's also a simple statement of fact.

Bottom line, EVERYTHING about Being Offended comes from personal choice. "I CHOOSE to have my feelings hurt. I CHOOSE to be offended."

Well, I personally am very offended by people who are such pussies that they choose to be offended by harmless things, and then cry about it until someone gives them a cookie.

"Outrage Culture" and the Nancy's who buy into and support it can suck all the dicks in the barnyard. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

**Jester** · 10-05-2020, 01:36 PM

My wife and I watched episode 2 of this season last night, and I swear it still had Azaria as Carl in it....there was a discernible difference in Carl's voice in episode 1 (well...to my ear anyway). I wonder if this was recorded earlier than the premier, but happened to air later...*shrugs*

*Coola Yagami* · 10-05-2020, 02:02 PM

Oh, is this the season that is finally putting those changes into place?

~~AquaParade~~ · 10-05-2020, 02:55 PM

Season 31 just hit Disney+ so I am going to give that a try this week. I'm pretty excited even though I constantly find myself disappointed with 99% of episodes past "the golden years". That's not so bad, considering I'll probably watch seasons 1-8 for the rest of my life.
That said, it will be cool to watch the new episodes so shortly after they've aired, for the first time in a long time, and I may analyze them a bit differently knowing that it's the first season where Disney was in charge.

As for the Apu thing, I mean... I don't know. I tend to feel about it how Leo described above - all the characters are stereotypes. I suppose the question is, are they all stereotypes based on race? Does that make a difference? I don't have the answers, but that might be where the discussion is headed. I'm too exhausted to have it, frankly. Any Indian folk here have a say?

*Coola Yagami* · 10-05-2020, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AquaParade

Season 31 just hit Disney+ so I am going to give that a try this week. I'm pretty excited even though I constantly find myself disappointed with 99% of episodes past "the golden years". That's not so bad, considering I'll probably watch seasons 1-8 for the rest of my life.
That said, it will be cool to watch the new episodes so shortly after they've aired, for the first time in a long time, and I may analyze them a bit differently knowing that it's the first season where Disney was in charge.

As for the Apu thing, I mean... I don't know. I tend to feel about it how Leo described above - all the characters are stereotypes. I suppose the question is, are they all stereotypes based on race? Does that make a difference? I don't have the answers, but that might be where the discussion is headed. I'm too exhausted to have it, frankly. Any Indian folk here have a say?

I mean, sorta? But I mean, we also have to stop this nonsense where some races are set higher than others where it's 'ok' or 'funny' to stereotype this race and/or group, but OH NOOOOO you better not make fun at this race or group.

Also what does this say about the people that DO talk like Apu cause I've met several. Who does this ****er think he is? So just because he talks and acts 'white' does he look down on his fellow people that still talk like Apu? **** that guy. He's the racist if anything, towards his own kind.

*oldmanwinters* · 10-05-2020, 03:56 PM

Just came to my mind:

**Jester** · 10-05-2020, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

Oh, is this the season that is finally putting those changes into place?

Fox made a big to-do about the premier having Alex Désert replacing Azaria as Carl....but it seems episode 2 still has ole Hank.

*Leo656* · 10-05-2020, 10:22 PM

I wasn't really paying attention and kept wondering who was talking, but every time I looked up it had already cut to something else. Then I finally saw that it was Carl with the new voice and I was like "WTF?"

So Much Ado About Nothing. Better would have been to leave well enough alone.

**Jester** · 10-05-2020, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

Just came to my mind:

Just one of a few...

*Leo656* · 10-05-2020, 10:37 PM

Moral of the Story: If you're a minority, you can do anything. If you're a White Guy, stay in your lane or else.

Such a wonderful life lesson.

**Jester** · 10-05-2020, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo656

Moral of the Story: If you're a minority, you can do anything. If you're a White Guy, stay in your lane or else.

Such a wonderful life lesson.

Because it fits again...

Well..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Paulsen

I’ve been in Hollywood long enough to see that whole dynamic change. There were many times that I would see Black actors playing Asian folks or white actors playing Black characters when I was a kid, but the whole dynamic has changed.

https://tv.avclub.com/voice-actor-ro...ter-1844183726

*Leo656* · 10-05-2020, 10:57 PM

He sure seems like a swell fella.

*Wildcat* · 10-05-2020, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

My wife and I watched episode 2 of this season last night, and I swear it still had Azaria as Carl in it....there was a discernible difference in Carl's voice in episode 1 (well...to my ear anyway). I wonder if this was recorded earlier than the premier, but happened to air later...*shrugs*

Ya the Rome episode must have been made before because Carl still sounded the same. In the season premiere where Mr. Burns plays Fred you definitely hear the change in his voice.

**Jester** · 10-12-2020, 04:41 PM

Episode 3 has the cast doing terrible Italian, French, Spanish accents...which is totally ok.

~~Sumac~~ · 10-14-2020, 11:19 AM

B-b-but they are not oppressed!

Who the **** oppresses Indians and where, outside of Muslims...?

*Leo656* · 10-14-2020, 11:40 AM

"Being playfully poked fun at" = "Oppression".

To a lot of people nowadays, anyway.

Cordial Bird · 10-15-2020, 02:27 AM

Apu is the catalyst for one of my favorite scenes in the series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY5O_3_C9oM

So, screw the guy whose whining is tampering with a character I like from this undead zombie show way, way, waaaaay past its prime.

*Coola Yagami* · 10-15-2020, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo656

"Being playfully poked fun at" = "Oppression".

To a lot of people nowadays, anyway.

Or the world is ending cause one or two little pansies is 'offended'.

09-26-2020, 02:00 AM	#161
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,216	Kinda suprised they didn't just promote Kevin Michael Richardson to series regular. __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

09-26-2020, 03:40 AM	#163
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	I didn't watch the documentary on account of idiots like that guy aren't worth my precious time. No matter his intent, if his feelings were so hurt by a cartoon character that he had to make a goddamn MOVIE about it then he's a nitwit doing more harm than good in this world. But I remember reading an article in which he said something like, he wasn't necessarily trying to get the character shtcanned, he was merely "trying to start a conversation", or something to that effect. What he SHOULD have said was Nothing, because that one trickle of water started a whole damn flood of nonsense and bullsht. The episode where Lisa and Marge look at the camera and basically handwave it was the only correct way to address the situation, if indeed they HAD to address it. It was a very polite way of saying, "Fck you, you whiny little pissant bitch, and the same goes for anyone dumb enough to think or infer the same way you do. Get a backbone, get a sense of humor, and stop reading too much into things and interpreting hostile intent when none was ever there. We're not dignifying your bullsht with a response, because we didn't do anything wrong." THAT was the correct way of handing it, but then they walked it back. Is Apu a stereotype? Absolutely. But there is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, in and of itself. Every single character on that show is a stereotype! That's the point of satirical humor! Apu is a stereotype of the local Indian convenience store worker, of which there's a bunch in every town in America who act and talk Just Like That, and if you say you've never met an "Apu" you're a liar. Likewise, Homer is the stereotype of the Do-Nothing Idiot Father Figure. Marge is the stereotype of the Well-Meaning Nag Of A Wife. Bart is the stereotype of the Hell-Raising Troublemaker Son. Lisa is the stereotype of the Put-Upon Middle Child. Jimbo and Nelson and the others are the stereotypical Big Bullies. Burns is the stereotype of every Rich And "Evil" Tycoon Boss, everyone from Howard Hughes to Donald Trump all rolled into one guy. Barney is the stereotypical fall-down drunk who never leaves the bar and constantly relapses whenever he tries to clean up. And so on and so on. EVERY character on The Simpsons is an absurd stereotype. If you don't know any of these types of people in Real Life, then your real life is very sheltered. Every single stereotype is built on a foundation of truth, which is then taken to somewhat absurd extremes for the sake of comedy. That's the entire function. Stereotypes, in and of themselves, are NOT racist or offensive or anything else. Eddie Murphy addressed this very well in his own stand-up, many times. To paraphrase: "Things can't be 'offensive' if they are ALSO TRUE." Apu talks the way those people talk. It's "offensive" because why? Because a white actor did the voice? That's stupid. If a Chinese guy tries to mimic an Irish accent, is that "racist"? For my money, not if he somehow nails it perfectly. I'd be more impressed than offended, frankly. You know how bad those people are with hard Rs. See? That's a stereotype. But it's not "offensive" because it's also a simple statement of fact. Bottom line, EVERYTHING about Being Offended comes from personal choice. "I CHOOSE to have my feelings hurt. I CHOOSE to be offended." Well, I personally am very offended by people who are such pussies that they choose to be offended by harmless things, and then cry about it until someone gives them a cookie. "Outrage Culture" and the Nancy's who buy into and support it can suck all the dicks in the barnyard. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

10-05-2020, 01:36 PM	#164
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,216	My wife and I watched episode 2 of this season last night, and I swear it still had Azaria as Carl in it....there was a discernible difference in Carl's voice in episode 1 (well...to my ear anyway). I wonder if this was recorded earlier than the premier, but happened to air later...shrugs __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

10-05-2020, 02:02 PM	#165
Coola Yagami Overlord Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 14,014	Oh, is this the season that is finally putting those changes into place? __________________ "I was down with TMNT once, but then they changed what TMNT was. Now what I was down with is no longer TMNT and what TMNT now is seems weird and scary. And it'll happen to YOU." Check out my blog for Comic Reviews and other things. https://markepicblogofrandomness.blogspot.com/ I also started The AEW Crew, the All Elite Wrestling Fan Club! https://www.facebook.com/groups/637508120044168/

10-05-2020, 02:55 PM	#166
~~AquaParade~~ Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 8,450	Season 31 just hit Disney+ so I am going to give that a try this week. I'm pretty excited even though I constantly find myself disappointed with 99% of episodes past "the golden years". That's not so bad, considering I'll probably watch seasons 1-8 for the rest of my life. That said, it will be cool to watch the new episodes so shortly after they've aired, for the first time in a long time, and I may analyze them a bit differently knowing that it's the first season where Disney was in charge. As for the Apu thing, I mean... I don't know. I tend to feel about it how Leo described above - all the characters are stereotypes. I suppose the question is, are they all stereotypes based on race? Does that make a difference? I don't have the answers, but that might be where the discussion is headed. I'm too exhausted to have it, frankly. Any Indian folk here have a say? Last edited by AquaParade; 10-05-2020 at 03:20 PM.

10-05-2020, 03:56 PM	#168
oldmanwinters Overlord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Between yesterday and tomorrow! Posts: 14,940	Just came to my mind: __________________ Experience the TMNT Fan Commentaries! Check out my TMNT fan comic, "Nothing to Fear"! View my sketch work! I'm selling some of my hard-to-find TMNT items!

10-05-2020, 10:22 PM	#170
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	I wasn't really paying attention and kept wondering who was talking, but every time I looked up it had already cut to something else. Then I finally saw that it was Carl with the new voice and I was like "WTF?" So Much Ado About Nothing. Better would have been to leave well enough alone. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

10-05-2020, 10:37 PM	#172
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	Moral of the Story: If you're a minority, you can do anything. If you're a White Guy, stay in your lane or else. Such a wonderful life lesson. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

10-05-2020, 10:57 PM	#174
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	He sure seems like a swell fella. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

10-12-2020, 04:41 PM	#176
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,216	Episode 3 has the cast doing terrible Italian, French, Spanish accents...which is totally ok. __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

10-14-2020, 11:19 AM	#177
~~Sumac~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 6,129	B-b-but they are not oppressed! Who the **** oppresses Indians and where, outside of Muslims...?

10-14-2020, 11:40 AM	#178
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	"Being playfully poked fun at" = "Oppression". To a lot of people nowadays, anyway. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

10-15-2020, 02:27 AM	#179
Cordial Bird Random Punk Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Arizona Posts: 16	Apu is the catalyst for one of my favorite scenes in the series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY5O_3_C9oM So, screw the guy whose whining is tampering with a character I like from this undead zombie show way, way, waaaaay past its prime.